The chickens and the ostriches

I was thinking about chickens and ostriches last night whilst pondering on world peace (not really but it sounds good on paper). The last couple of weeks I’ve had a few people confide in me that they are going to leave South Africa. It’s quite ‘hush hush’ as they don’t want people to find out about their plans because they are so concerned about the reaction it might cause from people around them.

I’m going to step away from my usual wariness of choosing emotive subjects for my diary so please forgive me if I in any way offend your political or religious outlook on life. I want to discuss polarization in the South African context, in other words how polarized South Africans are when it comes to the subject of emigration. This is not an attempt to write an academic essay but rather an observation about human behaviour – just another page in my diary.

South Africans are wonderful people, passionate, vocal and sometimes aggressively assertive but yet friendly and warm at the same time. The country itself is diverse with beautiful regions and as a holiday destination it has a lot to offer. But the country is currently undergoing massive socio-economic changes and there is much speculation about the political future of South Africa especially with Zuma taking over the ANC leadership. Crime is a big problem, especially violent crime.

During the past ten years quite a large number of South Africans have left the country for their own independent reason. I don’t want to talk about numbers, I want to talk about how two specific groups of South Africans treat one another.

There is the group of South Africans who have left or will leave South Africa and there is the group who chose to stay or live in South Africa. The exodus of the white South Africans is often referred to as the ‘chicken run’ and those who dare to voice their concerns about the future of the country feel that they are bombarded with negative comments and verbal abuse. From this point on I will refer to this group as the chickens. Many of the chickens retaliate with their own verbal abuse and call their fellow South Africans “Ostriches with their heads in the sand". The ostriches refuse to recognize the possibility that South Africa can become another Zimbabwe(or some other African state) hence the name ostrich. Did you know that ostriches don't actually bury their heads in the sand? They only put their heads in the sand when they are looking for water!

Every now and again (quite often actually) I get to witness a bird fight between the chickens and the ostriches. Both groups usually exclude me from this debate because I am not considered a ‘real’ South African. I’m not sure what is required to be a ‘real’ South African but apparently I don’t have it. However, I believe it can be purchased at Home Affairs for a ‘small fee’. I wonder if the Polish have the same kind of issues (bird fights) when their citizens migrate to Britain to find work?

Back to the chickens and the ostriches - It is a little disturbing because it can get quite ugly as they try to peck one another into submission. The lack of respect from both sides is just beyond me. I wonder how is it possible to get so upset with another person for exercising their constitutional human right to leave or stay in a country.

Yes, I understand that it has to do with the current ‘skills shortage' in South Africa and of course the collective thinking that if we stand together we can achieve greatness. The ostriches are upset with the chickens for taking valuable skills and revenue out of the country. The chickens on the other hand fear for their family’s safety and future. Many of them have been attacked themselves or have had somebody close to them violently attacked or killed.

But collective thinking does not work for all of us. How do you persuade somebody to take collective action when they don’t believe or recognize your point of view? I doubt criticism and name calling will make them any more open to your ideas. I feel that it shouldn’t be about persuasion but rather communication. Nobody needs permission to do anything but we do need respect.

Even though the chickens have left South Africa they add tremendous value to the country as they act as ambassadors for South Africa thus promoting tourism and curiosity for their beautiful land. The chickens also behave much like Southern humpback whales returning to South Africa on their annual migration to spend all their hard earned cash as they roll in the waves and basque in the sun. And one day if they feel safe and welcome to return permanently they just might bring all their Dollars and Pounds back with them and invest in South Africa.

My ex and I used to spend a lot of time trying to persuade one another, in the end the frustration got too much for either of us to bare. We failed horribly at communicating with each other and not even the marriage councelor could teach us how to get it right. According to my ex it had nothing to do with him - bless him (preferably with a hemorrhoid or an ingrown toenail). He assured me that it was all my fault because I didn’t know how to communicate. My current husband thinks that I communicate quite well, together we talk up a storm - not always agreeing but always communicating!

Sometimes discussing South Africa with South Africans is much like having a certain religious group (on steroids) knocking at your door. It doesn’t matter what you think or why you think it because they are right and your are wrong! After a while you stop answering the door or you tell them to go away because you know that you will not get the respect you deserve in the discussion. No wonder I registered with the University of Southern Queensland to do my International Relations Degree - I was too scared to study South African politics! (that's a joke..)

How ironic it is that after so many painful years of apartheid and dogmatic rule – South Africans have not yet learned to respect democracy and constitutional rights. The basic right of another human being to have an opinion based on his or her personal experiences in life and the right to act on them. How sad that some South Africans feel the need to insult their own family and friends with names such as chickens and ostriches.

It’s not a complaint, just an observation. By the way I found a great blog about South Africa written by a Norwegian who married a South African and is now living in South Africa. I find it very interesting reading his 'take' on South Africa and the culture. If you would like to have a look at the blog it is called South Africa