People are going to point fingers, shout out names and demand you listen. That is what democracy is all about! The pure illusion that a government by the people for the people actually works.
The truth is less glamorous – democracy in it’s purest form does not work. If it did, we would have a pretty happy world, as there are 117 claimed democracies in the 195 countries that make up our beautiful world. But hardly any of them actually operate the same.
But claiming you are a democracy and being one are two different things. Look at the US – they are basically a two-party state, while the UK is a three-party state… South Africa has about 17 or 18 parties, but who is counting? They cannot all be democracies, right? What they have in common is the freedom or illusion of freedom given to the people that they can choose who leads them… Democracy!
So when President Jacob Zuma used the organs of the state to try and smooth over his State of the Nation Address (SONA), it brought out the best and worst of our nation! But most importantly, it showed we are as good a democracy as the rest.
While I may think very little of the EFF, I was remarkably proud of that tiny sea of red amidst the pomp and ceremony of the day.
As for the fist fights… We are not the only Parliament to have experienced them.
Because it showed our own democracy working. It may have been farcical to watch, but that was the voice of the people being heard… And that goes for whichever camp you support: DA, EFF, IFP, NFP or ANC (the list is endless).
Viva Sona…
