Capitalistic attitudes swamp the spirit of ubuntu
How many times have you heard these statements?
“I owe him a visit.”
“You owe me a movie.”
“If you do this I will be indebted to you all my life.”
“Give the man some credit.”
“Her pregnancy was long overdue.”
“What’s in it for me?”
“I owe you one.”
Why do we think about life in terms of debits and credits? Is it because we are transforming into a capitalist society economically and socially? Is it because we are communicating in a language which is capitalistic in nature?
All the statements above have an element of debit and credit. These are emotional statements expressed in terms of commercial value.
What we speak and hear manifests in our thoughts, which will determine how we make decisions.
We start interpreting life situations according to this commercial value: what do I gain or lose if I do this or that?
This is a capitalistic way of thinking, since all the time you are looking for gains or profits. This is also learned by our kids, who develop a culture of remuneration for whatever they do. You even have to bribe your daughter to go to school.
How many parents, after organising transport to and from school – and lunch to eat at school – have been blackmailed by their kids who do not want to go to school because their pocket money is “not enough”?
If we want a society with morals and values based on humaneness and humility we need to start with the way we speak. Our children are so exposed to this way of speaking that they do not do anything without a gain.
If your car breaks down and you ask the few people around to help you, when you finish you will hear something like “Ungas’fakel’ itiger, Grootman” (Can you give us R10, Big Brother).
Where does this stem from? It is a capitalist mindset that is eroding our values. Any kind of help is subjected to a certain commercial reward.
Think about a statement like “I have invested so much in this relationship, she can’t leave me now.”
If our youth is indoctrinated with this way of thinking through the way we speak, we shall not have any charity organisations, civil society organisations and other guardians of our values in the future.
Some of these problems can be solved by teaching our kids to speak our own languages (African). These languages are mostly grounded on the values of kindness and humanity (ubuntu).
Thivhudziwi Vele
Cape Town
Sipho Mazibuko
February 25, 2009 at 11:15 am |
I disagree with you that learning to speak our language which (true) is imbeded with the values of kindness and humanity is the answer. Africans are by nature kind and thoughtful people without a bone of malice in them. I think that is what should be encourage”Values of Humanity”. Everything must not be monitized. I mean,we learnt that from civilization and it sure does have its price.
Fortunately, they exist places in Africa, take Nigeria for instance,where corruption seems to be the rule of the day, alot of villages/rural areas with people in them dont do things expecting financial or otherwise gains. Not all help are subjected to commercial rewards and it does not apply. if one does not extend those gestures periodically, one wont be tempted, and one wont be accepting so that should not be encouraged.Doing good simply because it makes one feel good and it is the right thing to do. Irrespective of one’s status in life should be encouraged between the youths and the elders.