Friday, April 20, 2012

Degeneration of morals

Degeneration of morals, True or False

 7 due in court over gang rape of 17 year old mentally ill girl!!!
 
South Africas crime statistics on the rise!!!
 
Reservist  held for girls death!!!
 
Women admits stealing R700 000
 
These are the headlines that we in South Africa wake up to on a weekly basis which beg the question of whether we are running a sinking country which is being coached by moral degeneration or is this normal all around the world. I have always wondered as to why people, mainly whites, immigrate to countries such as Australia and claim to be headed for a better life. My questioning of this was more of 'is the economy there better?', not paying attention to other contributing factors such as politics and crime. 
 
Of late whenever I read the newspaper I get the feeling that I've been living in this country with my eyes closed or maybe blindfolded by the comfort and protection that my parents have provided in a fenced suburb house where it is possible that I have been isolated from the harsh realities of our country. The headlines that I see seem so foreign from the life that im living and I can't help fear that one day I might be confronted by the crimes that these headlines speak of.
 
The headline that has grabbed my attention this week is one of 7 boys raping a 17 year old girl and making a video at the same time, im bewildered as to what was going through the minds of these boys and where they thinking about the consequences of thier actions while contemplating this evil deed? One has to wonder about the ubringing of these men, where they brought up around domestic violence? Where they tought to respect women, and do they see women as thier equalls? I have always advocated that everyone is responsible for thier own actions and cannnot blame thier parents and peers after they have done wrong but I find it relevant in this case to look at these men's backrounds.
 
 
# 1     United States:
# 2     United Kingdom:
# 3     Germany:
# 4     France:
# 5     Russia:
# 6     Japan:
# 7     South Africa:
 

Monday, March 26, 2012

Have we forgotten where we come from??

Maboea, mothapama O neng o thapamele marena
Wa thapamela bo Letlatsa le Lephatsoeana
Ke motho wa Sekoele sa Mathulela
Motho wa Nthudisane, wa Phadi
Ke Seuna se pelo, mora Nkoehatse
Se ba una se batabola moriri
Ba habo bona basalle ba lla.

Mohapi wa diphaulela, Maboea
Ya neng a hape tsabo Lekobane
Tse neng di hamelwa Papa molemeng
Ha o le noko, ha o latellwe
Ha o le nook o hlaba Matebele

These are praise names for the Maboea clan, looking at them the other day i asked myself whether they still of value to me or can they be regarded as a pair of socks with holes and disregarded at the back of my mind.

We should be careful on how we regard our history and culture because it was the same history that tought us that to know where you going, you also have to know where you've been. I've often wondered in the past where a few of my family members who grew up in the suburbs or 'modern' era have found the passion to speak or research about our history and culture, from Kutlwano always preaching to me the importance of family and looking out for the younger to Nomonde always staying on the forfront of knowing our culture.

A few weeks ago I had a very enlightning conversation with my cousin Ndabezinhle where we ended up straying to how we find history important . He told me of how he has always been interested in learning where the Maboea's come from and whether there are still Maboea's where we originate from. This conversation got me to a simple and yet sad conclusion; Most of the youth do have an interest in thier familiies past and culture but the problem is that they dont find it 'cool' to talk about in the presence of their peers.

With all this said, i think the most important thing for one to know is that what people think of you is not important but rather of what you think of yourself is of more value. Be an invividual who thinks for him/herslef rather than letting the people around you dictate what you think of your history and culture.
Now ask yourself, where do you come from? For all you know you could be the descendant of a king/leader and yet you acting like a follower. But than again this is my opinion Not yours!!

Kt