tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041119451687604773.post1460295752725379755..comments2023-04-08T10:44:51.790+02:00Comments on Look! I Think & Write Stuff!: The Unity of The World Cup Is Gone & We’re The Better For ItMvelase Peppettahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02398403407172623417noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041119451687604773.post-3046017722469606842010-09-09T17:03:28.702+02:002010-09-09T17:03:28.702+02:00Mr Molefe, how very dare you… Who dear, me dear, a...Mr Molefe, how very dare you… Who dear, me dear, an optimist dear, no dear! Lady Macbeth has nothing on me when it comes to having removed the milk of human kindness. Either way, I agree with your point, there are very few things that can be said to be totally wrong or right. However, on national pride, I stand by my point. Whilst it can be used as a positive, and there are probably far more cases of that happening, the inherent dangers of it being used in a negative way only rise the stronger national pride becomes in a population. Probably the best examples of nationalism gone bad are the World Wars, but one doesn’t even need to go so far back to see examples. Look at when the US went anti-France mad just because the French refused to go along with the US invasion of Iraq. From ‘Freedom Fries,’ in Congress to an image that’ll always stay with me, a New York restaurateur pouring thousands of dollars worth of French wine down the drain outside his restaurant. Imagine a less scrupulous government, in a younger democracy, no names need be mentioned *coughs* RSA *coughs* taking that kind of fervent pride and using it for their own means.<br /><br />“What we are is a people who make do with what we have, and the real South Africa is the one we saw over the last three weeks. Some people stepped out & other people stepped in.” Simon, I think you totally summed up what I was trying to say better than I did, thanks. Couldn’t agree with you more on your side-note. I also don’t know what the award is though, does that make us bad South Africans?Mvelase Peppettahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02398403407172623417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041119451687604773.post-88684361384066849362010-09-09T16:07:18.240+02:002010-09-09T16:07:18.240+02:00MvP, never mistook you for an optimist but that bi...MvP, never mistook you for an optimist but that bit on mopping hospital floors because it's the right thing to do betrayed your true nature. I'll say it again, just to make it sound dirty. Optimist. And slowly this time (and snapping fingers), op-ti-mist.<br /><br />But seriously, it's a nice ideal but far removed from the reality of things. There are very few things in this world that are absolutely right or wrong I think. I cannot happily mop a hospital floor when I have no idea how I'm going to pay my rent, or feed & clothe my kids, heck, or even how I'm going to pay for my next badly needed dop. As human beings, our needs conflict all the time and it's unfair to say this act is more reflective of humanity than the next. It could be said that striking nurses are acting to preserve the future of their own kids. How is that less (or more) noble than taking care of someone else's newborn?<br /><br />And on national pride: While I agree on how it has been used in perverse ways, I think that it is no different to everything else it the world. Think of all the things that you consider "good" and I assure you, someone can find a way to make them "bad".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041119451687604773.post-8912411276932483012010-09-09T15:17:33.828+02:002010-09-09T15:17:33.828+02:00I don't want to sound like I am agreeing with ...I don't want to sound like I am agreeing with Surita, but I do think your last paragraph is quite something, mate. In particular, I thought this sentence summed up your argument beautifully: <br /><br />"Nevertheless, amidst all that ugliness, we have seen ourselves at our best; not waving a flag, blowing on a vuvuzela or proudly singing Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika, but rather mopping the floors in a deserted hospital."<br /><br />I think the point you are making is an excellent one. We're not actually nation of football-loving nationalists. What we are is a people who make do with what we have, and the real South Africa is the one we saw over the last three weeks. Some people stepped out and other people stepped in. That's what we do well.<br /><br />As a side note, the volunteers who stepped in all deserve the medal of Oliver Tambo or whatever that award is called.Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13291037610197297583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041119451687604773.post-38821556585531031342010-09-09T15:06:59.893+02:002010-09-09T15:06:59.893+02:00my intention was not to appraise the accuracy, sub...my intention was not to appraise the accuracy, subjectivity, objectivity or originality of the article for the purpose of implying a better writer do it. that would be silly. merely stating that you are able to, else i would not have made the comment.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16878722302405971664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041119451687604773.post-14202721401729290402010-09-09T14:21:42.315+02:002010-09-09T14:21:42.315+02:00Thanks for the comment Sarita. With millions of pe...Thanks for the comment Sarita. With millions of people writing on any given topic it’s impossible to have an entirely original thought, everything, somewhere, has been written on. <br /><br />As ‘beautiful’ as it may be, heartfelt sentiment isn’t a basis for an argument. That’s why I prefer to build up to my overarching main point, which is in that final paragraph. Each of those prior paragraphs, I’d like to think, all contain points that support what I’m trying to say overall. Perhaps a better writer than me can do it, but when I’m writing facts, I write the facts as they are, not my opinion of them hence the style those paragraphs are written in.Mvelase Peppettahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02398403407172623417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041119451687604773.post-64080097900134727502010-09-09T11:39:12.144+02:002010-09-09T11:39:12.144+02:00the last paragraph of your blog is superior to the...the last paragraph of your blog is superior to the rest. the simplicity and sincerity of the example surpasses the content prior. the article is stylish, eloquent and articulate. However, the general approach/ stance of the article appears pretty much the same as various other commentary on the topic, from your individual pov of course. That said, the energy and heartfelt sentiment captured in the final paragraph is something, merely in my opinion, you could perhaps hone and let illuminate. because it is beautiful. you could do a lot of justice to ideas of such a nature.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16878722302405971664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041119451687604773.post-16162975772099861722010-09-08T19:03:17.663+02:002010-09-08T19:03:17.663+02:00Thanks for the comments guys, was rather worried t...Thanks for the comments guys, was rather worried that what I was trying to say wouldn’t come across clearly.Mvelase Peppettahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02398403407172623417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041119451687604773.post-75956440846003702222010-09-08T18:11:39.260+02:002010-09-08T18:11:39.260+02:00Thanks for the great insight. A really thought-pr...Thanks for the great insight. A really thought-provoking post!Tracy Toddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041119451687604773.post-88493784621059030592010-09-08T17:41:17.793+02:002010-09-08T17:41:17.793+02:00I miss the unity too, but you are right it does te...I miss the unity too, but you are right it does tend to distract people from the fact that South Africa has some ugly issues that aren't going to just go away.Clivenoreply@blogger.com