Life Quest (and other stuff)

In my previous post I was feeling a little sad about the state of the world around me, but even though I am not a day-to-day soccer fan, the FIFA World Cup has put a spring in my step. I wasn't near a stadium on Friday, but we trotted down to our local Dros (a restaurant, but more importantly a restaurant with TVs) and settled with the other patrons, ready for the opening match between South Africa and Mexico. There were flags, vuvuzelas, badges and soccer shirts (mostly green and yellow) where ever you looked. There were singing, clapping, gasps, blowing of vuvuzelas, the shouting of "off-side" (possibly randomly) and cheering. The whole place was filled with spirit. With cooperation. With love. With support. And although it would have been nice if it ended in victory for South Africa, an end result of 1-1 was not all that bad. Now, if we are being honest, I was in the minority, wearing black rather than green and yellow. But I'm Goth, and green and yellow...

I think I might be a little naive. Of course I am aware that in many aspects of life I am blissfully ignorant, which is why I may never be "successful". To quote Mark Twain: "To succeed in life, you need two things: ignorance and confidence." I know I do not always have the confidence required, and by knowing I lack ignorance. I just can't win. But back to the point. I think I might be a little naive. You see, I know about the violence and crime in South Africa, but have been able to focus on the beauty and potential. I know that not everyone is good, but I also know that not everyone is bad, and I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt. But while planting some flowers this afternoon, I had one of our neighbours stop by for a chat. Most of the chat was about burglaries, car theft, abductions and rape, the first two recently happening in our street. My street. My beautiful South African street. Shattered. I know of the dark side. I just wish i...