Lockdown in South Africa – Day 51. Stream of Consciousness Saturday.

I did want to go for my morning walk.   It is a gorgeous day today so there was no excuse. But for some reason, I could not raise myself early enough.  That’s what I hate about this limited time slot we have in which to exercise outdoors!  Roll on Level 3 when there should be no restriction regarding when to go outside!

Today I am participating in Stream of Consciousness Saturday from Linda G Hill  The Prompt word is ‘want’.  It must be used in the first, second or third word of the post.

A want is not a need.   There are things that we want and there are things that we need.  We need air, food and water to survive.  We need love, exercise, occupation, money and other things to improve the quality and usefulness of our lives.  Things that we want can either be good or bad.  We want things that we need and we want things that we don’t really need.  Some things we want are good for us while others are not!

In South Africa right now there are a large number of people who want to buy cigarettes but cannot do so legally.  These people’s rights to choose have been violated.  Some are satisfying their want by obtaining tobacco products on the black market.  Others who want these products cannot afford the extremely high price so are depriving themselves of their fix.  It is one thing to do without a want when you choose to give it up of your own fee will but when it is forced upon you it is something completely different.  I can only imagine the feeling of deprivation and frustration.   Some, of course, will embrace it as a chance to make a permanent change while others will be frustrated, angry and difficult to live with.   In some cases the withdrawal could have a devastating effect upon them.   Is it even safe to go cold turkey on cigarettes?

I want to be able to buy alcohol.   If the restriction on the sale of such products goes on much longer I will be forced to tea-total as my supplies are running low.  Not having a drink is not a huge problem for me.  I limit my intake at the best of times.  But that is not to say that I don’t enjoy a gin and tonic from time to time and I certainly like a glass of white wine with my evening meal.   I don’t need that drink.  I have it because I enjoy it and what’s the point of life if you can’t indulge yourself is a little treat every now and then!   Once again I feel that the government has no right to deprive its citizens of choice!   Opening up the sale of alcohol and tobacco products will also be good for the economy.  Why put more pressure on it than is necessary?

 

Sometimes we need something that we don’t want.  We don’t want to be on lockdown but we need to in order to “flatten the curve”.  In South Africa our first few weeks of Lockdown were necessary.  Many experts feel that those weeks have bought us time.   Things are in place to deal with the pandemic.  Lockdown is not going to stop the spread but it is going to criple the country if it goes on for much longer.   We need to move forward by following the right protocols – washing hands, wearing masks, social distancing but we also need to go back to school and work!  We need to and we want to save the country’s economy.

Hopefully, our leaders will see sense and end the strict lockdown regulations very soon!