So on this visit to CT, I have opted to cycle wherever I need and walk as much as possible except when going into the cbd for meetings.


I have lived a long long time ago in Cape Town and what the heart feels and the eyes see is very different to what I remember.

It hurts.

It takes my breath away and makes breathing difficult.

I know CT is beautiful but, so is every other place and thus to me, it is not only my surroundings as much as the people that make it.

Wherever i go, there is something that leaves its imprint on my Being and on this occasion, over and over, i am reminded how privileged i am.

What is it that has caught my attention?

The anomaly of Cape Town....

I watched a street person fold his blankets with such care , corner to corner and then tuck it away ontop of a bus stop terminal.

I watched a group of about 15 children, ranging from the age of 10 to 16 having come out for they day to enjoy the beach front, sharing 2 ice- creams, passing them around and hoping there would some left for another tasty lick. That look as they followed the icecreams going round and then shouting at each other if the enjoyment lasted a little too long.

I got a little scared when asked for money and me saying I do not walk around with any money, only to be asked, in a jovial way, if I would mind if he stole my shoes and sold them for food.

I watched a beggar go down on knee as 2 dogs ran upto him wagging tails and he played with them like they were his best mates.

I sat and observed a little corner , at High Point, by the promenade toilets as two elderly people prepared themselves for the night ahead, laying out bedding and "preparing " dinner.

And then...

I looked at the beauty of wealth...and I had to turn toward the Ocean tonight, for I know whoever might have seen the tears running freely would not understand.

I was not sad for me. I was sad that there will always be someone at the short end of the stick be it their own doing or not.

....is it a happy Freedom day?

:((

It is but, I do not want to be blind to the plight of so many who might never know the freedom of having much many of us take foregranted.

RB.

We live in such a diverse country, but we don't always see everything the way you did today, but I wish we did, it may make us all better people

Thanks for sharing

Jake

Dearest RB

Once again your observations of our lives and living spaces reveal the stark reality of truth in our land this Freedom Day.

The mix and interplay of our diversity compounds on itself ... adding to the rich complexity of what we see and we know needs to be done .... or even left undone..... that is if we are prepared to open our eyes, ears and minds to what is happening around us.

Too many people only see what they see. They do not look closely and delve into the context, backgrounds, details and realities revealed by the many signals emanating from people's behaviour and responses to their surroundings both given and taken... over the decades of our "freedom".

We are one people and should have the freedom to celebrate our differences which are also strengths. Adding to our richness of abilities and willingness to live, survive and support our people.

Much to ponder.

Thank you for staring at our world and sharing your thoughts and perceptions of what you are seeing.

Enjoy more rides and visits to the different areas of Cape Town .... As always, we look forward to further thoughts from you.

Take care
Wc

When reading this post I felt sad but as the good came to the fore, I calmed down.
While the post focusses on Cape Town, it is something happening all over the country ;-((
@Russian Bridgitte thanks for your post

Dearest Jakeburns78

Political correctness makes us mum and "stupid" for, if one dared to be truthful, would that make us better people?

:)

If I may, it lies not in the seeing as much as in the doing.

Thank u for ur comment and yes, u are right. We would be better off if we knew how to not be self centered egotistical "my rights come first" ..."pricks and cunts"...?

I am sure we all know what I mean. Pls note it is NOT aimed at u BUT, ALL of us including me.

Abrasive and crude..."rose-tinted" glasses off .

RB.

Dearest Wcliff

U know me well...very well.

Where my passion lies.

My overbearing disgust of hypocrisy and my outspoken activism of much that is swept under the carpet in this beautiful country.

U know me for a floundering loud mouth when I get carried away in situations where the impoverished are bullied into submission by a deceitful government.

U know me to choke and spew when asked to turn a blind eye.

And...yet, u still listen to me and bring me on board when it comes to matters possible to bring about a little bit of reprieve from a thieving government.

Thank u for making me part of ur team.

RB.

Dearest you53

It is true that various degrees of the ripple effects of a corrupt government are to be seen everywhere in SA.

The reason it captured me in Cape Town was because the blatant divide between the mega rich and the "street people" is, for whatever reason, much more obvious on the golden mile promenade of Seapoint.

Pls don't get me wrong but, I am glad u were sad and then managed a smile too for, both are good and hope is not a thing one should give up on.

RB.

And thus....

The choice lies with the voters.

The pains of history past influencing choices made.

A "third world emerging economy" with aspirations of a first world country buying cars more expensive than homes, maxing debt on clothes and shoes and trinkets while accepting of potholes and corruption and failure of education and Healthcare...just to name 2 of the most important wings in the care of an elected government

Now hate me...better to vote for the person who is the same skin colour as me and eat the shit they feed me and allow them to undermine my intelligence and swallow and choke on their lies and deceit?

Why do the malema's come into power? Because they tap into the desperate plight of the hungry and jobless and speak their "language" while the black elitist government rape the country of its richness affording their children the best education and life while the countries future leaders and citizens are allowed to become purposeless hooligans lost without direction or guidance.

Again...to repeat...for pain does not simply go away overnight and should not be undermined

...The pains of history past influencing choices made...

But.

For how long and at what cost.

A president who in his Freedom day speech says this country is poorer and worse of than what it was in 1994 and still holds seat as president in an elected political party by the citizens of this country ...begs the question

...


It must be that the brightest buttons of this country have immigrated to greener pastures where their hard work and understanding of growth and being the best citizen of that country is being recognised and acknowledged .

And if there are any bright buttons left to change the course of this country's past and future history, where are they??

RB.

Once again ....an anomaly that caught my eye.

I could not help but notice him.

Definitely not a beggar . An older man sitting on a step near the public pools in seapoint .

Why would I have noticed him?

Because there he was everytime I cycled past and this being my 6th time.

What drew my attention is that he sat at such an angle, looking across the road, at a block of flats.

On the 3rd time, I decided to get off my bike, pretend I had to sit down to rest and, tried to work out what he might be looking at.

He was so intent on staring at whatever it was.

My imagination went into overdrive.

Was he remembering a bygone time? Memories ...a nostalgic pang.

Was he imagining a life that could be, should he live in such a grand space? Huge bay windows looking out at the majestic ocean? An opportunity lost...a could have been?

Or

Was it a lover imagined? A fantasy spotted on a verandah. A hankering of intimacies nibbling in the pit of his tummy?

A hope of a life of companionship for, it could not be as frivolous as only skin deep, that beauty that held him motionless.

Is it his family he no longer has contact with...?

I didn't find out that day.

But. If he happens to be there in the same spot, still staring across the road at the same building next week, I might just ask him (in my typical fashion, explain myself first)..and see how wrong I was...or not.

I prefer to be wrong as the loneliness I sense from him must be a huge burden to carry.

I wonder if Valentine's means anything to him other than that is is one of the biggest money making days on the calendar and just a reminder of how lonely he may be feeling.

I truly hope I am very wrong.

RB.