A recent survey indicated that things are not quite so rosy for South Africans at the moment.
The title of the Sunday Times recently read: Survey finds South Africans are plunging into despair with huge bold letters beneath that saying “WE ARE GATVOL!” Gatvol, for any non-South Africans reading this, is a mildly less polite way of saying fed-up, sick and tired or generally fucked off.
I would like to dedicate this post to all those that are very optimistic about South Africa. I agree that too many South Africans these days are looking at their country through rather mud coloured glasses. In the spirit of the cartoon above I urge everyone to look at South Africa with a more positive, half-full rather than half-empty view:
- When you hear of the hijacking of a loved one, do not complain about the state of crime in South Africa. Rejoice that your loved one is still alive to talk about it.
- When you hear of more siphoning of funds from public coffers, do not cry corruption like the other non-patriots. Take joy in the pleasure of giving to the previously disadvantaged.
- When you hear of an ATM bombing, cash in transit or jewellery heist, do not moan about not feeling safe in the streets of your city. Give the redistributors of wealth the benefit of the doubt and assume the money is going to help the feed the poor people in Zimbabwe.
- If you’re about to lose your job or struggling to find one, do not bitch about the BEE fatcats. Know that the ANC and Tito Mboweni, one of the most highly paid central bankers in the world is working really, really hard to help you weather the storm
- When you hear of a rape or murder of a colleague, do not whinge about inadequate security and punishment for crimes. Be happy in the knowledge that all motorists driving 65.5 km/h in a 60 zone will be brought swiftly to justice.
5 Opinion(s):
Talking about a joke, here is one I heard recently, actually translated to Icelandic and probably a little bit different (this is the best version I have found in english online), i thought it was relevant, and funny:
The Geography of the sexes:
Between the ages of 18 - 21 a woman is like Africa or Australia.
She is half discovered, half wild and naturally beautiful with bushland around the fertile deltas.
Between the ages of 21 - 30 a woman is like America or Japan.
Completely discovered, very well developed, and open to trade especially with countries with cash or cars.
Between the ages of 30 - 35, she is like India or Spain.
Very hot, relaxed, and convinced of its own beauty.
Between the ages of 35 - 40 a woman is like France or Argentina.
She may have been half destroyed during the war but can still be a warm and desirable place to visit.
Between the ages of 40 - 50 she is like Yugoslavia or Afghanistan.
She lost the war and is haunted by past mistakes. Massive reconstruction is now necessary.
Between the ages of 50 - 60 she is like Russia or Canada.
Very wide, quiet and the borders are practically un-patrolled but the frigid climate keeps people away.
Between the ages of 60 - 70 a woman is like England or Mongolia.
With a glorious and all conquering past but alas no future.
After 70, they become Albania .
Everyone knows where it is, but no one wants to go there.
The Geography of a Man
Between the ages of 15 - 70 a man is like Zimbabwe......ruled by a dick.
Best wishes,
Leifur
Es. in this version, what it says about France and Argentina does not make sense to me, it was different in my language version, i just don´t remember it.
Hell I had a good laugh!
Those of you with access to broadband go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctwo/ and watch the podcast of Louis Theroux - Law and Disorder in Johannesburg. Excellent! It really shows that the west has no ideas of the realites of Africa and the munt!
Dobe, your posts are getting better and better. Well done!
Thanks Albs, I thought this one was rather good myself.
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