Skip to main content

South Africa...A country suffering from PTSD and we suffer the consequences

Dahlings.

How are you? I'm fine thanks.

So, I've been thinking about current world events and specifically my beloved country South Africa. I love this country and continent so much, I have it tattooed on my back. True. Story.



I have realised that SA has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Here under are the consequences:

We have psycho leadership.

...and I get why they are psychos. Most of them were freedom fighters. They were conditioned to survive & thrive under extreme human conditions. Imagine you are born into an oppressive system where you have to fight for your birth right and basic human rights by PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT EVEN FROM YOUR COUNTRY! Imagine watching your family members, friends, peers, colleagues being tortured - to death in many instances - because they were born 'the wrong skin color'. Imagine that from the day you were born until your 50's you were in a militant environment. Imagine you have had to torture to help your people and even killed to save yourself and many others. Imagine being imprisoned for life and the only food you would get that week was waste from the other inmates. Imagine where you slept for decades was also your toilet. There are so many other scenarios that I can only imagine. I am heart broken just imagining it. Hell, I have PTSD from just typing all these scenarios.

This is why our leaders have no feeling when they steal, kill and destroy. This is because many of them suffer from PTSD. Am I a doctor? Yes, because I watched every Greys' Anatomy episode. Seriously, it's a bold statement to make but it doesn't take a genius to see that.

I remember when my mother was telling me about what she had seen on the news. She said she saw one of the prominent members of the ruling party saying "I did not become a freedom fighter so I can be poor" and she said "This is not the ANC that I know". I remember her being so despondent. I get it, nobody wants to be poor. I break my back everyday studying, working, doing the things so I am financially set. Would I get rich at the expense of millions of people though? PTSD.

Our parents went through the oppression...

...and we suffer the consequences of it. The oppressive system made it hard for families to remain together. Men had leave their families in the villages to find employment. Sometimes years would go by and would not see their families because all the money they had, they sent back home. This started a trend where many men would have concubines in the city and have kids with the concubines. These kids ended up not having fathers who were engaged in their lives - both the village and city kids.

My mother was locked up for supposedly stealing a bed. A WHOLE bed guys. Come on now. She didn't but because she was black and was vocal against the then government she was victimised. Her parents experienced oppression and she suffered the consequences which means her kids suffered the consequences. PTSD.

My personal experiences

I am grateful. So grateful for all the privileges (read human rights) that I have. The idea that I can live wherever I want - in theory. I have freedom of movement within the country. I remember two years ago when I drove and touched 7 of the 9 provinces in one month.
I have anger a lot of times towards the coloniser. Anger for the times where I was called a 'good black' or 'coconut' or 'kafir' and being treated substandard in many instances as a child and even into my adulthood. Having white kids hurling comments about me being a monkey and their parents looked on. The list goes on and on. These instances have left such a bad taste in my mouth. My white counterparts tell me to 'just get over it and move on'. lol.

White people and propaganda 

...whether you liked it or not, it was law for every white man to become a soldier. And then propaganda. They also have PTSD from their experiences in the war in some African regions. Imagine propaganda and PTSD - then you become the CEO of a major company. What a great combination.

We suffer the consequences.

The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy...

There is light, though, at the end of the tunnel. The more we become aware of this, the more we will able to deal and heal. Conversations and actions.

See you soon.
xo
Stellah

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Discipline or Procrastination...

...Is there a difference? Dahlings How are you? I'm fine thanks. I went back to work and my blogging went too. Where to? Who. knows. Ok, I have a real problem with procrastinating. The problem is really real. I have soooo many ideas. I have so much I want to accomplish but I lack discipline. On Wednesday I was having a great conversation with an amazing person who is on the precipice of living his dreams. I've mentioned before that I seem to be surrounded by people who are focused on achieving in their lives. Out of 20 friends that I have (this is an e.g. I have waaaay more friends. JK), 13 of them have side hustles and they are KILLING it. Five of them have turned their side hustles into full on businesses and have left their 9-5's. I have equal opportunities to do this but guess what, I make every excuse under the sun to not go after my dreams. I have been challenged by my friend to tell him my vision so he can keep me accountable. You see, I unwittingly (...

Intermittent Fasting while Fasting

Say that five times fast! Dahlings How are you? I am fine thanks. So at the beginning of every year I do a Daniel Fast. I started this with my old church in East London probably about 9 years ago and have carried on even by myself (and another friend) in Joburg. Every year I have been stricter than the last e.g. the first time I fasted I probably lasted for an hour, the next year I last an hour and three minutes, the next a whole week - see the pattern? As the years have gone by though I have found the benefits of fasting to be much more satisfactory than my constant need for chicken. It's day two and usually the first week is the easiest for me but it's been hella hard this time. I pray it does not incrementally get worse. This year though I am determined to really make sure that I level up the Spiritual connection with God. Even though today I forgot because as soon as I got home from work I got stuck into my usual routine. I recognise that out of 52 weeks of the ye...

Moving to Johannesburg

..and making it in Johannesburg Dahlings How are you? I'm fine thanks. Over the weekend I was driving somewhere. I can't remember where to but I was driving on William Nicol and it was evening time. You see, whenever I drive in the evening and there are lots of cars and lights and activity I get excited. When I moved here I was so freaking excited. Every small thing excites me about this place - almost. The crime doesn't excite me. The crazy levels of anxiety from life here doesn't excite me. BUT the possibilities here excite me so friggin much! Sorry, I'm digressing a little. As I mentioned, when I moved here I was so excited. I just new that this was the place I am meant to be. I always thought that I would live here for a couple of years and then move to New York. It's been about six years but I can't see myself living anywhere else yet (maybe I need to travel to NY before I make such a bold statement). I also used to tell people in East London th...