Abdullah Tshabal
1st November 2015, 22:28
Hello. I am from the city of Hillbrow, a suburb of Johannesburg composed of a multitude of pre-fab high rises and known for its population density and less-than-desirable history (And to an extent, its present). It has a density of 70,000 people per km2, though it's just a bit more than a square kilometer in size. Of course, I've lived through the city (as well as the rest of South Africa) within the last 20-odd years through its history of post-Apartheid development and collapse, depression and delight, near-death and revival, etc. In 2008 I went to the United States, more specifically into Dallas, Texas and lived there for 5 years. To say the least, Dallas is radically different from Johannesburg in literally every way concievable. I moved back in late 2013 thankfully and even then after my eventual return across the ocean AGAIN, my hometown had yet again changed. I had left Johannesburg during a moment when it was in it's death throes, on the brink of becoming a version of Detroit with high-rise apartment blocks. When I returned, the city had taken on a new life and is still in the process of urban renewal. Though there certainly still exist some "less-than-ideal" parts, the city as a whole has become essentially the African counterpart of New York City, except without the unholy level of American-style suburbanization, prices and rampant out-of-control Islamophobia.
On the political end, most of my viewpoints began to grow during the later years of high school. Despite being in one of the most Conservative states in the US, I had grown and maintained a far-left political standing. Most of it did indeed grow during college to a far more greater level. I had not participated in any political acts in the US, because not being a citizen barred me from voting and the candidates (Romney vs Obama 2012) were both ****S. One was less of a **** than the other, but still both were. Obama is in office and he is doing a rather shit job of running things. Unfortunately however, even as I'm not a fan of Obama by any stretch of the imagination, most people who dislike Obama have opposite reasons as to why. Such as the "NOBama" slogan which if I'm correct originated in South Africa during a metric asston of protests against Obama for being a war-criminal, useing drone strikes and kissing Israel's ass. Obviously no longer being in South Africa at the time, the first instances I saw of "NObama" was a bunch of distorted anti-communist, Islamophobic and hate propaganda. Indeed, just the boundary which is the Atlantic Ocean creates two radically opposite extremities of political viewpoints, doesn't it? I like to sort of think of colleges in the USA as little oases of left-wing havens in a desert of staunch conservativism and hate.
Of course, now finally back in the "lovely" environment of an urbanized environment of Johannesburg, I have direct and firm stances on several issues (those which I am well-informed on at least) as well as a place for leftism to flourish. In case you don't know, Gauteng is a province (It's the one where the cities of Johannebsurg and Pretoria are) where a quarter of the country lives stuffed into an area slightly smaller than Israel. Though at least half of the Gauteng province is probably uninhabited and centralized in the multitude of major cities. And mentioning Israel, I fully agree with all of the complaints, arguments and the Apartheid Analogy directed against it. While also here I committed to religious conversion as well. Needless to say, it has further enforced my left-wing standing (Such as communism/socialism and technocracy).
On the political end, most of my viewpoints began to grow during the later years of high school. Despite being in one of the most Conservative states in the US, I had grown and maintained a far-left political standing. Most of it did indeed grow during college to a far more greater level. I had not participated in any political acts in the US, because not being a citizen barred me from voting and the candidates (Romney vs Obama 2012) were both ****S. One was less of a **** than the other, but still both were. Obama is in office and he is doing a rather shit job of running things. Unfortunately however, even as I'm not a fan of Obama by any stretch of the imagination, most people who dislike Obama have opposite reasons as to why. Such as the "NOBama" slogan which if I'm correct originated in South Africa during a metric asston of protests against Obama for being a war-criminal, useing drone strikes and kissing Israel's ass. Obviously no longer being in South Africa at the time, the first instances I saw of "NObama" was a bunch of distorted anti-communist, Islamophobic and hate propaganda. Indeed, just the boundary which is the Atlantic Ocean creates two radically opposite extremities of political viewpoints, doesn't it? I like to sort of think of colleges in the USA as little oases of left-wing havens in a desert of staunch conservativism and hate.
Of course, now finally back in the "lovely" environment of an urbanized environment of Johannesburg, I have direct and firm stances on several issues (those which I am well-informed on at least) as well as a place for leftism to flourish. In case you don't know, Gauteng is a province (It's the one where the cities of Johannebsurg and Pretoria are) where a quarter of the country lives stuffed into an area slightly smaller than Israel. Though at least half of the Gauteng province is probably uninhabited and centralized in the multitude of major cities. And mentioning Israel, I fully agree with all of the complaints, arguments and the Apartheid Analogy directed against it. While also here I committed to religious conversion as well. Needless to say, it has further enforced my left-wing standing (Such as communism/socialism and technocracy).