The Crying Game

 Dear Ms Kievit (Minister of Something)

A dramatic picture that, of you weeping at the sight of the havoc wreaked, allegedly by Israeli settlers, in the Palestinian town, Turmus.

Some Shakespeare to comfort you, from Hamlet:

'Leave wringing of your hands.

Peace, sit you down, and let me wring your heart,

For so I shall, if it be made of penetrable stuff, 

If damned custom have not brazed it so,

That it is proof and bulwark against sense...'

Do you have some tears left for the havoc wreaked by the protection services thugs who savagely beat two citizens at home?

Someone implied that they may have brought it on themselves by trailing the ruffians. I am deeply concerned about the quality of the stuff that such people are smoking, inhaling or injecting. Another opined that they may have disturbed the bullies. For heaven's sake, is it not clear enough that the brutes are already seriously disturbed?

Governments elsewhere try to make life easier for citizens: capping some costs, offering free or cheaper services to the vulnerable, and other initiatives. Your comrades, not content with squeezing citizens  relentlessly,  steal as well. Isn't that worth a drop from the tear glands?

Then there are the unthinkable abominations : neglect leading to death of vulnerable people (Esidimeni)  neglect leading to needless deaths and damage in KZN, the theft of billions meant for healthcare, disaster relief and the upliftment of South Africa's people. There's  the horror that is Eskom, the horror that is just about any government department dishing out torture daily and not giving a damn. 

And your comrades want to spend millions and billions on statues. Statues, for crying out loud! As you did.

Gross neglect and dereliction of duty have allowed our country to become a playground for the vilest. Rape, assaault, robbery and murder reign. Worth a sob or two, oh you of tender heart?

From Wilfred Owen's wartime poem, 'Anthem for Doomed Youth':

'What passing bells for those who die as cattle?'

Young and old die as cattle, but you and your comrades are dry-eyed. And we are not in a war. Or...

'South Africa ranks as one of the most violent and dangerous places in the world. The Institute of Economics and Peace (IEP) published its Global Peace Index (GPI) for 2023, showing...'

You had a hand over your eyes in that heart-wrenching picture. Perhaps, if you and the comrades removed your hands from your eyes, you would see what we see. 

Of course, the obvious, commonsense answer is that all of you need to go. Unfortunately, we have never been strong on commonsense here. 

We prefer the crying game.

Cry the beloved country.

Richard 

Tips for the blogger gratefully accepted 

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