Politics

So this is my first political blog, aren't you excited? Shit just got real.

Aaaaaaannd the topic iiiiiisssss:
People who never stop complaining about their own country.

Yeah, you know who you are. You say things like, "I can't wait until I can get out of here," or "Only in (insert country name here)," or "You'd better get out of here while you still can," and any number of similar things.

The funny thing is that most of you are just repeating what you've heard other people say. Your parents, friends, and colleagues tell you that your country is going to the dogs, and you agree. Most people really don't know what they're talking about, and have never thought about it for long enough to form their own opinion. You don't know much about the laws and policies you complain about, you are convinced that a new law is going to be the downfall of your country, yet you know nothing about it. You're just parroting other people's complaints. It's ridiculous.

Most of my blogs are satyrical and humorous in nature - but this is a serious irritant for me. The second I hear someone bad-mouthing MY country, I am filled with the white-hot rage of a thousand Incredible Hulks.

The one that kills me is when people tell me how corrupt our government is. As if corrupt politicians are a rarity. Politicians are infamous for being corrupt! Seriously, the only complaint I have about the government is that they haven't had you put down already. But by all means, go and live in a less corrupt country, I hear Antartica has no corruption what-so-ever.

MY GOD!

As soon as something bad happens, financial, social, political, people are like "That's it! See, I told you this would happen! Our country is going under! Yes, we'd better get out now!" Their country can be good to them for years and years, but as soon as something goes wrong, people can't leave fast enough. It's like being married to someone, they treat you well, you fight every now and then, but generally they've never wronged you at all. Then this person gets sick (not terminally; just a bad flu, possibly mild pneumonia) and you say "That's it, I won't stand for this, I want a divorce." Socially, you'd be looked down upon as a spineless, heartless, scumbag. Yet people pat you on the back for doing the same thing to your country. Whatever happened to loyalty?

Then on the flipside, when something good happens, like if your country wins a sporting event, or makes an academic discovery, suddenly you're one of us again? No, consistency or GTFO.

If you hate your country so much, then why don't you leave instead of bitching about it all the time? No-one wants you here. Let's make a deal, you stop insulting MY country, and I won't insult your unforutnately low IQ; deal? Sweet.

No matter where you're from, there are going to be things about your country that people will travel thousands of kilometres to see, that people make documentaries about, that people dream of seeing for themselves. Every single country has something unique and magical about it, so why fixate on the flaws?

I'm Proudly South African. I love my country, passionately. Anyone who has a problem with my country has a problem with me. And, believe me when I say it pisses me off.