![]() ![]() It looks with pride on our constitutional democracy and celebrates the diversity of our people. This view captures the sunny skies, the rainfall, the richness of South Africa’s flora and fauna. The wider view appreciates the great scientific minds in our country and the will to heed their expertise. It appreciates the clumsy but nonetheless careful traverse of a pandemic and the will to secure vaccines for all South African citizens. The wider view notices that the rate of inflation is less than in hundreds of developing and developed countries. It celebrates the boldness of young people who call inequality and injustice out. It counts on the determination of youth to reimagine a greener economy. The wider view counts and values the power of women in this country, to hold households together, work industriously and demand change. Freedom of worship is a given unlike many parts of the world. The faith of others is respected and communities meet openly to lean into their scriptures and mentors. As a people, we find an unexplained ability to come together for a common cause, with humility, humanity and a solid dose of humour where we can. We pioneer solutions and make plans with limited resources. South Africans are innovative, resilient and smart. What is there to speak positively about? The narrow view would respond, “Nothing, there is nothing to be positive about.” The wider view offers something better. The captured corrupt appear to face no consequence. The riots and looting of 2021 have slipped into a ‘cold case’, with no closure. Education, security services, health care, home affairs, transport, water and sanitation services are collapsed due to neglect and thievery. Power outages are gruelling, giving all of us a reminder of the country’s crisis three times a day. A multitude of corrupt politicians who deliberately and continuously advance the rot disappoint all citizens who believe in building a bright future for South Africa together. The agonising poverty that is the lived experience of thousands seems beyond redemption. The decay of all our infrastructure cannot be hidden. There is, in fairness to the world of news, a plethora of shocking headlines and exposés for journalists to feast on. Keeping the #speakSAup sign mounted on the wall as one enters the school building has been challenging this year, until stepping back to look wider than the tabloid and media lens that is. Let’s look at a house of cards, our country. Does it matter where we pick up the value ‘8’ in identifying this card? Not at all, but our experience of looking together offers richer options. You were guided to look differently because they had already seen what is to find. If you didn’t see it before this prompt, then you have just experienced mediation from someone else who did. Do you see the ‘8’ formed in the white space between the red diamonds? Once you see it, you can’t ‘unsee’ it. Look a little closer and explore another dimension. It is the red eight (8) of diamonds, instantly recognisable by the number ‘8’ and eight red diamonds in a balanced array. Let’s look at some examples of closer, wider and longer perspectives. We can share it with others and learn about theirs. They are viewpoints or ways of looking at the world through lenses tinted by unique experiences and heritage. ![]() ![]() As the winter term draws to a close, and we exit rolling power outages for now, it might be usef ul to think about perspectives. ![]()
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