Are South Africans too critical about South Africa or not critical enough?

Question

Innocentia posted an interesting question about Guy Lundy´s speach:

http://blog.guylundy.com/i-pledge-allegiance-speech/2007/02/16/

These are my comments about his speach:

Of course one has to be positive and optimistic in life, but there are also dangers in taking his "too simplistic" view of things.

Basically what he is promoting is that people should stop complaining and then things will get better.
I think this is what most people did for the 1st 10 years living in a new South Africa.
Has he just returned to S.A. maybe we should give him a while to settle in and then chat again after a year or so.

I diagree with a few things that he said: (I have responded to some of his quotes.)

""Yes, we have problems, but so does everybody else.""-
Very, very few countries have the crime and political problems on a scale that South Africa has.

""Sure, the Rand is down the toilet, but if you look closely enough you’ll see that just about every other emerging market country has suffered from the same woes – and that includes Australia and New Zealand, which everyone seems in such a rush to get to.""
But Australia and New Zealand´s currency is not down the toilet (and never was) and they have one of the highest standards of living in the world (even when they were emerging). Sorry to say but that is an uneducated comparison.

"" And aren’t we lucky that we aren’t living in Argentina with their currency crisis?""
Their currency crisis was brought on by bad politics! Do I need to underline the relationship between bad politics in S.A and our unstable Rand?
And how noble a gesture is a comparison with another countries misery, is that supposed to make us feel better?!
(Anyway, Argentina have a lower crime rate!)

"" Sure, our neighbour, Zimbabwe, is run by a mad, despotic fool, but man am I glad that I don’t live in Pakistan right now. ""
No comment.

""We have AIDs, and we also have an army of people trying to find a cure for it – possibly more vigorously than anywhere else since we have the most to lose from it.""
Unfortunately we have a President and Health minister who don´t believe in the connection between HIV and AIDS.
And an ex-Deputy president who suggests taking a shower after sex.
And I tire of mentioning the beetroot and garlic recipes....

""We do have corruption, and the Americans have George W. Bush, whether they like it or not.""
No comment.

""We’ve got all sorts of problems, yes, but must we be so hard on ourselves?""
Are we being hard on ourselves or rather being hard on bad government, crime etc.

""In many ways we are far better off in South Africa as a whole than we have been at any time in our history. Our people are getting educated and housed at a world-beating rate, we have amongst the world’s cheapest electricity, our inflation is the lowest it’s been in my lifetime, we have an economic growth rate, and there is development everywhere you look. We have so much going for us; we have so many good people, such an interesting mix of cultures; we have so much beautiful countryside and natural resources that we can draw from – we really have such a bright future ahead of us.""

I think about the only thing still cheap (world comparatively) is electricity. Telecommunications is one of the most expensive in the world (if not the most expensive), inflation is way out of control in comparison with earnings, the cost of trying to keep safe costs an arm and a leg (pun intended), a massive housing crisis where the real issue is not being addressed - a non sustainable birth rate, a good economic growth rate but with a 27 Billion Rand municipal budget deficit.

""Let us concentrate on the positive things that surround us every day, the sunshine, the people, the beauty, the progress. Constantly criticising our country can only do harm – for you personally, your personal feeling of happiness and well-being, and for the country that you know from the bottom of your heart that you love, otherwise you wouldn’t be here.""
People have done this for many years but they have seen how neglected things have become by not complaining.

It is well known that the White South Africans have a culture of not complaining enough but the Black South Africans are excellent at organising, standing together and complaining.
We need to all learn from each other, learn the truth, and stand together, all of us and complain.
It is NOT unpatriotic to complain but instead it is our democratic right and may be the last means we have left to change what could be another African basket case!

Good answer Moloi.
You got me googling bond rand.

I will however suggest that politically South Africa is basically a one-Party state and in order for any democracy to truly function it requires multi parties with equal representation.

But maybe that´s a whole other Yahoo question and answer?!

Thanks Innocentia,
I´m not sure how it feels to have a baby doing cartwheels in the stomach I can only assume it might feel similar to how I feel the morning after one to many mojitos or sangrias!

P.S. The hat ( Sombrero) is a very essential part of my attire here in Spain, it gets dannng hot here in Summer - ( I can see it being very useful around a braai in South Africa - maybe a good marketing idea there?)

Answer 1

I don't know who this Lundy guy is (sorry I must've missed it being in the Far East right now) but he shouldn't be making speeches like that around South Africa.
5 Stars for your sober comments, Moloi.
There's a HUGE difference between critisizing the bad government of SA and critisizing SA itself. HUGE. Some still don't get it.
I see it as doing my part for SA by critisizing this inept government allowing so much deterioration to occur in our beautiful country.
We don't need less, we need more people to complain, *****, moan, critisize and whine, TOGETHER WITH everything else we are able to do, to get rid of this good-for-nothing government.
Basic problem-solving doctrine states that the first step towards solving a problem, is to acknowledge its full ugly extent. Only then, can one proceed to step two.
So, mr Lundy, type in "violent crime" into your computer's search bar and see what it says about SA. If that doesn't bring you to step 1 of problem-solving, nothing will...

Answer 2

I have a headache...
tried to read what you wrote and agreed with some points made.... I have a baby turning cartwheels in my tummy, just at almost 4 months...and am emotionally pissed coz you're wearing a hat I dont like, I prefered you as a blond intellectual....phew!

mwah!!!

PS: This stood out for me though:

"its not unpatriotic to complain, but instead, it is our democratic right and may be the last means we have left to change what....."

Answer 3

There are only two things I don't agree with you on. First, we don't have "political problems". You can try to justify that any how, the fact remains, SA is politically stable.

Second, most people seem to forget that the rand was never strong even before 1994. If it was strong, what was the purpose of the bond rand? And what happened when the bond rand was removed?

As regards, people voicing their displeasure, that's the fruit of freedom and everybody should use them.

Answer 4

I think Vango made the point. The criticism is not of South Africa per se but the inept and corrupt ANC who have allowed a once viable Country to slip into an unsafe hellhole. They consort with some of the worst human rights violators on the Planet and act holier than thou whilst robbing the Country and its people blind. Mbeki was wrong on AIDS, wrong on crime and wrong on Mugabe. Has he ever been right on anything? He is deservedly criticised for being an incompetent oaf and drunkard.
And Lundy's article is typical African thinking - if you dont talk about it, it goes away. Pathetic 3rd World moron.

Answer 5

This is just a question to everyone living in SA. Is there anything you like about your country? why I ask is that all I have been reading is just complaints. I just wonder if you see anything positive about the country besides AIDS?