First of all a disclaimer: I might very well use some mildly abusive language here because of my strong feelings regarding this topic. If this offends you, just don't read it, it's that simple. But I wish everyone would read it, cause it is a national epidemic and it may be more serious than people think and even influence other more dubious problems our society faces. What am I talking about? The scourge of the South African inferiority complex... There I said it, I put a name to this $#%$#@$#@!

I was watching the Argus and all was going well till about an hour ago when this woman started "selling" Cape Town in an insert. She started off well enough, but then it quickly spiralled into something which left a really sour taste in my mouth. Quote: "There is no other place for the Cape Argus but Cape Town (ok that was kinda duh..but still ok so far), it is the biggest single day cycle race in the world and attracts 35000 cyclists (still good). I feel Cape Town has proved it has what it takes to compete with the great cycling capitals of the world and can become a major cycling destination (what is this rubbish???)". First of all lady, the host city of the greatest single day race does not have to compete with ANYBODY. And if hosting a race that attracts 35000 competitors doesn't already make you a major destination what will? What do these so-called "great cycling capitals of the world" have to offer anyhow? Cape Town is obviously so superior in every possible way it's just laughable, so why do you have to throw that politically correct crap in? It's almost like she realised she wasn't being humble enough, so her inferiority switch activated and she managed to save the day with some good old "grovel to the outside world by semi-apologise for actually being good at something" talk. Come on people, this is so tired, when the hell is it gonna stop? Isn't it it time we all started realising we live in the greatest country in the world and be proud of it for a change?
So we have some problems, is there any country that doesn't? I always knew we were great, but it took a trip to Europe in '96 to realise just HOW great we are! I couldn't wait to get back home! Start appreciating the large variety of things we both have and do that are by far the best in the world! A few years ago on an episode of his talk show, Jerry Springer said the following: "I don't know why everyone I meet asks me how I like South Africa. I just don't get it, if you go to France people don't ask you how you like France, I don't know why you do it here. No, you've got a great thing going here." Does that not speak volumes? If foreigners don't get why we do this, then why the #%$#@$ hell do we do it? On a lighter note, our film and games industries DO suck, but that is something that can be fixed. Let's get off our butts and do something about it (and the more serious stuff like crime etc.) instead of moan moan moan... Truly be proudly South African, I know I am

Your attitude is the reason that a large number of the people that I deal with everyday, think that South Africans are way too arrogant.

I'm not saying its wrong, because I'm afraid that I'm very much the same, but let me just say this, you have to live somewhere to truly appreciate it. Try living in a few places in the world for 5-10 years, then tell me why it is that SA is soooo much better.

Yes I agree that we have some freaking amazing stuff, and in my heart, as my home, it is the best place in the world, but that does not by any means give me the right to tell the rest of the world that they are shit, and that we are THE shit.

being classified a third world country doesn't really drive people to wave their flags

hahahaha this coming from a dude from the FREE STATE...

I do agree that SA itself is a beautiful country but the rate the violent crime is happening each day... it's making life rather hard to live... This place has simply put become a capatialistic country if you have the money to bribe your way out of shit then you'll have a wonderful life... but for the middle to poor income owners we've been given the by the government.

I don't really see the point of this rant. IMO the woman packaged Cape Town well for tourists, and she's quite correct considering we are still a third world country.

Reminds me of the FNB ad with the Aussie in the airport

We live in a beautiful country - YES.
We have diverse cultures, exotic landscapes, excellent weather and democracy - YES.

But I dont believe we have an inferiority complex like you say!

All the bitchin and moaning is warranted when you consider what South Africans have to put up with every single day - Murder, Rape, Violence, HIV, Corruption! We are ALL fed-up with these things!



Well put!

Gitano, I never said the rest of the world is shit (although goodness knows there is quite a lot that is). I know there are other cool places to live. I like England for example, it's nice and green and there's a good vibe going there and lots of cool historical sites. But I don't need to spend 5 to 10 years out of SA to know that our middle-class lifestyle is second to none and in many cases better than upper-class overseas in terms of space and property size.

Blood105, third world shmirdworld.... The classifications of "first world" and "third world" are a bit too broad to have any kind of credibility. Where does "second world"
factor into this, can they not count or something? LOL. The only difference between first and third world is balance. In a truly first world country there is a very low level of unemployment and crime and a predominantly middle class population. Yep, although there is very little poverty, there are also very few rich people, because the wealth is spread so ultra-evenly. Norway is a prime example of this, about 2 years ago it was rated the best place to live, based purely on those even-spread stats(before anyone points out that another country may have beaten Norway into 1st place since then, I'm well aware of that and it's of no relevance to my argument, since the criteria and statistics the top country is judged on would most likely be exactly the same still.). But to use that well-worn sports analogy "the game is played on grass, not on paper." As at July 2006, the population of Norway was estimated at 4,610,820. Now tell me, how hard is it to achieve such excellent figures when your entire country's population is the same as a fairly big city? And what exactly does Norway contribute to the world, when last was it in the news? Is the world's sole superpower, the USA anywhere near as well-balanced statistically? No way, they have a large unemployment problem, they're in debt, they've got a hell of a lot of poor and rich people. So what do all these wonderful statistics prove in the big picture, blow all, that's what. It's been scientifically proven that there is no way that a bumblebee can fly for goodness sake! If the concept of first world meant anything at all realistically, then Germany and Japan would be at the top of the list every year for the foreseeable future, because they are TRUE movers and shakers in every sense of the word. But even they are far from perfect, Japan is extremely overcrowded for example. SA may not be perfect, but sure as hell neither is anywhere else. So Blood, forget about those silly little 1st and 3rd world classifications cause they mean nothing at the end of the day. Open your eyes and look at your country objectively instead of through your doom and gloom tinted glasses and you will find a hell of a lot of reasons to wave the flag around .

Fishfly, I will not even dignify your totally ridiculous Free State crack with a reply.

RustPuppet, no she's not correct, she started it off fine but then spewed a whole lot of crap. I find it really disturbing that you thought everything she said was fine, that is indicative of the problem I'm trying to highlight about people's mindsets, if you constantly hear the negativity and bs classifications it becomes ingrained and a part of the national mindset after a while. All this leads to is a vicious circle of despair and recycled problems, both of which clearly just love scratching each other's backs...

CyberStorm (and Fishfly), unfortunately many of us do have an inferiority complex. I'm not saying anyone on this forum does, maybe some do, maybe some don't, I'm just using it as a place to air my views. And hopefully at least some of those that it applies to will read this also. Yes, we have major problems with rape, hijacking, aids, poverty etc, all I'm saying is people need to stop focusing on the negative stuff so much. Negativity breeds negative situations, it's like a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you want to sort stuff out, stop just complaining about it, get up and do something about it. And you know what, being more positive is a damn fine way to start.

So in conclusion, I very much stand by what I said before.

Thats all good and well in a society where the negative stuff doesnt happen multiple times a day and isnt so violent.

I would say most South Africans could accept some theft, I know I could, hell go wild take everything but why kill/rape the victim? Possesions can be replaced, a life cant

Anyone that has been a victim of a serious crime should be taken care of for life by the govt in my opinion, hell they do it for the criminal so why not the victim?

Apartheid dehumanised millions of people, please tell me whats changed? The fat cats have gotten fatter, the poor have gotten poorer.

Is SA a beautiful country? Yes
Is SA a safe country? No

A person first priority should always be theri family and their safety, so I have loyalty to that way before I have loyalty to a flag or to the country I was born in. I will go and have gone wherever the opportunities are for me to further my career and best provide for my family.

I am positive that I won't get RAPED and Shot or my beaten to a pulp for trying to help some guy who just got robbed! you know why? cos I am positive that I will turn a blind eye and ignore what's happening around me that way I'm doing sociaty a favour and letting the p00r sods kill each other and watch the population decrease and I get more resources to Electricty/Water!

It's not the negativity that is creating negativity it's the people that's causing it! Remeber Guns don't kill people it's PEOPLE that kill people. What right's do I as a law abiding, tax paying citizen have that the fukcing murderers sitting in jail don't? They get to vote, they have ID's, they have more rights for breaking into my house shooting me/family member than I have when I shoot them for breaking and entering.

The LAW has failed us as citizens so why shouldn't I go out murder, rape, kill and hijack trucks with thousands of RAND's? oh wait I forgot I'm not one of them! I don't have dark skin, I don't have any afflication to the ANC, I don't have money to bribe them, I don't have 20 guards around me to shoot the bitch that tries to rob me.

Jason i'm afraid i can't agree with what you are purring forward. In short you are saying that SA i complaining aboiut the rest of the world being shit while they are shit!!!

Excuse Me....

First of all have you ever lived their????

I don't but during my visit there last year i saw many sides of South Africa. In Pretoria i saw the sky scrapers and the richer more prosperous side of SA, but while in JHB i saw the slums etc.

I'm not saying that SA is great nor am i saying that it is shit. The majority of the ppl i ment were nice considerate individuals who aren't racist etc.

It is true that murders, rapes, robbery does occur a lot in SA but it is not fair to brand the ewntire country in the same light

My opinion: south africa is slowly slipping down the shitter. by this i mean, every now and again, some new crime or misconduct arises, makes the paper for two weeks, and then slides into everyday life for us, since no-one does anything about it.
i was out of the country for 17 months, and returned in late 2006, to find that everyone (really, EVERYONE) i know's been the victims of some or other crime. i'm not going to go into details, but let it be known that the crimes weren't as mild as stolen cellphones. They were violent as hell.
i cant really say i'm proud to be an south african.

Looks like some newly-disadvantaged bastard lost it...



Source: IOL

SA has a bright future