Sometimes i think to myself, ‘Man, i just feel like a good old internet fight. What controversial status can i write that will really get people revved up?’
And by ‘Sometimes’ i mean ‘NEVER’ because i’m not THAT person. A bunch of people think i’m that person, and that’s really okay cos you thinking it doesn’t make me that person. And i definitely have had the opinion that some other people seem to be that person, but again it’s not always easy to discern motive, “but they do seem to pick a lot of fights”.
Soccer managers and players being paid exorbitant amounts while so many people in our country struggle to eat regular meals? That bothers me a LOT.
The idea of prime spots reserved for golf courses and the resources used to maintain them [turns out it’s borehole and effluent water, so that’s a good lesson learnt] while land is such a huge issue in our country [well for those who don’t have it] – feels like something for me to be concerned about.
Tiny percentage of the world’s population owning big percentage of all the world’s resources for me feels like a huge issues.
And so on…
BUT WHERE ARE YOU?
i was thinking about it this morning, and going through some of the names and faces of some of the people who have suggested i might be a little virtually pugilistic for the world’s good. For the most part, i don’t remember seeing them at the fight. At any fight. [Except maybe occasionally sitting in the back row enjoying their popcorn while they sit and watch].
So what is it exactly that you care about?
Is it for me to care about, police, or bring the fight to everything? Absolutely not. And despite appearances there actually are a bunch of fights i choose not to pick for various reasons.
i remember when i was a teenager and a young adult in church and there would be an issue that so many people were worked up about. Typically i would end up saying something, raising the issue, doing something, because no-one else would ever say anything… that was a little frustrating. And it seems like not too much has changed.
Although fortunately i could probably rattle off twenty to fifty names quite easily here of people who are doing something, who are saying something and who get involved, some of my favourites being Ashley Visagie, Sindile Vabaza, Jenn Forster, Megan Furniss, Alexa Matthews, the Benns… and on a whole range of topics from adoption to government to policing to education to race… It is happening, you are out there, and for you i am eternally grateful.
But there are a number of people who sit quietly and wait for a status to happen or an article to be posted or an engagement to have started and then jump in with their own generalisations and accusations. Who only ever seem to attack the challenges or the questions or the invitations.
And i am asking you today – Where are you? What is your issue? What moves you? What cause are you fighting for, not just fighting against, or defensively protecting?
i thought to myself this morning, “i would rather be involved in one fight too many, than one too few.”
And it seems like i may be in some semi decent company.
Here’s the thing. i probably don’t get it right all the time. But when i see things in the world that don’t make sense or seem really out of proportion, then i will speak to them. i believe that activism can start online, but it definitely needs to be lived out in the real world. So it can’t just be about debating people on social media. The question always comes back to, “What am i personally doing with my time, energy and money to make a difference in the world around me and to the issues i speak to?” And this is likely where i fall short. i am definitely doing stuff and if you grab me around a coffee we can definitely chat about that. But i am so inspired by so many people who seem to be managing to do so much more.
In a world where both outside the church and sadly too often within the church, the majority of people seem to be living for themselves. Choosing comfort and continuity and not upsetting or challenging the status quo over the messiness and work and time and effort required to take things to a different place.
What fight are you fighting? And how much are you putting into it? This world needs all of us to get involved beyond ourselves and working together on an issue that faces our country might just be the best way to see unity and reconciliation happen after all.
This post touches my heart so much! I remember asking myself the very same thing! The social inequality is so high and the majority that receive nothing seem to care less. As though people are accepting of it and would only speak out ‘cowardly’ when someone points it out… I am passionate about education and the quality of education being offered to Africans by African’s in regards to other influencing factors affecting out education. Why is Africa moving at a snail pace, we maybe our biggest problem. I’m passionate about the work of God, i see a lot of tribalism, politics going on in the house of God and people are just quiet. I equally love fairness.
Brett- Keep on doing you. Keep on challenging and speaking your truth.
Brett, I have been reading through the Psalms. I think David would have fit in well with our “Enlightenment”-driven culture that is focused on individual achievement to the exclusion of just about everything else. You can’t drive down the highway here without seeing about 100 cars with these stickers like 26.2, 70.3, 13.1–distances for a marathon, half-ironwoman, and half-marathon. I mention David because I have yet to find one of his Psalms that mentions the following three words, “We,” “Us,” “Our.” What you do find find is a lot of “Me,” “I,” and “My.” Anyway, if we are going to pick a fight and I do believe we need to, we are best served, or rather Christ is best served if we find a team to do it with! Just my 2c : ))
I think education should be free but what does “free” mean? It means someone else must pay. Then its not free at all. So “free” is a fallacy.
That’s a great question. And asking great questions is an excellent way to proceed in starting to understand what exactly is being asked for and expected. I’d encourage you to engage with the students of the movement and see what it is they are after. There are countries in other places in the world that do offer what they call free education so clearly it is a thing.
It is a thing in other countries, but in SA I doubt its possible. I mean, I would be happy if my TAX money went to free education, but it does not. So I think the students should focus on the government who are stealing so much. Nkandla alone could pay for say 1000 students’ education.
We have privilege and all that as white people, but I think even us nowadays are stretched to the max. Yes we have privilege, but sorry students, when I have some time I check the news, but I don’t have time to come say hi or to contribute to your education. I feel for you, as its a bad circumstance, but I also don’t have a tertiary education.
Do you think we should rather focus on free education up until Matric, and improve the standard up until then? With tertiary education, there is a high drop-out or failure rate and what measures are in place to protect that investment? If a student drops out or fails, then its money that is wasted. Yes; there are some who work hard, but how do we determine who gets what?
Maybe you could give us a list of their demands and what you think could be done? I’d like to hear from someone who is actually involved and not the media or social-media hype on all sides. Lets hear their demands and what YOU think can be done to solve it. It might help people like me who don’t really know what to do besides just getting on with my own life.