SA Rocks

This is a guest post from expensivemistakescheapthrills.

After the misery of lurking on that seriously negative site yesterday (Za Sucks – I refuse to link to them any more than I already have) I decided that it’s time for a bit of positivity.

Let’s look at what we have to be grateful for in this country – (I had to limit it to 10 – there are SO many!)

1. South African paralympic team won 24 medals in Beijing. Out of those 27 medals, 17 were gold. Natalie Du Toit won 5 gold medals alone, from the five events she competed in.

2. Our national symbols are cool and they really stand for something -

- national flag: The national flag  was embraced on Freedom Day on the 27 April 1994, and first flown 10 May 1994, the day Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as president – the day we celebrate as the Birth of Democracy in our country.

The central design of the flag, beginning at the flag-pole in a V form and flowing into a single horizontal band to the outer edge of the flag, is to be interpreted as the convergence of completely unique and diverse elements within our society, taking the road ahead in unity. From exclusivity, to inclusivity. Beautiful, isn’t it? Much better than this old one, which just screams division and separateness.

- The National Coat of Arms: The focal image is a secretary bird with uplifted wings, a sun rising above it. Below the bird is the protea, an indigenous South African flower, representing the gratifying harmony of all cultures and the country flowering as a nation.

The ears of wheat are symbolise the fertility of the land – the ability to feed a nation, and grow a nation, while the tusks of the African elephant symbolise wisdom, steadfastness and strength.It also symbolises remembrance. While an elephant never forgets, so too must we never forget our past and must carry the memory into the future.

At the centre stands a shield emphasizing the protection of South Africans, above which are a spear and knobkierie. These assert the defence of peace rather than a posture of war.

Within the shield are representations of the Khoisan people, the first inhabitants of the land. The figures are derived from images on the Linton Stone, a world-famous example of South African rock art. The motto of the coat of arms – !ke e:/xarra//ke – is in the Khoisan language of the /Xam people, and means “diverse people unite“, or “people who are different joining together“. (isn’t that just awesome?)

- Our national animal – the Springbok - the country’s national animal  gives its name to the South African rugby team – fondly (and sometimes not so fondly) known as the Boks. The springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) gets its name from its characteristic jumping display – pronk in Afrikaans. The animal stands 75cm high and weigh about 40kg.

-National flower – The giant or king protea (Protea cynaroides) is flourishes in the south-western and southern areas of the Western Cape, from the Cedarberg up to just east of Grahamstown. South Africa’s national flower is the largest of the proteas, which make up an important part of the Cape Floral Region, a major global biodiversity hotspot and a Unesco World Heritage site. The proteas also give their name to South Africa’s national cricket team.

3. South Africa is the cradle of humankind. On this soil is where we first stood on two feet, experimented with the uses of opposable thumbs, first used fire, and developed a primitive language consisting of grunts. How far we have come since then.

Even today, people come from all over the world to visit one of their early ancestors, Mrs Ples.

4. We are the host of the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Yes, I believe this event WILL help South Africa shine. Stop with the negativity already, and let us just work on this one. There are some awesome things lined up for 2010, one of the most beautiful is this stadium planned for my home town Durban.

Benefits of hosting the 2010 World Cup?

It has been estimated that this World Cup will create  around 129 000 jobs, add about R21-billion to South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) and generate another R7.2-billion in government taxes, with around 350 000 soccer-mad-visitors expected to spend some R9.8-billion in the country during the tournament. Wow, that’s a big wad of cash, if you ask me.

But most important of all are the indirect spin-offs from improved perceptions abroad which can only have an even greater, longer-lasting impact, not only on South Africa and its development but on the continent as an entirety. A successful World Cup can help change perceptions of Africa, and attract a number of vital foreign investors.

5. Our country is beautiful, and we are so lucky to have it all. We have sandy, sunny beaches. Sub-tropical forests, mountains, deserts and wide rivers, wet lands, highveld, waterfalls, gorgeous wildlife, and wonderful and weird plant life.

6. We have eleven official languages. Count ‘em. That’s a whole lot of communication going on. And I plan for my son to learn as much of it as he can. No other country in the world can boast so many official languages. Isn’t it amazing?

7. We have awesome people proud to be South Africans. Nelson Mandela, and Charlize Theron. We have Tanya van Graan Ryk Neethling and Chris Barnard. We boast the world’s first heart transplant, and we have Miriam Makeba and Olive Schreiner. We have some of the finest. Dont let Jacob Zuma fool you into thinking that all South Africans are the devil incarnate.

8. We have the most progressive Constitution in the world. Nowhere else in the world are socio-economic rights entrenched in a Bill of Rights, which makes them enforceable against government. We have (despite recent controversy) freedom of speech, freedom of the media, and as Carte Blanche always says – ‘we have the right to see it all’. We have equal voting rights – men and women of all colours and creeds. And people died to give us all that opportunity to mark our ‘X’ and raise our voices.

9. We have biltong and boerewors, pap and vleis, curry and rice and samoosas and rotis and chakalaka. Melktert and koeksusters. Our food tastes are diverse, our available options are numerous. And the result is just delicious. And most important of all – we have the almighty braai. We have Black Label (despite the Laugh it Off laugh-riot about that) and Castle and Klippies and Cola. We have Richelieu and Johnny Walker, and we love them all at a braai, watching the rugby.

10. We have the right to complain. Ours is a participatory democracy, where things like petitions and public participation are vital in governmental decision-making. We have the right to demonstrate, march and toyi toyi. Where else in the world is this right protected by the Constitution?

But most important of all is that we are ALL South African. We all live here, love here, work here and die here. Despite the mass exodus, those of us who remain (for the large part) adore our country. We groan through the hard times, we bitch when our national team loses a game, but we pick ourselves up and try again.

That’s what I love about our country, and our people. We have patience, and determination. And one day, one day soon, all our hopes and dreams will be realised.

If we just work together.

Got three minutes to spare? Here’s why South Africa’s going to surprise you!

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Globalisation as defined by the all-knowing wikipedia is:

Globalization (or globalisation) in its literal sense is the process of transformation of local or regional things or phenomena into global ones. It can also be used to describe a process by which the people of the world are unified into a single society and function together.

I would like to suggest that this process however beneficial is somewhat soul-destroying and robot-making.

Let me elaborate. When I studied international relations and history at university one of my professors taught a theory known to us as McDonalisation. More so than Globalisation is is the McD’s theory that concerns me. It concerns me that apparently any country that has a McDonalds in it has never gone to war with the USA, or after McD’s entered the country there has been no war raging with the USA. This sort of stuff bothers me. I feel like it’s taking our brains away, our sense of self-fulfilment away. I feel like we are losing who we are for a cheese-burger.

My interpretation of globalisation is probably not the broadly accepted or correct one but I think it applies and it is simple. For me globalisation simply means that the world is becoming a smaller place and those with the money and the power have greater potential to influence the world.

Let’s look at at this way; if an American brand makes it huge around the world it is simply another first world corporation making a buck. It might be a small success story of a guy who travelled across the US to make the brand and eventually made it, that might be it, but it is nevertheless more expected for this to happen. If however a person from Timbuktu designs a suit, sells one and within 5 months is all over the internet, TV and radio selling their brand, that is phenomenal. It is unheard of in fact.

It is the fact that this is unheard of that leads me to believe that we are losing ourselves.

Our children and teenagers have no pride in their local (read: South African or wherever you live) icons, designers, musicians, celebrities, politicians or any public figure. In fact, we mock them very often. This is unfortunately not because these public figures are not respectable and doing great things, but because it is more hip and in fashion to support internationally appealing brands. It is more socially acceptable to admire the P.Diddy.Dig.Dog.Daddy.Doo.Dah – or whatever the hell his name is – than to support and admire HHP. It is more fashionable to wear Luis Vitton than it is to wear any local brand such as Craig Native’s designs.

And then to make the circle complete we export our best assets because the local market wont support them. It’s a chicken and egg situation. Our best sports start, musicians, actors, designers, architects, doctors, engineers and any other profession are all leaving because the world is so global that they can.

I am not berating anyone who leaves. I am just saying that it challenges our national identity when we import international acclaim and export our best assets because they can’t cut it in their own country.

My suggestion is simple, we need to make it cool to be local, cool to be South African and cool to want to live in this stunning place.

The way to do that? Import less, produce more locally and export (at a very high price) our fantastic South Africanness. But don’t give it away forever and never see it again while replacing it with some pimping rapper from the USA who believes that Africa is his/her homeland.

Featured image: duke.roul

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Ed’s Note: This post is a contribution from Carly Ritz.

I am more proudly South African today than I have ever been – perhaps a strange statement to make when the last two weeks have been characterized by a plague of violence, brutality and senseless hatred. I don’t think I need to describe the gruesome images and tragic stories that have already played out in local media all week. I have been sad and angry and afraid, but I have also been so uplifted and inspired by the generosity of the wonderful people of our country.

Today I visited the Red Cross office in Johannesburg. I stood in a storeroom on the 16th floor of The Sable building in Dekorte Street in Braamfontein. It was filled with donations of food items and clothing, tinned food cans and nappies. I was filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude – I was thankful to be part of a nation that opens their hearts and even their homes in this time of crisis.

A colleague of mine has taken 5 Zimbabweans into his own home after they were beaten and chased from their homes. He is trying to keep them safe and offer them refuge from the volatile streets.

YFM’s DJ Sbu led a march for the youth in protest of the violence. Another march has been planned for the weekend. This saturday, people will gather at Marks Park to defend the foreign members of our country. The members of Wits University marched today.

I have had the most wonderful support from friends and colleagues in the office who have contributed so generously for the Red Cross collection. People have even been to load up their cars and help with delivering these loads to the Red Cross office. Another colleague has even offered to accompany me to the various refugee points to help deliver some supplies directly to the people in need

I am so proud of the journalists and photographers with whom I work – who have roamed the streets, day and night to show the country and the world the reality of the humanitarian crisis. I am sure their dreams are haunted by the visuals, the pain and the human suffering they encounter so intimately on a daily basis.

I am not proud of what is happening in our country right now and I desperately want the violence to cease, but I am more proudly South African than ever

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Today I have never been so happy and proud to see the deep green and stunning gold colours of the Bokke. I have seen them everywhere and felt the nation pulling tighter towards one another.

In tragedy comes unity and Lucky Dube’s untimely departure can do just that. Bring us together. Combined with the stunning vibe around the nation thanks to the South African rugby players I think that our nation is more together on a day like today than it has been ever, even since the ’95 world cup win.

I personally hope that there is some mention of the late Lucky Dube at the world cup final, a tribute song, a chant from the fans, something, anything. But if there isn’t I am sure it will be a silent protest, a quiet disdain for the incident and the situation. I hope that we stand up and shout. I hope that we sit and contemplate our fate as a nation, on the field, off the field and anywhere else that we find ourselves.

But more than anything I hope that we have had enough. I hope that as a nation we have had enough of incredible highs like the RWC final being dampened by unbelievable lows. I hope that we are fed up with our apathy, fed up with our situation and ready to pull together and win the RWC and defeat our internal enemies (whomever they may be). Enough is enough.

Those three words – Enough is Enough – will become a recurring theme here. Not a negative theme, a positive theme that will turn us in to something that we want to be as a nation. Let the world cup galvanize us in to a nation of fighters, a nation of prosperous, contented and thriving individuals.

I am proud of the Springboks, I am proud of Jake White, I am proud of both for overcoming doubt, adversity and conflict within government, politics, economics and other factors to have gotten this far in a tournament of this calibre. Win or lose, I am one proud South African.

Now let’s go out on to that field and whip the English.

COME ON THE BOKKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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