MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

I am tired

By

I am tired of:

  • Reading code words and phrases that racialise our society
  • Second guessing whatever I write lest I be accused of being racist, chauvinist, sexist, or any one of the other myriad ‘ists that serve only to drag us down
  • Being accused of having an agenda
  • Being judged for being white, male, 40 something.
  • Reaching out in friendship only to get a judgemental look or phrase back
  • Offering to contribute and being refused
  • Watching everyone point fingers, make excuses, blame ineptitude on the past, their colour, their political affiliation or their circumstances

I suggest:

  • Every man jack, woman, child, media instance and user of the written or spoken word DESIST from using those code words and phrases that racialise our society – you know what they are!
  • That before you knee jerk accuse anyone of being any of the ‘ists you analyse, empathise and engage with that person so that you can really understand where they come from.
  • You drop your agenda and only have one goal – the betterment of your immediate surroundings – you can’t change what happens on a National Scale but you can change your immediate environment.
  • That you be proud of what you are – a South African Citizen and stop thinking in terms of categories
  • When someone attempts to communicate that you stop and communicate back
  • When someone offers to contribute accept it graciously, encourage them – you will find that they contribute even more
  • Man up – accept and acknowledge your failures – we are all human and make mistakes. Give someone the chance to forgive you and strive to never repeat your mistakes.

I have a focus – the betterment of Port Elizabeth and it’s citizens.

Believe me it is so hard to resist the sweet sweet temptation to only showcase the crap, the dirty, the controversial, the sick and the stupid. I am human I slip every now and then into the catty bitchiness that seems to have become the daily norm. Believe me when I say that I am striving to highlight the good in everything that happens in P of E.

I believe firmly that if you run someone or something down it reflects badly on you and the city/business/community that you find yourself in.

For once I pray that we could have a ‘National be a South African Citizen Week’ that will draw us together in the fight to show the world that we are actually nice guys.

Let’s get back that National Pride and celebrate how fantastic it is to be South African and Proud!

ALAN STRATON
(Scroll down to see the words I live by)

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.