THERE is an old saying: babies’ nappies and politicians should be changed often – and for the same reason.
Unfortunately, this was not the case with the last election. So now what? Do we sit with Zuma for another five years?
An even worse scenario could be if Malema (as he has already threatened) forms a coalition with the ANC. This will give them a two thirds majority and they can proceed with a Zimbabwe-style ground grab.
In the process they will, of course, totally destroy what’s left of the economy.
On the other hand, there is Cecil Ramaphosa. Shrewd, relatively free of baggage and many times more intelligent than Zuma. Is he going to sit with arms folded and watch our country (his too!) go down the drain, or has he already worked out a strategy to take over?
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A young son asked his father to explain politics to him. The father thought he was too young to understand but tried to explain anyway:
“As the head of the household you can call me the president. Your mum runs the household and does the administration. You can call her the government.”
Son asked: “So what is my nanny?”
Father says: “Well, your nanny is the working class. You, my son. are the people and your little brother is the future. Sleep on it and what you don’t understand ask me tomorrow.”
During the night the little brother woke up. The youngster went to pacify him but as he had dirtied his nappy, he went to fetch his mother. However, he couldn’t wake her as she was fast asleep. So he went to fetch the nanny.
The bedroom door was locked and on looking through the keyhole he noticed his dad was in bed with the nanny. Realising he was not getting anywhere, he went back to bed.
The next morning he told his dad that he now understood politics. His dad said: “Well, I know you are a bright boy, so explain to me and your mum all about it.”
The son said: “The president screws the working class, while the government is asleep. The people are being ignored and the future is in deep sh*t.”
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The Jews have a reputation of common-sense wisdom. Herewith a few rich examples:
If the rich could hire other people to die for them, the poor could make a wonderful living. Yiddish proverb
The wise man, even when he holds his tongue, says more than the fool when he speaks. Yiddish proverb
What you don’t see with your eyes, don’t invent with your mouth. Yiddish proverb
A hero is someone who can keep his mouth shut when he is right. Yiddish proverb
One old friend is better than two new ones. Yiddish proverb
One of life’s greatest mysteries is how the boy who wasn’t good enough to marry your daughter can be the father of the smartest grandchild in the world. Jewish proverb
A wise man hears one word and understands two. Yidddish proverb
Don’t be so humble – you are not that great. Golda Meir (1898-1978) to a visiting diplomat
Pessimism is a luxury that a Jew can never allow himself. Golda Meir
Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex. It takes a touch of genius – and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction. Albert Einstein
Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving. Albert Einstein
Intellectuals solve problems; geniuses prevent them. Albert Einstein
You can’t control the wind, but you can adjust your sails. Yiddish proverb
Imagination is more important than knowledge. Sign hanging in Einstein’s office at Princeton
We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them. Albert Einstein
