EDITOR’S
Note
There is nothing wrong with South Africa. There is nothing wrong with our policies and systems but there is everything wrong with us, people living in South Africa. We live in one of the richest countries, in fact, richest continents in the world. We are rich with resources, we work hard cultivating them and just when they are ready for us to benefit from, we give them away. We are rich in culture. We are a dynamic country with nine official languages. Our culture is what makes us beautiful and unique but we gladly trade it for something we would never be. No matter how many shades of bleach I use on my skin, I will forever be African. We blame people for imprisoning our minds but the truth is we imprison our own minds. People fought and died for our right to make choices but we keep making wrong ones. Unfortunately, nobody can correct the wrong because the question would be, who has the right to determine what's right and what's wrong there is no accountability anymore, people do as they please. You can't even save your own generation because the power has been taken from the elders and given to children, children with no life experience. I personally am bothered that my children are growing up in the time when teenagers can get pregnant and people seem not to be bothered at all. In the time when children can talk back to elders backed by the law. Fame can be found in selling nudity. I am deeply bothered. It is my wish that our cover man will inspire you. South African business mogul sure inspired me. I take from him his ability to secrifise not just for himself but for his future generatioin. He makes me question myself and the plan I have for my future. How far does it go, does it include my great grandchildren?
Nqobile
Much as our country is in a turmoil, it's not all bad and gloom but you will have to look hard for the good. The recent Durban floods created an opportunity for unity. We were fighting to stay alive together. You will hear how many people died but you will hardly hear or read about heroic acts done by men and women in our province. I am sorry, I wrote this note on a bad day. But I still believe there is good in us, in fact, there is great in us. It should just start with a “hello” to a stranger at the grocery line or to the gas station attendant. If you don't receive it back so what, you're not dead are you? But if you do receive it back, you have just made a connection and recognized a human being. Goodness starts with one act of random kindness.
Nqobile Nene
“GOODNESS ” starts with one act of random kindness. 7 | Oct/Nov | www.beadsmag.co.za
