Peace,
I arose to the most remarkable of headlines this morning. Actually, strictly speaking I arose to Kelis’ Flesh Tone as part of my morning work out program, but I digress. Some of the most interestingly written pieces I’ve ever read from journalists in any newspaper were published in today’s dailies, specifically The Star. A number of leading media platforms have officially announced the LeadSA initiative to the public today. This initiative is meant to bring out the best in the people of South Africa and is being championed by the media!
Now like most of you, my first instinctive response is a dash of raised brow and served with a healthy scoop of side-eye. As I read on, especially at the various contributions from other key media players and editors, I realize that this knee-jerk response is born of a tongue trained how to taste in an era that is now truly in SA’s past; the Pre World Cup era, or pWC with a small ‘p’! In the pWC we were all taught to be suspicious, guarded and overly wary. Given the many behind the scenes media mandates, I totally get that cautious approach. But honestly, it gets more than just a little tiring for me. In PWC (Post World Cup) time, I’m ready to give a little in order to get more. It is in that spirit that I have decided to co-sign on LeadSA. In addition, I firmly believe there are many of us who have been, all the while, living the reality of the pillars of the LeadSA manifesto for some time and will be only too happy to formalize it, albeit mentally, as part of the LeadSA initiative.
I find it poignant that PWC some have taken it upon themselves to ensure that the infrastructural investment the big games brought to South Africa over the last four years bears fruit as stadiums, transport systems and media technology are put to good use. Others have adopted the World Cup template of “Defined Goals – Finite Periods – Delivery and Accountability – Feedback, Reporting and Rating” as their own Project Blueprint for success; even up to governmental level. None, up until now, had made it their mission to take the actual spirit of the nation as their own personal responsibility. Not formally at least. If they had, I can’t say I’d heard of them. This is quite a huge ask as it literally means becoming the official custodian of the Spirit of Ubuntu in South Africa. LeadSA is up for the task and by making sure that its hub is built upon the people of South Africa, the Spirit of Ubuntu should be in good hands.
The People of South Africa. Who exactly speaks for them?
For the longest time, I was convinced an inexplicable loop-link existed between “The People” and “The Media”. The People spoke through The Media, who in turn spoke for The People back to The People! The voices got very confusing. Before long it became hard to tell whose voice was coming through the loudest and why, breeding suspicion, contempt, fear etc. One thing was for sure; The Individual was silenced. You were silenced.
LeadSA brings the focus back onto The Individual. You. Through LeadSA you no longer need to be told what your country is and has the potential to become. You get to decide for yourself what South Africa is. You get to decide what kind of nation this one will be. By how you act every day, you get to shape what is important to you. You get to build and nurture it. You and yours get to enjoy the fruits of it when the harvest comes in your future. Critically this assumes The Individual, at their core, wants the same thing The People want and ultimately will find that they are not alone in trying to get it. This train of thinking requires an optimism and faith that I truly believe South Africans possess.
In a radio interview recently I heard a man on the phone tell the talk show host that the wonderful spirit of love and togetherness in SA during the World Cup was simply the nation sampling how other countries’ people related to themselves and each other. That we as a people did not know how to be that way yet and we needed to soak it up from the tourists while they were around as it would leave with them on their return flights. I disagree.
I think that spirit is alive in us. It needs a reason to come out. It needs an environment that allows it to thrive. This is where the Media sparking off this initiative plays a key role. The Media can ensure that the environment we live in is conducive to the spirit of Love and Togetherness being common place in South Africa. Here’s how;
- With as much fervor as you cover the vile, with no aversion cover the beautiful
- As diligently as you expose the foul elements of our society, with as much zeal shed light on the wonderful elements
- As eagerly as you disgrace citizens that fail us, with as much passion elevate and celebrate the ones that do us proud
- As bravely as you depress us with horrible news we need to hear, as triumphantly inspire us with joyous news we long to hear
- Finally as lucratively as you disseminate information to us and speak to us, profitably collect more of our stories and perspectives and listen to us
Responsible journalism is reflected in the initiation of LeadSA. Here’s a commitment from me: if you play your part in nurturing this initiative over the years, I will play mine in ensuring it works.
A friend said to me once, “We cannot all be leaders.” I said to him, “None of us were made to be followers.”
Live Now
I arose to the most remarkable of headlines this morning. Actually, strictly speaking I arose to Kelis’ Flesh Tone as part of my morning work out program, but I digress. Some of the most interestingly written pieces I’ve ever read from journalists in any newspaper were published in today’s dailies, specifically The Star. A number of leading media platforms have officially announced the LeadSA initiative to the public today. This initiative is meant to bring out the best in the people of South Africa and is being championed by the media!
Now like most of you, my first instinctive response is a dash of raised brow and served with a healthy scoop of side-eye. As I read on, especially at the various contributions from other key media players and editors, I realize that this knee-jerk response is born of a tongue trained how to taste in an era that is now truly in SA’s past; the Pre World Cup era, or pWC with a small ‘p’! In the pWC we were all taught to be suspicious, guarded and overly wary. Given the many behind the scenes media mandates, I totally get that cautious approach. But honestly, it gets more than just a little tiring for me. In PWC (Post World Cup) time, I’m ready to give a little in order to get more. It is in that spirit that I have decided to co-sign on LeadSA. In addition, I firmly believe there are many of us who have been, all the while, living the reality of the pillars of the LeadSA manifesto for some time and will be only too happy to formalize it, albeit mentally, as part of the LeadSA initiative.
I find it poignant that PWC some have taken it upon themselves to ensure that the infrastructural investment the big games brought to South Africa over the last four years bears fruit as stadiums, transport systems and media technology are put to good use. Others have adopted the World Cup template of “Defined Goals – Finite Periods – Delivery and Accountability – Feedback, Reporting and Rating” as their own Project Blueprint for success; even up to governmental level. None, up until now, had made it their mission to take the actual spirit of the nation as their own personal responsibility. Not formally at least. If they had, I can’t say I’d heard of them. This is quite a huge ask as it literally means becoming the official custodian of the Spirit of Ubuntu in South Africa. LeadSA is up for the task and by making sure that its hub is built upon the people of South Africa, the Spirit of Ubuntu should be in good hands.
The People of South Africa. Who exactly speaks for them?
For the longest time, I was convinced an inexplicable loop-link existed between “The People” and “The Media”. The People spoke through The Media, who in turn spoke for The People back to The People! The voices got very confusing. Before long it became hard to tell whose voice was coming through the loudest and why, breeding suspicion, contempt, fear etc. One thing was for sure; The Individual was silenced. You were silenced.
LeadSA brings the focus back onto The Individual. You. Through LeadSA you no longer need to be told what your country is and has the potential to become. You get to decide for yourself what South Africa is. You get to decide what kind of nation this one will be. By how you act every day, you get to shape what is important to you. You get to build and nurture it. You and yours get to enjoy the fruits of it when the harvest comes in your future. Critically this assumes The Individual, at their core, wants the same thing The People want and ultimately will find that they are not alone in trying to get it. This train of thinking requires an optimism and faith that I truly believe South Africans possess.
In a radio interview recently I heard a man on the phone tell the talk show host that the wonderful spirit of love and togetherness in SA during the World Cup was simply the nation sampling how other countries’ people related to themselves and each other. That we as a people did not know how to be that way yet and we needed to soak it up from the tourists while they were around as it would leave with them on their return flights. I disagree.
I think that spirit is alive in us. It needs a reason to come out. It needs an environment that allows it to thrive. This is where the Media sparking off this initiative plays a key role. The Media can ensure that the environment we live in is conducive to the spirit of Love and Togetherness being common place in South Africa. Here’s how;
- With as much fervor as you cover the vile, with no aversion cover the beautiful
- As diligently as you expose the foul elements of our society, with as much zeal shed light on the wonderful elements
- As eagerly as you disgrace citizens that fail us, with as much passion elevate and celebrate the ones that do us proud
- As bravely as you depress us with horrible news we need to hear, as triumphantly inspire us with joyous news we long to hear
- Finally as lucratively as you disseminate information to us and speak to us, profitably collect more of our stories and perspectives and listen to us
Responsible journalism is reflected in the initiation of LeadSA. Here’s a commitment from me: if you play your part in nurturing this initiative over the years, I will play mine in ensuring it works.
A friend said to me once, “We cannot all be leaders.” I said to him, “None of us were made to be followers.”
Live Now
1 comment:
word to the mother....
kabomo
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