Words are no longer ‘everlasting’ (as per the Bee Gees) and some certainly have new meaning in today’s weird, weird world.
For example, the word ‘monkey’ now gets a nation in a froth, old ladies fined a fortune and clothing stores trashed.
Rightfully so, the vast majority of South Africans would say, as the subliminal meaning behind the word is often downright degrading.
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The disgusting ‘k’ word is still bandied about in some circles and makes one want to puke with shame. Then others think they are clever by coming up with not-so-subtle substitutes which are equally abhorrent.
Just because Enid Blyton happened to name one of Noddy’s friends a ‘Golliwog’ doesn’t give anyone licence to use the word today.
How many people still use the phrase ‘nigger in a woodpile’ without thinking?
(Please understand that the use of the word here is merely to prove a point.)
Then there’s another word that seems to be creating much angst in the country at the moment… ‘water’.
Yes, that also has a racial connotation to it, believe it or not. There are posts doing the rounds saying that ‘white monopoly capitalists’ in Cape Town will now also experience what it’s like to queue at water tanks.
Been there, done that on the South Coast, of course. Locally, the really sad thing is that some ‘lekker ou dae’ people think they are superior here: “We did it better…”
Bull! You only ‘did it better’ for yourselves.
The point is: Dare mention the ‘w’ word and hackles rise.
Google this one word… ‘water’ and see what pops up immediately:
“Panic and blame…”
“Water shops cash in…”
“Day Zero…”
“Disgruntled workers cause water cuts on KZN coast…”
Gone are the days when the word conjured up soothing images of trickling brooks, cascading waterfalls and such. Heck! There have even been CDs made with running water to soothe the soul, do yoga to and get one to sleep at night.
Now the noise still gives one the urge to pee… only you dare not flush the toilet.
Facebook and Twitter are jampacked with all and sundry blaming each other and politicking.
Meanwhile, Cape Town is creeping towards ‘Day Zero’ and there are few, if any, places in South Africa which haven’t faced water woes at some stage.
But there’s an opportunity going begging here, chaps.
Political animals, forget the blame game just this once.
Use the word ‘water’ to unite a nation, come together and brainstorm a solution to this crisis that’s life-threatening to all.
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