Back to boarding school you go!

Am I the only one feeling like a child back at boarding school again?  

There was a crazy moment at boarding school that I defaced a newly painted wall next to the public tickybox. At supper time the entire boarding school was addressed regarding this and told that we will all be punished unless the perpetrator owned up. Being one of the “in the kitchen at parties” type of people, I had to dig very deep to stand up and own up to the deed and take the punishment that was metered out.

I view myself as a good citizen – I certainly try my best to do good by my country and all people who share this beautiful land. I am not known to be very vocal when it comes to matters of politics, but this morning I am feeling incredibly demotivated AGAIN by the leaders of our land. I really have a healthy respect for Cyril, but I just cannot trust the ANC, the party he represents given their track record.

After the address by Co-operative Governance Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma last night, I just can’t shake the feeling that our democracy is in danger quite frankly. So much authority has been placed in the hands of the ANC, who are controlling our whole lockdown process and the management thereof with so many reports on the heavy-handedness of the police force and military. These fears have been echoed by this Daily Maverick article.

Yes, I understand we all have differing circumstances – I’m feeling very privileged in so many ways, and my heart goes out to those communities who are in lockdown and don’t have the same infrastructure around them. I know there are so many people who are doing their best to be compliant in communities who are not as disciplined as the suburb I live in. And that there is real hunger out there that is driving communities to behave in ways that are frowned upon.

That being said, I can’t help thinking that the ANC is basing their decisions solely on the worst case scenarios that have surfaced – in my opinion it should be the other way around. Build up the lowest denominator of our country in various ways, rather than bringing everyone down to that lowest denominator. “Where does this slippery slope lead?” I ask myself.

In conclusion, I don’t have the answers and this is really just a piece reflecting my anger and thoughts at this point in the lockdown, and I leave this with the following questions unanswered – “Why can’t adults choose whether they want to smoke or not, walk their dogs at a time that is suitable for their circumstances, or just have a voice during these trying times? Has this gone too far, is the government serving themselves more than the people at this stage?”