I want to thank Oscar Pistorius. NOT for what he did that horrific night, but for the indirect gifts hes given the world.
He reminded us that sports heroes are just that - sports heroes. Just ordinary men with a specific, special talent, nothing more, nothing less.
He reminded us how dangerous it is to put such sports heroes on a pedestal.
He reminded us to question WHO we idolize - and why.
He reminded us that there are far more genuine, far more deserving, mostly unsung heroes all across the globe.
He reminded us that violence against women is not only a virulent plague in SA but across the world.
He reminded us that domestic violence cuts across ALL class, wealth, gender and race lines.
He reminded us to look beyond our backyards to explore how the rest of the world works.
He reminded us that not even money can save you from yourself.
He reminded us that credibility and honesty are everything - without them, reputation vaporizes.
He reminded us how fleeting fame and fortune can be - a seductive, nasty mirage hiding reality.
He reminded us that good character is core to everything else.
He reminded us that mental illness comes in many, often subtle guises*.
He reminded us to seriously look beyond all the illusory, toxic 21st century hype and gloss.
He reminded us to not ignore behavioral warning signs of brewing trouble, potential mental disorders, of impending crisis.
He reminded us that a mans actions and history (and Whatsapp messages) tell us exactly who he is.
He reminded us that he worshiped power and material success above all ... and society worshiped Oscar.
He reminded us that heroes are simply a societal reflection of ourselves.
He reminded us that families and society can unwittingly create monsters - by lack of discipline and holding up certain narrow values as the ideal, to the exclusion of all else (this automatically creates an unbalanced human being).
He reminded us to stop and take a long look at what our most cherished values and beliefs are - to carefully consider who we next declare a hero.
This case breaks my heart for many reasons. Its a perfect microcosm of the very worst and very best in humanity; it illustrates the profound fragility of human life, how fast it can ALL disappear, that status and money mean less than nothing without the most valuable thing of all - love.
Oscar had it ALL except love in his heart. Balanced, kind, generous people with love in their hearts (for self and others) do not commit cold-blooded murder. Yes, Oscar had an athletes iron physical and mental discipline - but he never had any other real discipline (yes, I believe his family subtly gave him favored treatment, poor brave Oscar - they never stopped him with any boundaries). His mind set, personality, ego and entitlement issues did not happen overnight.
In the end, his family has failed him from his earliest days, by not holding him to account for past misdeeds, by giving him pass after pass, forever excusing and protecting him. They have literally allowed him to get away with murder.
Tell me who/what you worship and I will tell you who you are.
* Yes, I believe the Westkoppies docs seriously, inexplicably got it wrong; theres something profoundly unhinged with OP. Normal people dont kill their loved ones and then go party. If allowed to walk free, he WILL commit violence again. Why wouldnt he? No consequences guarantee it.