Why do you come here...When you know I've got troubles enough..

Why do you call me...When you know I can't answer the phone..

You make me lie...When I don't want to...And make someone else...Some kind of unknowing fool...You make me stay...When I should not...Are you so strong...Or is the weakness in me...(Keisha White)

Its been a while hasn’t it? Hope everyone is all bright-eyed and bushy tailed. Once again its insane how quickly the year is zooming past, can you believe its almost March. Hope you aren’t putting off saying or doing anything that you could do today...  I am trying but my oath its hard, cos tomorrow is always there no??

A few days ago I was in Kenya for a week. Man what a styling place, I was pleasantly surprised. The weather was awesome in Nairobi, just the way i like it not insanely hot and minimal humidity i wanted to shed a tear. I thought it would be like Ghana, hot and sticky...But that was the least thing that impressed me. The place as a whole was pretty well developed, but traffic....yo!! But i guess it’s typical in most countries. The thing that really got my attention was the people and the warmth and acceptance of the people. It was really so refreshing taking into consideration where the country was a few months ago post their elections. Anyway I had a pretty decent time there and then i got home on Saturday. So begins my disappointment/confusion...

So on Saturday I was invited to a mates house for some drinks etc. Good bunch of people. I got there a bit late because I was tired from my travels so I passed out most of the day. When i got there my mates were well oiled and as with most gatherings round about this time of the year our conversation turned to polotics (as Julius would say) I wasn’t paying much attention because the Bulls were playing the Reds and the England were playing Wales I think it was, I had plenty to concentrate on. A while into the conversation, one of my mates, who like me is of Ghanaian decent but residing here comes to the area where i am sitting and makes a comment almost in disgust about a comment made by another of our friends. The comment was that although he has been residing here for 10 years has a child here etc. he should not be allowed to vote. Rugby?? What rugby...My interest was piqued. I did some investigation to get the scoop.

From what i gathered, one of my (black) South African mates was against the fact that foreign born South Africans are allowed to vote in the upcoming elections, particularly i guess us foreign born nationals holding 2 passports. I engage in a discussion with her to understand what her thinking is. Her thing is I am not truly committed, i am here because it benefits me and also a guy like Jabu who lives in Diepsloot (a township here in SA) has not alternatives this is his only choice when he votes he is looking out for the best interest of the country.

I was a tad baffled by this. I am 33, fortunate enough to have been afforded a decent education. I can pretty much live in most places, but i choose to live here because it is my home, (even though plenty people around me make it difficult for me to fully feel as if this is my home). Yes it is beneficial for me to live here, just as much as it is for her to live here to, because she is equally educated and also quite mobile. But she, like I choose to live here because it benefits us and not only that I think it benefits SA for me to be here too. I guess just as it benefitted both parties when some of our parents were ‘imported’ here as teachers and doctors back in the day, but how soon we forget when things start going right ;-).

To be honest in my opinion, I think the argument is flawed. As humans we always hedge our positions. I buy insurance not cos i want to wreck my car, but just incase...A bit of an extreme example, but i think it illustrates my point. I don’t use my Ghanaian passport for much other than to go to Ghana. I am allowed to have it by law so why not keep it, it is my birth right to have it. Does that change my attitude for my home country, not a sausage. I love this place man, but to be honest the mentality of some makes me glad that i do hold 2 passports, as was evidenced a few months ago when there was an attack on foreign nationals based purely on appearance and nothing else.

I had this blog so well scripted in my head 2 weeks ago but eish today its a problem, but i hope you guys get the gist of what I am trying to say and i’d like your thoughts on it too. I wrote the race of the person involved on purpose because I have had this conversation with a few other people too and the only people who seem to have a problem with other (and it seems like its only other black) foreign born nationals voting are blacks. Something that just dawned on me which may well blow the whole argument out of the water too is in the case of say a Comrade who was living in exile has a child in the exile country, should they be allowed to vote? I am guessing the answer would be yes and rightly so

Anyway, for many Christians, Wednesday was the beginning of Lent, many people tend to give up random things like booze, meat, chocies or sex for the period. Now thats all good and well, but in my mind it defeats the whole essence of the period. If i am not mistaken, its meant to be a period representing the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert enduring constant temptation from the devil. Now my thinking is this. Its all good and well to deny self some of the pleasures we enjoy, but tell me how often do you drink? Eatc chocolate, meat etc? My guess is once a week maybe even twice, how much of a challenge is giving up something that is sporadic? Not so much ne? So what say u for the next 38 days you go out of your way to make a difference in someone elses life, be it a compliment, less bitching, or my personal favourite, helping out the less fortunate than you, but I don’t mean giving them R5 or so, cos thats easy, I am thinking more along the lines of a loaf of bread, litre of milk or something that will require a conscious effort.

Pure of mind, good deed, Each one help one...

Anyway I’m outta here, but before I leave i’d like to point you all to a mates blog about poor consumer experience in SA...http://letsbegreat.blogspot.com...

Birthdays
8th Bibi and Kwaku
9th Vivi
11th Zahir
12th Garrin
14th Barbs
16th Jane
17th Nadya
18th Lourie, Susan, Sarah
22nd Anja, Lindsay, Kim, Vixie
24th Paddy, Kirsty
25th Seemie & Abbey
26th Chaks, Sarah, Louise and me
27th Zuraida
28th Leah, Tumi, Brett, Richard

And thats me for another week...

Have a great weekend

Y