National (in)Sanity
How do we measure sanity? Or insanity... Every day I read the Zim news: an exam paper stolen; a bank governer warning people to stop the farm invasions (when he himself allegedly snatched more than one farm); no clear presidential successor -- and the ensuing battle between the different factions; inflation of between 1,000-4,000%!!! National insanity, right?
But no, I think the national insanity comes in when people like you and me continue with life, pretending that things are "normal." Last weekend I met a friend at the shops and was trying to buy some groceries...he gasped at the checkout counter when he was asked to pay almost double for his beers what he had paid the previous week. I gasped at the price of my 1litre of Coke -- on Friday it had been Z$400/bottle; on Tuesday it was Z$1,000/bottle. 3 days and Z$600 difference! I simply couldn't bring myself to pay double what I would've paid last week for the same commodities. So things like meat, cheese and sometimes even bread become luxuries. Oh yes, last week I stood in my first bread queue!!!! I did get a loaf...and smiled about it too!
So what exactly is insanity? Or rather, what is National (in)Sanity? Insanity is when you are willing to work a professional job and be paid less than a factory worker in a less developed country than this one, yet are grateful when your salary increases, but not at the same rate as inflation. Insanity is when you smile and laugh when you can't get petrol, and have to ground your car for more than a week! Insanity is when you read the newspaper and watch the news on TV despite the fact that you know they are state controlled and most of the information is blatant propoganda. And what's more, you will actually pay money for a newspaper and a television license, which you know is going straight to the government!
In the US, where I was living before Zim, there is much talk about the state of our National Security. Now in Zim, I find myself wondering much more about the state of our National Sanity. Will this country ever pull itself out of this implosion of confused financial and social policies? Are we a sane nation, or an insane one? What will happen when things "come right" - as people continue to affirm will happen (despite all evidence to the contrary). And what wil the general population do at that point...will they be sane....or insane?!
But no, I think the national insanity comes in when people like you and me continue with life, pretending that things are "normal." Last weekend I met a friend at the shops and was trying to buy some groceries...he gasped at the checkout counter when he was asked to pay almost double for his beers what he had paid the previous week. I gasped at the price of my 1litre of Coke -- on Friday it had been Z$400/bottle; on Tuesday it was Z$1,000/bottle. 3 days and Z$600 difference! I simply couldn't bring myself to pay double what I would've paid last week for the same commodities. So things like meat, cheese and sometimes even bread become luxuries. Oh yes, last week I stood in my first bread queue!!!! I did get a loaf...and smiled about it too!
So what exactly is insanity? Or rather, what is National (in)Sanity? Insanity is when you are willing to work a professional job and be paid less than a factory worker in a less developed country than this one, yet are grateful when your salary increases, but not at the same rate as inflation. Insanity is when you smile and laugh when you can't get petrol, and have to ground your car for more than a week! Insanity is when you read the newspaper and watch the news on TV despite the fact that you know they are state controlled and most of the information is blatant propoganda. And what's more, you will actually pay money for a newspaper and a television license, which you know is going straight to the government!
In the US, where I was living before Zim, there is much talk about the state of our National Security. Now in Zim, I find myself wondering much more about the state of our National Sanity. Will this country ever pull itself out of this implosion of confused financial and social policies? Are we a sane nation, or an insane one? What will happen when things "come right" - as people continue to affirm will happen (despite all evidence to the contrary). And what wil the general population do at that point...will they be sane....or insane?!
posted by VN at 12:11 AM
2 Comments:
Hi Verity,
I miss you, and think of you often. Hope you are doing well in that crazy place. Just the roller coaster prices must keep you perpetually off balance; the political situation is a whole other matter. Keep safe.
When are you coming back? You always have a place to stay, for as long as you like, with us. We have a four bedroom house which, although it was quite full last week for Thanksgiving, it pretty quiet right now!
Heather is going to be a mom--next June. She is not all that thrilled about it just now, as she is throwing up constantly.....but they are both excited and happy.
Love to hear from you-
Joanne
hey, why don't u update? bored with blogging already? remember that u have got some fans. plz tell us more about africa
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