Why I love South Africa (By Ian Macdonald)

I love her for the perfection of her days

The crisp Karoo morning

The Joburg winter noon

The late summer Cape Town sunset

The star-filled Free State night

I love her for her people

For our warm smiles

For our resilience

For our I-am-because-we-are

I love her because she delights my senses

Highveld thunderbolts

Jacarandas in bloom

Sunday braais

African sun

Icy sea

I love her raw power, her intensity, her strength

I love her because of how she makes me feel

Sometimes angry, sometimes joyous

Sometimes fearful, sometimes love-filled

Sometimes frustrated, sometimes hopeful

Always alive

I love her because she intrigues me

And challenges me

The Chinese have a curse: “May you live in interesting times”

I see it as a blessing

I love her because she helps me keep things in perspective

By reminding me how privileged I am

Every day

I love her for being a microcosm of the world

A world in one country

For what we can teach the world

About compromise

And sharing

And forgiveness

And tolerance

And hope

I love her because she’s imperfect

And full of opportunity

And potential unfulfilled

I love her because she has come so far

And has so much further to go

And whether we ever get there

Will all depend on us

I love her because she’s been so good to me

And she inspires me to return the favour

I love her because she’s my country

No matter what

I love her because she’s my home

And where my soul is at rest

[Via http://thepittfamily.wordpress.com]

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