WHERE WERE YOU?

There was a football game on TV the previous night after which I went straight to bed. My morning habits when there is no one in the waiting lounge was to check my emails as a foremost activity at my then work place. And there it was on my homepage that morning: Michael Jackson, the king of pop was dead. He had apparently died the previous night (my local time zone) at age 50 following the events that we are all now too familiar with. The first thing I remember doing was jumping out of my consulting room to practically announce to my front desk staff what I had just read (alas, they all knew about it before I did).


The above-narrative occurred exactly a year ago to this day and the memory of it has been said over and again. This is because the death of MJ is one of those events of life that is easily drawn in day-to-day conversations and for first time acquaintances; it is commonly asked “where were you when you heard about MJ’s death?”

Much mystery surrounded the life and times of Michael Jackson, with many a question yet unanswered one year after his death. However, it is unanimous that he represented a great talent who toed a path unheard of and rose above the restrictions that held sway in his society. These are universal marks of greatness and MJ has his place in the history of humanity, his flaws not withstanding.

Indeed a part of being human is being flawed .While this is certainly not an excuse for bad behaviour, in my opinion no flaw is less “evil” in itself. We all have our struggles in life, most of which is unseen to the world around us. A look at the facial expressions in the latter life of MJ seem to express this inner turmoil of being a mortal; someone with wishes and regrets. And yes, if we did not agree to the things about him that commanded negative comments, we can at least learn from them rather than spite the man.

I am proud to say MJ lived in my generation. He may not have had the entire juicy PR we would prefer him to but he was outstanding in his field. This made him an icon and enlists his name in the annals of mankind.

TWO THINGS

Today, I got an email with an attachment that spurred me to make this post. The attachment is video of a stand-up comedian doing his thing to much cheer from his audience. Said he, there are always two things in life and one thing will always have 2 out comes. When it came to HIV/AIDS, he said there is only one outcome: death.

The video is a very imaginative in creating awareness on the reality of HIV/AIDS but lacked the completeness of the modern HIV/AIDS message. This message now includes providing accurate information on the mode of transmission of the disease, the process of the disease as well as what options there are for People Living with HIV/AIDS. The latter is serving its purpose of encouraging more people to volunteer for HIV testing and its hopeful consequence of reducing the spread of the virus.

The last time I wrote to convey the reality of HIV/AIDS, I used my personal experience vis-a-vis the emotional ruffle I went through following a needle stick injury while dealing with a patient who turned out to be HIV negative. It was very dramatic and I made it public on Face Book. In response, most of my readers reassured me from Christian religious perspective. Soothing as that was (yours truly has great value in his faith); I thought my readers were less balanced on the issue of HIV/AIDS.

Indeed, as much as I appreciated the good intent of my readers, I am of the opinion that science; in its final position is the application of wisdom of God and that the latter transcends to the socio-economic responses to all the ills that have fallen humanity. For example, the stand that an individual infected with HIV should take ARVs is as Christian as it is scientific.

It is the completeness of information fed to the public that will pave the way for our society achieving her interventional goals in any issue of societal calamity. As someone has said, half of the truth can be more dangerous than an out right lie! So I join in saying:

“Spread the message and not the virus”; but make sure it is the accurate message that is disseminated.

                                                       The Video

MY VUVUZELA

Earlier this week, I bought my own Vuvuzela, that cheek bursting plastic trump which in recent months has become the emblem for the fan cheer of the FIFA World Cup, South Africa 2010. Of course, the football fan I have always claimed to be was true to me in buying a Spanish football muffler well before the present winter; the Spanish being the team I am cheering to finger-print the golden trophy.


I have always fancied myself as someone who never wants to miss life’s ultimate moments but this year’s football festival almost caught me napping. (One’s job can really be a distraction you know!). However, my recent trips to 2 of the cities hosting the matches have brought me out passivity. Really, how could I let this moment pass quietly? Watching football is one of my hobbies and for the 1st time its ultimate competition is being held in my home continent, specifically in South Africa where I live presently. It’s historical and everything from TV commercials, the drapes on the streets to store cashier uniforms reflects an exhilarated population. I join in the slogan to say “feel it, it is here!”

As I punch the keyboard to enter this post, it’s to the live music coming from the pre-tournament concert and in less than 24 hours the games should have begun. It’s been a long but eventful wait for this moment (including all the many threats of industrial actions to disrupt the games - in order to gain better pays!). If you ask me, I think SA position is that of gain as “we” host this world cup.

From where I live, the nearest stadium where some games will be played is some 3 - hour road trip away, so I’d be much glued to my TV this next month. Even my overtime has been arranged to match! I am undecided about going to public viewing centres yet but I am sure going to be a renewed football fan this world cup.

Back to my Vuvuzela, it’s going to be my emblem beyond the tournament. I also like the sound of the name “Makarapa” but I don’t really fancy wearing it. So my Vuvuzela will be it; hoping it lasts as a souvenir from this moment of history.