I've experienced a rising apprehension during the weeks of the Soccer #WC2010. Almost despite our national low self-esteem expectations it's been a great success. Kudos to the amazing people involved in volunteering, policing, organising and maintaining the hosting process. The original negative sentiment of many nay-sayers notwithstanding.
I felt my first twinge of concern when I read tweets saying 'finally we are one' etc. from people on the bus en route to the opening match as they caught their first glimpse of Soccer City at night. Add in a few vuvuzela parps and the mood escalated to manic and euphoric levels without chemical assistance.
What we need to face very pragmatically in the next few weeks and months is this: emotion isn't change. It may act as a catalyst for change or lead to some change itself. But in and of its own a 'feel-good' mood is not a sustainable foundation on which to build anything. It's just one of many essential ingredients.
Post Soccer #WC2010, when the mall crowds thin out, the post mortems have been written and we're back to our daily routines with media reporting on divisions, corruption, Malema's mouthings and a potential return to 'nomal' levels of crime, the babelas won't feel nice.
No, I don't want to rain on any parade or be a killjoy. I'm just suggesting that we each contemplate the Vuvuzela dust in our belly buttons for a few moments and think, 'What will I do on a daily basis to make this goodwill and fragile sense of national closeness live on?' Events won't keep Saffers united. Gushing articles won't help. It's the tiny, daily things that each of us will commit to doing and sustaining, that may. Let's all try it.
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