We Don't Need No Education

When Americans first heard George W. Bush utter such clever statements as, "They misunderestimated me", some cringed and some laughed.

And then, shockingly, some decided to vote him into four additional years as president of the world's leading superpower.

At the time, I was bewildered at the American public. How could they leave the fate of their country in the hands of man who says such idiotic, ignorant things?! Who responds in 2005 to a divorced mother of three by saying, "You work three jobs?... Uniquely American , isn't it? I mean, that is fantastic that you're doing that". It was lunacy!

I'm sure a lot of you reading this went through the same frustrations during the G. Bush reign. But eventually, the shock of Bush's success did wear off and you were left shaking your head in awe, trying to work out exactly why and how he maintained such a strong following.

Well dear readers, today I have another two political conundrums for you to ponder.

Following along the lines of Bush junior, the current president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, has served up his own brilliant slices of verbal diarrhea.

President Jacob Zuma

Without further ado:

1. "It would minimize the risk of catching the disease ". -Zuma explaining during his rape trial why he opted for a shower after having intercourse with an HIV-positive woman.
   
2. "When you vote for the ANC, you are also choosing to go to heaven. When you don't vote for the ANC, you should know that you are choosing that man with the fork... who cooks people."
   
3. "When you are carrying an ANC membership card, you are blessed. When you get up there, there are different cards used but when you have an ANC card, you will be let through to heaven". 

Adding insult to injury: Zuma has been previously charged with corruption and rape. He has three wives even though polygamy is illegal in SA. His spousal support tab runs the SA public roughly R15.5 million per year. Zuma oversaw the disbanding an elite national corruption-fighting unit called the Scorpions in 2009 -- after the Scorpions began investigating his own senior members of the ANC. He has a grade 5 education.

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The next political head scratcher also hails from the ANC. In fact, he is currently the leader of the party's Youth League.... which, right out of the gate, nicely sets the irrefutable tone of ridiculousness surrounding this man. The dude is 30 years old.

President Zuma has called him the "future leader" of South Africa.

...Really??

I'm not so sure that the current President should be putting political eggs in the basket of someone who has been quoted as saying the following:

1. "We are tired of a two-thirds majority. Our aim is a three-thirds majority."
   
2. "In the morning, that lady requested breakfast and taxi money. You can't ask for money from somebody who raped you." -Malema commenting on President Zuma's rape trial
   
3. "He is the most educated President. Economics is simple - put bread on the table." -On Zuma's education
   
4. "If he is uneducated, then we want him as our uneducated president. We don't want sophistication." -On President Zuma
   
5. "Never blame us if we make mistakes. We are learning." -Addressing concerns about the Youth League's dodgy actions
   
6. An investigative reporter recently asked Malema his opinion on an increasing trend of suicide among teenagers who fail grade 12. His response: "Me commit suicide? .... I'd rather kill myself before doing such a horrible thing!"

His personal background is on par with Zuma's: Graduated high school at 21 after failing both grade 8 and 9. Was convicted of hate speech in March 2010. Has publicly praised the violent, repressive actions of Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe -- going so far as to openly encourage young black South Africans to follow Zim's bloody example in order to reclaim land from white farmers whom he has referred to as "criminals". 

Whilst addressing an audience at a city hall earlier this year, Malema reportedly looked out at the crowd of ANC supporters and told them that in order to keep the ANC movement pumping, they must have as many babies as possible, saying: "Having babies is a revolutionary thing! You must reproduce!". 

I shouldn't have to point out the MASSIVE economical and social ramifications of this statement. I mean... as a black person of power speaking to a developing nation that is already so heavily burdened by over population... my heart just broke when I heard what he had said. Does he not have any grasp at all on the potential devastating consequences that his words could ignite? He obviously has no regard for the well-being or prosperity of his people or country. 

In April 2010, Julius was provoked at a press conference by a BBC reporter and began spewing insults at the reporter whilst throwing him out of the building -- all in front of international media. 

The provocation? Malema was berating Helen Zille and the DA for being white elitists, offering up the fact that they are all based in Sandton (an upscale, mainly rich and white suburb of Joburg) as evidence. A BBC reporter spoke up to point out that Julius himself currently lives in Sandton. To which Malema exploded: "Here you behave or else you jump! Don't come in here with that white tendency. Go out you bastard, bloody agent!... This is not a newsroom. It is a revolution house! Don't come here with your white tendencies!"

Yeesh. And you thought Stephen Harper was bad.

My time in SA has shown me one thing, loud and clear: that this is a country rich in natural resources, rich in natural beauty, and rich in culture and pride. It has so much potential, it almost makes you sick to think about how ridiculously successful it could be if it had effective leadership.

These two men, in my opinion, do not reflect the spirit of the people that make up this great nation. 

President Jacob Zuma and ANCYL Julius Malema 

Just as America so desperately needed at the end of the Bush era, SA needs an Obama. Another Mandela. A figure to sweep in and recharge its citizens with hope, unity, and a proactive sense of patriotism. Once SA nails that... it'll be nothing but a rainbow nation built out of solid gold, I can promise you that much.