People are going ape shit. I have never been so frustrated with poor people. I am usually on the side of the revolution...the fight against the oppressor. But who exactly had the ass-hat idea that foreigners, who are generally fairly impoverished themselves are the new oppressors. It disgusts me to see the people running out of tiny ruined shops with their arms full of loot because their faces are so consistently euphoric. And the people whose shops they have ruined are hardly rich enough to bounce back without years and years of work and luck. Luck that they won't have in this climate of spreading xenophobia.
The violence is also very localized. It's in the townships and poor areas. I didn't even know about it for almost a week after it started because of my pampered Rondebosch existence (plus, since its exams now, I didn't even have time to open the paper or turn on the news). It's fairly amazing how it spread from Jo-burg to Durban to Cape Town. I understand that people who are already simmering with resentment can see that in Jo-burg they identified a certain enemy and struck against it and then have the bright idea to do the same. But seriously, I think its suspicious. I am almost convinced that there is a "third front" that the news has been talking about. Some group or person who is orchestrating the violence.
Fuck, though. Intra-ghetto revolutions aren't going to get anybody anywhere. It doesn't even make sense. I am so not condoning larger violence, but if you want to really get somewhere you have to find a bigger fish to fry than the Somali down the road who had the good fortune to start a small tuck shop.
What is with people today? They are now so separated from "the struggle" (against apartheid) that they have the gall to compare their ludicrous riots to the old ANC-type uprisings. Open a fucking book or consult a fucking elder. Don't shoot your neighbor and call it a righteous revolt.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Kindergarten teachers change the world.
Oh and guess who saved herself from a cold because she took Airborne and drank tea all day? Me. I tell you, that shit works. I was so stuffed up on Wednesday that my head felt like an air bubble and I used half a toilet paper roll blowing my nose, but after my rooibos+Airborne flip cup regimen I woke up today without even the hint of a cold.
Psych 101+Rwanda
Today.
I woke up to beautiful sun and warm weather only to not set one foot outside all day long. Don't you just love those days? I know I do. Snap. Especially when I haven't even had a chance to shower. In three days. I am not even kidding. The semester system is brutal like middle school gym. You know...boring at first. A lot of time spent sitting on your butt on the floor listening to lectures. And all of a sudden one day you have to dash off and run a mile as quick as you can. Or in this case, all of a sudden all of your term papers are due and you have to write three in a row.
On top of all this, I have a serious problem that may in fact demand psychiatric help. I am overly empathetic in the extreme. Case in point: When I was watching the Manchester v. Chelsea game last night I just about died when the Chelsea captain missed his goal in the shoot out. He just completely choked because he slipped on the grass. And it cost them the game. I nearly cried. I bet he felt horrible....but the thing is, I'm not even necessarily a Chelsea fan. I like Arsenal. Why do I waste all this emotion on soccer stars who I had never even heard of before. I am freaking writing a 30 pg paper on the Rwandan genocide and these children whose mothers and fathers decided to kill them in 1994....does that make me cry? No. I type away like nobody's business. But privileged soccer stars living cushy existences who miss their penalty shots=waterworks.
Somebody should probably study me.
Or put me in therapy like I said.
I was actually in therapy once, after Olive died. It was interesting, really. Right out of the movies. There was a lot of nodding and "how did that make you feel?" and "hmmm"ing on her part. She never said anything else. It was so silent, and awkward with her just staring at me over her glasses that I would just babble on and on and on. Which, in retrospect was probably the point. Expensive babbling though. Serves my parents right for demanding that I see a shrink rather than actually discussing my "issues" with me themselves. It's funny actually, because I didn't really have issues. I just hated being in Baltimore because I didn't know anyone there. And since my best friend had just died, I felt that I deserved to yell at my parents for taking me away from the PNW and everything familiar. The only issue I have with the whole death thing is that I don't have serious issues at all. I miss her of course, but I don't think about her often. I think it is a mild form of denial, where what I don't think about can't hurt me and so I don't think about it.But I have no idea....maybe I would know if my therapist had ever said anything besides "hmmm." It's really very easy. And I honestly don't have any real build up of whatever that you always hear about with people who are repressing things.
Weird.
Anyway, did you know that the current Rwandan government is absolutely ludicrous? I had no idea. Just think about it. The Hutu majority makes up over 85% of the population. In 1994 they committed a genocide in response to various things, but primarily because they became convinced that the Tutsi-RPF who had just invaded were going to take back power and oppress them once again. So now, the genocide has been ended, but the Tutsi-RPF once again has all the political power in the country. And they have banned all other political parties. They also had the bright idea to punish every single person (Hutus) who participated in the genocide, even if they only damaged property. But they refuse to hold accountable the Tutsi RPF members and supporters that massacred Hutus both in 1994, in the refugee camps in 1995 and in Zaire in 1996. So what is the moral of the story here? That the Tutsi minority captured total power and now are going to institute a crack addict form of victors justice, and risk inciting the vast majority of the country back to violence. The worst part is that the entire world has ignored the fact that the RPF government has a human rights record nearly as bad as Mugabe's in Zimbabwe. They don't call the RPF Africa's Israel for nothing.
I woke up to beautiful sun and warm weather only to not set one foot outside all day long. Don't you just love those days? I know I do. Snap. Especially when I haven't even had a chance to shower. In three days. I am not even kidding. The semester system is brutal like middle school gym. You know...boring at first. A lot of time spent sitting on your butt on the floor listening to lectures. And all of a sudden one day you have to dash off and run a mile as quick as you can. Or in this case, all of a sudden all of your term papers are due and you have to write three in a row.
On top of all this, I have a serious problem that may in fact demand psychiatric help. I am overly empathetic in the extreme. Case in point: When I was watching the Manchester v. Chelsea game last night I just about died when the Chelsea captain missed his goal in the shoot out. He just completely choked because he slipped on the grass. And it cost them the game. I nearly cried. I bet he felt horrible....but the thing is, I'm not even necessarily a Chelsea fan. I like Arsenal. Why do I waste all this emotion on soccer stars who I had never even heard of before. I am freaking writing a 30 pg paper on the Rwandan genocide and these children whose mothers and fathers decided to kill them in 1994....does that make me cry? No. I type away like nobody's business. But privileged soccer stars living cushy existences who miss their penalty shots=waterworks.
Somebody should probably study me.
Or put me in therapy like I said.
I was actually in therapy once, after Olive died. It was interesting, really. Right out of the movies. There was a lot of nodding and "how did that make you feel?" and "hmmm"ing on her part. She never said anything else. It was so silent, and awkward with her just staring at me over her glasses that I would just babble on and on and on. Which, in retrospect was probably the point. Expensive babbling though. Serves my parents right for demanding that I see a shrink rather than actually discussing my "issues" with me themselves. It's funny actually, because I didn't really have issues. I just hated being in Baltimore because I didn't know anyone there. And since my best friend had just died, I felt that I deserved to yell at my parents for taking me away from the PNW and everything familiar. The only issue I have with the whole death thing is that I don't have serious issues at all. I miss her of course, but I don't think about her often. I think it is a mild form of denial, where what I don't think about can't hurt me and so I don't think about it.But I have no idea....maybe I would know if my therapist had ever said anything besides "hmmm." It's really very easy. And I honestly don't have any real build up of whatever that you always hear about with people who are repressing things.
Weird.
Anyway, did you know that the current Rwandan government is absolutely ludicrous? I had no idea. Just think about it. The Hutu majority makes up over 85% of the population. In 1994 they committed a genocide in response to various things, but primarily because they became convinced that the Tutsi-RPF who had just invaded were going to take back power and oppress them once again. So now, the genocide has been ended, but the Tutsi-RPF once again has all the political power in the country. And they have banned all other political parties. They also had the bright idea to punish every single person (Hutus) who participated in the genocide, even if they only damaged property. But they refuse to hold accountable the Tutsi RPF members and supporters that massacred Hutus both in 1994, in the refugee camps in 1995 and in Zaire in 1996. So what is the moral of the story here? That the Tutsi minority captured total power and now are going to institute a crack addict form of victors justice, and risk inciting the vast majority of the country back to violence. The worst part is that the entire world has ignored the fact that the RPF government has a human rights record nearly as bad as Mugabe's in Zimbabwe. They don't call the RPF Africa's Israel for nothing.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Carjacking
Getting hijacked is quite common in South Africa, and you are lucky if you survive it. My professor got hijacked the other day I found out...I think someone Mike Tyson-ed his ear during it, because it was all bandaged up right after the incident.
What the carjackers like to do (apparently) is throw an egg onto your windshield, which people naturally react to by putting on their wipers. Then that makes them completely blind when it spreads the egg all around and makes it white, so then they have to pull over. That's when they come with guns and knives and whatever else, and steal your car...and hopefully not you.
So this one guy devised an ingenious little operation where he hooked up a gas can inside the boot and added a flame thrower to his car. When he pressed a petal right by the drivers door, flame shot out the side of his car...hypothetically roasting the unsuspecting carjacker. Unfortunately, he got a little antsy when a police officer was walking up to his car from behind and stepped on it, lighting the cop on fire. Vavoom. Crime fighting Capetonians.
What the carjackers like to do (apparently) is throw an egg onto your windshield, which people naturally react to by putting on their wipers. Then that makes them completely blind when it spreads the egg all around and makes it white, so then they have to pull over. That's when they come with guns and knives and whatever else, and steal your car...and hopefully not you.
So this one guy devised an ingenious little operation where he hooked up a gas can inside the boot and added a flame thrower to his car. When he pressed a petal right by the drivers door, flame shot out the side of his car...hypothetically roasting the unsuspecting carjacker. Unfortunately, he got a little antsy when a police officer was walking up to his car from behind and stepped on it, lighting the cop on fire. Vavoom. Crime fighting Capetonians.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Raindrops and roses, and whiskers on kittens...
Things I miss about Seattle:
Rain
People I know
Bagels and lox
The Senate (the band)
Riding in cars in the rain...there's something so specific-feeling about that
People who don't care what they look like
Umbrellas and boots and fleeces and raincoats
Buildings with heat (they don't believe in that here...and its winter now which is actually cold like the wolf since you never warm up because indoors is the same temp as outdoors)
My cats and dog (Rory, Roo and Bo)
Grey's Anatomy and every other American TV show that is 6 months ahead in the US
Not being seen as a representation of Bush and the Iraq War
Ketchup instead of tomato sauce
Krispy Kremes
Real dill pickles
celery and ranch
pizza with actual pizza sauce
Girls who wear tennis shoes sometimes
Movie rental places with movies made before 2003
Pride and Prejudice (BBC version)
The Usual Suspects
The Challengers
Sour apple martinis
People who do not have domestic helpers (aka maids)
Internet and phone time that isn't so expensive that I feel endlessly guilty about using it
Herbal Essences!!!
Christmas lights
Politics
Recycling
Rain
People I know
Bagels and lox
The Senate (the band)
Riding in cars in the rain...there's something so specific-feeling about that
People who don't care what they look like
Umbrellas and boots and fleeces and raincoats
Buildings with heat (they don't believe in that here...and its winter now which is actually cold like the wolf since you never warm up because indoors is the same temp as outdoors)
My cats and dog (Rory, Roo and Bo)
Grey's Anatomy and every other American TV show that is 6 months ahead in the US
Not being seen as a representation of Bush and the Iraq War
Ketchup instead of tomato sauce
Krispy Kremes
Real dill pickles
celery and ranch
pizza with actual pizza sauce
Girls who wear tennis shoes sometimes
Movie rental places with movies made before 2003
Pride and Prejudice (BBC version)
The Usual Suspects
The Challengers
Sour apple martinis
People who do not have domestic helpers (aka maids)
Internet and phone time that isn't so expensive that I feel endlessly guilty about using it
Herbal Essences!!!
Christmas lights
Politics
Recycling
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Obama+Edwards=Lekka Ticket
Yay! Edwards endorsement=unstoppable. I actually think that he would make a solid running mate for Obama. Granted, he didn't help much last time, but the biggest problem in '04 was that nobody was passionate about the democratic ticket. Obama has already cornered the market on passion and charisma, and brought in the two notoriously non-voting Dem voting blocks that can deliver the presidency (young voters and minorities). Now all he needs is an earnest partner who can deliver the non-black portion of the working class that Clinton says belongs to her, which is Edwards exactly.
The funniest part of the CNN coverage was the little Breaking News headline bar that they keep scrolling on the bottom of the page. It kept saying, "Breaking News: Edwards pulled out of the Democratic race in January"...no, really?? And,"Breaking News: Edwards left the race with 26 delegates." Scintillating coverage.
South African phrase of the week: "lekka" meaning cool
As "in long live the madre, the lekka lekka madre" (this year's mothers day card...this is what happens when two sisters are forced to compromise on one line).
The funniest part of the CNN coverage was the little Breaking News headline bar that they keep scrolling on the bottom of the page. It kept saying, "Breaking News: Edwards pulled out of the Democratic race in January"...no, really?? And,"Breaking News: Edwards left the race with 26 delegates." Scintillating coverage.
South African phrase of the week: "lekka" meaning cool
As "in long live the madre, the lekka lekka madre" (this year's mothers day card...this is what happens when two sisters are forced to compromise on one line).
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Christmas in May
You're probably wondering why I am constantly on about electricity recently. I've never showed an interest in it before (excluding last year's Pink House Debate on whether it cost more to heat water for tea in the microwave or on the stove--I am sure that it has to be the microwave that uses more power, right??)....well electricity has never THREATENED MY LIFE SO REGULARLY before.
First there were the weekly power cuts. Fine, but dangerous when the traffic lights all of a sudden stop working. Then, I got randomly stuck in an elevator. It lasted less than 3 minutes, but I am super claustrophobic, so I was already well on my way to hyperventilating. And now, I just got the hugest shock of my life. I was holding a string of Christmas lights and all of a sudden my whole body was jolting and crackling. In addition to the fact that South Africa doesn't have as many safety regulations or the culture of litigation that would ensure that Christmas lights don't shock the fuck out of small children during the Holiday season, South African sockets also produce double the output of American ones (220 volts versus 110). When my computer is charging and I brush my hand over the top I can feel the electric current.
I am telling you, South Africans are HARDCORE.
More clumsiness and pain for the day:
I stuck my hand in the dishwater and it came out with a huge gash. The worst part is that I somehow didn't even notice at first, so I tracked blood all over the kitchen and then had to clean all over again. Hot damn, though, I love band-aids like nothing else. In the spirit of Christmas lights, I chose a Santa one for tonight.
Essay of the week: Why the Rwandan Patriotic Front should not be portrayed as the hero in movies like Hotel Rwanda and Sometimes in April...because it misleads the impressionable Western public who then validate Rwanda's new (well, new in 1994) RPF-led government, and allow them to commit MORE mass killings along with Zaire (now Dem Rep of Congo). I love it when my essays make me feel all Zinn-ish.
Me: "Why is that woman wearing such a skanky tube top?"
My dad: "Because she is HOT."
He was actually referring to temp....no really.
First there were the weekly power cuts. Fine, but dangerous when the traffic lights all of a sudden stop working. Then, I got randomly stuck in an elevator. It lasted less than 3 minutes, but I am super claustrophobic, so I was already well on my way to hyperventilating. And now, I just got the hugest shock of my life. I was holding a string of Christmas lights and all of a sudden my whole body was jolting and crackling. In addition to the fact that South Africa doesn't have as many safety regulations or the culture of litigation that would ensure that Christmas lights don't shock the fuck out of small children during the Holiday season, South African sockets also produce double the output of American ones (220 volts versus 110). When my computer is charging and I brush my hand over the top I can feel the electric current.
I am telling you, South Africans are HARDCORE.
More clumsiness and pain for the day:
I stuck my hand in the dishwater and it came out with a huge gash. The worst part is that I somehow didn't even notice at first, so I tracked blood all over the kitchen and then had to clean all over again. Hot damn, though, I love band-aids like nothing else. In the spirit of Christmas lights, I chose a Santa one for tonight.
Essay of the week: Why the Rwandan Patriotic Front should not be portrayed as the hero in movies like Hotel Rwanda and Sometimes in April...because it misleads the impressionable Western public who then validate Rwanda's new (well, new in 1994) RPF-led government, and allow them to commit MORE mass killings along with Zaire (now Dem Rep of Congo). I love it when my essays make me feel all Zinn-ish.
Me: "Why is that woman wearing such a skanky tube top?"
My dad: "Because she is HOT."
He was actually referring to temp....no really.
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