WOW!
I just realised that it's been over a year since I last blogged, because the friggin Windows Live site decided to lock me out of my blog and never let me in again...*sigh*
So, I lost interest and have been publishing myself on Twitter and Facebook, but there's only so much one can say in 160 characters....not quite cutting the mustard. I decided to migrate all my blogs to blogger.com and leave Windows Live to rot. Enjoy the archive, but bear in mind they are a year plus old.
I am going to do my best to blog as often as I can, to entertain you, my adoring fans.
So here I am again, lots to say, and little time to say it in. Enjoy the drivel as it gets churned out.
Kthxbye
Saturday, November 27, 2010
My Take on Life
So, it’s been some time since I wrote anything on my blog. If anyone missed me (haha) I have been a tad busy, and frankly had nothing much to say.
I have been thinking for a few weeks now about how much of a legacy I would leave my children in my teachings to them on a daily basis, and how much wisdom they would garner from me as a parent. I don’t know. Simple. So, I have decided to write down some points on what I believe are wisdom, that my kids, and perhaps anyone else out there can absorb, and perhaps make a difference. If it does, then excellent, otherwise it’s plain old rambling, as per normal.
At the risk of sounding like a Baz Luhrman song, I need to note down some of the wisdom that I have found in that infamous song, as I believe there is a lot more to be taken from that tongue-in-cheek track.
So here we go:
Firstly, let’s start with you, as a person.
1. Respect your potential
One never knows what one can achieve. You are bound only by your own judgmental self. Stop taking on board what society or anyone around you tells you that you can do. YOU KNOW YOU! You know where your boundaries are, and it is up to you to get to the boundary, and take a leap across to greater things. There is no limit to your potential, know that. You can achieve whatever it is that you want in life. I have said this before in other blogs, but believe it. It’s true
2. Trust your instinct
This is a serious cliché. But it’s really very true. Your first guess is normally right. Take the chances that your gut tells you to. Having said that, there is one caveat to this, and that is try to distinguish between your instinct, and blind emotional decisions. Sounds complex, and it is. Ask yourself 3 questions before you make a decision: Am I VERY excited about this? Am I angry about this? Am I blinded by love? Tough questions to answer, but when you answer them, be honest. If any of them is true, then stop, and wait. Don’t make a decision on it yet, wait until your emotions are normal, and you will decide correctly. Normally you will end up with the same answer you had in the beginning, but you need to be careful, your own emotions WILL betray you.
3. Get angry
Anger is a MASSIVE driving force, and something that will put you in good stead to break barriers. It someone pisses you off, use that anger to drive you, to motivate you. Don’t let people see your anger, let them see your persistence, let them see your motivation. But don’t let your anger control you, allow it to fuel you. When you think about the bad times, allow your anger to happen. Don’t suppress it. It is cancerous and will kill you. Having said that, don’t allow this to be your only motivation. Just allow yourself to control it, and use it as a valuable weapon in your ongoing fight. Always remember to keep equilibrium in your emotions. You need to be aware that you will feel angry, you will feel sad, you will be happy, and you will fall in love. Allow it all to happen, but always try to control that as angry as you are, you need to balance that with laughter. As sad as you are, you need to balance that with joy. It’s difficult, but be patient, and be aware of it, and you will get it right.
4. Criticize yourself
Always be introspective, always look inside you to find your faults, always be critical of YOU first. You will often find things that you don’t want to deal with, situations that you don’t want to blame on you, but look deep, as many times it’s your own incorrect observations and decision making that has landed you in bad situations. Likewise, be proud of yourself, and praise yourself often. Don’t wait for people to do it, they won’t. Be your own best friend, you know when you have done a good job, and when you have messed up. Those moments at night, when you are alone in the dark, before you fall asleep, listen to that voice that speaks, it will tell no lies. Be a man or a woman, and admit that you are wrong, then fix it, and move on. But NEVER stop doing this. EVER.
5. Take time
Take your time when you are alone. Spend time watching the cloud formations. Spend some time watching sunrises and sunsets. They are emotional and spiritual experiences if you allow them to be. Don’t just look, you need to SEE. You need to take the beauty in, you need to take in your relative insignificance. All I am saying is realise the value in spending time watching the beauty of nature. Stop your car on the way to work and take that photo of the sunrise, or of beautiful clouds, or of that tree. Whatever you think is beautiful, appreciate it. There may not be the opportunity tomorrow. Some sunsets are once in a lifetime. Know what I mean? Open your window when you are driving, and allow your hand to feel the wind flowing through your fingers. Take time to rest, and read, and sit doing absolutely nothing. Your emotional, spiritual and physical being needs to take a time out. You will know when you are ready to start again. Listen to the voice.
6. Be Humble
As I said with the sunrises and sunsets, you need to not be consumed by your own ego, and think the world will stop without you. It won’t. You must realise that although you are important, tomorrow, if you are not around, the sun will still rise, the clouds will still form, and the sun will still set. What will be left of you for others when that happens? Humility promotes self respect. Vanity allows you to be consumed by self righteousness. You are only as good as your last bad decision.
7. Trust in God
If you choose to be a Christian (which is my own hope), then be one. Don’t be a hypocrite. If you put your life in the hands of a greater force, then do so wholeheartedly. When you ask him for forgiveness, believe that you are forgiven. When you ask him for assistance, then allow him to help. However, if you choose another belief, please, always try to live with the following mindset: First, do no harm.
8. Keep you negative emotions personal
When you are angry, depressed or sad, don’t wear your emotions on your sleeve. People don’t like negative people. Deal with your emotions on your own time, and don’t allow these to cloud your judgements of situations, and of people.
9. Allow your positive emotions to shine
When you are happy, feed it, when you are excited keep it. Don’t allow these emotions to affect your decisions, but allow others to see that in you. Inspire others through these emotions. Humans are easily emotionally affected, and this type of emotion is easily and gladly absorbed by other people.
10. Sing, and dance
Music is an extension of our souls, whether the beat of a drum, or thrashing of guitars, or soft panpipes, they all speak to us, if you allow them to. HEAR music, don’t just listen. Allow your emotions to grow, or be dissipated through music. It is therapeutic, regardless of your mindset or mood. On that note, when you hear music that speaks to you, then dance, and sing along with the music. In your car, move your body and belt it out. In your house, close your eyes, and allow your body to move with the music. Don’t worry what others think of you, and DON’T EVER SAY YOU CAN’T DANCE! You can, we all interpret the music according to our own senses, it’s personal and it’s spiritual, but only if you allow it to be. I truly believe that dancing and singing are a massive form of emancipation from the controls of society. When you allow yourself to be immersed in music, you leave the troubles of the world behind, and for that time, you are free.
11. Laugh at yourself
Sometimes you can be an idiot, and make REALLY dumb mistakes. At that point, laugh at yourself, realise the value in a good sense of humour. Laugh, then fix it. Always realise that although you are great, you are also a human. and you will make mistakes. So when it happens, if there is a joke in it, laugh. On that topic, you really need to laugh a lot. It’s medicinal behaviour. Don’t underestimate it, it can save your life.
12: Forgive yourself
We all do really dumb things sometimes, and when we do, we criticise ourselves. Realise that you will make heart stopping, sweat inducing, teeth grinding mistakes. and there WILL be consequences to your actions. But, when it’s done, forgive yourself. You deserve it. You work too hard to always be angry at yourself. There is nothing good that will come of this. When you have learned how to forgive yourself, you will learn how to forgive others.
Then, we need to move on to advice about other people, and how you handle them.
1. Respect people
Always respect people. Everyone of us has our own unique talents. Be cognisant of this. Be aware that because someone cannot do what you do, this does not make them any less of a human being. Respect another’s life, and respect another’s choices. People cannot be swayed, unless it’s by their own decision. Respect that. Do NOT judge people based on their skin’s pigmentation, or their differences. Rather celebrate your differences, and when you do this, you will build a network of people around you that you will inspire, and who will assist you to do anything you want in life. RESPECT.
2. Handle people as you would glass
Don’t disregard the fragile nature of a human spirit. Sometimes, you have the ability to destroy it. And when that spirit is repaired, it leaves permanent damage marks on it. Realise that. People need to be treated with love, they need to be treated as you would like them to treat you. Simple. Not difficult. get it. learn it. remember it. Also, realise that, that spirit can be built up and inspired by you. You have more power as a human than you know, so use it properly, and don’t be foolish with people’s emotions. I believe that the Great Wheel turns, and one day you will reap what you have sown.
3. How to handle difficult people
It’s actually quite easy. I believe that we humans are very basic emotionally. When you deal with difficult people, always put your pride in your back pocket, and play up to their own vanities. Once you allow a difficult person to feel that they are superior, you disarm them. Once you allow a person to feel that they are important, the wind will be pulled from their sails. Be assertive, don’t take knocks that you shouldn’t, but be humble and realise the value in allowing yourself to stand in the back. There is no harm done if you disarm your own ego. Once you have this down pat, there is no one that you cannot inspire, no one that you cannot communicate with, no one that will stay your enemy. try it, it works. Remember, be patient, sometimes these things take a while, but the value is immeasurable.
4. Sometimes, just accept it.
A very valuable trait is to know when to give up, take stock of what is around you, and move another direction. Whether it be the rejection of a partner, a failed business venture or a failed plan. Sometimes it’s ok to say “ I can’t”. OK, so you may think that I have just contradicted my thoughts earlier, but hear me out. When you are truly introspective, and you are honest with yourself, you will know when you have done all you can. If you KNOW this, then sometimes, it’s OK to give up. BUT LEARN! Don’t make the same mistakes twice. Allow yourself to steer clear of something you KNOW won’t work, and accept it. Then move on. It brings closure.
OK, so I have gone on quite a bit, and there is a hell of a lot more that I can say here, but for now, this will do. I may add to this at some point when I think of something profound and intelligent (don’t hold your breath). So in the interim, take these words and try to apply them in your life if you find them pertinent. Or not.
it’s your life, your call.
Take care of yourself.
Brian
I have been thinking for a few weeks now about how much of a legacy I would leave my children in my teachings to them on a daily basis, and how much wisdom they would garner from me as a parent. I don’t know. Simple. So, I have decided to write down some points on what I believe are wisdom, that my kids, and perhaps anyone else out there can absorb, and perhaps make a difference. If it does, then excellent, otherwise it’s plain old rambling, as per normal.
At the risk of sounding like a Baz Luhrman song, I need to note down some of the wisdom that I have found in that infamous song, as I believe there is a lot more to be taken from that tongue-in-cheek track.
So here we go:
Firstly, let’s start with you, as a person.
1. Respect your potential
One never knows what one can achieve. You are bound only by your own judgmental self. Stop taking on board what society or anyone around you tells you that you can do. YOU KNOW YOU! You know where your boundaries are, and it is up to you to get to the boundary, and take a leap across to greater things. There is no limit to your potential, know that. You can achieve whatever it is that you want in life. I have said this before in other blogs, but believe it. It’s true
2. Trust your instinct
This is a serious cliché. But it’s really very true. Your first guess is normally right. Take the chances that your gut tells you to. Having said that, there is one caveat to this, and that is try to distinguish between your instinct, and blind emotional decisions. Sounds complex, and it is. Ask yourself 3 questions before you make a decision: Am I VERY excited about this? Am I angry about this? Am I blinded by love? Tough questions to answer, but when you answer them, be honest. If any of them is true, then stop, and wait. Don’t make a decision on it yet, wait until your emotions are normal, and you will decide correctly. Normally you will end up with the same answer you had in the beginning, but you need to be careful, your own emotions WILL betray you.
3. Get angry
Anger is a MASSIVE driving force, and something that will put you in good stead to break barriers. It someone pisses you off, use that anger to drive you, to motivate you. Don’t let people see your anger, let them see your persistence, let them see your motivation. But don’t let your anger control you, allow it to fuel you. When you think about the bad times, allow your anger to happen. Don’t suppress it. It is cancerous and will kill you. Having said that, don’t allow this to be your only motivation. Just allow yourself to control it, and use it as a valuable weapon in your ongoing fight. Always remember to keep equilibrium in your emotions. You need to be aware that you will feel angry, you will feel sad, you will be happy, and you will fall in love. Allow it all to happen, but always try to control that as angry as you are, you need to balance that with laughter. As sad as you are, you need to balance that with joy. It’s difficult, but be patient, and be aware of it, and you will get it right.
4. Criticize yourself
Always be introspective, always look inside you to find your faults, always be critical of YOU first. You will often find things that you don’t want to deal with, situations that you don’t want to blame on you, but look deep, as many times it’s your own incorrect observations and decision making that has landed you in bad situations. Likewise, be proud of yourself, and praise yourself often. Don’t wait for people to do it, they won’t. Be your own best friend, you know when you have done a good job, and when you have messed up. Those moments at night, when you are alone in the dark, before you fall asleep, listen to that voice that speaks, it will tell no lies. Be a man or a woman, and admit that you are wrong, then fix it, and move on. But NEVER stop doing this. EVER.
5. Take time
Take your time when you are alone. Spend time watching the cloud formations. Spend some time watching sunrises and sunsets. They are emotional and spiritual experiences if you allow them to be. Don’t just look, you need to SEE. You need to take the beauty in, you need to take in your relative insignificance. All I am saying is realise the value in spending time watching the beauty of nature. Stop your car on the way to work and take that photo of the sunrise, or of beautiful clouds, or of that tree. Whatever you think is beautiful, appreciate it. There may not be the opportunity tomorrow. Some sunsets are once in a lifetime. Know what I mean? Open your window when you are driving, and allow your hand to feel the wind flowing through your fingers. Take time to rest, and read, and sit doing absolutely nothing. Your emotional, spiritual and physical being needs to take a time out. You will know when you are ready to start again. Listen to the voice.
6. Be Humble
As I said with the sunrises and sunsets, you need to not be consumed by your own ego, and think the world will stop without you. It won’t. You must realise that although you are important, tomorrow, if you are not around, the sun will still rise, the clouds will still form, and the sun will still set. What will be left of you for others when that happens? Humility promotes self respect. Vanity allows you to be consumed by self righteousness. You are only as good as your last bad decision.
7. Trust in God
If you choose to be a Christian (which is my own hope), then be one. Don’t be a hypocrite. If you put your life in the hands of a greater force, then do so wholeheartedly. When you ask him for forgiveness, believe that you are forgiven. When you ask him for assistance, then allow him to help. However, if you choose another belief, please, always try to live with the following mindset: First, do no harm.
8. Keep you negative emotions personal
When you are angry, depressed or sad, don’t wear your emotions on your sleeve. People don’t like negative people. Deal with your emotions on your own time, and don’t allow these to cloud your judgements of situations, and of people.
9. Allow your positive emotions to shine
When you are happy, feed it, when you are excited keep it. Don’t allow these emotions to affect your decisions, but allow others to see that in you. Inspire others through these emotions. Humans are easily emotionally affected, and this type of emotion is easily and gladly absorbed by other people.
10. Sing, and dance
Music is an extension of our souls, whether the beat of a drum, or thrashing of guitars, or soft panpipes, they all speak to us, if you allow them to. HEAR music, don’t just listen. Allow your emotions to grow, or be dissipated through music. It is therapeutic, regardless of your mindset or mood. On that note, when you hear music that speaks to you, then dance, and sing along with the music. In your car, move your body and belt it out. In your house, close your eyes, and allow your body to move with the music. Don’t worry what others think of you, and DON’T EVER SAY YOU CAN’T DANCE! You can, we all interpret the music according to our own senses, it’s personal and it’s spiritual, but only if you allow it to be. I truly believe that dancing and singing are a massive form of emancipation from the controls of society. When you allow yourself to be immersed in music, you leave the troubles of the world behind, and for that time, you are free.
11. Laugh at yourself
Sometimes you can be an idiot, and make REALLY dumb mistakes. At that point, laugh at yourself, realise the value in a good sense of humour. Laugh, then fix it. Always realise that although you are great, you are also a human. and you will make mistakes. So when it happens, if there is a joke in it, laugh. On that topic, you really need to laugh a lot. It’s medicinal behaviour. Don’t underestimate it, it can save your life.
12: Forgive yourself
We all do really dumb things sometimes, and when we do, we criticise ourselves. Realise that you will make heart stopping, sweat inducing, teeth grinding mistakes. and there WILL be consequences to your actions. But, when it’s done, forgive yourself. You deserve it. You work too hard to always be angry at yourself. There is nothing good that will come of this. When you have learned how to forgive yourself, you will learn how to forgive others.
Then, we need to move on to advice about other people, and how you handle them.
1. Respect people
Always respect people. Everyone of us has our own unique talents. Be cognisant of this. Be aware that because someone cannot do what you do, this does not make them any less of a human being. Respect another’s life, and respect another’s choices. People cannot be swayed, unless it’s by their own decision. Respect that. Do NOT judge people based on their skin’s pigmentation, or their differences. Rather celebrate your differences, and when you do this, you will build a network of people around you that you will inspire, and who will assist you to do anything you want in life. RESPECT.
2. Handle people as you would glass
Don’t disregard the fragile nature of a human spirit. Sometimes, you have the ability to destroy it. And when that spirit is repaired, it leaves permanent damage marks on it. Realise that. People need to be treated with love, they need to be treated as you would like them to treat you. Simple. Not difficult. get it. learn it. remember it. Also, realise that, that spirit can be built up and inspired by you. You have more power as a human than you know, so use it properly, and don’t be foolish with people’s emotions. I believe that the Great Wheel turns, and one day you will reap what you have sown.
3. How to handle difficult people
It’s actually quite easy. I believe that we humans are very basic emotionally. When you deal with difficult people, always put your pride in your back pocket, and play up to their own vanities. Once you allow a difficult person to feel that they are superior, you disarm them. Once you allow a person to feel that they are important, the wind will be pulled from their sails. Be assertive, don’t take knocks that you shouldn’t, but be humble and realise the value in allowing yourself to stand in the back. There is no harm done if you disarm your own ego. Once you have this down pat, there is no one that you cannot inspire, no one that you cannot communicate with, no one that will stay your enemy. try it, it works. Remember, be patient, sometimes these things take a while, but the value is immeasurable.
4. Sometimes, just accept it.
A very valuable trait is to know when to give up, take stock of what is around you, and move another direction. Whether it be the rejection of a partner, a failed business venture or a failed plan. Sometimes it’s ok to say “ I can’t”. OK, so you may think that I have just contradicted my thoughts earlier, but hear me out. When you are truly introspective, and you are honest with yourself, you will know when you have done all you can. If you KNOW this, then sometimes, it’s OK to give up. BUT LEARN! Don’t make the same mistakes twice. Allow yourself to steer clear of something you KNOW won’t work, and accept it. Then move on. It brings closure.
OK, so I have gone on quite a bit, and there is a hell of a lot more that I can say here, but for now, this will do. I may add to this at some point when I think of something profound and intelligent (don’t hold your breath). So in the interim, take these words and try to apply them in your life if you find them pertinent. Or not.
it’s your life, your call.
Take care of yourself.
Brian
Men are from Venus and Woman are from Mars
No, I didn’t get the title wrong, it’s seriously my opinion that the gender role fundamental has evolved over the past 100 years to change the previous stereotype of what roles men and women have in this world.
OK, so that’s a bit of a mouthful of an introduction, but hear me out, see if you agree. After all, these are merely my own musings, based on my own isolated experiences of the male and female sex, and their ever evolving place in society. These are my observations, and I am trying to understand the dynamic between the people in a relationship. SO DON’T KILL ME IF IT SOUNDS SEXIST! It’s not meant that way at all. :)
We used to have the male as the aggressor, the hunter, the breadwinner. He would be out there, foraging for food (at his desk all day, playing Solitaire, the poor guy…) while the woman would be at home, cleaning the cave, watching Egoli reruns, fetching the kids from school and making sure her brave man came home to a full stomach and a quiet evening. Then, in the silence of the evening, she would make sure her man was comfortable, and not bothered by the children’s issues like homework, teenage angst, artistic crayon wall colourings, etc. It was a picture of sheer chauvinistic bliss.
So, what’s different?
Let me start with a few examples.
Now, when I walk into my local Spar, I am greeted by the sight of the following: Men are now in the Spar with their little ones in tow, frantically finding the bum cream, getting the bread and milk. The shopping list is tucked away, in their Jeep utility shorts’ deep pockets (we are, after all, the MAN (roar), we need MANLY, deep pockets for our screwdrivers, wrenches, cellphones, and baby bottles) and when no-one’s looking, they take it from their pockets and frantically tick off what they have in their baskets, and put it away quickly, lest another hunter sees them with it. After all, the man shall not use a shopping list, he is king, and he does not need a list (nor a map (he has a Garmin), nor advice on cars, nor advice on gardening, etc) to complete his task of bringing the food to the table.
In stark contrast I see many women, alone, slowly shopping in peace, quietly putting that Cadbury’s slab into the trolley (you know, the one that no one but she will know about, for she needs to feed…..alone) and quietly leaving the store with their purchases. On home, to Dad, whose long sleeve work shirt is drenched from bathing the kids, and who, quite unsuspectingly will be required to pop out to the Spar after dinner to go fetch something arbitrary, like a chocolate (because, after all, there is no chocolate in the house, and the poor kids would really like a sweetie.) or a roll of plastic to cover the kids’ school books.
What a guy, what a dad!
OK, before anyone freaks out about me being sexist, I am having a little fun. But many a true word is said in jest. If you are laughing at anything that in the previous 2 paragraphs, then you know that this is not so far from the truth. So, I will give another example.
In traffic not long ago, I sat (waiting for 45 minutes to drive 3.5km’s) amusing myself with whatever Gareth Cliff was saying, minding my own business when in front of me, in a very busy intersection, a man in a BMW X5 crossed the intersection, turning right, blocking oncoming traffic from the other direction. He had to perform an emergency stop in the intersection because of the taxi which zoomed into his lane and stopped directly where the BMW should have been, tucked away safely into the correct lane. The man in the car sighed, and gestured a bit, but did not lose control and tell the taxi driver off. Fine, I thought, situation defused, no need for any more frustration than what we were already experiencing in traffic. However, it was not to be. NOTHING could have prepared my mind for what was about to happen.
A lady, sitting in the front of the line of cars in the oncoming traffic, whose turn it was now to drive, and whose car was now blocked by the aforementioned BMW, got out of her car, stormed to the BMW driver window and proceeded to scream at the top of her lungs at this guy, banging on his window, telling him what a buffoon he was, and how he should get a real license. I thought they guy was going to shrink to the size of a pea and simply explode from embarrassment. It took 3 or so minutes of verbal abuse, and the lady walked back to her car, raced the engine, swerved around the BMW and was on her way. Oh, did I mention that she sat on her hooter from when her backside touched the seat, until she disappeared from view?
Since then I have started taking notice of the aggressors in the traffic, (because almost every day there is someone in the 3.5km’s that I travel that wants to murder someone else because they did not indicate, or they cut in front of them, or they were wearing a green shirt, or hat) and I have found that most people in the traffic that get angry to the point of swearing and gesticulating wildly, are the fairer (sic) sex.
Look, I am not trying to start a gender war here, nor am I trying to imply that all women are these monsters and men are meek mice. Not at all, many men are as guilty of random acts of stupidity as their female counterparts. I am simply pointing out that my own image of women, the one that was drummed into me by society, Hollywood, construction workers and my parents has been changed completely. And I realise, that until fairly recently, I was a closet sexist. Putting women into a gender role, forcing my own ideals of the stereotype on them. It has been a paradigm shift of NOTE! So, let me continue.
Men are now just as much the caregiver in the homes, they also change nappies, feed children, make dinner and clean the house, despite also working (read: playing Solitaire). And I can hear the feminists saying DAMN RIGHT!!. and more power to you, you are absolutely right. Men have just as much responsibility to cook, clean and take care of their offspring as women do. However, a disturbing trend emerges.
Many women, fuelled by the hunger for success, the lack of sleep (from babies) and insane hormone shifts (yes, only for about a week most times) become even more serious aggressors than I have seen men in my life. I have witnessed many women who are insanely jealous, or seriously aggressive, and who look like they are under the influence of that Greek god of war, Mars. I love women, I love their mostly soft nature, their sensitivity, their ability to think out of the box, but I get concerned when I see a shift in the fundamentals that I have held for so many of my obviously uninformed life.
My concern is this:
If you have 2 people in a relationship (and I mean with all types of relationships) that are aggressively pursuing life, both who are hungry for success, who are both driven by testosterone, what will happen? Surely it’s a recipe for disaster? I have always had a belief that everything in life is about equilibrium, for every strength, you need a weakness, and for every flaw, you need a perfection. The same should apply in a relationship, shouldn’t it? That type of passive/aggressive symbiosis should exist, because otherwise there is disaster on the horizon. Surely there will be a boiling point where these personalities will lock horns, and one will run off with his/her tail tucked between their legs. The relationship between partners will have to fundamentally shift to where both are happy to be passive when the other is the aggressor, and vice versa. HOW THE HELL ARE WE DOING TO GET THAT RIGHT? We are, after all from different planets!!!
So, I suppose my question is this. Am I making a mountain out of a molehill to satisfy my drama hungry mind? Or am I right in my observations, and are we headed for disaster as the sexes evolve? Is this a uniquely South African thing that I have noticed in my own insulated life? Or will men evolve to also become the passive homemaker and allow women to take the role of the hunter?
They are DAMN good at it.
Many men have changed already, and they seem to easily don the influence of that Greek god Venus and settle down as worker and caregiver and become a more passive person. More power to them too, if they are happy in life, far be it from anyone to cast a stone.
I know that if I was a deer, a zebra, or a doughnut, I would be afraid of that lady in the high heels touting the spear. She means business.
Take care of yourselves
OK, so that’s a bit of a mouthful of an introduction, but hear me out, see if you agree. After all, these are merely my own musings, based on my own isolated experiences of the male and female sex, and their ever evolving place in society. These are my observations, and I am trying to understand the dynamic between the people in a relationship. SO DON’T KILL ME IF IT SOUNDS SEXIST! It’s not meant that way at all. :)
We used to have the male as the aggressor, the hunter, the breadwinner. He would be out there, foraging for food (at his desk all day, playing Solitaire, the poor guy…) while the woman would be at home, cleaning the cave, watching Egoli reruns, fetching the kids from school and making sure her brave man came home to a full stomach and a quiet evening. Then, in the silence of the evening, she would make sure her man was comfortable, and not bothered by the children’s issues like homework, teenage angst, artistic crayon wall colourings, etc. It was a picture of sheer chauvinistic bliss.
So, what’s different?
Let me start with a few examples.
Now, when I walk into my local Spar, I am greeted by the sight of the following: Men are now in the Spar with their little ones in tow, frantically finding the bum cream, getting the bread and milk. The shopping list is tucked away, in their Jeep utility shorts’ deep pockets (we are, after all, the MAN (roar), we need MANLY, deep pockets for our screwdrivers, wrenches, cellphones, and baby bottles) and when no-one’s looking, they take it from their pockets and frantically tick off what they have in their baskets, and put it away quickly, lest another hunter sees them with it. After all, the man shall not use a shopping list, he is king, and he does not need a list (nor a map (he has a Garmin), nor advice on cars, nor advice on gardening, etc) to complete his task of bringing the food to the table.
In stark contrast I see many women, alone, slowly shopping in peace, quietly putting that Cadbury’s slab into the trolley (you know, the one that no one but she will know about, for she needs to feed…..alone) and quietly leaving the store with their purchases. On home, to Dad, whose long sleeve work shirt is drenched from bathing the kids, and who, quite unsuspectingly will be required to pop out to the Spar after dinner to go fetch something arbitrary, like a chocolate (because, after all, there is no chocolate in the house, and the poor kids would really like a sweetie.) or a roll of plastic to cover the kids’ school books.
What a guy, what a dad!
OK, before anyone freaks out about me being sexist, I am having a little fun. But many a true word is said in jest. If you are laughing at anything that in the previous 2 paragraphs, then you know that this is not so far from the truth. So, I will give another example.
In traffic not long ago, I sat (waiting for 45 minutes to drive 3.5km’s) amusing myself with whatever Gareth Cliff was saying, minding my own business when in front of me, in a very busy intersection, a man in a BMW X5 crossed the intersection, turning right, blocking oncoming traffic from the other direction. He had to perform an emergency stop in the intersection because of the taxi which zoomed into his lane and stopped directly where the BMW should have been, tucked away safely into the correct lane. The man in the car sighed, and gestured a bit, but did not lose control and tell the taxi driver off. Fine, I thought, situation defused, no need for any more frustration than what we were already experiencing in traffic. However, it was not to be. NOTHING could have prepared my mind for what was about to happen.
A lady, sitting in the front of the line of cars in the oncoming traffic, whose turn it was now to drive, and whose car was now blocked by the aforementioned BMW, got out of her car, stormed to the BMW driver window and proceeded to scream at the top of her lungs at this guy, banging on his window, telling him what a buffoon he was, and how he should get a real license. I thought they guy was going to shrink to the size of a pea and simply explode from embarrassment. It took 3 or so minutes of verbal abuse, and the lady walked back to her car, raced the engine, swerved around the BMW and was on her way. Oh, did I mention that she sat on her hooter from when her backside touched the seat, until she disappeared from view?
Since then I have started taking notice of the aggressors in the traffic, (because almost every day there is someone in the 3.5km’s that I travel that wants to murder someone else because they did not indicate, or they cut in front of them, or they were wearing a green shirt, or hat) and I have found that most people in the traffic that get angry to the point of swearing and gesticulating wildly, are the fairer (sic) sex.
Look, I am not trying to start a gender war here, nor am I trying to imply that all women are these monsters and men are meek mice. Not at all, many men are as guilty of random acts of stupidity as their female counterparts. I am simply pointing out that my own image of women, the one that was drummed into me by society, Hollywood, construction workers and my parents has been changed completely. And I realise, that until fairly recently, I was a closet sexist. Putting women into a gender role, forcing my own ideals of the stereotype on them. It has been a paradigm shift of NOTE! So, let me continue.
Men are now just as much the caregiver in the homes, they also change nappies, feed children, make dinner and clean the house, despite also working (read: playing Solitaire). And I can hear the feminists saying DAMN RIGHT!!. and more power to you, you are absolutely right. Men have just as much responsibility to cook, clean and take care of their offspring as women do. However, a disturbing trend emerges.
Many women, fuelled by the hunger for success, the lack of sleep (from babies) and insane hormone shifts (yes, only for about a week most times) become even more serious aggressors than I have seen men in my life. I have witnessed many women who are insanely jealous, or seriously aggressive, and who look like they are under the influence of that Greek god of war, Mars. I love women, I love their mostly soft nature, their sensitivity, their ability to think out of the box, but I get concerned when I see a shift in the fundamentals that I have held for so many of my obviously uninformed life.
My concern is this:
If you have 2 people in a relationship (and I mean with all types of relationships) that are aggressively pursuing life, both who are hungry for success, who are both driven by testosterone, what will happen? Surely it’s a recipe for disaster? I have always had a belief that everything in life is about equilibrium, for every strength, you need a weakness, and for every flaw, you need a perfection. The same should apply in a relationship, shouldn’t it? That type of passive/aggressive symbiosis should exist, because otherwise there is disaster on the horizon. Surely there will be a boiling point where these personalities will lock horns, and one will run off with his/her tail tucked between their legs. The relationship between partners will have to fundamentally shift to where both are happy to be passive when the other is the aggressor, and vice versa. HOW THE HELL ARE WE DOING TO GET THAT RIGHT? We are, after all from different planets!!!
So, I suppose my question is this. Am I making a mountain out of a molehill to satisfy my drama hungry mind? Or am I right in my observations, and are we headed for disaster as the sexes evolve? Is this a uniquely South African thing that I have noticed in my own insulated life? Or will men evolve to also become the passive homemaker and allow women to take the role of the hunter?
They are DAMN good at it.
Many men have changed already, and they seem to easily don the influence of that Greek god Venus and settle down as worker and caregiver and become a more passive person. More power to them too, if they are happy in life, far be it from anyone to cast a stone.
I know that if I was a deer, a zebra, or a doughnut, I would be afraid of that lady in the high heels touting the spear. She means business.
Take care of yourselves
Tumultuous Wednesday
Damn, today has been weird.
I woke up this morning: Happy
I sat in SHOCKING traffic needing the toilet for 45 minutes: Angry
Got to work and did some constructive problem solving: Happy
Read a story on News24 which made my heart smile: Happy
Heard about bitter, angry, racist bigots who are turning this country into a hateful place: Angry
Realised that it’s only our blinded perceptions that make us think that everyone feels the same: mmm…Middle of the Road
Realised that we can make a difference in this country, regardless of our skin colour, by building relationships, one at a time: Happy!
Things in South Africa can be fixed, and here is Brian Huckfield’s step by step guide how:
1. White people need to accept the fact that there are many black people who don’t trust, like or want to be around them because of the past of this country.
2. Black people need to realise that most white people do not like Khaki shorts and horses. We don’t want the AWB here, we don’t want strife, we don’t want war, we don’t want segregation and fear. We want to live our lives, happy, safe and comfortable. Just like you do.
3. White and Black people need to realise that there are racists in all forms in this country. Accept it, it’s not going to change, and you are wasting your time trying to change the thought processes of someone who has spent their lives being taught to hate those that are different to them.
4. Accept one another’s cultures. Realise that what you consider manners, or what you consider barbaric, is not the same to another person, no matter which colour they are. That does not make them bad, or evil, or dumb, or barbaric, it makes them different.
5. Get the CHIP OFF YOUR SHOULDER! White people, drop the white guilt if you are not guilty of perpetuating violence or hate toward another race of people. Black people, realise that white people do not want to try to save you from yourselves. You are free to do that yourself. Realise that sometimes white people are actually nice and have no hidden agendas to bring back Apartheid. If black and white people continue to carry that chip it will taint their thoughts and decisions forever.
6. EVERYONE stop being a victim! Oops, that was controversial. But hear me out. I think that too many people play the Apartheid card too often. Yes, it caused this country to fall to pieces, but together we are picking those pieces up (or do I live in a fool’s paradise?), and through policies like BBBEE and AA, we are trying to address the imbalances of the past. This is not easy, and will take a long time, and I for one am willing to do what I can to help pick up the pieces. My reason for saying what I said now, is that sometimes, I feel that people use it as a crutch, rather than looking into themselves to see if there is not something that they have failed in, something that they could have done to fix their own lives. Sometimes we should stop acting like a victim, and work extra hard to get where we want. Your circumstances create opportunities if you want them badly enough.
7. STOP TELLING ME THAT I AM NOT AN AFRICAN! If you were born in Africa, you are an African. My skin colour does not define my blood. I have African blood. I am here to stay! My children are African, and I hope that one day their children will be African too.
8. Stop limiting yourself. The sky is the limit people. You have only yourself to blame if you don’t achieve your dreams. Time and time again I hear people saying, “I can’t” or “I tried, but it’s useless”. Rubbish, that’s just an excuse. I tell my children all the time, the only thing you can’t do, is fly. Everything else is possible if you have a burning hunger to do it. We are a nation of entrepreneurs, we are a nation of action. So APPLY THAT ACTION to your life. Don’t sit around waiting for your dream to find you. This goes for fixing this country too. We can only get there one step at a time, but if we sit around lamenting about racism and the past, we will NEVER have a future. I have such a passion for this country, and I know that we have the potential to be the shining beacon of Africa for the achievements we can attain. This country needs a nation of “do’ers”, people who WANT to succeed, people who WANT to make a difference, against all odds. All of us can do it, in one way or another. So whatever your niche is, DO IT DAMN IT!
9. Stop taking your forefathers for granted: They built this country, and created everything around us. All the good, all the bad. SO! Learn from the mistakes of your forefathers, learn how to change things. Learn that not everything is set in stone, and history is there to help us learn lessons. Then, don’t take the blood, sweat and tears that they spent making this country for granted. The battles fought, the adversity overcome, the sheer bravery of some of those men and women is staggering. DON’T TAKE THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE FOR GRANTED!!!!
10. Start learning about one another: Learn why lobola is used. Learn why cattle are slain. Learn why some of us drink brandy and coke. LEARN DAMN IT! We are all so different, and if we understood one another’s idiosyncrasies, we would better understand how to work together. Learn a South African language, teach it to your children.
OK, so that’s not a complete guide, but it’s a damn good start. I am not trying to be some motivational speaker, or someone who makes it out to be easier than it is. I know it’s not, it’s DAMN hard, but this is the playground kids. This is what the previous generations left us, and like it or not, we have to live with the swings and roundabouts. But we can start making life easier in this country by doing things one step at a time, and slowly, this country, Yours and My South Africa will turn into the powerhouse that it’s destined to be. But WE have to do it, WE have to make the changes, WE have to be responsible. Otherwise…one day, my son will write this very same story, and your children may have to endure the same soppy drivel.
we don’t want that now, do we?
Take care of yourselves.
I woke up this morning: Happy
I sat in SHOCKING traffic needing the toilet for 45 minutes: Angry
Got to work and did some constructive problem solving: Happy
Read a story on News24 which made my heart smile: Happy
Heard about bitter, angry, racist bigots who are turning this country into a hateful place: Angry
Realised that it’s only our blinded perceptions that make us think that everyone feels the same: mmm…Middle of the Road
Realised that we can make a difference in this country, regardless of our skin colour, by building relationships, one at a time: Happy!
Things in South Africa can be fixed, and here is Brian Huckfield’s step by step guide how:
1. White people need to accept the fact that there are many black people who don’t trust, like or want to be around them because of the past of this country.
2. Black people need to realise that most white people do not like Khaki shorts and horses. We don’t want the AWB here, we don’t want strife, we don’t want war, we don’t want segregation and fear. We want to live our lives, happy, safe and comfortable. Just like you do.
3. White and Black people need to realise that there are racists in all forms in this country. Accept it, it’s not going to change, and you are wasting your time trying to change the thought processes of someone who has spent their lives being taught to hate those that are different to them.
4. Accept one another’s cultures. Realise that what you consider manners, or what you consider barbaric, is not the same to another person, no matter which colour they are. That does not make them bad, or evil, or dumb, or barbaric, it makes them different.
5. Get the CHIP OFF YOUR SHOULDER! White people, drop the white guilt if you are not guilty of perpetuating violence or hate toward another race of people. Black people, realise that white people do not want to try to save you from yourselves. You are free to do that yourself. Realise that sometimes white people are actually nice and have no hidden agendas to bring back Apartheid. If black and white people continue to carry that chip it will taint their thoughts and decisions forever.
6. EVERYONE stop being a victim! Oops, that was controversial. But hear me out. I think that too many people play the Apartheid card too often. Yes, it caused this country to fall to pieces, but together we are picking those pieces up (or do I live in a fool’s paradise?), and through policies like BBBEE and AA, we are trying to address the imbalances of the past. This is not easy, and will take a long time, and I for one am willing to do what I can to help pick up the pieces. My reason for saying what I said now, is that sometimes, I feel that people use it as a crutch, rather than looking into themselves to see if there is not something that they have failed in, something that they could have done to fix their own lives. Sometimes we should stop acting like a victim, and work extra hard to get where we want. Your circumstances create opportunities if you want them badly enough.
7. STOP TELLING ME THAT I AM NOT AN AFRICAN! If you were born in Africa, you are an African. My skin colour does not define my blood. I have African blood. I am here to stay! My children are African, and I hope that one day their children will be African too.
8. Stop limiting yourself. The sky is the limit people. You have only yourself to blame if you don’t achieve your dreams. Time and time again I hear people saying, “I can’t” or “I tried, but it’s useless”. Rubbish, that’s just an excuse. I tell my children all the time, the only thing you can’t do, is fly. Everything else is possible if you have a burning hunger to do it. We are a nation of entrepreneurs, we are a nation of action. So APPLY THAT ACTION to your life. Don’t sit around waiting for your dream to find you. This goes for fixing this country too. We can only get there one step at a time, but if we sit around lamenting about racism and the past, we will NEVER have a future. I have such a passion for this country, and I know that we have the potential to be the shining beacon of Africa for the achievements we can attain. This country needs a nation of “do’ers”, people who WANT to succeed, people who WANT to make a difference, against all odds. All of us can do it, in one way or another. So whatever your niche is, DO IT DAMN IT!
9. Stop taking your forefathers for granted: They built this country, and created everything around us. All the good, all the bad. SO! Learn from the mistakes of your forefathers, learn how to change things. Learn that not everything is set in stone, and history is there to help us learn lessons. Then, don’t take the blood, sweat and tears that they spent making this country for granted. The battles fought, the adversity overcome, the sheer bravery of some of those men and women is staggering. DON’T TAKE THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE FOR GRANTED!!!!
10. Start learning about one another: Learn why lobola is used. Learn why cattle are slain. Learn why some of us drink brandy and coke. LEARN DAMN IT! We are all so different, and if we understood one another’s idiosyncrasies, we would better understand how to work together. Learn a South African language, teach it to your children.
OK, so that’s not a complete guide, but it’s a damn good start. I am not trying to be some motivational speaker, or someone who makes it out to be easier than it is. I know it’s not, it’s DAMN hard, but this is the playground kids. This is what the previous generations left us, and like it or not, we have to live with the swings and roundabouts. But we can start making life easier in this country by doing things one step at a time, and slowly, this country, Yours and My South Africa will turn into the powerhouse that it’s destined to be. But WE have to do it, WE have to make the changes, WE have to be responsible. Otherwise…one day, my son will write this very same story, and your children may have to endure the same soppy drivel.
we don’t want that now, do we?
Take care of yourselves.
The power of memories
We are indeed all creatures of emotion, aren’t we?
It’s amazing how some good old memories can revitalise someone, make them feel younger. Well, they do me anyway. I find myself thinking of my past, thinking of the insanity that was my teenage years, and wondering how I survived it all?
Today we focus on work, families, world politics, office politics and frustration. It is so easy to get caught up in all of that, and forget about your past, the very thing that moulded you and created you, the person you are today.
some people would rather forget their past, let it fade away into obscurity because of the negative things that they may have been through in their lives. But here is an idea, out of leftfield. :)
The life you have led, the good, the bad and the ugly have all created a person, someone who is either content with who they are today, or someone who still needs to grow to become content with themselves. Whatever the current circumstances, those events in your life should be cherished and nurtured. They created you.
If the negatives were not there in the past, how would you look back and laugh hysterically at the good times? what would there be to compare it to?
Personally, I would have it all again, the same again please waiter.
All the bad, all the negative, all the confusion of teenage years, all the anger at life, the first heartbreak, the first betrayal, the first rejection, the first failure. BUT, also, the first time you fell in love, the first time you kissed, the time you finished school, the first paycheque, the first time losing yourself on a dance floor, the first time you made love. It’s amazing when put into perspective that all of these good things would be nothing without the bad to compare them to.
Yes, I know I am waxing lyrical about things that most of you know, but I think it’s important to regain consciousness of this every now and then, and realise, that you are still alive, you still feel, you still get through each day to watch the sunrise tomorrow. And sometimes, when you think that friend who you have lost touch with has disappeared from your life, they pop up unexpectedly, and you realise that you are still friends, and that you can draw such amazing power from them. The power of memories.
Thank God for your life, thank God for your friends, and thank God for your heartbreak.
I love it.
Before I get accused of being a lecturer again, like I was by my daughter this afternoon, I will shut up now.
kthxbye
It’s amazing how some good old memories can revitalise someone, make them feel younger. Well, they do me anyway. I find myself thinking of my past, thinking of the insanity that was my teenage years, and wondering how I survived it all?
Today we focus on work, families, world politics, office politics and frustration. It is so easy to get caught up in all of that, and forget about your past, the very thing that moulded you and created you, the person you are today.
some people would rather forget their past, let it fade away into obscurity because of the negative things that they may have been through in their lives. But here is an idea, out of leftfield. :)
The life you have led, the good, the bad and the ugly have all created a person, someone who is either content with who they are today, or someone who still needs to grow to become content with themselves. Whatever the current circumstances, those events in your life should be cherished and nurtured. They created you.
If the negatives were not there in the past, how would you look back and laugh hysterically at the good times? what would there be to compare it to?
Personally, I would have it all again, the same again please waiter.
All the bad, all the negative, all the confusion of teenage years, all the anger at life, the first heartbreak, the first betrayal, the first rejection, the first failure. BUT, also, the first time you fell in love, the first time you kissed, the time you finished school, the first paycheque, the first time losing yourself on a dance floor, the first time you made love. It’s amazing when put into perspective that all of these good things would be nothing without the bad to compare them to.
Yes, I know I am waxing lyrical about things that most of you know, but I think it’s important to regain consciousness of this every now and then, and realise, that you are still alive, you still feel, you still get through each day to watch the sunrise tomorrow. And sometimes, when you think that friend who you have lost touch with has disappeared from your life, they pop up unexpectedly, and you realise that you are still friends, and that you can draw such amazing power from them. The power of memories.
Thank God for your life, thank God for your friends, and thank God for your heartbreak.
I love it.
Before I get accused of being a lecturer again, like I was by my daughter this afternoon, I will shut up now.
kthxbye
It was the Penguin, by the Window with the Apple
set soapbox=on
OK, so to take a break from commenting on everyone’s favourite buffoon, I decided instead to turn my attention to a subject which is close to my heart. The subject of one eyed pig headedness in the technical community which is reminiscent of the bigots who blindly follow the dogma handed out by their respective political parties in South Africa.
The sad thing, is that this issue is not a South African one, it’s a global one. Just find something that someone is passionate about, and you can turn a free thinker into a babbling bigot in a few seconds.
So what am I really writing about today? I am writing about people in the Technology world who tout their Operating System/Database/Hardware as the be all/end all of the technology world. Without the ownership of said technology, you are a sad and lonely individual destined to live your sad existence with everyone else in the sad world who disagrees with that awesome person.
I am so sad, and so lonely. someone feel sorry for me please, because I am too dumb to even feel.
I spend a LOT of time on technology websites, daily reading about how evil Microsoft is for charging actual money for the use of it’s intellectual property. And reading how amazing Open Source software is because it costs nearly nothing, and it’s the next big thing, and the next tech revolution. Then comments from Mac users about how everything in the world sucks if it doesn’t have an Apple symbol branded to it. Then, in the workplace listening to the UNIX and Oracle guru’s talking about how amazing their technology is, and how everything else pales in comparison to it. sigh….
I am at my wits end with watching the ongoing tirades from fan boys of any technology having a free for all virtual penis measuring contest! it’s enough, for God’s sake!
Somewhere out there, there has to be one other sane person who looks at this and just shakes his head at the fact that infantile behaviour like this happens with people of all ages, lifestyles, colours, creeds, etc. It’s insane. There has to be at least 1 other person who actually realises that the world is full of variety BECAUSE WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT!!! AND MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, WE MAY LIKE DIFFERENT THINGS! and, wait for it…..it’s a doozy: THAT MAY JUST NOT MAKE US IDIOTS, BUT, SIMPLY DIFFERENT. no, can’t be, the thought is simply too complex….I am assuming the foetal position in the corner until my head gets around that concept. this may take a while.
But, sarcasm aside, to add my little 2c worth, I have to offer a broad view perspective on the technology world, and just wait as any fanboi of some technology vehemently disagrees with my view. shame, it wouldn’t be the first time.
If I want to purchase anything, I make the decision based on being informed about all aspects of the purchase. Price, reliability, quality, overall customer satisfaction, etc.
So, with these things in mind, off I go and test a series of cars, and end up purchasing a Toyota, or whatever, because it is what I LIKE. It’s what I decided to purchase, not because of marketing, but because of my own concept of value for money. Now, with that in mind, let’s consider this:
If I decide to own a Ferrari, (I wish), and I decide, in my OWN mind, to purchase said Ferrari, not because of the speed, or the interior, or the fact that it has wheels and some doors, but simply because I WANT A DAMN FERRARI, then it’s my own prerogative as a thinking, rational, tax-paying human being to do so.
Now, please, let’s try and apply the same logic to all of the consumer purchases we make. If I want Windows on my machine, and I have had Windows on my machine for years, and I am happy to continue working with it, then I will damn well do it. Guess what, there is about 90% of the world with that agrees with what I just said, if statistics are anything to be believed. If I am comfortable paying money to use MS Office, then so be it. it’s my decision, and I don’t need fanboys of any other technology trying to shove their opinion of how awesome and secure and amazing their technology is down my throat, and then telling me just how dumb I am for using the software I do. For God’s sake, let the technology speak for itself, please. and guess what, mine has spoken, and I like what it has to say.
If your choice of application or operating system is so fantastic, it will get a good market share, and more people will use it, it’s fairly simple methinks.
I find that the more I read posts and comments from self righteous users of Open Source products and Mac users, the less I want to use the applications and Operating Systems they talk about, because it would appear the prolonged exposure to this software has swollen their brains into believing that theirs is the only way. Like some deluded religious cult. it’s scary.
Now before I get accused of being single minded myself, let me just say that I am certified in Windows, and Mac OSx. I actively use Ubuntu 8 in a Virtual machine and I really try to give the fair due to all the applications that are out there that are pertinent to my existence. I like being able to be diverse. I feel that every OS and every application has it’s merits, and they are all applicable to people in their own space. So, please, focus on that. Some people really don’t mind spending money on using Microsoft technology because it makes their life easier in ways that are pertinent to them.
I am not going to get into the technical argument, because I absolutely agree, Microsoft has a really bad time trying to keep holes plugged because of security issues in the OS and their applications, but, then again, all applications can be exploited, if there was any money to be made from it. Microsoft is a massive target for those inclined on breaching systems for monetary gain, but only because of it’s massive market share. not so? if Linux was to replace Microsoft with market share, do you not think that hackers would be falling over themselves trying to find holes in whichever distro is the most prevalent. If you don’t think so, then you are fooling yourself.
So, to end my rant, I just want to get it out that we live in a world of choice, and by consumers making the decision to go one way or another, makes this world more diverse, and makes it a better place to be. If I hear another person slating one OS over another some infantile child on the playground comparing toys, then I fear I may lose my mind. I have officially stopped reading comments on any tech blogs because they make me sick to my stomach.
set soapbox=off
set frustrationlevel=lower
kthxbye
Brian
OK, so to take a break from commenting on everyone’s favourite buffoon, I decided instead to turn my attention to a subject which is close to my heart. The subject of one eyed pig headedness in the technical community which is reminiscent of the bigots who blindly follow the dogma handed out by their respective political parties in South Africa.
The sad thing, is that this issue is not a South African one, it’s a global one. Just find something that someone is passionate about, and you can turn a free thinker into a babbling bigot in a few seconds.
So what am I really writing about today? I am writing about people in the Technology world who tout their Operating System/Database/Hardware as the be all/end all of the technology world. Without the ownership of said technology, you are a sad and lonely individual destined to live your sad existence with everyone else in the sad world who disagrees with that awesome person.
I am so sad, and so lonely. someone feel sorry for me please, because I am too dumb to even feel.
I spend a LOT of time on technology websites, daily reading about how evil Microsoft is for charging actual money for the use of it’s intellectual property. And reading how amazing Open Source software is because it costs nearly nothing, and it’s the next big thing, and the next tech revolution. Then comments from Mac users about how everything in the world sucks if it doesn’t have an Apple symbol branded to it. Then, in the workplace listening to the UNIX and Oracle guru’s talking about how amazing their technology is, and how everything else pales in comparison to it. sigh….
I am at my wits end with watching the ongoing tirades from fan boys of any technology having a free for all virtual penis measuring contest! it’s enough, for God’s sake!
Somewhere out there, there has to be one other sane person who looks at this and just shakes his head at the fact that infantile behaviour like this happens with people of all ages, lifestyles, colours, creeds, etc. It’s insane. There has to be at least 1 other person who actually realises that the world is full of variety BECAUSE WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT!!! AND MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, WE MAY LIKE DIFFERENT THINGS! and, wait for it…..it’s a doozy: THAT MAY JUST NOT MAKE US IDIOTS, BUT, SIMPLY DIFFERENT. no, can’t be, the thought is simply too complex….I am assuming the foetal position in the corner until my head gets around that concept. this may take a while.
But, sarcasm aside, to add my little 2c worth, I have to offer a broad view perspective on the technology world, and just wait as any fanboi of some technology vehemently disagrees with my view. shame, it wouldn’t be the first time.
If I want to purchase anything, I make the decision based on being informed about all aspects of the purchase. Price, reliability, quality, overall customer satisfaction, etc.
So, with these things in mind, off I go and test a series of cars, and end up purchasing a Toyota, or whatever, because it is what I LIKE. It’s what I decided to purchase, not because of marketing, but because of my own concept of value for money. Now, with that in mind, let’s consider this:
If I decide to own a Ferrari, (I wish), and I decide, in my OWN mind, to purchase said Ferrari, not because of the speed, or the interior, or the fact that it has wheels and some doors, but simply because I WANT A DAMN FERRARI, then it’s my own prerogative as a thinking, rational, tax-paying human being to do so.
Now, please, let’s try and apply the same logic to all of the consumer purchases we make. If I want Windows on my machine, and I have had Windows on my machine for years, and I am happy to continue working with it, then I will damn well do it. Guess what, there is about 90% of the world with that agrees with what I just said, if statistics are anything to be believed. If I am comfortable paying money to use MS Office, then so be it. it’s my decision, and I don’t need fanboys of any other technology trying to shove their opinion of how awesome and secure and amazing their technology is down my throat, and then telling me just how dumb I am for using the software I do. For God’s sake, let the technology speak for itself, please. and guess what, mine has spoken, and I like what it has to say.
If your choice of application or operating system is so fantastic, it will get a good market share, and more people will use it, it’s fairly simple methinks.
I find that the more I read posts and comments from self righteous users of Open Source products and Mac users, the less I want to use the applications and Operating Systems they talk about, because it would appear the prolonged exposure to this software has swollen their brains into believing that theirs is the only way. Like some deluded religious cult. it’s scary.
Now before I get accused of being single minded myself, let me just say that I am certified in Windows, and Mac OSx. I actively use Ubuntu 8 in a Virtual machine and I really try to give the fair due to all the applications that are out there that are pertinent to my existence. I like being able to be diverse. I feel that every OS and every application has it’s merits, and they are all applicable to people in their own space. So, please, focus on that. Some people really don’t mind spending money on using Microsoft technology because it makes their life easier in ways that are pertinent to them.
I am not going to get into the technical argument, because I absolutely agree, Microsoft has a really bad time trying to keep holes plugged because of security issues in the OS and their applications, but, then again, all applications can be exploited, if there was any money to be made from it. Microsoft is a massive target for those inclined on breaching systems for monetary gain, but only because of it’s massive market share. not so? if Linux was to replace Microsoft with market share, do you not think that hackers would be falling over themselves trying to find holes in whichever distro is the most prevalent. If you don’t think so, then you are fooling yourself.
So, to end my rant, I just want to get it out that we live in a world of choice, and by consumers making the decision to go one way or another, makes this world more diverse, and makes it a better place to be. If I hear another person slating one OS over another some infantile child on the playground comparing toys, then I fear I may lose my mind. I have officially stopped reading comments on any tech blogs because they make me sick to my stomach.
set soapbox=off
set frustrationlevel=lower
kthxbye
Brian
Corporate South Africa with a gun to it’s head
hey hey, guess who features again today? The ANCYL and Nedbank are at, what I believe is a very important set of cross roads today. The outcome of this stand off will send a very strong message to all of South Africa.
http://www.ancyl.org.za/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=127:anc-yl-calls-on-nedbank-to-retain-asa-sponsorship&catid=39:news
Listening to the radio this morning and hearing Julius Malema’s threats to Nedbank to close the ANCYL account with them if they withdraw sponsorship made me think. Here is a standoff that we need to watch very carefully. If Nedbank give in and continue to sponsor ASA because of his threat, then we are indeed in a great deal of trouble. When a political party holds corporate South Africa to ransom and wins, it sends a VERY strong message to the public.
I think this is a poorly disguised attempt from the ANCYL to flex it’s muscles and show just how much control it really has. The threat to rally the public and corporate world in South Africa to withdraw their support of Nedbank by closing their accounts and moving to other banks is how Julius Malema and co say to Nedbank: “Knight to C6, Check, your move”
I wait in anticipation of their move, it had better be a doozy.
If the ANCYL get their way, then where will the limit of the ANCYL’s power be shifted? In short, their limits of power will be removed. By controlling corporate SA, they have control of most of South Africa. Like puppets on a string, dancing to the tune being whistled by Mr Malema.
Again, perhaps simply my own paranoid thoughts, but as each day unfolds, all of my concerns as to the direction of this country unfold just as I fear they would.
If the ANC really wanted to rein this clown in, do you think they would not have already done so? To quote Marcellus in The Merchant of Venice: “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark”
http://www.ancyl.org.za/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=127:anc-yl-calls-on-nedbank-to-retain-asa-sponsorship&catid=39:news
Listening to the radio this morning and hearing Julius Malema’s threats to Nedbank to close the ANCYL account with them if they withdraw sponsorship made me think. Here is a standoff that we need to watch very carefully. If Nedbank give in and continue to sponsor ASA because of his threat, then we are indeed in a great deal of trouble. When a political party holds corporate South Africa to ransom and wins, it sends a VERY strong message to the public.
I think this is a poorly disguised attempt from the ANCYL to flex it’s muscles and show just how much control it really has. The threat to rally the public and corporate world in South Africa to withdraw their support of Nedbank by closing their accounts and moving to other banks is how Julius Malema and co say to Nedbank: “Knight to C6, Check, your move”
I wait in anticipation of their move, it had better be a doozy.
If the ANCYL get their way, then where will the limit of the ANCYL’s power be shifted? In short, their limits of power will be removed. By controlling corporate SA, they have control of most of South Africa. Like puppets on a string, dancing to the tune being whistled by Mr Malema.
Again, perhaps simply my own paranoid thoughts, but as each day unfolds, all of my concerns as to the direction of this country unfold just as I fear they would.
If the ANC really wanted to rein this clown in, do you think they would not have already done so? To quote Marcellus in The Merchant of Venice: “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark”
Insane genius, or simple fool?
First things first. I am no professional writer, and so I make apologies to the more learned out there about the format of this blog. It is a series of thoughts that I have placed together, with no thought into the correct structuring. So pardon the grammatical errors, and if you have criticism, let it rather be on the content…
So let me begin:
I have been online for many years now, trawling through online articles about South Africa, it’s people, leaders, and happenings, the good things and the bad.
However, I find that I have developed a morbid fascination for finding articles where our leaders in South Africa utter nonsense of nearly biblical proportions. It has become a focal point for me, because of the sheer idiocy, and irresponsibility of some statements made by some of our leaders.
Why? What would force me to read and attempt to digest articles that I should brush off as nonsense? Articles that make me sigh in frustration. Perhaps I am a sucker for punishment, perhaps I am a closet sadist, or perhaps, I need to fulfil some innate desire to prove that all of our leaders are idiots, and that my preconceptions of these people are precisely right. But, I know, in my heart of hearts, that this is not the case.
I, like many other South African people, have a MASSIVE deal of pride in this country. We have such incredible resources here, from the bountiful land, to the talented and entrepreneurial people. The fantastic diversity which make this land what it is. I, like many others, cringe when we think of what the rest of the world think when they read the same articles that we read. They are embarrassing, and not a true reflection of what this country is about….I think. The “don’t-care” attitude of some of our people is dangerous, not only to the reputation of this already torn, and battle weary country, but to the inhabitants, the people who love this place. There is a growing divide, and it’s being perpetuated by the poisonous words of leaders in the country. But what if there is some real genius behind this irresponsibility?
Let’s not beat around the bush here, I write this blog with most of my focus on one Julius Malema. A man, who I cringe to give any more publicity than he currently affords through the media. But, I have to have my own say, regardless of how many people read this, my opinion needs to be expressed. However, my thoughts here are not simply aimed at him, but many other politicians who say really ignorant things.
Without delving into the many details of his utterances over the past year or so (for that, I would have to start an entirely new blog, with the comparison of his nonsensical tirades being directly compared to one Mr George Bush, both of whom I put on the same, dangerous and poisonous level.) I am astounded that after all this time, he is still allowed, by his party and by the followers of his party to spew forth the hatred and anger that he does. Astounded, but then, not so. I have developed an understanding of why he is allowed to continue, why he is where he is. We Africans, (OMG! Did I just called myself African? yes, I did, and if you disagree because I am Caucasian, then perhaps you should stop reading right here.) just love a revolutionary, don’t we?
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but the last time I checked, the revolution was over. Or perhaps I am fooling myself in my isolated and capsulated little world.
Every society needs a revolutionary, just as every society needs a revolution. It shakes things up, it moves people from their comfort zones, and it forces often very much needed change. Julius is one of those people. I believe he is intelligent, passionate, focussed and VERY shrewd. The perfect ingredients for a revolutionary. With the right tutelage and honing, his innate skills and his incredibly confrontational personality would be the best thing for any country. WOW! Did I just contradict myself? I thought I called him an idiot, and nonsensical. I did indeed, but therein lies the shrewdness. How else would this man make a name for himself? His sudden and meteoric rise to infamy was created by the press. All of the press, negative or positive is exactly the right type of exposure that turns a man, into a legend, or a living martyr.
For all of the nonsense that we think he utters, there is a not-so-merry band of followers who will idolize him, and encourage him to continue. Those same people are the ones who comment on News websites when everyone else is tearing him apart, with statements like “I am so proud to be under the leadership of this great man.” To many people, he is what they need to keep their anger and hatred alive. They don’t want to let go of the past, they feel it defines them. He is the catalyst that continually re-ignites their struggle, and that fires them into action. There is no reasoning with angry, hateful people. Don’t even try. For with folk like that, the most sensical retort to any form of argument is: “Viva”. ah, that word, I love it, it’s the universal tool for counter argument. “Viva ANC, Viva Malema” But that, is a story for another blog. FOCUS DAMN IT! :)
Already by now I have been branded an evil racist or colonialist by many that may have read this far, and if you feel that way, then I feel sorry that you are unable to see reason, unable to see that there are other people in this country who are allowed to have an opinion about a person, not a colour. We do not need to be persistently reminded of our skin colour, it is a growth inhibitor, but, once again, I digress, so let me continue to say my say about this man, if you will.
If you really read his statements such as the famous hermaphrodite comment, or the racial slurs he made about only black people welcoming our Athletes at the airport, there is so much venom in them, but there is so much African fire in them too. And that African fire is a powerful thing. He manages to rally people around him, and he manages to create controversy with his words. But is that not what we want of a leader? He knows what is on the hearts and minds of people in SA. He knows that white people suffer from guilt which we have been spoon-fed for many years, he knows black people want retribution for the past, and like a skilled puppet master, he plays with our emotions, and incites the very same reactions that a school ground bully does. Before anyone thinks that I condone his actions, please do not misunderstand me, I do not. I feel however, that this man is a razor sharp weapon that has been unleashed, and like the Tazmanian Devil is spinning out of control. If the ANC actually cared for this country, they would rein him in, take him back to political school and guide him to the benefit of everyone in this country. Imagine a man with that type of fire in his gut, and the right direction, challenging countries in the world to change the perspective of this country. It would be revolutionary. Mmmm…there is that word again.
Could you imagine having Julius Malema fired up about creating a properly functioning education system, taking his own party to task about their failures? Or focussing on pertinent matters like housing, development, poverty and service delivery? OMG! What an agent for change he would be.
So what I am trying to say, is that the chaos and poison that is the by-product of a man with this type of power is the fault of his party. If they truly cared for South Africa and the future of a non-racial, focussed and successful country, they would do everything in their power to right his wrongs. Not eradicate him, but use him as an agent for good. But perhaps that’s too much hard work, and perhaps they are all too caught up in their own agendas to care? But, I think not, I think that there is a more sinister reason. As long as a man is allowed to spread the hate, and remind the people of this country just how victimised they still are, there is a door that opens for the further divide of our people. Sound paranoid? I think not. if you are reminded on a daily basis how lucky your neighbour is to have all he has, and that he has it all at your expense, then regardless of who you are, one thing will follow. Jealousy. Once that is there, it’s a hop, skip and a jump from being a victim to wanting a share, regardless of whether you have worked for it or not. Who is really pulling the strings here? Which parties would benefit from racial divide and anger?
I don’t know. any ideas?
I am not writing this to start any conspiracy theories, that is not my aim. It’s simply for you to think about. Make your own decisions.
So perhaps we DO need a revolution, but rather than a revolution for the people, by the people, rather, a revolution in the mind of Mr Malema. A revolution to stop the want for inciting vowlence and hatred against skin colour, but to rally the people of South Africa, together, against the real enemy, corruption and greed.
The potential for this man’s greatness with the right focus, would be simply staggering.
So let me begin:
I have been online for many years now, trawling through online articles about South Africa, it’s people, leaders, and happenings, the good things and the bad.
However, I find that I have developed a morbid fascination for finding articles where our leaders in South Africa utter nonsense of nearly biblical proportions. It has become a focal point for me, because of the sheer idiocy, and irresponsibility of some statements made by some of our leaders.
Why? What would force me to read and attempt to digest articles that I should brush off as nonsense? Articles that make me sigh in frustration. Perhaps I am a sucker for punishment, perhaps I am a closet sadist, or perhaps, I need to fulfil some innate desire to prove that all of our leaders are idiots, and that my preconceptions of these people are precisely right. But, I know, in my heart of hearts, that this is not the case.
I, like many other South African people, have a MASSIVE deal of pride in this country. We have such incredible resources here, from the bountiful land, to the talented and entrepreneurial people. The fantastic diversity which make this land what it is. I, like many others, cringe when we think of what the rest of the world think when they read the same articles that we read. They are embarrassing, and not a true reflection of what this country is about….I think. The “don’t-care” attitude of some of our people is dangerous, not only to the reputation of this already torn, and battle weary country, but to the inhabitants, the people who love this place. There is a growing divide, and it’s being perpetuated by the poisonous words of leaders in the country. But what if there is some real genius behind this irresponsibility?
Let’s not beat around the bush here, I write this blog with most of my focus on one Julius Malema. A man, who I cringe to give any more publicity than he currently affords through the media. But, I have to have my own say, regardless of how many people read this, my opinion needs to be expressed. However, my thoughts here are not simply aimed at him, but many other politicians who say really ignorant things.
Without delving into the many details of his utterances over the past year or so (for that, I would have to start an entirely new blog, with the comparison of his nonsensical tirades being directly compared to one Mr George Bush, both of whom I put on the same, dangerous and poisonous level.) I am astounded that after all this time, he is still allowed, by his party and by the followers of his party to spew forth the hatred and anger that he does. Astounded, but then, not so. I have developed an understanding of why he is allowed to continue, why he is where he is. We Africans, (OMG! Did I just called myself African? yes, I did, and if you disagree because I am Caucasian, then perhaps you should stop reading right here.) just love a revolutionary, don’t we?
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but the last time I checked, the revolution was over. Or perhaps I am fooling myself in my isolated and capsulated little world.
Every society needs a revolutionary, just as every society needs a revolution. It shakes things up, it moves people from their comfort zones, and it forces often very much needed change. Julius is one of those people. I believe he is intelligent, passionate, focussed and VERY shrewd. The perfect ingredients for a revolutionary. With the right tutelage and honing, his innate skills and his incredibly confrontational personality would be the best thing for any country. WOW! Did I just contradict myself? I thought I called him an idiot, and nonsensical. I did indeed, but therein lies the shrewdness. How else would this man make a name for himself? His sudden and meteoric rise to infamy was created by the press. All of the press, negative or positive is exactly the right type of exposure that turns a man, into a legend, or a living martyr.
For all of the nonsense that we think he utters, there is a not-so-merry band of followers who will idolize him, and encourage him to continue. Those same people are the ones who comment on News websites when everyone else is tearing him apart, with statements like “I am so proud to be under the leadership of this great man.” To many people, he is what they need to keep their anger and hatred alive. They don’t want to let go of the past, they feel it defines them. He is the catalyst that continually re-ignites their struggle, and that fires them into action. There is no reasoning with angry, hateful people. Don’t even try. For with folk like that, the most sensical retort to any form of argument is: “Viva”. ah, that word, I love it, it’s the universal tool for counter argument. “Viva ANC, Viva Malema” But that, is a story for another blog. FOCUS DAMN IT! :)
Already by now I have been branded an evil racist or colonialist by many that may have read this far, and if you feel that way, then I feel sorry that you are unable to see reason, unable to see that there are other people in this country who are allowed to have an opinion about a person, not a colour. We do not need to be persistently reminded of our skin colour, it is a growth inhibitor, but, once again, I digress, so let me continue to say my say about this man, if you will.
If you really read his statements such as the famous hermaphrodite comment, or the racial slurs he made about only black people welcoming our Athletes at the airport, there is so much venom in them, but there is so much African fire in them too. And that African fire is a powerful thing. He manages to rally people around him, and he manages to create controversy with his words. But is that not what we want of a leader? He knows what is on the hearts and minds of people in SA. He knows that white people suffer from guilt which we have been spoon-fed for many years, he knows black people want retribution for the past, and like a skilled puppet master, he plays with our emotions, and incites the very same reactions that a school ground bully does. Before anyone thinks that I condone his actions, please do not misunderstand me, I do not. I feel however, that this man is a razor sharp weapon that has been unleashed, and like the Tazmanian Devil is spinning out of control. If the ANC actually cared for this country, they would rein him in, take him back to political school and guide him to the benefit of everyone in this country. Imagine a man with that type of fire in his gut, and the right direction, challenging countries in the world to change the perspective of this country. It would be revolutionary. Mmmm…there is that word again.
Could you imagine having Julius Malema fired up about creating a properly functioning education system, taking his own party to task about their failures? Or focussing on pertinent matters like housing, development, poverty and service delivery? OMG! What an agent for change he would be.
So what I am trying to say, is that the chaos and poison that is the by-product of a man with this type of power is the fault of his party. If they truly cared for South Africa and the future of a non-racial, focussed and successful country, they would do everything in their power to right his wrongs. Not eradicate him, but use him as an agent for good. But perhaps that’s too much hard work, and perhaps they are all too caught up in their own agendas to care? But, I think not, I think that there is a more sinister reason. As long as a man is allowed to spread the hate, and remind the people of this country just how victimised they still are, there is a door that opens for the further divide of our people. Sound paranoid? I think not. if you are reminded on a daily basis how lucky your neighbour is to have all he has, and that he has it all at your expense, then regardless of who you are, one thing will follow. Jealousy. Once that is there, it’s a hop, skip and a jump from being a victim to wanting a share, regardless of whether you have worked for it or not. Who is really pulling the strings here? Which parties would benefit from racial divide and anger?
I don’t know. any ideas?
I am not writing this to start any conspiracy theories, that is not my aim. It’s simply for you to think about. Make your own decisions.
So perhaps we DO need a revolution, but rather than a revolution for the people, by the people, rather, a revolution in the mind of Mr Malema. A revolution to stop the want for inciting vowlence and hatred against skin colour, but to rally the people of South Africa, together, against the real enemy, corruption and greed.
The potential for this man’s greatness with the right focus, would be simply staggering.
Technology as your may have never seen it before
This is something that I witnessed at Tech-Ed Africa this year.
it's technology coming soon, and it's something that will change the way the world works.
Have a look at this video and you will see what I am talking about.
The fact that the digital table can recognise objects and auto sync via wireless, with no human intervention makes the whole human interaction nearly null.
This stuff gives me goosebumps. We are moving forward at an insane speed. and it's at your own peril that you don't pay attention and keep up with what's going to be around in the near future.
just think about this, if you have a child today, then technology like Electronic ink http://www.smartplanet.com/business/video/the-future-of-ink/305400/?tag=col1;video-load-river and motion manipulated remote controls http://www.smartplanet.com/business/video/the-future-ofremote-controls/338702/?tag=video;video-roto will be absolutely normal technology to them.
the pen, the remote control, normal paper, all of them are disappearing in the not so far future, destined to be relics in a museum. these are simply the tip of the iceberg.
if you haven't seen these videos, do yourself a favour, watch them, you may be surprised.
My question is, does this kind of thing scare you as a person? or does it excite you to be living in a time that everything that you have used in your life is being revolutionised, evolving into something better and more effecient?
do you even care?
Brian
Level of Education in South Africa
OK, so I decided to write again today after reading the following post on IOL.
http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=5185785
It’s shocking to say the least, that we have people that are supposed to be ready for University, only a quarter are fully literate??? WHAT???? I find that absolutely unacceptable.
How do these kids get to the grade they are in if they cannot pass maths and literacy. LITERACY FFS!!! COME ON! I cannot be the only person who finds that absolutely ludicrous!!!? How do the teachers of these kids sleep at night knowing that they have pushed a child through to a higher grade, simply to fill out numbers. it’s disgusting, and completely unacceptable. and I DON’T CARE ABOUT POLICY!!! FIGHT THE POLICY FOR GOD’S SAKE!
if there is a policy to pass children who are not capable of the current standard because of sheer numbers, then it should be fought like any other vile, cancerous policy that threatens the very fabric of our South African society. am I over dramatising this? NO! I don’t feel so, the education system will be the vehicle for bringing about the flourishing of our economy in the future, the catalyst for the permanent change in the country. and right now, it’s failing us all. It will have to be up to the select few who have applied themselves, and those that can cope to push this country forward. Once again, a minority pushing the majority forward. wow, Deja vu anyone?
How do we change this? who do we take to task about the pathetic future that our education system is creating for us? do we have any right? do I have any right as a white South African male to do anything here? or will I get told to keep my apartheid educated opinion to myself? I fear it’s the latter.
it’s the job of the educator to educate, not fool everyone into believing they are educated!!! that poor child will end up with a serious problem when they enter the big wide world and realise they cannot cope in the business world. not at all. they are being set up to fail in the future. and what will the product be? more crime? more corruption and lies. just to eke out a life for themselves. what a miserable future.
Don’t get me wrong, I know that not all of the poor people in this country who have been forced into poverty through a lack of education advocate, or commit crime, but it’s the minority that do, and it’s they that will destroy this beautiful country.
We are creating a rotten core of youth in the country, the same youth who are supposed to lead this country in the future. We are not creating a future, we are creating disaster. the future of this country is doomed if the people in the education system do not wake up and realise that they are indirectly exacting the same bantu education that was forced on the black and coloured youth of our country by the apartheid regime! They are failing them, they are failing the parents, they are failing the tax payers.
How have we moved forward as a country? We haven’t. We are standing still, then taking 2 steps back. God help us all.
on the ANC website, is an English translation of our national anthem. the original written song of Nkosi, sikelel’ iAfrika with verses added by Samuel Mqhayi in 1927. it’s a beautiful, heartfelt song, and worthy of our national anthem, although we don’t sing these verses, here are 2 excerpts from it.
Bless the public men,
Bless also the youth
That they may carry the land with patience
and that Thou mayst bless them
Bless our efforts
of union and self-uplift,
Of education and mutual understanding
And bless them.
I think we should perhaps add these verses to the anthem, so we can sing them, and every time we do, our educators need to really understand the words, and START DAMN WELL APPLYING THEM! God will not take this country forward alone!
Brian
http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=5185785
It’s shocking to say the least, that we have people that are supposed to be ready for University, only a quarter are fully literate??? WHAT???? I find that absolutely unacceptable.
How do these kids get to the grade they are in if they cannot pass maths and literacy. LITERACY FFS!!! COME ON! I cannot be the only person who finds that absolutely ludicrous!!!? How do the teachers of these kids sleep at night knowing that they have pushed a child through to a higher grade, simply to fill out numbers. it’s disgusting, and completely unacceptable. and I DON’T CARE ABOUT POLICY!!! FIGHT THE POLICY FOR GOD’S SAKE!
if there is a policy to pass children who are not capable of the current standard because of sheer numbers, then it should be fought like any other vile, cancerous policy that threatens the very fabric of our South African society. am I over dramatising this? NO! I don’t feel so, the education system will be the vehicle for bringing about the flourishing of our economy in the future, the catalyst for the permanent change in the country. and right now, it’s failing us all. It will have to be up to the select few who have applied themselves, and those that can cope to push this country forward. Once again, a minority pushing the majority forward. wow, Deja vu anyone?
How do we change this? who do we take to task about the pathetic future that our education system is creating for us? do we have any right? do I have any right as a white South African male to do anything here? or will I get told to keep my apartheid educated opinion to myself? I fear it’s the latter.
it’s the job of the educator to educate, not fool everyone into believing they are educated!!! that poor child will end up with a serious problem when they enter the big wide world and realise they cannot cope in the business world. not at all. they are being set up to fail in the future. and what will the product be? more crime? more corruption and lies. just to eke out a life for themselves. what a miserable future.
Don’t get me wrong, I know that not all of the poor people in this country who have been forced into poverty through a lack of education advocate, or commit crime, but it’s the minority that do, and it’s they that will destroy this beautiful country.
We are creating a rotten core of youth in the country, the same youth who are supposed to lead this country in the future. We are not creating a future, we are creating disaster. the future of this country is doomed if the people in the education system do not wake up and realise that they are indirectly exacting the same bantu education that was forced on the black and coloured youth of our country by the apartheid regime! They are failing them, they are failing the parents, they are failing the tax payers.
How have we moved forward as a country? We haven’t. We are standing still, then taking 2 steps back. God help us all.
on the ANC website, is an English translation of our national anthem. the original written song of Nkosi, sikelel’ iAfrika with verses added by Samuel Mqhayi in 1927. it’s a beautiful, heartfelt song, and worthy of our national anthem, although we don’t sing these verses, here are 2 excerpts from it.
Bless the public men,
Bless also the youth
That they may carry the land with patience
and that Thou mayst bless them
Bless our efforts
of union and self-uplift,
Of education and mutual understanding
And bless them.
I think we should perhaps add these verses to the anthem, so we can sing them, and every time we do, our educators need to really understand the words, and START DAMN WELL APPLYING THEM! God will not take this country forward alone!
Brian
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