FOR those like me who hardly read the Bible, but claim to be staunch believers let us today revisit Proverbs 14:29.
It basically states, “a patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly,”
Similarly, James 1:19-20 reads “my dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires”.
There are many other verses in the Bible where God commands us to be slow to anger, but from my observations on general things which happen both locally and internationally we are quick to take sides, be angry and are near ready to set someone’s house on fire.
Take for example, I took particular interest in President Donald Trump’s comment when he complimented Liberian President Joseph Boakai on his (in Trump’s opinion) great command of the English language. According to CNN and other new channels Trump was in such awe and said; “Such good English, it’s beautiful. Where did you learn to speak so beautifully?”. I took particular interest in this because I was born in Liberia.
However, looking at the aftermath posts, people were upset that Trump highlighted that President Boakai’s English was beautiful and wondered where he was taught? I have no idea why people are particularly upset because on a daily basis we take a second look whenever someone speaks different English in a ‘posh accent’.
Locally they are even asked if they went to Waterford KaMhlaba International School or Sisekelo or any of the other international schools.
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Trump has a lot on his plate and I think he was generally happy that he did not have to go ‘pardon’ after the president made his remarks. Whether he knows that the Liberian and United States flags look very similar is a story for another day LOL. I am sure Trump himself bumps into Americans whom when he speaks to he has no idea of what they are saying.
Just last week some people in Eswatini were majorly upset about Vusi Thembekwayo, he of the Unlock Summit fame. One comment that had me close to peeing myself read “bantfu bayengwa ngulo facata lokhuluma singisi”. This can be loosely translated to; Emaswati are being duped by this scammer just because he speaks great English. Why are we so angry at such little things, where people paid their own money to attend a show where they can be inspired and pick and choose what advise they want to take from our leader?
The long and shot of it is we are so troubled we are just too quick to be upset about anything without listening to all sides of the story and then having an opinion. I’ve said this before as much as I know what GDP is etc, I do not know enough to contribute on the topic.
It reminds me of a post by Spholesihle Dlamini (Happy Belated Birthday) on Facebook last week. She wrote something like “there are different subjects I tackle on Facebook.
On other posts, I entertain everyone while on some selected posts, I do not respond to comments, unless the author of that comment bears a minimum standard known to me. Kuletinye tinkhulumo tami, ungena nge qualification. That’s just my standard,”. I get exactly what she means/meant because why should everyone subscribe to your opinion of this and that. Every topic you have an opinion, it must stop, we really must count to 10 and exhale and decide if our two cents worth really is worth it.
Interestingly, a few of us want to tackle the hard subjects which need to be debated strongly. For example, the ongoing health crisis.
Very few of us want to tackle this issue because we will tackle on the prime minister’s or Cabinet’s toes, yet we still need some favours from them?
A very few of us post our experiences at our local health facilities until maybe a publication writes something, which you are totally against then the backlash comes. I do not know how many times we have been told of on social media platforms about this and that, but if one bumps into that person nothing is said.
Just last week a Facebook friend (ex, because I unfriended him) posted one of our front pages and wrote ‘useless publication’.
I responded by saying ‘wow’ and he was quick to say ‘except you Sky’.
How are we to make each other better when we do not give each other constructive feedback? In summary though, I must say we must all go back to reading our bibles, especially on the quick to anger issues because we are so full of them. I’ve started practising my slow to anger energy in particular on the issue of Mbabane Highlanders. All my life my favourite colours have been black and white because of my love for the team…however, now I have to look around for gold colours, but I am not mad about it yet.
Do not forget to be kind.
