I remember watching an episode of my favourite character, Mr Bean, visiting an amusement park and going on a roller coaster ride. While everyone else on the roller coaster was screaming and yelling during the ride, Mr Bean was sitting in his car, looking quite bored (and if I am not mistaken even falling asleep at one stage!).
This episode made me think of South Africans living their daily lives, and even going through traumatic and shocking events without even batting an eyelid. Take for instance the recent incident of the driver of a security company vehicle escorting a CIT van who risked his life to ensure they did not become victims of a CIT heist.
I am sure that this is something these guards go through every day without anyone noticing or even realising that this is happening, but, because of leaked dashcam footage, South Africans were given the opportunity to see a real-life hero in action. And in true South African style, without batting an eyelid, South Africans hopped onto the humour roller coaster to help them work through the trauma of what they had just witnessed.
The heroic driver was given the title of South Africa’s Chuck Norris, and the internet was flooded with memes, parody videos and Chuck Norris jokes, keeping the whole country entertained.
It is said that laughter is the best medicine, and I think that in the case of South Africans, this is true. I believe we turn to humour because we see so many disturbing, barbaric and senseless things happening in our country that if we do not laugh we might cry and never stop.
I, for one, want to salute this driver for trying to save lives on that specific day, and, even though he is one of our new meme kings, every South African citizen thanks him for being so dedicated to one of the most dangerous jobs currently in the country.
Until next week, stay safe and look out for each other …
