us and them

It's ridiculous. Really, it is.

According to the SARPN (South African Regional Poverty Network), there are more than 25 people living below the poverty line. 57% of the population has been declared 'poor'.

This is one of the pretty slums - in the Western Cape (which is one of the 'richest' provinces in the country).

The people in the above situations often have no clean water, no sewage systems, lack of food and lack of space. The houses are miniscule, but they aren't bachelor flats. Large, often parentless, families live in these matchbox shacks, cramped together for lack of choice.

And where do the rest of us stand?

We, the affluent, stay in our spacious, comforatable, air-conditioned houses and put them out of our minds. We can go to restaurants and convenience stores and the movies and for some, the word budget is unheard of.

How many match-box houses can fit inside the average middle-class yard?

If every reasonably (and unreasonably) wealthy person were to give half their possesions in aid of what we call the poor, the world would be a better place.

That's probably the idea behind communism and socialism. (The reason it didn't work is because another idea behind it was power and control of the masses).

Did the King not have something to say on this matter?

⁸For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me."

⁴⁰And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,^[a] you did it to me.'

It would seem we have an obligation here, people. How on earth do we do it? Who do we help?

Some say we need only help those who cross our paths. If your path is restricted to suburbia, who will cross it?

Oh, what to do. What to do?

love story

Ha. Yes. 

Surprise!

This is actually not about a love story.

It's about.... dum dum dum dum...
A book. Which is also not a love story.

But it's a great book, okay. So bear with me.

In my not-so-humble opinion all young people should read it. Especially young Christian people because it will have an effect on them. Especially young, unmarried Christian people.

So if you don't comply to any of the above, go away.

No I'm just joking, hey. You can stay if you're old too.

To get to the point, or should I say to the book.

Even if you have it all sorted out in your head.
Even if you can recite the 'courtship rules' in your sleep.
Even if your really don't need help in this regard.

I implore you to read it. Okay, I suggest you read it.

I haven't finished reading it yet, but so far I can recommend it strongly.

Terrorism in Israel

The past week or so has seen terrorism escalate significantly. Three terrorists attacked a civilian bus on its way to Eilat. The terrorists were either killed or injured in a shoot-out with the military.

These attacks were aimed directly at civilians and hit many 'targets'. 2 children among the 33 wounded in multi-terror attack.

Hamas cancels 'calm'. Since, Israel has seen many rockets and mortars fired into towns, cities and farms. Grad kills Israeli man on way to (9th-month) pregnant wife.

UN fails to condemn terror attacks, despite the fact that the "The U.N. Secretary General condemned it, the Americans condemned it, the European Union condemned it."

In the Palestinian take on matters  the rocket attacks are not denied. Please read it with discernment. Also, note that while 'a refugee camp was hit' only two people died, one of them confirmed as a having 'connections'. "The Al-Quds Brigade, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, confirmed that one of the men, Emad Abu Abda, was their member."

"Israel has carried out a series of air strikes on Gaza, targeting those it blamed for an attack on Thursday in which eight Israelis died." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14600397

Hamas hits Israel with intent to kill civilians, which they do. They target civilians, not soldiers. Meanwhile, when Israel retaliates, it is not with the intention to kill civilians. They target the terrorists themselves, and often succeed.

Israel cannot be blamed for removing people who pose a great risk to the safety of its (peace loving) people. Executing criminals is not a crime. Hamas does not only put Israel in danger, but also their own people. Imagine having a terrorist government? How much freedom of religion would that pose? How much political freedom? Any?

Imagine living in a society where your countrymen rejoice when a Jewish child is killed? http://www.solomonia.com/wp/2011/03/celebrating-murder-with-sweets-happy-in-gaza-photos-of-family-murder-scene-celebration/ I am not entirely sure whether the above (the celebration) did happen, but it is likely.

Who seeks peace? Who values life? Think about it.

Slow to speak

That verse makes me think.

That maybe I shouldn't be talking.

Does 'quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger' mean that it is better to keep quiet? Not to talk unless it's of the utmost imporatnce?

Or does it mean in situations where you may say things out of anger, it is better to listen carefully before you talk?

Or does it mean something else?

I would like to write long posts about other things but, ahem.

Tuchniot l'Atid

"What, really? Oh okay. I guess its your life. So what subject are you going to teach?"

"No subject in particular. The littlies, you know."

"Primary School?!?  But... you're intelligent aren't you? Surely you can't waste your life like that. Really, you must reconsider."

"I don't get this. Are you saying that teachers are stupid?"

"No, no, that's not what I said. (Though I can't deny it really). Just: you're going to be bored to death."

"How so? Managing 30-odd children under the age of ten is easy? "

"Uhm, no... but it doesn't require much thought, you know. You just yell at the top of your voice or something. I don't know..."

Why do some people have this thing about Education? They think if you can do well academically, you ought to go study something impressive and tough.

They seem to think that education is for the lower class. The people who are 'not so smart' or desperately need bursaries.

How can educating the next generation be left to people who a) don't want the job, b) can't do the job.

Computers are less complex than people. The people above would be quite happy if I chose that path though. Despite the fact that I don't understand anything beyond the interface. (Yeah, I actually know that word). Despite the fact that I love children (which can not be said for those rectangular boxes with unidentifiable wires in them).

They say that I'll be bored studying education. What, like my brain is going to die? Like I'm going to sit there twiddling my thumbs?

I can guarantee that I will be challenged. It will not be a breeze. Don't tell me being uprooted and stuck in an university environment is not going to affect me slightly. I'm bound to notice. And by the time i get over it I'll be graduating.

So LAY OFF people. Stop telling my mother 'you must make her change her mind, really, you must. You can't let her do that.' Too bad you don't read my blog. ;)

So, I finally found something to blog about.

Another thing. In case you were wondering, the title is Hebrew.

South Africa

This is a truly beautiful country, think you not?

Wide open spaces. Dense rainforest. Arid karoo.

Desert. Ocean.

Speechless

I am dumb, speechless.

I don't know what to say.

I don't know what to blog.

I have ideas every now and then, but I doubt my ability to communicate them properly.

I think the fact that I have a few followers adds to this problem, because now I know that what I write will be read by people I know (or know in a sense).

I hope I'll get over it, and start spouting nonsense (and more meaningful stuff) again.

In the mean time I'm blogging about it.

City-life Part 2

I was reminded today that there is a city that I have a lot of time for.

Jerusalem.

All the things I said about city-life-and-its-evils just falls away when it comes to The City.

The City is huge. There's nothing rural about it. And to top that the best part for me is downtown. Lots of people (Jewish people), lots of buildings.

Building upon building upon street... Taxi's and buses and cars (annoyed drivers). Really busy streets. Almost no trees, except for the parks.

In Part 1 I complained that whereever you go, there's just more city. This is exactly the case in Jerusalem too. But there, I don't want to run out of the city. When I am forced to leave, I yearn to get back.

Jerusalem is just... epic. Young Orthodox couples with their strollers and hordes of toddlers. Old men with long beards. Street musicians. Bagel carts. Falafel shops. Ice coffee...

Old buildings, new buildings, new-buildings-that-look-like-old-buildings. Paved, winding streets...

I like the vibe... I like the people. A Jewish city full of Jewish people. Epicness!

Profound

Nope, sorry people. I don't feel like being theologically verbose today. Not that I normally am.

I am soooooo glad that I don't live in a city. Citylife would drive me nuts. It just seems so devoid of reality. Everything seems either too showy or depressingly rundown. Wherever you look it's just house upon house upon street upon house upon skyscraper... etc.

Wherever you go, there's brick and asphalt. Of course there are rows of trees and spots of grass to try and liven up the place, but that's only in the showy bits.

This weekend has reinforced my dream of living on a farm/plot. I think I would rather be a bit too isolated than crowded.

But then again, when stuck on a farm in the middle of nowhere, I start to yearn for friendly social interaction with people I am not stuck with.

Never satisfied, eh?