Although I am possibly one of the most undisciplined followers of routine I know, the one, almost religious habit I do have is my morning click-through to News24. I do this to stay in touch with the happenings of the world and ensure I can hold semi-intellectual conversations when asked ‘did you hear about…’ But on contemplation of this fact, I have started to wonder if this is perhaps more a form of self torture than an investment in knowledge.

Take today’s news as an example; headline ‘Faulty switch started car fire’ the sad, sad story about the cause of the fire that brought the life of a 2 year old to a premature end, ‘Trouser women sent to jail’, an article telling how in 2009 a woman is being jailed for wearing trousers! How unbelievably archaic and frightening! ‘Fighting displaces 1.55m’ the UN refugee agency says that the total number of displaced Somalis in Mogadishu is now 1.55 million. And juxtapositioned alongside our daily dose of news is the flashing wallpaper message of ‘Spin to win R1000000!” and ads for ‘Flirtaroo’ and ‘Love to meet’. What a strange species we are.

Don’t get me wrong, I value the online media and the immediate access to information it provides, but why do I choose to start my day with an intake of negative and often depressing facts that I have little power to do anything about. Perhaps ignorance is bliss and living in a fool’s paradise is not so bad.

This brings to mind the pair of Egyptian Geese who live on the central island of Blaauwberg Rd. I see this pair of beautiful birds almost every morning and evening when travelling between home and Power of 9. There they sit, tucked between racing cars and their exhaust fumes and noise. Their’s certainly seems to be a fool’s paradise. Egyptian Geese pair for life and are extremely territorial and this pair of painted birds has chosen the company of swerving, hooting taxies, the regular gridlock of traffic jams and rushing pedestrians as company, despite the fact that within a minute’s flying time they could stay in the Rietvlei conservation area and enjoy the company of other feathered friends, tranquil water and peace and quiet.

I cannot say whether they dine out at Rietvlei or whether they never leave their tableful of seeds and insects on ‘Blaauwberg Central Island’, but what I can say is that I am amazed by their choice. What a strange species they are.

So what does this pair of Egyptian Geese have to do with my news addiction? They remind me that I would rather be painfully aware of the world out there with all its bad news than sit uncomfortably in an invisible jail of ignorance. Because I do find the odd feel-good story that proves we do have the power to do something about that which we don’t like, agree with or accept; even if it’s only by talking about it.

Catherine Herbst - Managing director

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