Out of the mouths of babes ...

In South Africa, we all get along extremely well in the time between Christmas and new year. It’s the time between new year and Christmas that gives us problems.

Forget about soccer or rugby. Good old-fashioned violence has become our national sport.

But this week, a little boy has given me hope for those long, aggression-filled weeks until Santa comes again.

My stepson and the boy next door were playing some stupid boy’s game, which turned into an ugly argument and in true South African fashion, Mini Snapdragon clobbered his friend.

We tried to explain the situation to our house’s warrior, but he was firm: the neighbour’s son said something he didn’t like and that justified a violent reaction. Even if the other boy was smaller.

Don’t we all know the argument? Those who have the biggest guns hold the power to decide what is fair. If a citizen or organisation says something government doesn’t like, violence and the suppression of free speech is considered a fair reaction.

Lock them up! Beat them up! Shoot them! Because we have grown accustomed to a world where it is easier to kill your political opponents than to defeat them with policy and debate.

But last night, the lovely Snapdragon had interesting news.

“I heard a knock on the door today,” she said. “It was the boy next door. He asked for Mini Snapdragon.”

“Aha,” I said. “Packing knuckle dusters or a baseball bat?”

“Nope,” she replied. “He apologised for his part in the fight. For what he said and for his contribution to the friction.”

“Now, why on earth would he do that?” I asked, truly surprised, because the little guy’s share in the incident was negligible.

But as a member of the dumber gender, it eventually dawned on me: he might have been the smaller boy, but he was the bigger man.

Now, if a boy of around 10 can clearly see that an olive branch is sometimes far more effective than a bat, why don’t the rest of us realise the same simple truth?

Sticks and stones may be proven bonebreakers, but it is time we acknowledge the power of an example such as this one presented by a child.

Young Soham, you have proven yourself to be a gentleman and a man of integrity. I salute you.

Now, if only the rest of the country can follow your example ...