May 11, 2004
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HERE’S A PICTURE OF MY HOME, THE GREEN ELEPHANT…I SPEND A LOT OF TIME UP ON THAT BALCONY, ENJOYING THE COMPANY, PLAYING WITH THE DOG DIFA. VERY LAKKER (if you don’t know what lakker means, you have to visit south africa)
MANDELA SLAMS US, UK!!!
I don’t know if this was in anyone elses news, but yesturday, Nelson Mandela gave a speach to commemorate 10 years of S. African democracy.
“WE WATCH AS TWO OF THE LEADING DEMOCRACIES, TWO LEADING NATIONS OF THE FREE WORLD, GET INVOLVED IN A WAR THAT THE uNITED nATOINS DID NOT SANCTOIN; WE LOOK ON WITH HORROR AS REPORTS SURFACE OF TERRIBLE ABUSES AGAINST THE DIGNITY OF HUMAN BEINGS HELD CAPTIVE BY INVADING FORCES IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY. WE SEE HOW THE POWERFUL COUNTRIES, ALL OF THEM SO-CALLED DEMOCRACIES, MANIPULATE MULTI-LATERAL BODIES TO THE GREAD DISADVANTAGE AND SUFFERING OF THE POORER DEVELOPING NATIONS.”
“IN A CYNICAL WORLD, [SOUTH AFRICA] IS AN INSPIRATION TO MANY.”
And…i love this opinion article in the Cape Times,
“The US government rules the most powerful nation in the world, both economically and militarily. Morally, however, it has little to teach and much to learn, and it is long overdue that it be disabused of the view that the US is the progenitor of democracy, or, indeed, that it is its latter-day flag-bearer.”
The US has lost its way. We’re like the 2000 NY Mets, we made it to the World Series on guts and glory, but collapsed the next year. The question is, does America have to undergo rebuilding years, or will they be like the NY Yankees and try to buy more championships?
Actually…maybe we’re more like the Yankees in that we’ve spent our way to the top. The best economy and military says it all. But, at our roots, we’re a morally empty country in terms of our political leadership.
However, I am optimistic things will improve in the next decades. The youth of America are the first generation to grow up with internet to connect with the world. This generation is travelling more than our parents. It is easier to get in touch with other cultures. Bush, Kerry, and probably the presidential candidates for the next election are of an older generation. A generation that grew up with whites being superior to blacks. A generation where it was acceptable to never leave the country, as Bush never did. I am optimistic.
I am also realizing that South Africa, as Mandela said, will be a model nation. Despite their social problems, there is a unique buzz about this place. People are here from all over the world to help in some way. They are in contention to get the soccer World Cup in 2010, which they’ll know by Sat. Unlike America, which hosted a world cup that most people didn’t know about, for S. Africa it would be like landing a man on the moon. Things are still exciting here. Plus, I have had a chance to work with what I believe are 3 major programs that will assist in building a country with strong values, Outward Bound, Lovelife, and Chrysalis.
So much more to write…
I’m still playing around w/ my xanga, finally got rid of the skin, so I now have found a way to change my heading and add some websites, although the links aren’t quite working yet.
Everyday, I’m developing new ideas for my writing, and for what I’m doing with my life. I realized I really want to travel America. I realized that it’s ok to have a job where you fix stone on buildings. I realized it’s ok to be 36 and not interested in “reading or books,” but to have traveled to every continent. I realized that it’s ok to be overweight if you’re fun to hang out with. I realized it’s ok to crack corny jokes and still be a genuine person. I realized it’s ok to not speak to your parents for 3 years, and still be kind. I’ve learned to judge nobody, to get past the initial facts, and find the good in everyone. I’ve learned you can go to an Ivy league school, and still be a down-to-earth goofy person. Traveling has brought me across all sorts of people, and has taught me many things.
Comments (2)
yeah towel heads are great people. they just released a video of the beheading of an american contractor but you’re right they’re the victims. I’d tell you to go suck a dick but then again you probably already are.
There’s one of 2 things I could write back to this comment. I could try to insult SHABOY, but what’s the point. I understand, he doesn’t know me, he just really really disagrees w/ something I posted, and instead of trying to help me understand that maybe I should re-think things, he attacks me personally. It’s unfortunate that politics works the same way. I’m sure SHABOY and I agree on the same fundamental things, and I used to love caling people from Iraq, “towel heads,” I’ll still joke around and say it, but at the end of the day, that kind of attitude it purely destructive, and not the way forward.
Nelson Mandela has led the way forward in South Africa by avoiding such destructive language. He could’ve said, “Fuck the stupid backwards white people,” but he realized that was not the way to go. Maybe SHABOY is more racist than I know, maybe he would say, “fuck niggers too” I don’t know? But, probably he believes in human rights. and while i would agree that it’s equally wrong that american’s are being beheaded, America should be setting the example, not stuping to the level of the Iraqi’s. That’s what’s so horrifying about what the American’s did. We stuped to their level!!! And that’s why in the eyes of the world, we’re as disgusting as we view the Iraqi’s to be. American’s give people trials, and treat all people with dignity. It’s the Iraqi’s who believe in torture to find information… If SHABOY reads this, i’d love to hear a comment back.
-dan