Generations plight, our fight!

So, like most people, I have finally watched the much talked about “Generations Actors Guild Press Conference”. Of course I didn’t watch statements from all individuals, my data would have been in trouble and I still need it to stretch, you know. From what I watched though, my heart ached for those people, not because they are actors, but because they are fellow humans.

I have seen some comments about the conference from different people, who like me, are not in their shoes. To say I am disappointed is an understatement. Some people claim that these actors are drama queens, attention seekers and all that. Some say things are hard for everyone. So many different comments really. I understand that people have a right to their opinions, but when you look at it from the perspective of those actors being fellow humans, that is hard to take. Hard because I cannot believe we have become so heartless and have succumbed to accepting anything just because it is served on our plate.

I don’t see anything wrong with people demanding what they are worth, especially after trying to do it behind closed doors for a while. I am not in their industry, so I cannot fully understand how things are supposed to be for it to be called right. Having said that, I know how it feels to be mistreated and based on that, I stand with them. This is not because I am a fan of Generations or Generubbish as some have dubbed it. I watch from time to time because of the love of the craft some of these actors have perfected. I do however stand with them because an injury to one is an injury to all.

Some may say, these people don’t know you and they don’t even care about you, that may true and fine, but the pain that they feel is a pain that those I know including myself have felt before. From the cleaner to those holding big titles with no power in these big companies, my heart bleeds. This is happening on Generations, but do not be blind to think it doesn’t affect us all, because it does. Some have suffered in silence and some are identifying with these actors now, because they too have been shown the door when they complained (or when they try to) about the status quo. The bosses in some companies have even brainwashed their staff to believing that there is no life outside these companies. There are some who earn far less than what they are supposed to, and their drive is the possibility of a bonus at the end of the year, once a year. I could go on for days, for I have seen these things.

Come on people, you cannot be that naïve to think that this is a Generations fight. It affects a whole lot of other people from various fields. Well, you see, what Generations has done is to expose the cracks in our democracy. Supporting these actors is what we should do instead of bashing them because they have started the debate some may have never been able to start. This is a reality for so many people, so many, but they are fortunate because theirs peanuts and dirty linens are not exposed on national media, which allows them to maintain the “all is perfect” facades and to keep their dignity.

If you have been blessed with the highest level of naivety or your world has just been perfect, this means absolutely nothing to you. Of course if you have understood your worth and were put in a situation that undermined it everyday, you would know how keeping on took out of you each day. Either way it doesn’t matter, because I am not calling from your experience now, but from that place of Ubuntu. That place where another person’s pain wasn’t just theirs, but was something you could share in. I am calling to the backbone of humanity.

While this has been sparked by this incident, let’s take it further to our communities, to those incidents that call us to decide whether we are going to participate, to criticise or to turn a blind eye. All these events are constantly challenging us to check the strength of the humanities backbone. Every time we choose the easy and selfish way out, our bone is weakening.

I choose the narrow road, to stand for what is right and true no matter whom it means opposing on the day. I hope there are still men and women out there who will stand and be counted for the same.

For nice tweets it’s @AsandaSibobi/ @inlifespring