My precious (aka myne, myne)

I know a little boy of about 2 years old now, who last year learned to say his first afrikaans word, namely 'myne'. He would go around choosing things int he house, and then promptly declared a  change in ownership by shouting "myne , Myne". I was reminded of this little one this morning.

I was listening to a news report on how the Nigerian government was helping its citizens sue the South African government for possessions lost during the latest Xenophobia crisis here. That was not the issue, but rather how I responded to it, thinking then thaty must rather go back home if that is thier attitude. They were already using our resources and opportunities, and now they want to hold the governmnet responsible for thier loss.That was the risk they took by coming here anyway. What stuck me was the speed at which these thoughts come up. I am fortunate (really) in having resources and skills that I do not have to worry too much about where my bread or milk was coming from tonight. ButI understand how poor people's anger can spill over onto another underclass, one seemingly deserving of the retribution metred out on them.

it made me think of John's blog of where the problem originates: people's hearts. The fact that our whole being is characterised by a selfish self-centred looking after number one. We are so scared of being left behind, forgotten, downtrodden etc that we are so aware that we only have ourselves to look for. In the process we forget about, supress, impoverish etc others. We are so selfish...