Comments on: Our time is coming … http://www.sportsleader.co.za/craigurquhart/2008/10/01/our-time-is-coming%e2%80%a6/ Thu, 17 May 2012 12:32:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Jon http://www.sportsleader.co.za/craigurquhart/2008/10/01/our-time-is-coming%e2%80%a6/#comment-4727 Jon Sun, 05 Oct 2008 02:54:04 +0000 http://www.sportsleader.co.za/craigurquhart/2008/10/01/our-time-is-coming%e2%80%a6/#comment-4727 That notion that "our time is coming" is fraught with danger. Firstly, it's seen as "our" time -- as of right. We owe nobody anything in exchange for it. It's, simply, ours. Nobody can, should or will take it off us, no matter what. Secondly, it's "coming" our way. We needn't bother to go out and meet it. We can just sit right here on our chumps and wait for it to arrive. It won't get lost, go astray or lose interest in us. It's inevitable that it will be arriving, so let's just sit back and wait for it to get here. Ever wonder why Africa is the richest continent on earth, resources and mineral-wise, yet the poorest on earth human development-wise? Some may blame colonialism, exploitation and racism. But it's probably precisely because Africa adopts an attitude of "our time is coming; just wait for it to arrive". And "our time" doesn't arrive. That notion that “our time is coming” is fraught with danger.

Firstly, it’s seen as “our” time — as of right. We owe nobody anything in exchange for it. It’s, simply, ours. Nobody can, should or will take it off us, no matter what.

Secondly, it’s “coming” our way. We needn’t bother to go out and meet it. We can just sit right here on our chumps and wait for it to arrive. It won’t get lost, go astray or lose interest in us. It’s inevitable that it will be arriving, so let’s just sit back and wait for it to get here.

Ever wonder why Africa is the richest continent on earth, resources and mineral-wise, yet the poorest on earth human development-wise?

Some may blame colonialism, exploitation and racism.

But it’s probably precisely because Africa adopts an attitude of “our time is coming; just wait for it to arrive”.

And “our time” doesn’t arrive.

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]]> By: Paddy II http://www.sportsleader.co.za/craigurquhart/2008/10/01/our-time-is-coming%e2%80%a6/#comment-4723 Paddy II Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:01:16 +0000 http://www.sportsleader.co.za/craigurquhart/2008/10/01/our-time-is-coming%e2%80%a6/#comment-4723 That is all very well, but it doesn't say anything particularly substantial. Okay, so Essop Pahad spoke like an utter cretin, and most people think there is "some form of benefit" to hosting the 2010 World Cup. That's nice, but it doesn't add up to much. Most people could simply be wrong, or "some form of benefit" could be a fleeting feeling of vicarious pride. A more interesting question to answer is this: what material, long-lasting benefits will South Africa's hosting of the 2010 World Cup bring for ordinary South Africans? Another: will these benefits outweigh the material drawbacks? By material I don't mean physical and tangible, but benefits/drawbacks that matter. That is all very well, but it doesn’t say anything particularly substantial. Okay, so Essop Pahad spoke like an utter cretin, and most people think there is “some form of benefit” to hosting the 2010 World Cup. That’s nice, but it doesn’t add up to much. Most people could simply be wrong, or “some form of benefit” could be a fleeting feeling of vicarious pride.

A more interesting question to answer is this: what material, long-lasting benefits will South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 World Cup bring for ordinary South Africans? Another: will these benefits outweigh the material drawbacks? By material I don’t mean physical and tangible, but benefits/drawbacks that matter.

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