Day two of this damn thing and I’m in a panic over what to post. Is this how compulsions start? Is this going to be another damp squib? I’ve had two cups of coffee, walked the dogs and had a shower since I started this post.
I look at Defective Yeti (the best web site/blog out there), Megan’s Head and ToingToing and I tell myself it can’t be that hard. Just write about what interests you.
I suppose the hot topic in South Africa right now is that fact that Jacob Zuma is the new ANC president and I could give my take on the consequences for us. But I think the national media will be covering this ad nauseum. Our public broadcaster (the fact that their web site doesn’t seem to work in Firefox will be pointed out to CODA) will give it a nice favourable spin. The only “free” broadcaster will do its usual brouhaha style of coverage. The official opposition will rise to the occasion with its stock Maltese Poodle attacking a PUTCO bus style of politicking and press releases, and the cell phone companies are enjoying the spike in SMS messages doing the rounds regarding stocking up on canned goods and moving to small towns in the middle of nowhere.
Both Zapiro and Evita have just been handed an avalanche of new material. I suppose the fact that the leader of our main political party has been charged with rape, corruption and still insists on singing freedom songs at almost every public appearance should make me worried and maybe even feel a little shame, but for now I’ll reserve judgement and see if there is any change in the way we approach our AIDS pandemic in this country. Everything gets placed neatly in perspective when seen in the shadow of this, our shame.
Be this as it may, I wish Jacob Zuma well and hope with all my heart that this spells the start of a new era for South Africa and it’s people. We have some big issues to deal with and we should all man up and contribute what we can.