There are many things that I have managed to deal with and come to terms with in my life here in SA. Crime is one of them, for some reason I have managed to look past it and believe that it will get better. Politics is another area that I can rationalise because of my understanding of how things work, what the implications of actions are and a basic understanding of the system.
I am commonly referred to these days as “The SA Rocks Guy” and most of the time I like that, I think. This week though that has been hanging over my head. It’s tough to be that guy, the guy who is rationally and realistically positive in the face of great adversity and the many challenges that this country presents. I love that challenge, I thrive on it but this week it is getting the better of me.
It is important for everyone to have down days, at least this is what I’m sticking with for the moment. It’s important because when you eventually recover from your blue funk you are better for it and you can appreciate things more.
But I beg the question: How long before the depression turns in to anger and turns in to fleeing? I am going to be completely honest here, it has seriously crossed my mind that I should leave SA in the last week. I have considered packing a suitcase and getting on a plane. I can do it. I know I am financially able to and I have places to go, lots of places to go.
But you know what. Fuck that. I am a fixer, I am a helper and I am a fighter. I have seen the other side and I choose to stay here. This might change when I have kids, this might differ from week to week, but right now. I choose to stay and I choose to be the “SA Rocks Guy”.
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January 18th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Hey, it takes guts to lay it on the line like that. It’s important that those of us who have chosen to stay, do so not stubbornly, but are consistently re-evaluating. Staying for the sake of staying is rather stupid. Staying to fix, help, fight … make a difference, now there’s good reasons.
Great post
January 20th, 2008 at 9:45 am
i feel the same as you mr nic! ive been doing a lot much reading of the news whilst sitting in the dark which are so negative (provided the media find stories which are crime related as selling points), stories which hold little hope for South Africa, people who are in positions of power with no sense, criminals most of them. Im finding it hard!