Program Director
Staff of Wits University
Colleagues
Friends and Family
On a day like this, on an occasion such as this, it would only be respectful for me to observe protocol and start from the beginning. Yet if I did that I would be following common routes that statesmen, businessmen, men of cloth and their likes have followed and that would be boring. Solely because if I do start from the beginning while observing this protocol I would be assuming a beginning similar to that of every speaker, and we all know that we come from different beginnings. So let me start from my beginning here it goes:
Mama, thank you for giving me the opportunity of life, the opportunity to express myself and grow through experience. You are truly the love of my life. Thank you.
The greatest protocol to follow is that protocol with which you have come to be groomed, that which is at your centre…and for me, my protocol comes from the Ubuntu principle that says: Sicala Ekhaya (we start from home). Now that my beginning has begun, let us continue
Ladies and gentlemen thank you for taking time from your business, academic and personal schedules to come and hear what we have to say. It truly is an honour today for me to celebrate this day with you.
I woke up this morning and there was just something about this day that engulfed my heart with joy. Though I am locked in the city centre with buildings towering over my view, with no tree in my backyard or grass in the front. I could hear the birds humming a joyful summer tune in winter, I could smell the sweet morning dew off the grass, and the freshness of the morning breeze comforted my innermost being. I had a hunch, a feeling deep down in the bosom of my heart that today, the 13th of May 2009 was going to be a great day. It is for this reason that I have no trickling of doubt in my mind that I am in the right place, at the right time, with the right people.
When I started SGM Motivations I went around seeking peoples’ opinions, looking for them to give me their stamp of approval. I went from friends to family, from teachers to fellow students, sub-consciously asking for their go-ahead. I wanted to make sure that as I ascended the motivational hills I had everybody cheering me on. I wanted all humans with whom I had relations, to be at peace with that decision. Amongst the many obstacles to progress, is the deep desire for those around me to cheer me on. I have longed for people to tell me “Yes Simon, you are doing the right thing, carry on.” Because this has not happened that much I have hesitated in putting SGM Motivations out there in the robust market, so that it can establish itself as a trusted business.
I have been held back by a few utterances that have stayed in my head…both by forces of failure and people alike.
I have asked myself, “What if they don’t like it?”, “What If they don’t trust it?”, “Who do you think you are Simon?”, “What have you achieved?” and this to a certain extent has held me back, still kneeling at the start of the race. I have been on my mark, already gotten set, yet I have hesitated to run even though the shots have been fired in the air, more than twice.
But I thank my creator that after some work, I have now grown the wings strong enough to fly against the winds of resistance. I have come to terms with this following fact:
SGM Motivations is a motivational business, with motivation coming before business. But we will by all means invest in our brand as much as we can, to establish ourselves in this market of supply and demand. I have decided with little advice from outside forces.
I have noted that the biggest rewards in life. Come against the greatest resistance. Resistance from the outside but greatly from the inside. If a human being can arrange a board meeting with his mind and heart, taking advice from his purpose and dreams, and consulting with his creator. If from that meeting he concludes that he will do something, he will most certainly do it. If a man can decide today that he will become president tomorrow, he can. If he can decide that he will win a war, climb a mountain, or swim the seven seas, he will…whether the general pubic approve or not…he will do so, solely because he has decided. There is great power in outside forces, I do not doubt that, but there is an even greater power in the intimate decision-making power within an individual.
I enjoyed a documentary on television sometime ago, detailing the role of the teachers in the Soweto uprisings of 1976. One of the interviewees, a principal on one of the schools had this to say, “We decided as a group of teachers, that we could not teach under these conditions, so we decided that we would stop coming to school…though it was tough, because we were not receiving salaries and our families were looking to us for income…it was a decision that we could not go back on”. The operative word in that statement is “Decided”. You see something happens when people decide…the universe cannot help but make a way for a decision maker. Something happened when Obama decided he was going to be the first black president of the United States. Something happened when Steve Biko decided he was Black and Proud. Something happened when Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu and others decided that South Africa was a country for all who live in it. Something happened when Martin Luther King decided he was not a nigger, and when South Africa decided they wanted the FIFA World Cup to come to African soil.
Something happens and I don’t know what this something is, but it definitely does happen.
This brings me to the conclusion that the reason why some of us are living the way we are, is because we have decided to live that way. South Africa is the way it is today, because we as South Africans have decided that that is the way it should be. You see because we are at war today…in our beautiful republic today, there is a war that threatens the sovereignty of the South African flag. We are at war with HIV/AIDS, we are at war with crime, we are at war with teenage pregnancy , drug and child abuse. We are at war with the fact that today right now as we sit here there is a school in Soweto that has a broken science laboratory and bear minimum equipment. A school that has no library, to feed the young minds of South Arican students. A school that has dehumanizing environments for both teachers and students, where bathrooms wreak of unmentionable odours.
We are at war with the fact that that particular school houses a black generation that is expected to do well and produce matriculants that will be fit enough to cope and succeed in university.
We are at war with the fact that today somewhere in the sweetness and hope of the morning a young girl woke up, took a bath and dressed in her bright coloured school uniform. She hugged and kissed her mom after scoring some pocket money and hopped her way to school. But when she got to the school gate, she didn’t go into the school grounds…she chose rather to spend the day in the company of someone other than her fellow students, in the supervision of someone other than her school teacher.
We are at war with mediocre leadership, where leaders are put into positions of trust and responsibility but take it upon themselves to pocket as much monetary benefit as they can from that position.
We are at war with amnesia where people are easy to forget where we come from as a nation, and quick to undermine our present and potential brightness of our future.
We are at war in schools, in government and churches. We are at war whether walking in the street, the mall or in the comfort of your own home. And this calls for firm decision makers, because sometimes the reason why we lose these wars is because someone chose to turn a bind eye. Sometimes we fail not because we are incapable of succeeding but because one of our counterparts chose to turn the other way. You see because the only thing that is needed for evil to prevail is for noble men to do nothing. People who decide not to decide.
Over the past month Karabo Masia, Obakeng Lebethe and I got together and created a Non-profit organization called Moti-Vision. This organization will adopt a school in Soweto. We adopt this school and commit to giving them motivational talks, mentorship programs, and career exhibitions. The aim is to ensure that matriculants come out of that school with at least a full view of the possibilities that await them in the world outside. Yet that is the minimum requirement.
We do not think of ourselves as angels, impeccable saints or world changers. All we know is that we cannot stand aside with our hands folded while our brothers and sisters struggle to ascend the academic hills. We will do all that is in our power to ensure credible mentorship and educational inspiration.
All we know is that quality education should not be words that only exist in the dictionary and the mouths of politicians. They should not be words that only exist during election campaigns and television commercials. They are not words only to be echoed in parliament or the suburbs, but they should be words that are alive in the most remote of villages and roughest of neighbourhoods. It should be alive in Sandton and Soweto, Witbank and Winchester. It should be alive in Senoane Secondary School and St. Stithians School.
Fellow South Africans, as we enter into the coming presidential term let us remind ourselves that a country is only as good as its people. Our country is not a land of political parties but a home for all South Africans…if there is anything that needs to be changed let it not be at the discretion of a manifesto, or the guidance of a policy. If there is any growth let it not be dictated by economic forums, but let it be up to us. If there is any delivery let it not be stalled by bureaucratic redtape, but let it be secured by us.
Let us remind ourselves that democracy is a government by the people, for the people to the people. Let us remind ourselves that a country’s success or failure is not determined by its presidents but by its residents.
There are enemies that are raging war against South Africa’s 14 year innocence. Some are secretly creeping in under closed doors some are not even afraid to hide their faces. If there is one mechanism for the defeat of these obstacles to progress, it is the alliance of all decision makers. We may not defeat these enemies, they may overpower us and take over our homes. They may ascend the hills, come through the city gates and tear down the city walls. Yet let us not go down easily, let us stand firm and know this, we will try all that we can, we will fight as much as we can and God will do for us what we cannot. Because we asked him to, remember we asked him to be with us…we got down on our knees and asked:
Nkosi Sikelela i-Afrika
Maluphakanyisw’ uphondo lwayo
Yizwa Imithandazo yethu
Nkosi Sikekela Thina Lusapho Lwayo
But we did not stop there, we continued on to say,
Morena Boloka setjhaba sa heso
O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho
O se boloke O se boloke setjhaba sa heso
O se boloke O se boloke setjhaba sa- Afrika
It is for this reason that we shoud stand tall and say to all our enemies, these forces of bad and evil
We stand against all forms of hate and anger, violence and fury. We stand against all forms of bad and evil and we say unto you: Bad And Evil, bring all your friends, your cousins and machinery of death. We challenge your fury and confront your laws. In defiance we rage war against you; on the battlefield we challenge you... we stand not alone.
And as you come we warn you:
You may kick and shoot, hit and boot;
You may punch and grab, smack and stab;
But if God is for us no-one can be against us.
You may bully and push, slap and swoosh;
You may wrestle and hit and your poison spit
But if God is for us, no one can be against us.
And after all war has been raged and weaponry used. If it is in times of despair and darkness in air, even if it has taken our physical bodies and their agents celebrating… we will rejoice in our spirit, sitting with our God, singing “If God is for us, no-one can be against us”
Friday, May 15, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
A message to the people of Purpose
One thing that I love about our lives is that they are part of a long term purpose. Each and every one of us are part of this long term purpose that God has planned out.
This long term purpose is made up of short term purposes, where each and everyone is created to come in and play their own uniquely defined role in it. It started with Adam and Eve, and then passed on to Abraham, then to Moses, to King David and to the Apostle Paul. All these are individuals who had a small role to play in this long term purpose.
Julius Caesar came in and played his role and passed on, Martin Luther King came into earth and played his role and in the long term purpose and passed, Steve Biko, Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo came in and played their roles and passed on. Miriam Makeba, Nina Simone and Fela Kuti came in and played their roles and passed on. Our very own great grandparents and grandparents played their own unique roles and passed on.
Like a relay race each and everybody runs their designated piece of the track, they run as fast or as slow as they can, sweating it all out racing against the possibility of failure…and once that race is run (no matter how fast or slow the pace was, no matter how much ground the pacing has covered), they have to pass the baton.
And now the time has come for my generation (and I) to play our role in this long term purpose…to grab the baton and run…Our time is now, It is now our time. My body/physique, my abilities, strengths and weaknesses have all been borrowed to me in order that I may fulfill this purpose.
There will never be another time or opportunity for me to be the best that I can be, but the current time. There will never be another stage for me to display how much I can do, to express my talents and stretch the rubber of my potential but this stage.
I say this because there exists a deeply entrenched belief in some of us that we can let go of our opportunity to board the train of time and another will appear for us to make our way to the land of success and greatness. We believe that we can waste time and catch up with it later. We purposely let this train of time leave without us and hang on tightly to the false hope that another one will come and take us to our next destination en route to 'Purposeburg'. But let us not be fooled or become victims of our own illusions, because the mornings are shorter, the afternoons are much quicker to fall into the night and the night is in a race with the morning… it is true my brothers and sisters we are visitors on this earth.
They say: Procrastination is a thief of Time.
In the Business world: Time is money.
Therefore as the (maths teacher would say) procrastination is a thief of money. If anything procrastination steals off the ground of greatness to be covered, and adds more seconds the stopwatch. Procrastination has its hands in our pockets, stealing in cents (cent by cent, rand by rand) millions of rands worth of the “success” we could achieve. Procrastination is like a thief in the night, terrorizing slowly and smoothly the people of purpose…and he must be stopped.
The only way in which he can be stopped is if the people of purpose can greatly appreciate their present and dedicate their lives to completing all tasks as early as possible. His hands can be tied by mass declaration to execute all tasks as and when they arise and not close to their expiry date. If anything procrastination will be hung in front of the masses, for all to see, if we could appreciate that we are living on borrowed time and leased bodies that house our possibilities, the only rent required is for us to make a decent attempt at being the best we can be. I hope the rightful owner of time and the landLORD of our bodies will be patient on us…because as we toil everyday in the field of our lives, we sometimes fall short of the rent money, paying only a percentage of our BEST…
Our time is now
This long term purpose is made up of short term purposes, where each and everyone is created to come in and play their own uniquely defined role in it. It started with Adam and Eve, and then passed on to Abraham, then to Moses, to King David and to the Apostle Paul. All these are individuals who had a small role to play in this long term purpose.
Julius Caesar came in and played his role and passed on, Martin Luther King came into earth and played his role and in the long term purpose and passed, Steve Biko, Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo came in and played their roles and passed on. Miriam Makeba, Nina Simone and Fela Kuti came in and played their roles and passed on. Our very own great grandparents and grandparents played their own unique roles and passed on.
Like a relay race each and everybody runs their designated piece of the track, they run as fast or as slow as they can, sweating it all out racing against the possibility of failure…and once that race is run (no matter how fast or slow the pace was, no matter how much ground the pacing has covered), they have to pass the baton.
And now the time has come for my generation (and I) to play our role in this long term purpose…to grab the baton and run…Our time is now, It is now our time. My body/physique, my abilities, strengths and weaknesses have all been borrowed to me in order that I may fulfill this purpose.
There will never be another time or opportunity for me to be the best that I can be, but the current time. There will never be another stage for me to display how much I can do, to express my talents and stretch the rubber of my potential but this stage.
I say this because there exists a deeply entrenched belief in some of us that we can let go of our opportunity to board the train of time and another will appear for us to make our way to the land of success and greatness. We believe that we can waste time and catch up with it later. We purposely let this train of time leave without us and hang on tightly to the false hope that another one will come and take us to our next destination en route to 'Purposeburg'. But let us not be fooled or become victims of our own illusions, because the mornings are shorter, the afternoons are much quicker to fall into the night and the night is in a race with the morning… it is true my brothers and sisters we are visitors on this earth.
They say: Procrastination is a thief of Time.
In the Business world: Time is money.
Therefore as the (maths teacher would say) procrastination is a thief of money. If anything procrastination steals off the ground of greatness to be covered, and adds more seconds the stopwatch. Procrastination has its hands in our pockets, stealing in cents (cent by cent, rand by rand) millions of rands worth of the “success” we could achieve. Procrastination is like a thief in the night, terrorizing slowly and smoothly the people of purpose…and he must be stopped.
The only way in which he can be stopped is if the people of purpose can greatly appreciate their present and dedicate their lives to completing all tasks as early as possible. His hands can be tied by mass declaration to execute all tasks as and when they arise and not close to their expiry date. If anything procrastination will be hung in front of the masses, for all to see, if we could appreciate that we are living on borrowed time and leased bodies that house our possibilities, the only rent required is for us to make a decent attempt at being the best we can be. I hope the rightful owner of time and the landLORD of our bodies will be patient on us…because as we toil everyday in the field of our lives, we sometimes fall short of the rent money, paying only a percentage of our BEST…
Our time is now
Sunday, March 15, 2009
The First Year Experience
First of all it would only be respectful for me to give credit where credit is due:
Wits has once again proved why it is one of the greatest institutions in the world by the creation of this program. This program seeks (as I see it) to ensure that witsies are well rounded professionals, that excel in all fields pursued and all grounds set foot on. This initiative being one of the first of its kind, gives students the leading edge if they choose to partake in it. The Student Affairs have really outdone themselves and I think we should both thank and congratulate them on a job well done.
The first years too, with the critics saying whatever they have been saying, making it into Wits is not Childs play …and congratulations are in order both for the student affairs for this initiative and the students for making it thus far. (round of applause)
During my first few days at wits I was overwhelmed by everything about it. The buildings, the people and even the lecturers. I got lost a couple of times, wound up broke in my first week, and to top it all off, I was mugged in the second week.
Some of the questions that kept on re-occurring in my mind were, what do I have to do to get to where I want to? Who do I have to befriend, and what activities do I have to take part in? I mean the societies were all around, some offering sports, debate, some free t-shirts and others even free drinks when you sign up. Upon leaving home I had a clear vision of the type of person I wanted to be, this included
1) Receiving an internationally recognized degree with one of the top 500 universities in the world
2) Being a key contributor to the community who would not only give back to the community but learn as much as I can about them.
3) Building long lasting relationships that would carry me through right through university, into business and other ventures I wanted to explore.
One realization I made though, was that in order for me to attain all of these ambitions I would have to ensure that I build the foundations of all 3 of them in my first year. Because the first year of varsity shines a bright light onto the preceding years. I think it’s like one of those long distance races, I have seen that those who normally start the race well usually end well. Once those first few steps are taken well with planned precision, those that come after have no choice but to follow suite.
After studying the first year experience, I couldn't help but note that it touches all forms of students.
Outdoor experiential learning: for those team players that enjoy the outdoors and partaking in entertaining activities
VInvolved: for those who are involved in giving back to the community.
Aim Higher: for students who enjoy motivating themselves and also to share their own views and hear form other people on their views about success.
Mentorship programs: where we will find the best teaching others to be their own best.
Building Bridges: so we could learn about the differences in society and find possible ways to complement each other, instead of highlighting the differences.
First In the Family: for those who are the first in their home setting to make it in to university. I must say that First in the Family is especially significant for some of us who have been given 2 conditions for going back home. Either you go home with the degree, or in a coffin.
As a matter of fact I am really disappointed that I never had this opportunity in first year. I know for a fact that if I had gone through this experience, not only would I have been a netter student, but I would have set higher goals, built better relationships and contributed even more society... I would have been a better me. No one student in this whole institution can claim that they wouldn’t benefit from this experience. It touches and brings in students from all backgrounds, in the pursuit of one common goal: Being the best that we can be.
In essence this is not just a first year experience it is simply an experience that you need to go through first before you get your degree. They say that an opportunity of a lifetime should be pursued in the lifetime of that opportunity. The first year experience is a lifetime opportunity that can and only last you a year, luckily for you this pursuit will be in your first year, and the lessons will last you a definite lifetime
I am sure that all of us, upon leaving home, had already painted a picture in our mind of the type of person that we would like to be on that final day when we are finally dressed with our graduation gown, and presented with our hard earned degree. We all have this picture hanging proudly in the wall of our minds. Each morning when we wake up we take a joy filled glance at this picture, and make attempts at bringing it to life on the piece of paper called our life. By going to lectures and tuts, studying and taking part in all those building activities, we actually take strides and make efforts at portraying this picture as accurately as we see it in our minds. We are the ones that are actually taking our dreams form our mind and living them out. None of lines that are drawn and the curves that are sketched are the doing of anybody else but ourselves. We are the ones that stand, dressed in our painting apron with a paint brush in our hand, painting and colouring out all that we see in our visions…NOBODY ELSE.
There exists among many of us the notion that by some chance, we will end up where we want to be, and become what we desire without taking the necessary strides to get there. I have seen many people seeking awards they haven’t worked for and recognition they don’t deserve. I have seen people looking at other achievers with envy as if they had just stolen their reward, but simply worked for it. My main point here is that in everything that is done, every person has the capacity of creation in his hands, and no part of what they will become will be the doing of somebody else or some miraculous event. A friend of mine Talumba Chirwa once said: “the reason some people believe in miracles is because they don’t believe in themselves”. I think what that he was trying to say is, greatness and achievement is never accidental but always intentional. There will never be a miraculous event that will turn you into something that you never intended to be.
If it is true that success happens when opportunity meets preparation, then most of life’s rewards will be received by you, who takes the risk of stepping out of your comfort zone and involve yourself in those activities that will engage and build you. Those activities that contribute to your goal, teach you more about yourself and bring out the best in you…activities that prepare you. And once that opportunity comes to the dance floor (as it always does), you better be ready to salsa, electric slide and booty hop the night away…because there is nothing as sad as seeing an unprepared soul stepping on the toes of an opportunity...Opportunity of a lifetime.
Wits has once again proved why it is one of the greatest institutions in the world by the creation of this program. This program seeks (as I see it) to ensure that witsies are well rounded professionals, that excel in all fields pursued and all grounds set foot on. This initiative being one of the first of its kind, gives students the leading edge if they choose to partake in it. The Student Affairs have really outdone themselves and I think we should both thank and congratulate them on a job well done.
The first years too, with the critics saying whatever they have been saying, making it into Wits is not Childs play …and congratulations are in order both for the student affairs for this initiative and the students for making it thus far. (round of applause)
During my first few days at wits I was overwhelmed by everything about it. The buildings, the people and even the lecturers. I got lost a couple of times, wound up broke in my first week, and to top it all off, I was mugged in the second week.
Some of the questions that kept on re-occurring in my mind were, what do I have to do to get to where I want to? Who do I have to befriend, and what activities do I have to take part in? I mean the societies were all around, some offering sports, debate, some free t-shirts and others even free drinks when you sign up. Upon leaving home I had a clear vision of the type of person I wanted to be, this included
1) Receiving an internationally recognized degree with one of the top 500 universities in the world
2) Being a key contributor to the community who would not only give back to the community but learn as much as I can about them.
3) Building long lasting relationships that would carry me through right through university, into business and other ventures I wanted to explore.
One realization I made though, was that in order for me to attain all of these ambitions I would have to ensure that I build the foundations of all 3 of them in my first year. Because the first year of varsity shines a bright light onto the preceding years. I think it’s like one of those long distance races, I have seen that those who normally start the race well usually end well. Once those first few steps are taken well with planned precision, those that come after have no choice but to follow suite.
After studying the first year experience, I couldn't help but note that it touches all forms of students.
Outdoor experiential learning: for those team players that enjoy the outdoors and partaking in entertaining activities
VInvolved: for those who are involved in giving back to the community.
Aim Higher: for students who enjoy motivating themselves and also to share their own views and hear form other people on their views about success.
Mentorship programs: where we will find the best teaching others to be their own best.
Building Bridges: so we could learn about the differences in society and find possible ways to complement each other, instead of highlighting the differences.
First In the Family: for those who are the first in their home setting to make it in to university. I must say that First in the Family is especially significant for some of us who have been given 2 conditions for going back home. Either you go home with the degree, or in a coffin.
As a matter of fact I am really disappointed that I never had this opportunity in first year. I know for a fact that if I had gone through this experience, not only would I have been a netter student, but I would have set higher goals, built better relationships and contributed even more society... I would have been a better me. No one student in this whole institution can claim that they wouldn’t benefit from this experience. It touches and brings in students from all backgrounds, in the pursuit of one common goal: Being the best that we can be.
In essence this is not just a first year experience it is simply an experience that you need to go through first before you get your degree. They say that an opportunity of a lifetime should be pursued in the lifetime of that opportunity. The first year experience is a lifetime opportunity that can and only last you a year, luckily for you this pursuit will be in your first year, and the lessons will last you a definite lifetime
I am sure that all of us, upon leaving home, had already painted a picture in our mind of the type of person that we would like to be on that final day when we are finally dressed with our graduation gown, and presented with our hard earned degree. We all have this picture hanging proudly in the wall of our minds. Each morning when we wake up we take a joy filled glance at this picture, and make attempts at bringing it to life on the piece of paper called our life. By going to lectures and tuts, studying and taking part in all those building activities, we actually take strides and make efforts at portraying this picture as accurately as we see it in our minds. We are the ones that are actually taking our dreams form our mind and living them out. None of lines that are drawn and the curves that are sketched are the doing of anybody else but ourselves. We are the ones that stand, dressed in our painting apron with a paint brush in our hand, painting and colouring out all that we see in our visions…NOBODY ELSE.
There exists among many of us the notion that by some chance, we will end up where we want to be, and become what we desire without taking the necessary strides to get there. I have seen many people seeking awards they haven’t worked for and recognition they don’t deserve. I have seen people looking at other achievers with envy as if they had just stolen their reward, but simply worked for it. My main point here is that in everything that is done, every person has the capacity of creation in his hands, and no part of what they will become will be the doing of somebody else or some miraculous event. A friend of mine Talumba Chirwa once said: “the reason some people believe in miracles is because they don’t believe in themselves”. I think what that he was trying to say is, greatness and achievement is never accidental but always intentional. There will never be a miraculous event that will turn you into something that you never intended to be.
If it is true that success happens when opportunity meets preparation, then most of life’s rewards will be received by you, who takes the risk of stepping out of your comfort zone and involve yourself in those activities that will engage and build you. Those activities that contribute to your goal, teach you more about yourself and bring out the best in you…activities that prepare you. And once that opportunity comes to the dance floor (as it always does), you better be ready to salsa, electric slide and booty hop the night away…because there is nothing as sad as seeing an unprepared soul stepping on the toes of an opportunity...Opportunity of a lifetime.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Black and White
I remember in 1993 it was exactly when a new guy had come into our nursery school, Tiny Tots. I walked up to him, not knowing his name, and started up a conversation: at only 6 years, in your face and talkative, I was not shy on making friends. We chatted and played the day away, I had found a new friend. His name: Graeme Colman. Within a few days of being Graeme’s true friend, and co-builder of sand castles and Lego Skyscrapers I received a letter from Graeme’s mother that I was to give to my mother. Excited by this strange act and keen to find out what was in it, I got home and shoved it into my mother’s hands. Eagerly and impatiently looking up at my mother as if I was a young puppy and my mother was my owner bearing a juicy piece of steak, I was later to find that I was being invited for a sleepover at Graeme’s house. Granted! That was the beginning of my best childhood friendship with my great white friend Graeme Colman.
To tell you the truth, I have never really known what racism actually is. I had never experienced it. Sure I had heard of the word, I had watched documentaries detailing the ills of apartheid.
Sure I had seen that videotape that was displayed on Special Assignment of the policemen that set their dogs on a group of helpless, harmless and defenseless black guys. And yes I did get one of those teachers who expressed their deepest love for the Boeremag and eternal devotion to the AWB…but never ever did I get the feeling that Racism actually existed, at least not around me.
Not until I worked part time as a waiter for the local Ocean Basket in Witbank. During one of the busiest nights, I had asked for a lucrative section that people would enjoy sitting in and thus earn me a bit more money. Being a waiter isn’t all about serving people its also about getting the right section of the restaurant. When people are seated in the right place of the room, with the right view and scenery, their wallets become a lot less tight. This means more tips, more money in the bank, which means a happier me.
At round about 8 p.m. (which is our peak time), a couple walked in, because of the busyness of the day I quickly sat them down, took their drinks order and vanished to go and get it. While pouring their drink I decided to try and ease them into their seats with a good joke (one of my best jokes too). I would love to tell you that these two burst out laughing, embraced my wit and asked for my name, but I would be lying. They didn’t laugh no smile, no grin, not even a show of tooth. I felt like crap, but so as not to let it get me down I simply shrugged it off and convinced myself: “it’s not my fault they don’t have sense of humor.” I dashed away to go and remove the egg that was smeared all over my face and came back.
As walked towards their table I could see from afar that there was something they weren’t happy about, their faces had changed. Each one had a frown on their forehead and fold in their mouth that (in my culture) signifies disgust. Upon finally arriving at their table to enquire, they intolerantly mumbled something in Afrikaans that sounded like: “We want to speak to the manger.” I kindly went and summoned one of my managers over to that “lucrative” corner table.
From the time Paulo (the manager) had arrived at the scene (which I was far from), I had been questioning myself about what it was, exactly, I had done wrong. I had even started blaming myself for the jokes, my greeting and even the way I was standing.
When Paulo had concluded his apologetic conversation with them, he summoned another waiter to their table and made his way over to me. He explained to me that those two were a racist bunch and they would’ve preferred it if they had a white Afrikaans speaking waiter. At the time I breathed a deep sigh of relief and said “so it wasn’t me”, regaining myself confidence, I attended to my other tables. I did, however, keep an eye one those two and they seemed to enjoy their night away in the company of their newfound white Afrikaans-speaking waiter.
At cashing in time, I noticed that I had a continuous buzz of confusion in my mind. “Is this allowed in restaurants?” and upon consulting some of my co-workers, I found that it happened regularly under the new ownership. Upon hearing these statements from my co-workers the buzz of confusion grew even louder and chanted even more questions in my direction, “Is this allowed? Is this right? Stupid racists! don’t they know that the chef’s are black too? Are these the kind of work conditions that people get exposed to?” I tried to quiet down this confusion with two answers:
1) Some people will never change
2) It was their personal choice, everyone is allowed to have their personal choice right? And I left if at that…at least I tried to.
Another work day came and this time it was during the week a more relaxed night where people prefer to cook than to eat out. This time I had three tables and only one of my tables was occupied. I had just finished serving the guests with their main course and they were happily eating away. So I headed towards the door to hustle some more customers and lure them over to my section. When I got to the door I noticed two ladies who seemed to be approaching our door, so I stood up straight in a welcoming manner. I was wrong though they were simply walking towards their car that was parked a few feet away from our entrance. Realizing that they had in actual fact come from our next door neighbour, Cappuccinos, I kindly accepted my blunder and asked them to consider our restaurant next time they thought of eating out. With no luck appearing at the door I decided to check on my existing guests, I found that they had just finished their meal and were ready for their dessert order to be taken. Just after I had dropped off those dirty dishes and on my way to ring up the dessert, I noticed two (fat, rugby playing) white guys charging in my direction, being escorted by both the owner and manager. These guys were fuming and red in the face, when they finally made it to their destination they barked a number of threats. They threatened to break me into pieces and slaughter me alive if I uttered insults in the direction of their wives ever again. I was later to find that these men had come to set straight the guy who had allegedly offended their wives. They were apparently calmed done by the owner when he told them that all of this would be unnecessary and that he would give me a serious talking – to once they had gone. Once these two guys had finished their “we-going-to-mess-you-up-kaffir” speeches that whole buzz of confusion came buzzing right back, as I sure knew it would.
A part of me wishes that those guys would have at least laid a hand on me, because it would have initiated one of the biggest wars ever. We would’ve gone to court and proved that apartheid is indeed dead and buried. Another part of me is happy I got out of that without a scratch, God knows I am the coward of all cowards and those two racist fatties would’ve flattened me out. What made me even angrier was that both my manager and boss came to warn me of my supposed mischievous behaviour. They made sure to point out to me that had done me a big favour by stopping those guys otherwise I would be in hospital flat on a bed. They even cared to point out to me that the white men of that area were very sensitive people and I should make sure that I keep out of their way at all times. I wasn’t even asked about my side of the story, I was simply guilty (in their eyes) and apparently very lucky that I had not received a beating from those guys.
The buzz of confusion made sure to tell me that I might not be long in that place.
After those incidents, I made sure to wear my racist eyeglasses to work. I viewed all subsequent events through these glasses and boy did I see clearer.
On the 3rd of January to be exact, I stood up for a co-worker of mine who was being unfairly treated by the owner. I then got into a war of words with the boss making him very aware what I thought of his leadership style. I told him just how unfair I thought he was for allowing the ghost of Apartheid to re-appear in his shop and how, just for the mere fact that he allowed it; it was the same as if he was encouraging racism. I concluded by calling him a racist who hides behind the fact that he gives jobs to black people.
After those few months I realized that if there was any place in which the ghost of apartheid lived it must be my own hometown: Witbank
Aime Cesaire once said. “When I turn on my radio and hear that Negroes have been lynched in America, I say we have been lied to Hitler is not dead. When I turn on my radio and hear that in South Africa Apartheid has been legislated and inaugurated, I say that we have been lied to Hitler is not dead”.
Steve Biko adds: “When I turn on my radio, when I hear that someone in Pondoland was beaten and tortured, I say that we have been lied to, Hitler is not dead. When I turn on my radio when I hear that someone in jail slipped off a piece of soap, fell and died, I say that we have been lied to Hitler is not dead: he is likely to be found in Pretoria.”
I would like to add: “When I go to work and find that there are certain customers that I can’t serve, due to the color of my skin, I say that we have been lied to Hitler is not dead. When I turn my newspaper to the sports section and find that my favorite soccer team cannot play in their usual sports ground, due to some capitalistic white bullies, I say that we have been lied to, Hitler is not dead…he is likely to be found in Witbank/Emalahleni.
Yes I said it: because it can only be Hitler-like mentality that still believes (after 14 years of democracy) they are superior to other human beings. It can only be Hitler-like mentality that still has you felling offended after an honest young black man mistakes you for someone who is walking into the restaurant he works for. So yes I said it!
It is intolerable for such things to happen. Absolutely intolerable and it cannot be allowed to continue. If this is what happens to us during ordinary days, what happens to our parents (in the job sector) who depend on white people to put food on their tables? What happens to the ordinary schoolchildren that choose to go to predominantly white schools because of their obvious access to better resources?
I have tried over the past 3 years to ignore the fact that we have this disease. However every time I try to ignore it, the confusion keeps on re-appearing like an un-cultured ghost…each time being resurrected by experiencing and observing racist activities, when I come home for the holidays. Whether these racist actions are shown towards me or somebody else, the mere fact that it occurs haunts my humanity. I am haunted even more by the words of Karl Jaspers when he notes: “There exists among men, because they are men, a solidarity through which each shares responsibility for every injustice and every wrong committed in the world and especially for crimes that are committed in his presence or of which he cannot be ignorant. If I do not do whatever I can to prevent them, I am an accomplice in them. If I have risked my life in order to prevent the murder of other men, if I have stood silent, I feel guilty in a sense that cannot in any adequate fashion be understood jurisdicially or politically or morally…that I am still alive after such things have been done, weighs on me a guilt that cannot be expiated. Somewhere in the hearts of human relations, an absolute command that imposes itself: In case of a criminal attack or of living conditions that threaten physical being, choose life for altogether or none at all”
You see not many of us can claim redemption from such, whether it comes within our knowledge by experience, observation or even through word-of-mouth . One cannot claim that they are exempt from doing something to discontinue such threatening activity. Victim or not, one cannot sit by and allow even a fraction of our city to house human beings that believe and subscribe to the notion: BLACK IS INFERIOR.
Let’s say there are 3 known burglars that continue to rob and terrorize members of a small little village. If there are some members of that village that come to know of an incident where a radio was sold to another member of that village, that incident has to investigated and the dealers found. Once found all the members of that community have a fiduciary duty to find these partners and show them that their thieving activities will not be tolerated. This should be done within the boundaries of the law (i.e. do not kill them, remember they should be able to talk when they are questioned on the witness stand). Whether these robbers are found guilty by the justice system, they would reconsider their behavior because the village would have displayed their lack of tolerance for such behavior. In essence they would be left with nothing but two options.
1) Stay in the village and subscribe to the morals and values of the majority
2) Relocate to a place where their thieving activities will be accepted (wherever that is).
Why? In order for a community to live in peace, they must decide to live in peace. If a community wants to live in a drug free environment they must decide. And if the majority believes that something is wrong than the minority must either face the wrath of the majority or flee to a land where the majority is just like them. If racists know and understand that they are in the minority, if they know that their actions will not be stomached, if teachers are made aware that the community does not allow for white students to be preferred over black students. If they are made aware that it is either they are served by the waiter they are given or they have a braai at home…then they will be left with nothing but two options
1) Continue to live in Emalahleni and subscribe to the same values and morals as everybody else
2) Flee to a land where racism will be allowed.
But let me stress that WE MUST DECIDE, ALL OF US. Our decisions must be based on the values and ethics that we subscribe to as a society. Nobody must be a bystander or spectator; you cannot just sit on the fence. It’s either you are in or out.
One of the reasons we are living in a democratic South Africa is because many people decided in the direction of a democratic South Africa. They decided to lay down their lives for this rainbow nation that they so greatly desired, and hence we are basking in the sunlight of their dreams. These times too need firm decision makers, who will stand by their decisions no matter what the consequences are.
Over the years from Grade 0-3 Graeme and I developed a great friendship and enjoyed many sleepovers at his house. We burnt marshmallows, ate marmite and camped outside his house together. The boy even taught me to cook Phuthu, he loved it, and because of him I still cannot enjoy my Phuthu without a little bit of brown sugar sprinkled on top. I personally believe that if we could work together to fight such unnecessary things as racism we could easily build a great future. A future where kids of all races will eat pap, samoosas, and braaivleis together. Where they can visit each other with no conditions, where colour will not be known to be a limit. Where difference of colour is not an obstacle to progress, or a wall to embrace but a mere difference in pigmentation, painted by the artist GOD. Maybe if we stop all this hating God will smile on us and put an end to race and paint us all in the same colour, maybe grey or navy blue…but I prefer BLACK AND WHITE.
-SGM
To tell you the truth, I have never really known what racism actually is. I had never experienced it. Sure I had heard of the word, I had watched documentaries detailing the ills of apartheid.
Sure I had seen that videotape that was displayed on Special Assignment of the policemen that set their dogs on a group of helpless, harmless and defenseless black guys. And yes I did get one of those teachers who expressed their deepest love for the Boeremag and eternal devotion to the AWB…but never ever did I get the feeling that Racism actually existed, at least not around me.
Not until I worked part time as a waiter for the local Ocean Basket in Witbank. During one of the busiest nights, I had asked for a lucrative section that people would enjoy sitting in and thus earn me a bit more money. Being a waiter isn’t all about serving people its also about getting the right section of the restaurant. When people are seated in the right place of the room, with the right view and scenery, their wallets become a lot less tight. This means more tips, more money in the bank, which means a happier me.
At round about 8 p.m. (which is our peak time), a couple walked in, because of the busyness of the day I quickly sat them down, took their drinks order and vanished to go and get it. While pouring their drink I decided to try and ease them into their seats with a good joke (one of my best jokes too). I would love to tell you that these two burst out laughing, embraced my wit and asked for my name, but I would be lying. They didn’t laugh no smile, no grin, not even a show of tooth. I felt like crap, but so as not to let it get me down I simply shrugged it off and convinced myself: “it’s not my fault they don’t have sense of humor.” I dashed away to go and remove the egg that was smeared all over my face and came back.
As walked towards their table I could see from afar that there was something they weren’t happy about, their faces had changed. Each one had a frown on their forehead and fold in their mouth that (in my culture) signifies disgust. Upon finally arriving at their table to enquire, they intolerantly mumbled something in Afrikaans that sounded like: “We want to speak to the manger.” I kindly went and summoned one of my managers over to that “lucrative” corner table.
From the time Paulo (the manager) had arrived at the scene (which I was far from), I had been questioning myself about what it was, exactly, I had done wrong. I had even started blaming myself for the jokes, my greeting and even the way I was standing.
When Paulo had concluded his apologetic conversation with them, he summoned another waiter to their table and made his way over to me. He explained to me that those two were a racist bunch and they would’ve preferred it if they had a white Afrikaans speaking waiter. At the time I breathed a deep sigh of relief and said “so it wasn’t me”, regaining myself confidence, I attended to my other tables. I did, however, keep an eye one those two and they seemed to enjoy their night away in the company of their newfound white Afrikaans-speaking waiter.
At cashing in time, I noticed that I had a continuous buzz of confusion in my mind. “Is this allowed in restaurants?” and upon consulting some of my co-workers, I found that it happened regularly under the new ownership. Upon hearing these statements from my co-workers the buzz of confusion grew even louder and chanted even more questions in my direction, “Is this allowed? Is this right? Stupid racists! don’t they know that the chef’s are black too? Are these the kind of work conditions that people get exposed to?” I tried to quiet down this confusion with two answers:
1) Some people will never change
2) It was their personal choice, everyone is allowed to have their personal choice right? And I left if at that…at least I tried to.
Another work day came and this time it was during the week a more relaxed night where people prefer to cook than to eat out. This time I had three tables and only one of my tables was occupied. I had just finished serving the guests with their main course and they were happily eating away. So I headed towards the door to hustle some more customers and lure them over to my section. When I got to the door I noticed two ladies who seemed to be approaching our door, so I stood up straight in a welcoming manner. I was wrong though they were simply walking towards their car that was parked a few feet away from our entrance. Realizing that they had in actual fact come from our next door neighbour, Cappuccinos, I kindly accepted my blunder and asked them to consider our restaurant next time they thought of eating out. With no luck appearing at the door I decided to check on my existing guests, I found that they had just finished their meal and were ready for their dessert order to be taken. Just after I had dropped off those dirty dishes and on my way to ring up the dessert, I noticed two (fat, rugby playing) white guys charging in my direction, being escorted by both the owner and manager. These guys were fuming and red in the face, when they finally made it to their destination they barked a number of threats. They threatened to break me into pieces and slaughter me alive if I uttered insults in the direction of their wives ever again. I was later to find that these men had come to set straight the guy who had allegedly offended their wives. They were apparently calmed done by the owner when he told them that all of this would be unnecessary and that he would give me a serious talking – to once they had gone. Once these two guys had finished their “we-going-to-mess-you-up-kaffir” speeches that whole buzz of confusion came buzzing right back, as I sure knew it would.
A part of me wishes that those guys would have at least laid a hand on me, because it would have initiated one of the biggest wars ever. We would’ve gone to court and proved that apartheid is indeed dead and buried. Another part of me is happy I got out of that without a scratch, God knows I am the coward of all cowards and those two racist fatties would’ve flattened me out. What made me even angrier was that both my manager and boss came to warn me of my supposed mischievous behaviour. They made sure to point out to me that had done me a big favour by stopping those guys otherwise I would be in hospital flat on a bed. They even cared to point out to me that the white men of that area were very sensitive people and I should make sure that I keep out of their way at all times. I wasn’t even asked about my side of the story, I was simply guilty (in their eyes) and apparently very lucky that I had not received a beating from those guys.
The buzz of confusion made sure to tell me that I might not be long in that place.
After those incidents, I made sure to wear my racist eyeglasses to work. I viewed all subsequent events through these glasses and boy did I see clearer.
On the 3rd of January to be exact, I stood up for a co-worker of mine who was being unfairly treated by the owner. I then got into a war of words with the boss making him very aware what I thought of his leadership style. I told him just how unfair I thought he was for allowing the ghost of Apartheid to re-appear in his shop and how, just for the mere fact that he allowed it; it was the same as if he was encouraging racism. I concluded by calling him a racist who hides behind the fact that he gives jobs to black people.
After those few months I realized that if there was any place in which the ghost of apartheid lived it must be my own hometown: Witbank
Aime Cesaire once said. “When I turn on my radio and hear that Negroes have been lynched in America, I say we have been lied to Hitler is not dead. When I turn on my radio and hear that in South Africa Apartheid has been legislated and inaugurated, I say that we have been lied to Hitler is not dead”.
Steve Biko adds: “When I turn on my radio, when I hear that someone in Pondoland was beaten and tortured, I say that we have been lied to, Hitler is not dead. When I turn on my radio when I hear that someone in jail slipped off a piece of soap, fell and died, I say that we have been lied to Hitler is not dead: he is likely to be found in Pretoria.”
I would like to add: “When I go to work and find that there are certain customers that I can’t serve, due to the color of my skin, I say that we have been lied to Hitler is not dead. When I turn my newspaper to the sports section and find that my favorite soccer team cannot play in their usual sports ground, due to some capitalistic white bullies, I say that we have been lied to, Hitler is not dead…he is likely to be found in Witbank/Emalahleni.
Yes I said it: because it can only be Hitler-like mentality that still believes (after 14 years of democracy) they are superior to other human beings. It can only be Hitler-like mentality that still has you felling offended after an honest young black man mistakes you for someone who is walking into the restaurant he works for. So yes I said it!
It is intolerable for such things to happen. Absolutely intolerable and it cannot be allowed to continue. If this is what happens to us during ordinary days, what happens to our parents (in the job sector) who depend on white people to put food on their tables? What happens to the ordinary schoolchildren that choose to go to predominantly white schools because of their obvious access to better resources?
I have tried over the past 3 years to ignore the fact that we have this disease. However every time I try to ignore it, the confusion keeps on re-appearing like an un-cultured ghost…each time being resurrected by experiencing and observing racist activities, when I come home for the holidays. Whether these racist actions are shown towards me or somebody else, the mere fact that it occurs haunts my humanity. I am haunted even more by the words of Karl Jaspers when he notes: “There exists among men, because they are men, a solidarity through which each shares responsibility for every injustice and every wrong committed in the world and especially for crimes that are committed in his presence or of which he cannot be ignorant. If I do not do whatever I can to prevent them, I am an accomplice in them. If I have risked my life in order to prevent the murder of other men, if I have stood silent, I feel guilty in a sense that cannot in any adequate fashion be understood jurisdicially or politically or morally…that I am still alive after such things have been done, weighs on me a guilt that cannot be expiated. Somewhere in the hearts of human relations, an absolute command that imposes itself: In case of a criminal attack or of living conditions that threaten physical being, choose life for altogether or none at all”
You see not many of us can claim redemption from such, whether it comes within our knowledge by experience, observation or even through word-of-mouth . One cannot claim that they are exempt from doing something to discontinue such threatening activity. Victim or not, one cannot sit by and allow even a fraction of our city to house human beings that believe and subscribe to the notion: BLACK IS INFERIOR.
Let’s say there are 3 known burglars that continue to rob and terrorize members of a small little village. If there are some members of that village that come to know of an incident where a radio was sold to another member of that village, that incident has to investigated and the dealers found. Once found all the members of that community have a fiduciary duty to find these partners and show them that their thieving activities will not be tolerated. This should be done within the boundaries of the law (i.e. do not kill them, remember they should be able to talk when they are questioned on the witness stand). Whether these robbers are found guilty by the justice system, they would reconsider their behavior because the village would have displayed their lack of tolerance for such behavior. In essence they would be left with nothing but two options.
1) Stay in the village and subscribe to the morals and values of the majority
2) Relocate to a place where their thieving activities will be accepted (wherever that is).
Why? In order for a community to live in peace, they must decide to live in peace. If a community wants to live in a drug free environment they must decide. And if the majority believes that something is wrong than the minority must either face the wrath of the majority or flee to a land where the majority is just like them. If racists know and understand that they are in the minority, if they know that their actions will not be stomached, if teachers are made aware that the community does not allow for white students to be preferred over black students. If they are made aware that it is either they are served by the waiter they are given or they have a braai at home…then they will be left with nothing but two options
1) Continue to live in Emalahleni and subscribe to the same values and morals as everybody else
2) Flee to a land where racism will be allowed.
But let me stress that WE MUST DECIDE, ALL OF US. Our decisions must be based on the values and ethics that we subscribe to as a society. Nobody must be a bystander or spectator; you cannot just sit on the fence. It’s either you are in or out.
One of the reasons we are living in a democratic South Africa is because many people decided in the direction of a democratic South Africa. They decided to lay down their lives for this rainbow nation that they so greatly desired, and hence we are basking in the sunlight of their dreams. These times too need firm decision makers, who will stand by their decisions no matter what the consequences are.
Over the years from Grade 0-3 Graeme and I developed a great friendship and enjoyed many sleepovers at his house. We burnt marshmallows, ate marmite and camped outside his house together. The boy even taught me to cook Phuthu, he loved it, and because of him I still cannot enjoy my Phuthu without a little bit of brown sugar sprinkled on top. I personally believe that if we could work together to fight such unnecessary things as racism we could easily build a great future. A future where kids of all races will eat pap, samoosas, and braaivleis together. Where they can visit each other with no conditions, where colour will not be known to be a limit. Where difference of colour is not an obstacle to progress, or a wall to embrace but a mere difference in pigmentation, painted by the artist GOD. Maybe if we stop all this hating God will smile on us and put an end to race and paint us all in the same colour, maybe grey or navy blue…but I prefer BLACK AND WHITE.
-SGM
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Love Your Neighbour
I have often come across many individuals that think of themselves as the elitist or most exclusive.
Let me give you an example: If you are from the township, you will have noticed the apparent pride that “amajita wase khoneni” (guys from the corner) have. They are proud of who they are and where they are from, believing that they are “the guys” and “can’t be touched”. On the flipside of that coin, they loathe those they like to call ama-kokonut (coconuts) or snobs (these are usually the richer kids from the suburbs).
The ironic thing about this whole equation is that the reverse is true. The feeling that the apparent snobs have for the so called “boys from the hood” is mutual, they don’t like as much as they are not liked.
It is the same with people who drink and their counterparts,
People who smoke and their counterparts,
Virgins and their counterparts,
Native South Africans and (some) of their counterparts,
Born again Christians and their counterparts.
All of us walking the earth must have been guilty of sub-consciously judging people who choose not to do what we do, who choose not to spend time their time like we do.
By demeaning other people’s stance, by using our words to smudge through the picture we have of them, we try to make our stance seem like the one to take. People have a potential detrimental tendency to seek fulfilment. This hunger has driven us into yet another grave tendency: to seek fulfilment by creating false ideas of who and what people are, using them as a pillow (so we can have a finer nights rest).
The point here is not to make anybody feel guilty (after all I too have human tendencies). My problem, as I have mentioned, is that these acts become tendencies…we must learn that as people our stance is not fortified by the supposed inferiority of the one next to me. In fact at that point my stand is weakened, because that theory that has been so deeply entrenched…is false.
As people we should strive at all times to broaden our network. Converse and build relationships with people of different backgrounds, countries and cultures (and if race is still an issue, then race too). It is then, when we understand another’s views and thoughts. We pour into each others minds fluids of knowledge and understanding, relationships are built, gaps are bridged and the world slowly becomes a better place. I would like to conclude by saying: “By underestimating another, you overestimate yourself…and you don’t want to find out the hard way how much you are really worth”
-SGM
Let me give you an example: If you are from the township, you will have noticed the apparent pride that “amajita wase khoneni” (guys from the corner) have. They are proud of who they are and where they are from, believing that they are “the guys” and “can’t be touched”. On the flipside of that coin, they loathe those they like to call ama-kokonut (coconuts) or snobs (these are usually the richer kids from the suburbs).
The ironic thing about this whole equation is that the reverse is true. The feeling that the apparent snobs have for the so called “boys from the hood” is mutual, they don’t like as much as they are not liked.
It is the same with people who drink and their counterparts,
People who smoke and their counterparts,
Virgins and their counterparts,
Native South Africans and (some) of their counterparts,
Born again Christians and their counterparts.
All of us walking the earth must have been guilty of sub-consciously judging people who choose not to do what we do, who choose not to spend time their time like we do.
By demeaning other people’s stance, by using our words to smudge through the picture we have of them, we try to make our stance seem like the one to take. People have a potential detrimental tendency to seek fulfilment. This hunger has driven us into yet another grave tendency: to seek fulfilment by creating false ideas of who and what people are, using them as a pillow (so we can have a finer nights rest).
The point here is not to make anybody feel guilty (after all I too have human tendencies). My problem, as I have mentioned, is that these acts become tendencies…we must learn that as people our stance is not fortified by the supposed inferiority of the one next to me. In fact at that point my stand is weakened, because that theory that has been so deeply entrenched…is false.
As people we should strive at all times to broaden our network. Converse and build relationships with people of different backgrounds, countries and cultures (and if race is still an issue, then race too). It is then, when we understand another’s views and thoughts. We pour into each others minds fluids of knowledge and understanding, relationships are built, gaps are bridged and the world slowly becomes a better place. I would like to conclude by saying: “By underestimating another, you overestimate yourself…and you don’t want to find out the hard way how much you are really worth”
-SGM
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
APPRECIATION OF A VESSEL
My name is Simon Mtsuki, I am a young student who has realized that I was born with cleverness but with no knowledge, I have realized that I have many God-given traits which are set to be managed by me but determined by other humans and unsolved equations. I have taken a long time trying to understand this, and I have used this mis-understanding as a weapon against myself, preventing some humans from making me a knowledge-able master of arts in this changing world.
There are many people we can learn from, parents, friends or motivational speakers but today I specifically chose to speak about teachers.
Looking back into my student life, from the very first day, I realize that I amongst others have taken advantage of teachers. Looking back I see that I have taken for granted their positions they occupy, the knowledge they possesss and their role in my life. I realize that I as young as I am have not done enough to help to make an environment where I can be taught, coached, instructed and sufficiently developed into a survivor in this constantly changing world we are moving through…most importantly I have wasted a great amount of time which I could have used for eating but instead chose to weed out these fruits which were made for me to grow healthily and strong.
I now thank the heavens that I have realised that teachers aren’t the enemy but the ally to this war of mis-education on earth, that teachers aren’t the sickness but the medicine to this disease of lack of knowledge in my being, that teachers have the root of which I may be the fruit. Because it is quite crucial to understand that if it wasn’t for teachers I wouldn’t know how to write, I wouldn’t know what is 1+1, I wouldn’t know what are the cass marks for which I am trying to achieve by writing this speech… but more importantly I have realised that I am a vessel and teachers some how have the right liquids to pour into me so that I may follow my dreams… THANK GOD FOR THE SUN, THANK GOD FOR THE MOON, THANK GOD FOR ALL OF CREATION…AND THANK GOD FOR TEACHERS BECAUSE TEACHERS TRULY ARE GOD-GIVEN
There are many people we can learn from, parents, friends or motivational speakers but today I specifically chose to speak about teachers.
Looking back into my student life, from the very first day, I realize that I amongst others have taken advantage of teachers. Looking back I see that I have taken for granted their positions they occupy, the knowledge they possesss and their role in my life. I realize that I as young as I am have not done enough to help to make an environment where I can be taught, coached, instructed and sufficiently developed into a survivor in this constantly changing world we are moving through…most importantly I have wasted a great amount of time which I could have used for eating but instead chose to weed out these fruits which were made for me to grow healthily and strong.
I now thank the heavens that I have realised that teachers aren’t the enemy but the ally to this war of mis-education on earth, that teachers aren’t the sickness but the medicine to this disease of lack of knowledge in my being, that teachers have the root of which I may be the fruit. Because it is quite crucial to understand that if it wasn’t for teachers I wouldn’t know how to write, I wouldn’t know what is 1+1, I wouldn’t know what are the cass marks for which I am trying to achieve by writing this speech… but more importantly I have realised that I am a vessel and teachers some how have the right liquids to pour into me so that I may follow my dreams… THANK GOD FOR THE SUN, THANK GOD FOR THE MOON, THANK GOD FOR ALL OF CREATION…AND THANK GOD FOR TEACHERS BECAUSE TEACHERS TRULY ARE GOD-GIVEN
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