Gasant Abarder writes in a new #SliceofGasant about how glad he is to be back home and how travelling in a foreign land gave him the perspective he needed to realise just how blessed he is to be Capetonian and South African.
I was heartened by the people of Cape Town on Saturday who came out in their thousands to express their disdain against Israel’s genocide.
I desperately wanted to be part of that march, but I was coaching a very important football match. It made me think about how we sometimes take for granted our civil liberties when other established democracies have no qualms dealing with peaceful protests with an iron fist.
I had been travelling in Turkey and was quite astonished by the general animosity towards people of different nationalities, especially those who look and sound different. They can never be accused of not being equal opportunity haters, especially of Indian, Pakistani, Syrian, Kurdish and Arab people.
The context is important. The levels of education are alarmingly low – lower than the quality we often bemoan in South Africa. Graduates battle to find work in their area of study. The average wage is around R2 250 which is low considering the cheapest doner kebab costs around R35. To make up for the sinking value of the Turkish Lira, the price of everything is inflated.
Understandably, resentment has crept in. I can feel it when I – often described at home as someone who looks Bangladeshi – spend someone’s average wage in one place. It’s not great to generalise; younger people there are more tolerant and friendly but on the whole, there is an almost aggressive attitude if you’re darker skinned than most.
There is a dangerous nationalism in Turkey that has the locals drinking the Kool-Aid. The locals believe somehow that especially Syrian and Kurdish refugees have stolen their jobs. This is anecdotal but I know this because of the several conversations I’ve had with these refugees. I was quite flabbergasted when I witnessed police officers going around asking anyone who looks different on the streets for passports.
I took the approach that it was them not me. But I’m not made of Teflon.
Back to being a Saffer. We are blessed. We have 99 problems and I’m here for them all. We have freedom of expression and association that I feel many other nations don’t enjoy – even in the land of the free or the UK.
Our country has taken the rogue state that is Israel to court and won a big victory – even though they’re ignoring the International Court of Justice. The US President Joe Biden has called for a ceasefire for Israel’s attack on Lebanon for its claim of harbouring Hezbollah leaders in a move that feels hollow and like an election ploy.
For once, the Arab leaders surrounding Israel are saying enough. Jordan’s president has spoken out on behalf of them and has asked what the end game was. Iran hit back with military might. It is going to be a very scary time for the world.
South Africa, despite the levels of corruption, the increase in our cost of living, the high levels of crime – especially violence against women and children – and the limbo that is the Government of National Unity, is still a moral compass. Not because of those who lead us but because of our people.
Despite our problems, South Africans are the real deal. Despite our government and our problems, we’re smart enough not to fall into a trap of dangerous rhetoric and nationalism disguised as liberalism. We greet, make small talk in supermarket queues, cheer for our national teams and criticise our leadership without fear of retribution. And for every misinformed view there are voices of reasons to make sense of a society that is in transition and is only 30 years old.
My heart opened when I flew into Cape Town and saw Table Mountain out of the window of the aircraft. I was home and I wanted to shed a tear of joy. If you’re able to, get out of the country for a week or two for some much-needed perspective.
We are a nation that is blessed, and we need to keep working on making things better.
Also read:
How Mogamat and Cape Town’s bin scroungers are doing us all a favour
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Instagram Picture: Wade Whitear / Pexels
