One constantly finds oneself in situations where strangers are bitterly critical of our nation. Consider just these examples:
- I am in a bookshop, where I see a whole row of different magazines, all with Jacob Zuma on the cover. I marvel aloud at this, and someone next to me snorts, and says: "Welcome to the new South Africa, hey!", and stalks off. I only meant "Look - how interesting!"
- I am in an Airbus, waiting to disembark, when the captain announces that we are waiting on a bus, as the ground services had not located a driver. A passenger behind me laughs bitterly, and says "They better get that right before 2010!" I tell him about once having to wait over an hour in a plane on the runway at JFK because they couldn't find the stairs, but he seems unmollified, despite us having to wait less than 10 minutes.
And then, and then.... My son's school - Pinelands High, since you asked - does "District Six: The Musical" for their annual drama presentation, and it is a wild success: all the kids in the rainbow cast were fantastic (OK, mine was in it...B-), the choreography and sets were outstanding; people had tears in their eyes afterwards, and I heard someone say "I grew up there! It was like that!!"
And again in an Airbus: yesterday, attempting to land in a wild, wet and windy Cape Town after at least one go-round, after several before him had failed - our brave SAA captain sets down, and heartfelt applause ensues. Good will (and relief) abounds.
Good things happen. We need to take note of them, and remind others.
Or bugger off....
