“What we do for ourselves dies with us.
What we do for others and the world remains
and is immortal.”
Albert Pine
The last four years of my life have been spent studying sociology on the ivy-covered upper campus of the University of Cape Town. This endeavour has enabled unprecedented personal growth. It has opened my eyes to the intricacies, problems, and beauty of South African and global society. It has awakened me to all things post-modern and post-colonial. It has turned me into a feminist, an environmentalist, a social constructionist. I have become a critic of all opinions which are unsubstantiated, all initiatives which are unsustainable, and all actions which are unjust and socially irresponsible. I have learned to pursue utopia, regardless of whether it is ultimately attainable.
Although my transformation took place in the hallowed halls of academia, the subject matter of sociology originates purely from the issues in the world around us; social and economic development, trade, poverty, 'race', class, gender, politics, social justice and inequality, and climate change. However, although we all encounter these issues on a daily basis, we rarely take the time to think about how things could be different -- how we could help make things different.
Thus, I am a writer communicating about the ideas, attitudes, ways of being, and ways of seeing the world that can create and sustain a better future. This blog offers my view of the world through sociological glasses. The picture is not always rosy, but it is certainly important in my pursuit of utopia.
And, perhaps, it will help others in their pursuits as well...
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