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“ENTER AT OWN RISK”, “SWIM AT OWN RISK”, “LOOSE WILD ANIMALS, TOUR AT RISK”. THESE ARE SIGNS IN MOST OF THE PLACE WE ARE GOING TO, BUT WHAT I NEVER SEE IS THE ADVANTAGES OF GOING INSIDE. IF THE PLACEWAS CREATED, IT SERVES A GOOD COURSE, IN A WAY, AND THERE MUST BE SPECIFIC OUTCOMES INSIDE. WHAT EXACTLY IS IT THAT I AM INSINUATING?
WE ARE ALWAYS TOLD OF THE BAD, AND NEVER OF THE GOOD. A PERSON WILL NEVER SAY TO YOU, “YOU ARE A GREAT PERSON” IF YOU ARE ALWAYS SMILING AND THE DAY YOU ARE ANGRY THEY REFER TO YOUR ACTIONS AS “TRUE COLOURS”. THIS MIGHT BE AN ISSUE THAT IS TO CERTAIN PEOPLE, MINUTE, BUT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO BE CRITICAL ABOUT.
WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE RISK TAKERS, AS WE ARE SUPPOSED AND ALWAYS ATTEND TO THINGS WITH NOTHING BUT DARKNESS ON THE VENTURE. WITH RISKS WE ARE BOUND TO LEARN. A GREAT SOCIOLOGIST ONCE STATED THAT AUTONOMY INCREASES WORKER PARTICIPATION AND THAT INCREASES PRODUCTIVITY. PRACTICES WITHOUT CHALLENGES ARE BORING AND LEAD TO LACK OF INTEREST.
THIS MAY NOT APPLY TO ALL PRACTICES.
AT OTHER TIMES YOU FIND PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT FOND OF THE WORK THEY DO, BUT ARE ONLY AFTER SECURITY. IF ONE HAS MONEY, ONE IS MEANT TO BE SECURE, THAT IS NOT WHAT WE HAVE NOWADAYS, AND THUS PEOPLE TEND TO TAKE JOBS THEY HATE OR DETEST. WORKING FOR THE SAKE OF FULLFILLING AND ABIDING BY NORMS. THESE ARE A FEW OF THE MANY FACTORS THAT DECREASE CHANCES OF RISK TAKING IN OUR PEOPLE, AND THUS, DECREASE CHANCES OF PRODUCTIVITY.
WE ALL ARE GRADUATES OF RISK TAKING, IT IS WITHIN US TO MAKE USE OF OUR DEGREES AND STOP FOCUSING ON THE BAD SIDE OF OUR NATURAL QUALIFIVATIONS, NOT HONOURARY. A PHILOSOPHY OF MY OWN STATES, “HE WHO TAKES A RISK OF LOOKING IN THE BOX, IS THE ONE WHO WILL KNOW OF THE INTERNAL HAPPENINGS.”
I have been wating for this ‘space’ for a while now. Risk is it I guess Mr Mbuyazi.
Something fresh to talk about is love, what is it? I mean this subject has got people singing, running, killing one another etc. I shall expand this thesis in due course. I am going to sleep on it. By the way how to cure it(love)?
“Life teaches us that the first step towards self-reform is self-criticism.” “It is a tool used to take stock of your performance, identify shortcomings, make corrections, forgive yourself and return to the road.”-[From, I do not want to be a hero!]
The above words almost reduced me to tears as I went through them. I have realised that it takes courage to admit to onself that you were wrong or have made a mistake and still have the courage to carry on working hard in this world. It is often said that the greatest conqueror in life is the one who conquers himself. Disappointment tend to paralyse us to a point where we fail to see the bigger picture, the bright side they say.I do not want to talk about poverty here but my self inflicted wounds.
I often ask myself whether I am a victim of cicumstances brought about by my own conduc. I always seem to commit the very same mistakes over and over again. I have become a master of ‘catching up’, never on time but maybe by luck always seem to make it with those who are on time.
My uncle told me that I should always guard against making wrong choices while I am still young for chances are that I shall become a victim of such choices in future-payback. Well, I heard and understood but the difficult part is putting what you have learnt, the knowledge that you have into practical use.
Is perfection what we strive for? Or what we strive for is something in the middle, between perfect and avarage? I don’t know. But these things do make a man sad I tell you. It makes him want to breakdown and cry. Feeling such as sadness, love and emptiness, they make a man cry.
I have a goal, that means I have something to strive for and believe me the poverty that I grew up in is more than enough to fuel me with desire to work hard. But I just can’t seem to get it wright. Despite every negativity I feel, I find hope in the last thing to come out of Pandora’s box-HOPE!
I MUST ADMIT, I NOW SEE WHAT(ERIC WITHIN ME AND ASSOCIATES) THEY MEANT WHEN THEY TOLD ME I AM NOT THE POOREST OF THE POOR, BUT THE MOST HURT BY THE POVERTY I HAVE SUBMITTED NYSELF TO. KABELO, IF I MAY ADDRESS YOU IN SUCH A MANNER, THE REASON AND ONLY REASON WHY WE MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS BECAUSE THERE ENCOUNTER WE MAKE MISTAKES IN, HAS MORE THAN ONE LESSON TO GIVE OR TEACH. ONE LEARNS FROM ONES MISTAKES AND IN THAT WAY, ONE ALWAYS SEES IT WHEN IT’S COMING.
THE ONLY WAY ONE CAN PUT THEORY TO USE IS TO UNDERSTAND THE THEORY AND THEN KNOW THE THEORY. WHAT I IMPLY IS THIS, FOR ONE TO REGARD ONESELF AS A LEARNER, ONE MUST APPLY WHAT ONE WAS TAUGHT ALMOST PRECISELY AND A CHANGE IN BEHAVIOUR WILL BE OBSERVED AUTOMATICALLY. FORCING YOURSELF TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE IS LIKE FORCING YOURSELF TO BE PASSIVE AND ,THUS, POSSESSING USELESS KNOWLEDGE.
IF ONE LIVES FOR PERFECTION THEN ONE LIVES A LIE AND FOR LIES. THINK OF IT, WHAT HAS EVER BEEN PERFECT? IF PERFECTNESS EXISTED, WE WOLUD NOT HAVE HAD INCUDENTS LIKE THAT OF ELLSI PARK BURYING PEOPLE, POLICE MEN MISSING THIEVES AND HITTING INNOCENT CHILDREN. WE LIVE FOR SUCCESS NOT SURVIVAL, NOT FOR WEALTH, SENIORITY OR EVEN SUPERIORITY. SUCCESS IS ALL WE LIVE FOR, EVERYONE SUCCEEDS INBOTH GOOD AND BAD WAYS, IT IS JUST A MATTER OF NEGATIVE PRODIGIES.
FOR YOU TO GET THINGS RIGHT YOU WILL HAVE TO REDUCE SELF CRITICISM, SOME PEOPLE ARE SO MUCH ENGULFED BY SUCH CRITICISM THAT THEY LET IT BECOME SELF LOATH. WHEN WE FOCUS TOO MUCH ON GETTING THINGS RIGHT, WE END UP MISSING THE PARTS WHERE BY WE ACTUALLU GOT IT RIGHT. WE FOCUS SO MUCH ON THE NEGATIVE PARTS THAT WE GO BEYOND THE NECESSARY PRACTICES, AND END UP MESSING THE RIGHT THINGS WE DID.
“WHERE YOU COME FROM IS EXACTLY WHERE YOU ARE GOING” (MBUYAZI ERIC). THAT MEANS THE WAY YOU GREW UP WILL BE THE WAY YOU LIVE, OT NECESSARILY MEANING THAT YOU WILL LIVE IN POVERTY, BUT TO REDUCE AND FIGHT POVERTY JUST AS YOU DID WHEN YOU ARE YOUNG.
LAST NOTE, WHEN CHALLENGES PRESENT THEMSELVES, ACCEPT THEM FOR YOU GAVE BIRTH TO THEM. A CHALLENGE ALWAYS REMAINS IN ITS TURF UNTIL YOU APPROACH IT, IN YOUR QUEST FOR SUCCESS.
CORRECTION FOR THE FIRST PARAGRAPH ABOVE. “…THESE ENCOUNTERS WE MAKE MISTAKES IN…”
Well, Iâve read the comments above and, I must say, its so interesting to see how you guys share interesting thoughts on this space. I want to deviate from what you guys have been articulating about and talk about a very touching topic, which I was making research about recently. That is Koma (initiation schools), as we have reached the months in which young people will be preparing themselves to set out for the mountains for initiation. These schools are part of our cultural practices in this country and are even recognized by our Constitution. We regard them as cultural educational institutions where initiates are taught about customary values and conduct. However, over the past few years, there have been numerous complaints about some of these schools. Deadly infections, callous atrocities and abductions have become defining characteristics of some initiation schools. In some cases, under-aged children are taken to these schools without parental consent. Many initiates have lost their reproductive organs due to the negligence of traditional surgeons who are often inadequately trained. Some surgeons have been found to be operating under the influence of alcohol and often use unsterile instruments, which may contribute to the spread of blood-borne infections. Well, I can also witness that since I am a graduate from these schools. When I was looking after my younger brother at one of this schools (as moditi) some time ago, the surgeon used to consume few beers before he could perform the circumcision process as part of the rituals for courage. Koma has also become a lucrative business in which initiates are required to pay exorbitant fees.
I was walking with kabelo today in the morning, and we met two old women talking about how expensive koma is these days, how the fees constrains their children from going to this schools, and then it came to that there are people who really want their children to go to initiation schools but due to financial constraints, they cant. My questions are: are the poor being indirectly inhibited from practicing their culture? Is there anything that our government can do for koma to accommodate us all, particularly the poor? How can health and safety of initiates be rationalized in these schools? I am very much aware that there are some legislations which have been put in to place in some province, but the problems still persist, is it because they are not being implemented properly or they are just not effective at all? I am also a very traditional young man and I canât encourage people to go for western circumcisions, because koma existed even before Jan Van Riebeek came to South Africa. But we need strong mechanisms that will ensure proper health and safety of initiates in these schools.
ON THE NOTE OF EXPENSIVE FEES, I THINK THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE TRANSITION FROM RITUALS TO AUTONOMY AND SELFISHNESS IN OUR COUNTRY. I HAVE NOTICED A COUPLE OF THINGS AND ARGUEMENT IS POSSIBLE ADS I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO THE SCHOOL AND WILL NEVER BE.
THIS, IN THE PAST, HAD A LOT TO DO WITH DIGNITY AND ACCOMPANYING STATUSES, BUT NOW IT HAS ALOT TO DO WITH THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE WHOLE PROCESS AND BE A MAN AND AN EASY, YET HARMFUL WAY TO MAKE MONEY.
IF ONE HAS TO PAY TO BE REFERRED TO AS A MAN THAT MEANS MANHOOD IS NOW, JUST LIKE HIGHER EDUCATION, A PRIVELEDGE. THIS IS ONE OF THE PRACTICES THAT ENTERTAIN AND CONDONE THE CONDUCT OF SELFISHNESS AND CORRUPTION AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT STRUCTURES IN OUR COUNTRY.
THIS COMMENT MAY APPEAR ANTI-PAN AFRICAN. THE STUBBORN ATITTUDE TOWARDS CHNAGES IN TIME AND SOCIETY WILL NOT ONLY CAUSE DIFFERENT CLASSES OF SOCIAL GROUPS, BUT WILL ISOLATE MAN FROM EVOLVING WITH THE SOCIETY AND THE SOCIETY ITSELF. CHNAGE IS NOW AT ALL TIMES IMMINENT AND I TRUST THAT IF WE TAKE HEED OF ITS PROPINQUITY WE ARE SET FOR BETTER STANDARDS OF CULTURAL PRACTICES.
On the issue of expensive fees on traditional initiation schools I would like to touch and adopt my learned co-correspondent Mr Mbuyazi’s view that this selfish tendency is driving initiation into the same status to poor but ‘willing-to-attend people’ as a privilege more like tertiary education.
I have learnt that every nation or tribe in the world has something to pride itself of, something that serves most to distinghuish such a nation or tribe from any other. Be it the object of a tribes pride culture or custom or maybe its heroes. Take these objects of pride away from the people who observe them and the have nothing, no identity!
What is currently happening regarding initiation schools in communities that observe the custom is usually that; authority to the institution is vested in the hands of a particular group of individuals who careless about the future or wellbeing of culture. They only consider their own desires of self-enrichment to the detriment of culture.
The other reason that has added to the success of these individuals selfish conduct is the apathy among the particular societies regarding issues that affect their societies. Initiation contrary to what is currently taking place is supposed to be accessible to the poorest of the poor as it is culture, something that every person, regardless of Constitutional provision must have access to.
I personally feel that initiation from the part of the world where I come from is no longer entirely only undergone for a âboyâ to become a man but also to fulfill the requirements of culture and to walk in the footsteps of our forefathers. This in my view is a positive development because if all initiation should be viewed as an institution of creating men then it runs a risk of extinction as such object would render it susceptible to criticisms.
Initiation in the current sense should not be developed by people who the custom is not a part of their culture but by the very societies whom the custom forms a part of who they are. My reason being that initiation is a sacred affair of which its pride vest in the secrecy and dignity of its procedures that must not be known to the outside word. Such qualities/characteristics however can only be achieved or restored only if the indifference that the institution is faced with from/by its rightful custodians is made a thing of the past and is replaced with responsibility.
Such responsibility will go a long way in saving lives and developing culture and its customs into contemporary standards without compromising on its dignity and values.
The right to practice ones culture need not be made a privilege, a reserve for a particular group of people who can in terms of financial status afford to take part. A restriction in whatever form on ones freedom to take part in ones culture to me amounts indirectly to a denial of a birth right!
IS IT FAIR TO BLAME THE YOUNG GENERATION FOR MORAL DECAY? WHAT ABOUT FOR BRINGING AN END TO THE ERA OF MORALITY AND VIRTUE?
This is how I feel abou the issue;
While just about every elderly person in this world is raising their hands to their heads with dismay and despair. pointing fingers at us as the young generation blaming us for bringing about an end to the era of virtue and morality- I have this to say; We did not bring change but rather we embraced it, change was initiated long before we came into this world and all we did was to appreciate it and sustain it. Our current elders initiated change and their elders watched it grow in their children but failed to control it. I personally blame apathy and this trait in us to leave things to chance. Yes, change is inevitable but not beyond our control. As in the rules of time and nature, change will always come, people will come and pass with new cultures and traditions being born. But, we must not fail to control change, as such mold our new cultures on the principles of morality and virtue.
IT IS GIVEN THAT NO ONE CAN NEVER PROMISE THE NEXT PERSON THE WORLD AS IT IS NOT OURS TO GIVE, NOR DO WE HAV ETHE POWER AND AUTHORITY TO DO SO. IT IS, THEREFORE, FOR THAT REASON THAT I WILL NOT AND DO NOT EXPECT MIRACLES FROM THE ACADEMY.
ALL I ASK FOR IS A CHANCE TO LEARN AN DEVELOP THE SKILLS, TALENT AND LEADER THAT GOD HAS BLESSED ME WITH. AS ONE PERSON YOU CANNOT CHANGE THE WOTLD,BUT AS A GROUP MAKE A GREATER DIFFERENCE NOT ONLY IN THE WORLD, BUT WITHIN THE GROUPS OF PEOPLETHAT MAKE THIS WORLD WHAT IT IS. I ASK FOR NOTHING MORE THAN THE PLATFORM TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND EMPOWER OTHERS.
A WISE MAN IS ONE WHO KNOWS WHEN TO LISTEN, WHEN TO SPEAK AND WHEN TO ASK FOR HELP. I AM MORE THAN READY TO DO ALL OF THE ABOVE SO THAT I MAY BE A BETTER PERSON, LEADER AND A LEARNER. IN THE INFORMATION GIVEN ON THE ACADEMY, IT IS MADE CLEAR THAT THE ACADEMY AIMS AT GROWING AND DEVELOPING LEADERS AND I STRONGLY BELIVE THA I AS BORN TO BE A LEADER. ALL I ASK, YET AGAIN, IS TO BE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO GROW.
IT’S BEEN A GREAT SIX MONTHS FOR THIS PRECIOUS BABY OF OURS, MONTSHEPETJA, AND IT IS APPARENT AND CLEAR THAT THE IONS THAT IT’S GOING TO REMAIN VIBRANT AND MOVUNG FORWARD WILL BE GREAT. HAPPY HALF-YEAR MONTSHEPETJA MAY WE SEE A QUADRIPLE OF YOUR GROWTH.
I would also like to send my regards to the Montshepetja website and all whom are behind its success. May we grow together in the name of empowerment.
AND THEN;
I quote these words by Mr Eric Mbuyazi on the 22nd of September while responding to submissions by Johny Serati and me. I couldnât help but laugh when I went through these last lines of his response. They read â…IT MUST BE CLEAR TO THE YOUTH THAT IF WE DO NOT INITIATE, THOSE BEFORE AND AFTER US WILL SUCCEED AMERICA, WILL WALK THE PATH LEADING NOWHERE.â.
I have to say that I hold different when coming to America that is the USA. Even though they may appear to be hypocrites [Bob Mugabe would hold that they really are] regarding democracy and their respect for human rights and dignity, I believe that they are one of the number 1 nations in the world with direction and mission. I understand such view of America. But the truth is that as leader of the world it will always shape us according to its needs. America does not have a birth or history that is the same as that of the European countries or other nations of the world. They only have the bible and the USA to base their principles and pride on, nothing more. Unlike the nations of the world that it is leading. That is why we are apt to hate it so much, for it does not can it only cares about America and maybe God.
First Americans have nothing but America and so much pride in it. America according to the history that I was taught is regarded as a ânew worldâ in comparison to âoldâ Europe or rather its countries. Hence America broke away from âoldâ tradition and set itself in its own world. The so called founding fathers of the USA as we know it today to name but few, George Washington and Ben Franklin [my favorite] were great statesmen. They were intelligent and selfless in the sense that they made a great contribution to the building of a great nation and that is the USA as we know it today.
Americans were in the forefront of their own development and liberation from âold Britainâ. That is why I believe there is such a great sense of pride in Americans when coming to their nation. We as South Africans I believe we exist in a different category to America not in the sense of class or inferiority, no, in the sense of the history of the founding of our united South Africa as we have it today. Who are the fore fathers of our nation and do we ever celebrate them and why not. To be simple- I donât even know the person who was the King of the Zebediela Kingdom before the current leader and I can bet something valuable that most of my peers and some who came before me donât know either. America will always continue to shape our world for as long as we cannot have pride in whom we are and start shaping our worlds on our own principles and basing such development and principles on where we come from and who we are.
To compete with America we have to build a sense of pride in whom we are and find a way to lead our own development and liberation. And last America in my opinion is going somewhere, it is shaping the world in its own reflection, regardless of whom we are and how truly different we are.
I submit that I also stand to be corrected. I do respect your view Eric, but as you know, dialogue is the best teacher.
âI do agree with what u say, but people need to learn to work for own benefit knowing that they donât just work for others [masters] they do it for the Lordâ. These are the words of Paul Gwangwa on August 14th, 2009 in response to comments made with regard to I MADE HER WHAT SHE IS.
First and foremost I would like to submit that I fully support Mr. Paulâs view but in a broader sense than he has put it. In the broad sense; I would like to include in his submission to the comments the fact that some of us are driven to do good for the betterment of humanity, only by the pleasures of this world as we know them, nothing more than pleasures of the mundane that is. No matter how sinister this may sound but it is true. I believe that sometimes virtue and morality do overlap with religion, so we should be careful on this point. To work hard, to give, to sacrifice so much for the fulfillment of ones inner urges or the desire to be a champion, to be praised, to be a hero and nothing more in the eyes of those of the spiritual world is not sinister to me. It is true that as human beings we hunger for recognition and praise. That hunger is what fuels us to move, to do something with our lives.
What I am saying is that it is ok to expect something in return for just about every good deed we do in this world. Religiously speaking, I expect God and my ancestors to bless me for almost every good deed I perform towards nature and human beings in broad. But, the basis of every thing-the goodness/kindness in me is that I have a human heart, in which virtue reigns supreme.
Yes, people not only need to learn to work for own benefit but also they need to acknowledge that we are in fact in most circumstances all working for self benefit. Whether working for personal benefits for this world or the next. Take reincarnation and the promise of eternal life in paradise in the spiritual world for instance: Doesnât the dreadful thought of hell-fire fuel us to be better human beings, to give and sacrifice for others?
I AM ALITTLE PERPLEXED YOU KNOW. KABELO, TRUE, AMERICA IS A LEADING COUNTRY, BUT WITH WHAT LEADRSHIP CREDENTIALS CAN WE LOOK UP TO AMERICA. TAKE WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SAY AND TRY TO BE SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS.
AMERICA AS A LEADING COUNTRY, HAS INDEED LEAD THE WHOLE WORLD TO RECESSION THAT IS DIFFICULT TO OVERCOME, AND THEY STILL TRY TO GET THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES TO TRADE IN DOLLARS, THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ECONOMIC TURMOIL THEY HAVE PUT US IN.
MOST THEORIES ARE FROM AMERICA AND BRITAIN, AND THE DEFENCE GROUND OF AMERICA IS A THEORY, NAMELY THE ILLUMINATI. THEY CLAIM THE ILLUMINATI, A GROUP OF INTELLIGENT PEOPLE IS THE ONE THAT JAS LEAD TO THE RECESSION. AMERICA HAS SPENT SO MUCH MONEY THAT THE FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SPEND ANY OF WHAT THEY HAVE, THAT BEING NOTHING.
AS MUH AS I AGREE WITH YOU WHEN YOU SAY WE CANNOT BE CATEGORISED WITH AMERICANS, I DISAGREE WITH THE NOTION THAT AMERICANS ARE IN THE RIGHT. IN THEIR OWN EYES, THEY ARE, BUT ON A GLOBAL SPECTRUM ARE THEY? AMERICA FOUGHT IRAQ FOR OIL, BUT THEY ARE STILL HIKING IN THE PRICE OF OIL AND WE ARE ALSO HIKING, WHAT LEADERSHIP FORM ARE THEY USING THAT WE ARE NOT, IF IT IS SO GREAT AND POWERFUL.
THIS, YET AGAIN, BRINGS ME TO APOINT THAT SAYS WORKING FOR YOURSELF BLINDS YOU AND YOU CANNOT SEE WHAT DAMAGES YOU BRING ABOUT. WHAT IS THE POINT OF WORKING HARD AND YOU TAPPING YOURSELF IN THE BACK?
I think that I should not further the above discussion on the basis that the aim of some discussion as is with the above is not to prove anyone of us either wrong or Wright, but to inform and to share views and again not to persuade. After being informed one either amends their principles or perceptions or utterly discards them and adopts new ones based on the knowledge that they have found. Remember, that what is the truth is still an open question.
On the illuminati, I just have to say that; I have made a lot of research on the âwordâ as I did not know what it meant or denoted. It was fun and educative. Thanks!
This is my the letter that came out number 1 in the Daily Sun- letters category on the 14/10/2009.
Title; ‘All we need is’ love-finish and klaar.
One of the many reasons that can offer an explanation on why we have children whom their parents have escaped the responsibility to raise them is that most people are under the wrongful impression that the idea of being a responsible parent is only achieved through financial means. Well, this is absolutely wrong. Speaking from experience-all that we as the children whom were raised by single parents because of that-the other parent has escaped liability is just to be loved. Being responsible is a virtue, and one may be surprised to discover that wealth is a consequence of being virtuous.
Kabelo Sakong
Ga-Mogotlane
Goodluck to everyone who will be sitting for their final examinations and tests. May the good Lord and our ancerstors grant you the strength and wisdom that you require to pass.
Remember time management!
THANK YOU FOR THE GOOD LUCK BID, SOME OF US ARE FINISHED FOR NOW. MAY THE VERY SAME LUCK REALISE FOR YOURSELF. REMEMBER THAT WE DON’T BELIEVE IN WESTERN LUCK , BUT IN ASIAN LUCK WHICH IS HARDWORK, DEDICATION, COMMITMENT AND WHOLEHEARTED PARTICIPATION.
There was once a post on love, I think it was Kabelo. I have the next words to say about love and its effects on mankind.
Love is for those who fall in love and aim at loving not only their partnesrs, but themselves equally if not more than their partners.
Black and White
For the life in me i cant understand how so many people can still look at life in Black and White. i belive that we should have moved pass that by know so much has changed but so many allow the change in they life. i belive that colour brings life into everything.So how can one say that they are living when their eyes only see two colours BLACK AND WHITE?
You guys? It has been a while since I have last been here. I do hope though that you have missed me,well… I have missed you so much! Other commitments have been keeping me away from the internet, but that does not mean that I was unaware of the progress that you have been making. One thing for sure, like ‘Mzansi fo sho’-MoAc is a great organisation and does not wait on a man like me for progress, and for this I am happy, it shows that we are getting somewhere.
However, my above statements should not put my loyalty to MoAc and our course into question. I am still a 100% and more if such exists committed to this course.
Hey! by the way, I am currently reading an ethics book by Aristotle and it is really confusing. But once I find my way around it, I’ll share some knowledge with you all.
And. Honestly, you guys are making great progress and for that; congrets!
START BRIDGING THE GAPS?
They say that there is something that is wrong with a man who does not dream. But what is it that makes us dream? And what is it that leads man to the loss of such a precious attribute? What makes men die inside? Is the ability to dream an art that is a reserve for only the lucky and the gifted? We all know of men who have stopped dreaming a long time ago â though for what reason we may not know. Growing up we all have aspirations, of triumph and greatness â we dream of outgrowing the heavens and stars. But what is it that set the gaps between their accomplishments and failure? I say our backgrounds. Yes, I think that most of us are disadvantaged by where we come from.
For instance; today I dream of being a great rugby player but, that is unlikely to come to pass because of that I only got exposed to the game at the age of 20, and at a point of my life where I have already picked a career that I am supposed to throw all my weight behind it. The same goes for playing a musical instrument; it is not easy to start now.
To understand how a man thinks, his principles and priorities, one must first understand where he comes from. It is true that we all seek happiness and fulfillment in life, hence we dream. So, that desire to achieve – the vision to accomplish the mission can keep the soul alive. I hold that the defect in us failing to achieve greatness in our very humble lives is an attribute of our humble beginnings. Yes, I admit that most or quite a handful of individuals have defied the odds and achieved stardom despite their humble beginnings. But, I bet you that even though they made it to somewhere ask them, and they will tell you that should they have began their journeys from a different point they would have been somewhere better than where they are.
Even though this conviction of mine stands to change in time: today I submit that, man may try as he might but no mistake, defect, time wasting, ill choice and the likes committed in real time could ever be made up for. I mean; no matter the amount of hard work one may put in trying to make up for lost time, such could never in reality be achieved without further wasting any more time. Even bad choices and mistakes committed, after toiling to remedy them we may tend to think that we have achieved such end but truth is that directly or indirectly in future or present someone will suffer their consequences.
The same goes for the point at which we start our race or marathon of life – start at a disadvantage and you are likely to achieve less than there is to be achieved and should you be lucky enough to get it all, well; I bet you would have bled sweat and blood for such results. On the other hand take an individual who is at an advantage but lacks the determination and hard work to capitalize on his advantage- he should always achieve less than there is to be achieved but with lesser effort as compared to the former. It follows then that should âour manâ who is at an advantage in the said race or marathon achieve all that is there to achieve then he would have done so with less effort as compared to the one who started at a disadvantage.
It should be borne in mind that, despite any reasonable and justifiable inference that may be drawn from the words contained herein: I do not say that âanythingâ is impossible but only that our poor backgrounds are odds against us in our pursuit for success/triumph. The beginning is very important in every aspect of life. Aristotle in his Nicomarchean Ethics on the pursuit of happiness and what is happiness – aver that the beginning is a very important point of departure and that much more attention must be given to this part because many answers to the questions that may be encountered on the main aspect may be drawn from the beginning. Further that sometimes the beginning holds almost half of what is in the whole undertaking.
However in conclusion I would like to make reference to the fact that âdestiny is not written in stoneâ and further that it does not happen by chance but by choice. One great man once told me that, it may be that the reason why other people in life are born with advantages or are at an advantage naturally may be because of the fact that they do not possess the trait that we who are naturally at a disadvantage have â and that is the trait of hard work-we can work even harder unlike most of them.
It is ok to dream and even more palatable when people go to great lengths to accomplish their dreams. Dreamers should keep dreaming on and must work also in reality to accomplish their dreams â memories and stories of fallen giants, heroes, heroines, empires, cities, kings, kingdoms and gods should never haunt and stop dreamers from dreaming on â things come and go and that is the rule of existence and nature of anything that has to with man.
I THINK THERE ARE TWO THINGS I AM MEANT TO SAY, YOUR STATEMENTS ARE TRUE AND RELEVANT. HOWEVER, I CAN ONLY STATE THE FOLLOWING.
WE DREAM NEW DRERAMS AS WE HAVE MADE PEACE WITH THE STATE OF OUR LATTER DREAMS, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER WE ACHIEVED IN THEM OR NOT. WHAT MATTERS IS WHY WE DONT ACHIEVE THEM.
ONE MAY SAY, I AM TOO OLD FOR THIS IT WONT BE EASY, YES ITS TRUE, IT WONT BE EASY, BUT CAN BE ACHIEVED WITH DIFFICULTY. THINGS ATTAINED WITH DIFFICULTY ARE WORTH REJOICING FOR. THE MINUTE WE START MAKING STRIVES FOR OUR DREAMS, WE’LL REASON ENOUGH NOT TO LET GO OF OUR DREAMS, NEW DREAMS.
AS I BELIEVE, OUR DREAMS AWAIT US TO DISCOVER OURSELVES BEFORE WE CAN START DREAMING. WHATS THE POINT OF DREAMING IF I AM DREAMING AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF MYSELF,BUT NOT MHYSELF? DREAMS ARE MEANT TO GIVE US REASON TO LIVE AND THEY DETERMINE TO WAHT EXTENT DO WE GIVE MEANING TO OUR LIVES. ONE THING WE ARE NOT AWARE OF IS THAT WHAT GIVES MEANING TO ME AS AN INSIVISUAL,WILL IN THE END, BE IT I AM ALIVE OR GONE, GIVE MEANING TO SOCIETIES AND COMMUNITIES, AS THEY’LL ADOPT IT IF IT WORKS FOER ME AS AN INDIVIDUAL.
I AGAIN SAY THIS, OUR DREAMS AWAIT US TO DISCOVER OURSELVES BEFORE WE CAN START DREAMING.
Today marks the end of my first semester of 2010 at the University of Limpopo. It has been a short and busy semester because of the world cup. All in all I have had a good semester and trust that my academic results will reflect the same.
I am not really sure on when is it that I should start making resolutions in view of an even more successful second semester; now or when I have kicked into holiday gear? I have learned that I can only become better than my self, and not better than the other person.
Every end is a beginning and progress is only met by leaving somethingâs behind. Then philosophy goes forward to say that the only difference between dreams and accomplishment is purely desire. I began this semester with a lot of dreams in mind, but to tell the truth not all or a fair share of them have been attained. Well, I am glad however to declare that a fair share of those dreams that I have highly prioritized have been accomplished.
JUSTIFYING POOR PERFORMANCE
I am only human; so much can happen on the way to haven. Perfection is not really possible because there is just so much to leave, to be, to experience, to give ⊠etc. Notwithstanding all the truth in the preceding statement, I admit that discipline is of the essence in our drive to accomplish our dreams. But as I have said, we are only human. I quote;
Mohinder [HEROES]: Where does it come from? This quest, this need to solve life’s mysteries when the simplest of questions can never be answered. Why are we here? What is the soul? Why do we dream? Perhaps we’d be better off not looking at all. Not delving, not yearning. That’s not human nature. Not the human heart. That is not why we are here.
THE PRICE OF FREEDOM
What is the price of the freedom and the liberation that we so recklessly and blindly enjoy and who has paid the price? Was it priceless or free? One thing that just about every philosopher, historian or a formerly oppressed person will acknowledge as never a gift but rather a result of a long hard toil and conquest is none other than freedom. Freedom is never a gift but always gained by conquest. However this is not the case for some of us as we are just freeloaders in this democratic dispensation. We are free as a result of the gallantry of individuals in our past some of whom have paid for this freedom with their lives. But the greatest challenge that we are faced with is not only to eternalize the teachings and memories of these heroes, the challenge goes beyond that in the sense that we have to make sure that their sacrifices do not go in vain. We need to wake up and smell the coffee because compared to the challenges that our heroes faced ours are trivial. We have got the power, let us use it to better our lives and the world in general.
We need inspiration and people who set good examples!
My uncle taught me the importance of education and told me further that, after reading the best books the next best factor/ingredient contributing to ones proper learning or education is meeting good people.
It is important in life for dreamers and aspirants to surround themselves with good people so that their minds won’t be poisoned with pessimism which in a long run will lead them to stop dreaming and aspiring to be ‘some-bodies’ of this world, but the harsh reality is that good people are hard to come across in this world.
The world is full of dodgy and selfish persons instead of ones who are good and selfless.This is evident in the number of school-dropouts that we have and other social maladies prevalent in our societies. There are just not enough good people to look up to and try to match in this world, especially for youngsters.
It of common knowledge that just about every human being who can think has an
idea, whether or not such thought or idea is well or ill founded about what is not right with the world, government, the youth etc. But, my question is that: to how many does it ever occur that
thoughts and ideas are just not enough? I mean, how many people are really taking action to make right all that they consider wrong? People! For as much as thinking is of great importance, then know that so is action, there is no other way of changing the status quo other than through positive action. Letâs get down to action- itâs about time.
[also in Daily/Sunday Sun]
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