Draconian Suppression

O’ Lord have mercy, what’s becoming of this world? I think Draconian censorship relates to the world of evil. Where is SA heading to?

Trying to find out what laws and rules are referred to as Draconian, I came across disturbing information about a Syrian woman. The 75 year old Khamisa Sawadi was sentenced to 40 lashes, four months jail term and deportation from the kingdom for letting two young men who were not her relatives into her home. Apparently, these men took bread to the old lady in the name of kindness but their generosity landed them in hot water. They were also sentenced to lashes and imprisoned (Raton, 2009). Now, people come on this is total insanity, practicing this type of Draconian rule in the name of religion is not unacceptable and damaging to society. If this is what it is to be hard co Muslim then Islam should be questioned.

Draconian censorship seems to flourish in the Middle East; in Saudi Arabia women are non-existent. Extreme Islam dictates that women are to cover their bodies and not to talk to any man they are not related to. If a woman is caught talking to a man who is believed to be unrelated to her, severe punishment is imposed on both. I view this as religion against women. I can imagine how horrible it is to live in such anarchy. Can we see how South Africa might head to such cruelty if the Media appeals Tribunal and the protection of personal information bills are left to manifest?

However, in South Africa the Draconian censorship would be based on political interests. As we have recently seen in the media, ANC has proposed that the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) be managed by the particular ruling government. This is totally out because ICASA is meant to be autonomous to be efficient and effective. The ruling party has also wished-for the amendment of certain acts and the passing of specific bills to fulfil its political interest. This is Draconian at its best as the government is supposed to protect the public and not put it into emotional turmoil. Government is supposed to support the media in trying to inform people about dangerous information (political or economical or environmental or technological or socials) and any substances. Enhancing caution among people results in prevention of dangerous events, such as warfare, genocide, diseases etc. Instead of the ruling party initiating and promoting Draconian censorship, it should focus on ways of developing a peaceful society, a society free of fear.

Post 2010 soccer world cup

Prior to the world cup, people spoke on how the extraordinary event would be and what would happen during and after. It was clear that people had mixed feelings, some positive and others negative. Certain media around the world instilled fear in people who wanted to come and be part of the experience. The media mostly reported about the bad stuff and not the good and beautiful things that South Africa could offer. Crime, failure to manage the event and political instability, were some of the highlighted ugly themes before the world cup.

The world cup raised up a lot of questions among the South African publics on what would happen to the people and most of the world class infrastructure. Questions about the stadiums, Gautrain, airports, builders/constructors and so on were among many other questions asked. Amazingly the world cup is over and it seems people are not talking about it anymore or rather like they used to. Though, I must confess on how humbled I felt when I saw flocks of soccer fans in all sorts of local teams’ jerseys a month ago who were going to watch the game between Orlando Pirates and Vasco da Gama in Green Point Stadium. Seeing the huge number of people going to watch soccer reminded me of the best time ever (2010 Soccer World Cup) held on the African soil.

Definitely, the recent world cup has changed the way many South Africans perceive football. The love of the game has enormously manifested.

No one Knows the time or day when he/she will become world famous

The secrete is to believe and keep on hoping that you will one day become world famous.
People who are world famous don’t even know how they became world famous. Most of them say “I don’t how it happened, it just happened”, when asked how they got to be famous. Although, people should keep on dreaming and hoping that they could one day become world famous.

Besides, the power of high-context culture, e.g. believing that you are world famous princess Maria increases your hopes of being famous in the future. Like Mr. Ping told his son Po in the movie Kung Fu Panda that there was in fact no secrete ingredient and that all things were special if someone believes that they were.

It is also clear that one does not only believe but stays focused and committed towards what he/she wants to be. For example, the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Natalie du Toit, Miriam Makeba etc. So being world famous does not happen out of the blues, though, few people have become world famous without much effort.

You can not chase two rabbits at the same time

It is actually possible to chase two rabbits in one direction; I think it depends on the direction you are chasing them in. Of course if you analyse the situation and critically think on how and what measures to put in place, have solutions to the loopholes prior to the chase, you can catch the rabbits or kill two birds with one stone.

On the other hand this relates to ideas or plans for the future, where one needs two options in case one fails. You can’t generate, plan and implement an idea, without thinking of the results therefore, if succeeds or fails. Only focused people, thus people who have alternatives for original ideas can manage to kill two birds with one stone. However, to be safe, initial ideas and alternatives must be implemented simultaneously. This also means possessing multitasking abilities one of the most important skills in achieving personal or business goals. Forget catching tow rabbits at once if your mind can’t multitask.

“Nothing is more dangerous than an idea, when you only have one idea”

“Do you have an alternative plan?” A friend of mine would always ask when am telling her about my future plans. This to me shows how important it is to always have option B for any idea. Just in case the original idea backfires, you would at least have something to fall on.

I recall how excited I felt that I was going to work during the 2010 Soccer World Cup. My initial idea was to at two places so as to make money on both sides. I planned on how I was going to spend the money even before it was conformed that both companies would take me. I lived on cloud nine just on the thought of making lots of money while having fun. It was something that could make someone not to think otherwise.

Although, my plan did not work out they way it was originally planned. The manager of one of the events management company I was supposed to work for had somewhat really issues. Apparently, he was very selective on who would work; he based his appointment criteria on the colour of the people and not on the experience or merit. This is true as one of my friends and others reported this manager to the labour courts.

But anyways, we move on, it happened that I could not at two places and therefore, worked one company. That day, 11 June 2010 I went to work thanking God that I had not turned down the offer to which I initially planned to do. My conscious saved me as I told myself not to refuse the offer in case things were not well from either side. At least I made money although not as expected, that is the power of having a backup idea.

Appreciating personalities

It is a pity how people tend to criticise each other over personalities. Being critical is not but at all; the problem is the manner in which those criticisms are put forward. Many people don’t criticise to build but to destroy. Often it is all about what pleases me, “what I like is acceptable and what I don’t like is filthy and unacceptable”, that is where the world has come to.

People don’t feel at peace any more, because their minds are usually occupied with the thoughts of fear about what others will say with as regards look, walk, dress and behave. People no longer wear what they are comfortable in; they rather put on clothes that are nice or beautiful in other people’s eyes. We no longer talk with our natural voices; accents are changed to suit others. We are expected to be well informed about many issues around the world, if one feels to answer the question about the occurrences around the world, they are labelled as living in the box. The list can go on and on.

Let’s make other people live like we would love to, happy with what we do, wear and how lead our daily lives. Rebuke to bring about positive change otherwise criticise no more.

"Rock Journalism"

Frank Zappa descibes rock journalism as “people who can’t write, doing interviews with people who can’t think, in order to prepare articles for people who can’t read”.

How about going for a music career? A word of advice to rock journalists is; if you can’t write; find something else that you might be good at. It makes no sense to interview the brainless who can’t add value to important issues. Besides, interviewing such people communicates the stupidity of such journalists. I mean journalists should be exceptional in their writing skills as it is what defines them. If a journalist can’t write, then there is no better term to describe him/her, not even as a rock journalist. Moreover, if people can’t read why write for them? If they can’t read, speaking to them may be an excellent idea.
On the other hand, it “makes sense” for journalists who can't write to interview people who can’t think in order to write for people who can’t read because anyways they can’t differentiate between a good and a bad writer, though not an option, “sounds like banana society?” Lol…