Our main aim for Awesome SA is not only to make South Africans aware of how wonderful and amazing this country is, but also to create the awareness that it is us, as individual South Africans, that have the ability to determine the destiny of our future.
“Someone once said that it is not the violence of the few that scared him, but the silence of the many. How dare we sit in front of our televisions and criticise the laws of the land, while we are doing nothing ourselves?.
Angus Buchan
Anyone who believes that an individual cannot make a difference needs to reconsider when they hear the story of Jessica Foord. This young girl has taken the most extreme adversity and channeled her fear and anger into positive action. Irrespective of which country you live in, or what your personal situation is, it is so easy to become a victim. We cannot ignore the fact that South Africa presents an overwhelming amount of situations to justify our negativity and insecurity. But such situations are even more reason to take action, get involved and become the change you want to see in the world.
In taking a stand against her assailants, Jessica’s actions have created a wave of mobilization in our community. Her actions have now had very real and significant consequences which has resulted in potential attackers reconsidering their actions and has saved others from the same fate. The story of Jessica and Tamsyn in this Weekend’s paper is a particularly moving one.
Jessica is proof that one single person has the ability to change the world – even if it is one step at a time – eventually the tipping point will be reached and the individual snowflakes will make an avalanche.
So when you have a situation in which you are faced with a choice of being a victim (whether it be a serious incident or just merely reacting to negative situations around you) how do you react?. We owe it to beautiful young Jessica to continue the positive and influential change which she has started.
Filed under: Being Awesome Tagged: | adversity, awesome, jessica foord, south africa, victim
Your ultra positivist approach to this kind of event is a real shame. A shame in that it would appear that you are filled with such self-hatred that on some level you believe that this type of event is not only inevitible, but that it has positive side effects and is thus partially justifiable. Extreme positivism is possibly one of the worste neurotic ailments (seek professional help). The abstract construction of reality in such a way that events always have a positive outcome in a Oprah Winfrey-eque niavity is very distructive in its essence. This event had negative effects only. What she chooses to do with her life after the event, be it with the “acceptence” of being gang raped by unrepentant neandethals or not, can in no measure offset the damage caused. South Africa is a terrible place because of these (numerous) events. Lets call a spade a spade for once. I urge all poeple who have the means to leave the country.
James, Thank you for your comment. We are sorry that you are so filled with negativity that you feel it necessary to project it on others.
You must realise that different people have different coping mechanisms.
Much of what we we are now seeing in South Africa is the result of the masses of the people of this country being abused over centuries. Those of us who love this country and believe in its future, will not run away.
We are not blinded to the problems and challenges, of South Africa, we are choosing to stay here in our country, with our people and deal with them.
Jessica Foord is a very brave young woman, who has suffered a terrible trauma that she will carry with her for the rest of her life. Her own future is going to depend on how she deals with it.
I hope you manage to find happiness and peace.
Sorry, I agree with James. Yes, being positive is a good thing, but call a spade a spade. The only wonderful thing about our country at the moment is the ridiculous Zuma saga.
It’s like having our own sitcom, only difference, at the end of the day it’s not going to be that funny. And this applies to all the “wonderful” aspects about our country.
If you can, leave… if you can’t, take swimming lessons.
Just my 2cents.
I used to be like James, thinking that the best thing to do is leave South Africa as soon as possible. I’ve lived in paradise in the Florida Keys and I now live in the UK. With all the bad things happening there, there are good things too. That’s the natural order of things. The Ying and Yang. If there’s one thing that history has taught us, it’s not to run away when things get bad and people are attacked. Nazi Germany would have taken control of most of the world if that was the case. I applaud you Awesome South Africa, for not being one of those people who sit back and critisize our amazing country. For trying to see the positive in a negative situation. If SA is ever to rise up out of this, each and every one of us has to use our own voice in order to make changes not only in South Africa but the rest of the world. And let me tell you, London is no Shangri-La!!! Children are murdering each other every day here. The children are the terrorists in this country!
The New South Africa – Be Proud, Very Proud.
The facts:
Corruption is not worse today – we just live in such an open society that corrupt officials are being brought to book. Who knows what the apartheid guys did?? Not us!
Violence is not an African thing – Europe had to be the most violent continent ever in the last century. Two terrible World Wars plus the Russian revolution costing millions an millions of lives. And today, is a Kenyan running around with a machete any worse than Prince Harry with a machine gun!! The media manipulates – be aware and remember Hitler was a white man. As for the US and UK in this century with the Iraq and Afghanistan bloodshed – wherever there is a war, there is a white man’s nation.
Is crime worse post apartheid? Not in the townships. Those poor guys bore the brunt in then, with very little policing. But the ‘white’ areas had pass laws and curfews, so life was just great.
As a white South African, I hate to have to say this, – wake up guys. This is an amazing place to be right now. I am so tired of the negativity. So tired of the nitpicking – about potholes and beaches and Zuma!
Dont you guys remember when the whole world hated us, we couldnt play international sport, never mind win the Rugby World Cup, the country was bankrupt, our house prices stood still for I dont know how many years and the interest rate was 25% or something!! We couldnt take money out the country, never mind ourselves. There were bombs, though luckily not atom bombs (you know who drops those!!) and the threat of a civil war of the sort that raged in Bosnia hung over us.
So, okay, Home Affairs is not the greatest place to stand in a queue, but that old government serviced 15% of the population, easy peasy, and hid the other 85% out of sight with no running water, electricity, sewerage, decent education , etc., and only let them out to do the dirty work at slave wages.
Praise the Lord for the wonderful people of South Africa that we havent been thrown into a terrible civil war and let US take responsibility for the ills in today’s society.
And for those who have left the country – grandparents rock!!
Crime is in every country and yes it is bad in SA, but simply leaving is not going to make things better. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem, this country needs us to stand together.
James
South Africa is a fertile ground where many positive things happen. Yes it is frustrating when bad things occur, but dude did you go to school or walk straight past it? Please walk into any psychologists/psychiatrists office and show them your post, we’ll see who he/she says really needs the help? Awesomesa, Oprah….or you?
Also, using words like “neandethals” is a classic symbol of prejudice, read up about it. I hope that you were referring only to that gang. Otherwise…dare I say it…rac….or I will be accused of “reverse racism”? pfffttt!
If you were being prejudiced toward a racgroup: prejudice is caused by fear of not being enough so I’ll stop kicking a man when he is already so low down.
If you were not being prejudiced to a specific race group but to the country as a whole: You have given the best advice that you should follow yourself: seek professional help. And please take along that little note we talked about, ok?
That, my friend, is calling a spade a spade. Deal with it.
BTW. I ain’t black
You are trivialising this poor girl’s experience. Yes, she is taking positive action, but I can guarantee you that she is in no way glad to live here. She is just doing the best she can to make sure. people know enough for it to not happen againTake your overzealous optimism and channel it into something useful. This website is not helping anyone.
Well said James and Thando … I love it when people try pretend everything is all rosy in SA … Iet’s all be positive … but not stupid. Good luck with your lives there in merry ol’ SA. I left SA and will never set foot there again … when you have something to compare it against you realise what a sick joke SA is.
BTW do you guys still believe in Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairly?
Jessica Foord, you are turly a survivor…
You not a victim but HERO!
I use to ask myself if I would be able to deal, survive, would I kill myself if that happened to me cause it’s a sad possibility and reality of being a female.
After meeting you today I know that I could.
I’m close to tears – you are a true HERO.
God bless you and your family!
Zippy
Thank you to all of you who have not given up on this beautiful country of ours… I AM PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN!!! those 5 men took something form me that i could not prevent! they are most definately not getting anything els from me! why be a coward and run from your problems! if you do and after time realise how amazing it is here… ul be needing that spade to dig ur way home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!