Impossible paradox

THERE has been a report of yet another attack on state infrastructure. A riot set fire to a state library.

It is the operative principle that the economy of a country cannot be successful in the absence of nationalism. The most successful economies internationally, are usually those in whose territory you will find a strong sense of patriotism.

The G8 nations, which are mostly economic superpowers, are examples of this. The economic prosperity of a country

relies on its sense of nationalism. In the absence of nationalism, an economy cannot be successful.

It is impossible to understand how a gathering of people in South Africa can claim loyalty to the country and yet set fire to state infrastructure.

With due respect, and without wanting to speak out of turn, how do you claim to love South Africa?

How do you claim to care about your country and then set fire to a state library? What stage have you reached where you take a flame to a state library?

How can you say that you are comTHE mitted to South Africa, and yet you set fire to a state library? It is impossible.

If this is the absence of nationalism that is present in South Africa at this time, then how is the economy going to be successful?

How is the economy going to be constructed and grow if people are not showing any sense of genuine nationalism? How do you claim to be patriotic if you damage state property? It is an impossible assertion.

You can’t attack and vandalise state infrastructure (sometimes to the point of entire destruction), and then turn around and say that you love South Africa. How are you able to? It is an impossible contradiction. People have genuine concerns or issues that they are trying to raise, which in a country with such obvious and extreme poverty, we know that many people do.

It is also easy to see that they feel that they are not listened to, that they feel unable to make any difference to the issues that they see in their lives.

Yet the correct approach can’t be to sabotage the country’s infrastructure.

This is an impossible paradox. It is approaching the issue in reverse. Ben Green Oudtshoorn