It shocked me today to hear out of an eight year olds mouth that he didn’t believe in charity. At first I thought he was joking and made the comment that it couldn’t be true only to hear him confirm that he doesn’t believe in charity. He went on to say that he has never seen it, the only charity he has ever seen is one beggar with his mother and they didn’t give anything to him.
I was in a state of shock and then intense sadness at the truth of this world we live in. On one side there is money, more than needed fully stocked cupboards and food a plentiful. On the other side are millions of children who don’t even have safe water to drink, a slice of bread a day without butter and jam if they’re lucky. They don’t know about each other either and if the richer kids find out about the poorer ones they don’t believe it until they see it… in person.
If we were in Africa I’d take this unaware kid that has a big heart to an Orphanage, allow him to hold a baby that is so marked by the ravishes of living that it’s bones stick out. I’d get him to help dish up soup for the lunch lines at the shelter, let him watch the peoples faces change at the prospect of having a full belly. This kid’s had a good life compared to millions of other kids but he can’t comprehend it, he’s never seen it or felt it in his life.
Polar bear differences in one world, the indifference by those that have towards those that have never had a chance is ridiculous, beyond ridiculous. I don’t fault that little boy I fault society, I fault society for not creating awareness or caring. With this recession progressing as it is I don’t think it will be long before “one” beggar becomes thousands worldwide like it is everyday in Africa.
Soon the world won’t be able to ignore Africa because Africa will be the world. The world will not be able to run anymore from the truths and the harsh reality.
Those that had will find themselves without and standing right next to the man they spat at on the side of the road last week when he asked for a few coins to by some bread for his 3 barely clothed children standing on the other side waiting for him.
Those that laughed at the images of family upon family living in shacks in Africa will find themselves encased in a tent on the side of the road in a run down once upon a time happy suburbia.
For many newly homeless, those that used to make statements that the drunk lying in the street should sober up and just get a job will find themselves sharing more than one bottle with the same guy just to drown away his sorrows.
It doesn’t make me happy at all to make these statements but it is the truth and reality of the present day in this world.
It’s happening as we speak.
Sometimes this world makes me sick to my stomach.
Sometimes it makes me sit on the floor in a ball and just cry.
Compassion is free.
Caring is free.
Someone that stands up and says let me help priceless.
FUNNY: A hot-air balloon shaped as Darth Vader from Star Wars takes part in the Quik Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning. (Mel Evans, AP)
Ok so I have pretty much had a real hearty laugh as I always do at our news, back to reading it again after a little sanity vacation.
‘A World That Stands as One’ Barack Obama addressed a crowd of 200 000 people in Berlin. Watch the video and read the speech.
Can someone please explain to me why it is acceptable that a political candidate from the States is doing speeches in foreign countries such as Germany. I obviously don’t understand, did I miss something? Is Obama the new US President? Please in all honestly I would love someone to explain this to me as I don’t see the Presidential candidates from say France going around the world nor do I see the British candidates doing the same. I am one confused blonde. I am asking in all sincerity as I really would like to understand a bit more.
Cop held for car theft A Johannesburg metro police officer has been arrested for being part of a vehicle theft syndicate that allegedly smuggled cars into foreign countries.
Who you going to call when they come for you? Call batman or the ghostbusters, doesn’t really matter because he will be out pretty soon. Much like the Chief of Police crashing his swanky car while intoxicated saying “Im shot drrrrrrank I kin wilk strit linnnne” Yers we believe you as well. Best yet? All on video, makes funniest home videos look like childs play!
Wallets come out for Zuma Free State African National Congress members and guests have pledged nearly R1.5m for ANC President Jacob Zuma’s legal battles.
Let me just say that already the big guy in the judicial courts is in trouble for trying to “be super friendly” with the court judges involved in Zuma’s case where he is being tried for corruption/fraud/bribery (you choose). Now the main political party ANC, which he is president of, is sponsoring his legal fees. Is it only me that thinks this smacks of ahem interesting?
Bush widens Zim sanctions US President George W Bush has signed an executive order to expand sanctions against individuals and organisations in Zimbabwe associated with President Robert Mugabe.
I was speaking to a Zimbabwean the other day, yeah I know there are still some alive, about these sanctions. The general consensus is “Why are there no travel bans on Mugabe himself???”, a good question if you ask me. Why are his bank accounts holding millions and billions not frozen? Why is he still living in such lush luxury while the people of Zim are suffering from the Sanctions? Perhaps it is my blondeness coming out again – yes I am brunette.
Can you imagine going to a shop and the shelves are bare? I am not talking about just one shop I am talking about all shops. Imagine not finding one loaf of bread to buy, milk, fruit juice, jam, toilet paper or washing powder… There is one place in Zim that has it all, there is a shopping centre on Mugabe’s street, they even sell diesel jeans and rolex watches, cakes and 30 different types of bread… imagine.
If anyone can answer these questions you will make my day.
Thank you
P.S. Thank you Cape Town for standing up against a sadistic raisin!
VIDEO: Protest against Qwelane
Watch as members of the gay community gathered in Cape Town to protest Jon Qwelane’s column.
Tomorrow is Freedom Day here in South Africa, the nation is expected to dance and celebrate the day but we never do, the government gets upset with us, the nation, but they don’t understand. They throw big celebration parties and events through out the country only to find people turning up for the free food. Our nation is not free at all – the only freedom we have is freedom from apartheid.
All races in this nation feel this way, it is not the old prominent whites as everyone seems to think overseas with much thanks to the ever present media influent lies. Our nation has done a reversal of sorts, there is more wider spread poverty, the affirmative action is seen as apartheid on many fronts, the colour of your skin determines whether you get the job, whether you are male or female, all scored and ranked. It does not matter what skills you have nor whether you can do the job, a person with the right scoring will get the job above someone who can do it. Crime cripples us on a daily basis, it is not as if the media are reporting everything just the more heinous crimes. Yes we have freedom, we as a nation have become free of holding on to material things that we used to treasure, now it is our lives that we treasure. We value people more and less the car we drive or the fancy handbag.
If you look it like that then yes we are free, we are all accidental Buddhists, we are all that monk that sold his Ferrari all but with one difference, ours was stolen with a gun to our heads.
Freedom Day? I will not celebrate for the reasons they put before me, I choose to celebrate it as a freedom from within me, I will celebrate the fact that apartheid ended and I will celebrate the fact that we can live as one in the ideal world. I am not being negative although I know it may come across as such rather I am being unfairly realistic.
Power cuts closing businesses, police helicopters flying over our houses every couple of hours, locking our doors and going through red traffic lights at night, guns to our heads and starvation, lack of education and lack of medical support for the masses, unemployment in high numbers, inflation rates souring faster than Zimbabwe can get it’s election outcome, our exported tomatoes cost less in America than on our own shelves – freedom?
So tomorrow I shall celebrate this day called freedom on a different note, I rather want to think of it as a fight for freedom, a fight for freedom from media manipulation, societies ideas of what is good for us when it is rather great for both their pockets and egos. The lessons in our past are their and yet we ignore them, Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for decades, he fought for what he believed and he harboured no guilt. He worked side by side with De Klerk the last “apartheid” president in bringing about the end of that era. Till today he spreads love and kindness, above all he spreads forgiveness to a nation, he passes on that message and is colour blind only seeing fairness.
Have you ever watched the movie Freedom Writers? It is one of those movies that has stuck by me, its story is hope and that where there is a will there is a way, if you care enough anything is possible. That is the freedom I celebrate so I will leave you with the trailer and the theme song from the movie… if we care enough, if we stand together and if we all do our little bits then perhaps this world won’t be such a scary place, perhaps as our numbers grow people might join us and together we become a mass of good will, kindness and giving without expecting… perhaps all but a dream but I feel in my heart and soul that it is possible.
If you want to read more about the freedom writers you can go to the Freedom Writers Foundation site, gives me hope in this world I can tell you.
One world, one soul, one colour
Freedom Writers Trailer:
Freedom Writers – I have a dream
I am happy
I am I am happy
[Soundclip: I have a dream]
I got a dream
[One day]
We gonna work it out oh oh
We gonna work it out oh oh
We gonna work it out
[Soundclip: I have a dream]
I got a dream
We gonna work it out oh oh
we gonna work it out oh oh
we gonna work it out
[Soundclip: I have a dream]
I got a dream
[that one day]
that one day
all of the people and myself
are gonna find a better way
My dream is to be free
my dream is to be
my dream my dream is to be
my dream is to be
my dream is to be free
A search for brighter days
I ride through the maze of the madness
struggle is my address
where pain and crack lives
gunshots coming from sounds of blackness
given this game with no time to practice
born on the blacklist
told I’m a little average
A life with no cabbage
that’s no money if you’re from where I’m from
funny,
I just want some of yours son
dark clouds seem to follow me
alcohol that my pops swallowed bottle me
no apology
I walk with a boulder on my shoulder
it’s a cold war
I’m a colder shoulder
I fight the same fight that made Martin Luther the king
I ain’t usin’ it for the right thing
in-Between lean and the fiends
hustle and the schemes
I put together pieces of a dream
I still have one
I am happy
I am I am happy
[Soundclip: I have a dream]
I got a dream
[One day]
We gonna work it out oh oh
We gonna work it out oh oh
We gonna work it out
[Soundclip: I have a dream]
I got a dream
We gonna work it out oh oh
we gonna work it out oh oh
we gonna work it out
[Soundclip: I have a dream]
I got a dream
[that one day]
that one day
I’ma look deeper than myself
are gonna find a better way
My dream is to be free
my dream is to be
my dream my dream is to be
my dream is to be
my dream is to be free
The world see me lookin’ in the mirror
images of me gettin’ much clearer
dear self,
I wrote a letter just to better my soul
if I don’t express it,
then forever I hold inside
I’m from a side where we outta control
rap music and the hood play a fatherly role
my story like yours, yo, gotta be told
tryin’ to make it from a gangsta to a Godlier role
and Jewish people in cold caves
hate has no color or age
flip the page
now my rage became freedom right
write dreams in the dark
they far, but I can see em
I believe in heaven more than hell
blessings more than jail
In the ghetto, let love prevail
with a story to tell
my eyes see the glory of, well,
the world waitin’ for me to yell
I have a dream
I am happy
I am I am happy
[Soundclip: I have a dream]
I got a dream
[One day]
We gonna work it out oh oh
We gonna work it out oh oh
We gonna work it out
[Soundclip: I have a dream]
I got a dream
We gonna work it out oh oh
we gonna work it out oh oh
we gonna work it out
[Soundclip: I have a dream]
I got a dream
[that one day]
that one day
all of the people and myself
are gonna find a better way
My dream is to be free
my dream is to be
my dream my dream is to be
my dream is to be
my dream is to be free
I had a dream 2 nights ago, I had a dream of one world with one soul with billions of hearts pumping together as one, one vision, one nation all with one goal, a better world. My experience with the elderly gentleman the other day, he was there on my path for a reason and now amberfireinus’ post God doesn’t make ugly ducklings just makes it solid in my mind.
Chatting to a friend yesterday, he spoke with such sadness for the state of the world and our nation. So often we can feel as though we are the only ones that dream of a world without hunger, without racism, without sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, without war, street sleeping, orphans, the list can go on forever. Yesterday was a heavy day, tears forever in my eyes, that elderly gentleman broke my heart into a million different pieces all scattered around my soul.
I’ve been lying in bed for what felt like hours since then, feels as though I haven’t slept in days. It bothered me that so many people praised me when I asked not to be, it bothered me that perhaps people didn’t see the true reason for me posting that story. Then I thought that perhaps by my action of posting what happened the other day it gave others hope that there was indeed more people with compassion that walked the earth, perhaps they saw that through all of us there is hope, then I passed out…
The dream, one world, one soul, white light, serenity and a smile… I so badly want to shout from the rooftops telling everyone of us that there is hope in this world, that this world is not such a bad place with all of us in it, you and me, we can do this, each and everyone of us can make a difference, we’re not alone, the world is full of people who care, who want to make a difference, who want to help the world.
Perhaps it is but a dream, but I’m going to hold it close no matter what anyone says. I get a lot of “stick” for wanting to make this world a better place, people say its impossible, that my dreams are pointless. I know I need to keep the dream alive but I do cry for those who have no hope, it saddens me beyond words and so I have run out for now, perhaps just a little bit of sleep will come my way…
I hear a baby crying,
A sad sound, a lonely sound.
I want to take her in my arms,
And then I dry away all her tears.
I see a boy who’s frightened,
A young boy with old eyes,
I long to say you’re welcome here,
You can be happy now that you’re warm.
We’re all a part of one world,
We all can share the same dream…
And if you just reach out to me,
Then you will find deep down inside….
I’m just like you,
Loud voices raised in anger,
Speak harsh words, such cruel words,
Why do they speak so selfishly?
When we have got so much we can share.
So let your hearts be open,
And reach out with all your love,
There are no strangers now,
They are our brothers now,
And we are one.
We’re all apart of one world,
We all can share the same dream,
And if you just reach out to me,
Then you will find, deep down inside,
I’m just like you….
We’re all apart of one world,
We all can share the same dream,
And if you just reach out to me,
Then you will find, deep down inside…
I woke up this morning and my first thoughts were of this song, scarily enough to the point that I was singing – scary because of how I am in the morning normally (give me my coffee and don’t talk till its done). I think everyone in the world over has heard this song, perhaps not the older versions or perhaps not the newer ones, there are many!
It’s a beautiful song but I have a problem with it at the same time, why should it only be a Christmas time song, why shouldn’t it be for 365 days a year.
Helping the world is helping each other, one step at a time, in the small things we do we make this place called earth a better place.
The other problem with this song is the fact that a lot of people believe it is only about Africa when it is not, it is about each and every continent in this world, it’s about the people less fortunate than ourselves, it’s about giving to those that are in need and actually caring when we do…
[Chris Martin:]
It’s Christmastime, there’s no need to be afraid
At Christmastime, we let in light and we banish shade
[Dido:]
And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world at Christmastime
[Robbie Williams:]
But say a prayer, Pray for the other ones
At Christmastime it’s hard, but when you’re having fun
[Sugababes:]
There’s a world outside your window
And it’s a world of dread and fear
[Fran Healy:]
Where the only water flowing
[Fran Healy & Sugarbabes:]
Is the bitter sting of tears
[Fran Healy & Justin Hawkins:]
And the Christmas bells that ring there are the clanging chimes of doom
[Bono:]
Well tonight thank God it’s them instead of you
[Will Young & Jamelia:]
And there won’t be snow in Africa this Christmastime
The greatest gift they’ll get this year is life
[Ms Dynamite & Beverly Knight:]
Where nothing ever grows
No rain nor rivers flow
[Group of ten and Joss Stone:]
Do they know it’s Christmastime at all?
[Tom Chaplin (Keane):]
Here’s to you
[Justin Hawkins (Darkness):]
Raise a glass for everyone
[Dizzee Rascal:]
Spare a thought this yuletide for the deprived
If the table was turned would you survive
[Busted:]
Here’s to them
[Justin Hawkins (Darkness):]
Underneath that burning sun
[Dizzee Rascal:]
You ain’t gotta feel guilt just selfless
Give a little help to the helpless
[Joss Stone & Justin Hawkins:]
Do they know it’s Christmastime at all?
[Tom Chaplin:]
Feed the world
[Tom Chaplin & Chris Martin:]
Feed the world
[Tom Chaplin & Chris Martin & Sugababes:]
Feed the world
[Tom Chaplin & Chris Martin & Sugababes:]
Feed the world
[Everyone in full chorus line.]
Feed the world
Let them know it’s Christmastime again – [repeated]
[Group of ten:]
Feed the world
[Everyone in full chorus line.]
Feed the world – [repeated to end]
It shocked me today to hear out of an eight year olds mouth that he didn’t believe in charity. At first I thought he was joking and made the comment that it couldn’t be true only to hear him confirm that he doesn’t believe in charity. He went on to say that he has never seen it, the only charity he has ever seen is one beggar with his mother and they didn’t give anything to him.
I was in a state of shock and then intense sadness at the truth of this world we live in. On one side there is money, more than needed fully stocked cupboards and food a plentiful. On the other side are millions of children who don’t even have safe water to drink, a slice of bread a day without butter and jam if they’re lucky. They don’t know about each other either and if the richer kids find out about the poorer ones they don’t believe it until they see it… in person.
