I Don’t Want To Hear This

I hear what they say; I listen to their mumbles, promises, prepared speeches and jibberish. I am not convinced all of them know what they are doing or what WE want.

The silly season is back – election madness is in full swing and the fat cats are on our doorsteps, tvs and anywhere a twitching bug that can vote is. Suddenly we all matter to the politicians AGAIN. This may be the only time we actually matter to them, at any other point we are a nuisance, we are treated as such, and feel it every time we complain and don’t get listened to.

Why should I vote for you? What are you going to do for me to make sure that my vote empowers the South African people? WHO should I vote for? Are you talking to me? Are you addressing my needs and concerns? What change will you bring, If any at all?

I still do NOT know where my vote is going. SO, I have to listen to all of them to make sure I make an X to someone whose reasons for being on the ballot makes sense. *sigh* A hard job. They all promise and promise insane things... SO I have a list of things that I DO NOT want to hear...

I believe strongly in live and let live. Some things and people’s lives you have to just let be – SO any party that speaks negatively or chooses the moral ground that people’s children that have disclosed their sexual preferences and want to live happily are to be hampered in this dream is not getting my vote. Any gay or lesbian rights hater is not gonna be getting my vote.

There are already bigger, harder and dangerous issues in our society, you obsessing about who and what the gay community is shagging is not gonna help me. SO I do not want to hear any gay bashing.

I am sick of seeing South African voter’s living in shacks in squatter camps that just keep getting bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger; whilst the skinny politician all of a sudden gains over 150kg in a 7 month period. I don’t want to hear any party promising free houses to get the emotionally and desperate to vote for them.

I am forever worried that children opt to become parents without thinking about the consequences and the challenges this will have on their lives. I worry that the eagerness to get R150 in your account clouds the judgement and the thinking that life could hold better things for you if you study. What happens when you get laid and catch the flu called HIV because you were just thinking about a “grant”? What then? SO I don’t want to hear the words “grant” coming out of a politician’s mouth or my vote is going elsewhere.

I know that people died for me to be able to vote. I know that everybody rallied for political prisoners to be freed and the exiled to return. With all the international support and people’s outrage we are now able to walk anywhere and cast a ballot. However, I have not forgotten that I have had two chances prior to this one to put an x for a party I believed in and they let me down. SO, keep talking politicians.. I listen!

Words And Language

I wrote this article in December 2007 on http://www.tvsa.co.za/default.asp?blogname=Ohmoments&ArticleID=6745

As I listened to Jenny Crwys-Williams (radio 702) on Monday (26/11/2007); I really wondered how much crucifixion of a language has happened in South Africa with all the other unregistered, or rather unofficial, languages. Jenny started the show by explaining the “nice” Joburg weather we had and went on to say “I am wearing a jersey! Uurgh! I hate that word!” She then opened the phone lines for people to mention words that irritate them as she just hates the word "Jersey".

I had a long list… I tend to consider myself a “good English speaking person”. Yeah right! I even use the words that irritate me, but I get irritated when others use them. Go figure! The top words that just irritate me and “tug at my nipple” (Thanks, Untouchable Lerato from Big Brother Africa 2)

Kids – Why the hell do we refer to our children as “Kids”. I used to have this Rastafarian frind, Gaby, he hated the words so much whenever someone said it, and he would simply say “People have Children. Goats have Kids”

Probe – Everything in the newspapers is “probed”. What happened to “investigation”?

Knocked up – Where and how did this term form part of correct speak?

Skat – Just like WhiteSockGirl – Say my name! Say my name! Wat is a skat?

Anyways, we have 11 official languages – some people speak all 11, yes! There’s a dude at work that speaks 13 languages – He speaks the 11 South African Official languages, Fanakalo and Tsotsitaal. Tsotsitaal is a language whether we want to acknowledge it or not! Our Oupas still speak the language and pride themselves that we can’t hear what they say.

I know there’s a huge debate around Fanakalo as a language but mineworkers use it. It may not be a very respectful way of communication. It has a lot of deregotary terms that were deduced from the same 11 or more languages we use in South Africa. So what’s the fuss? I am an inquisitive person that would love to know the history of this language…

So, what are the words that make you see blue, red and green when you hear them? What words do people use so much you are ready to offer an alternative word?