Tag: South Africa

Culture of Relativism

Mandela was prepared to break ranks with his fellow African leaders and condemn oppression. He did not indulge the ruinous culture of relativism and solidarity that had led to so many abuses in Africa passing unrebuked.

—Alec Russell, in ‘After Mandela‘

I love the term ‘Culture of relativism’. It’s a much better name for what’s come to be known as ‘whataboutery’ in the social media age.

Culture of relativism is also something that’s made a strong comeback in the era of social media empowered populism across the globe.

Would you pass this 2 point personal finance test?

Many South Africans are ignorant of the basics of personal finance, a trait that transcends income levels. Neil Roets, who heads Debt Rescue, a debt-counselling firm, says new clients are first asked for their household budget. Most do not have one.

The Economist: In South Africa, more people have loans than jobs

  1. Do you understand the basics of personal finance?
  2. Do you have a monthly household budget, and know when you’re over/under it, and why?

Ignorance of personal finance basics, and lack of a household budget – I’m sure a good proportion of people, across income levels, in India and the UK, would fail this test.

Anger lessons – from boxing & politics

My anger happens in bursts, but I do not exist only as an angry person. And maybe it’s because of the world I grew up in, where anger and strategy had to be balanced.

In South Africa, we had many struggle leaders who were angry, but you had to learn when to let that anger come out. These are the things that I’ve learned from some of the greatest leaders, just reading their autobiographies and their stories.

I also learned this when I used to box. I didn’t box professionally, but as a boxer you have to learn to calm down.

Trevor Noah Has a Lot to Say – Freakonomics, February 23, 2017 at 04:02 PM