It feels or looks like a norm nowadays to be a favourite or look cool in front of your peers, but at the same time, you are destroying your inner beauty and your God-given intelligence.
Remember the verse that says treat others like the way you would love to be treated? Yes, that verse.
Since social media started playing a huge role in our lives, it seems others are too abusive on these platforms. It’s even funny how a Grade 4 pupil has a smartphone and an Instagram/Facebook account.
While I’m not really against it, I’m rather against how her/his sister, brother, mother, father, cousin or neighbour exposes those platforms to the child. The main purpose of that phone was for the child to use it for their schoolwork or contact their elders. We can say that we, the elder generation, are bored with our lives therefore we set the same example for the younger generation.
Furthermore, in Namibia, we have the culture of making fun of anything new, no matter how serious it might be as we are trying to be recognised, but not taking into consideration that we’re breaking down the next person.
Our recognition won’t go beyond fame as it’s recognised by the wrong people with our mentality. In addition, we sometimes make jokes of serious events that can later haunt us as a nation.
People make fun of certain natural disasters and diseases by creating memes and making “funny” video clips to entertain others.
At the same time, the next person also shares that same meme or clip in order to show “coolness”.
Last but not least, Namibians tend to be more concerned about other people’s lives while forgetting their own. We are so into drama, we keep on praying for unproductive things to happen to our neighbours in order to expose them, with no rewards in return.
So who are we, really? Is this the nation we are promoting? We blame the government for the economic crisis or drought, but don’t take into consideration that we are the government and everything happens for a reason.
Let’s think twice and concentrate on something that can positively contribute to you and the next person. Think twice before you act in order for a brighter tomorrow.
Peter ‘Pieksa’ Shikalepo is a ‘Tuli Ngaa!’ representative. Contact him at petershikalepo@gmail.com.
