Change is inevitable. People change. Places Change. What’s sad is when things change from old and authentic to fake and superficial.
For me the old parts of the city of cape town that had always been rich in history is changing but not for the better. Everything looks like a fusion of old with splattering of new-age chrome and plastic, all aimed at appealling a certain crowd. You know what crowd I’m talking about, young people in their mid 20’s to mid 30’s who are still hedonistically going through life with no cares about tomorrow, or the plight of their fellow man. Double incomes with no kids. And in some cases, particularly in the case of a place like The Cape Quarter, it goes even further to attract a really more specific crowd, ie. rich couples with money to burn.
But the rich history and culture of the city and it’s people are being thrown to the wayside in favour of these consumers who don’t live in the real world. It brings to light the stark contrasts of the country we live in. That with the space of 10 km, you can find multi-million dollar palatial residences right alongside communities of people living below the breadline.
What are your views on places like these in your city?
I have major issues with the whole Consumerist generation. I truely believe that Consummerism is the reason the world is so F@#$ed up. There’s no quality anymore, just quantity. Whats worse is this push for materialism…and the result is that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
Change is not always good.
Maybe I’m way off here and I also don’t want to sound awfully spiritual or religious or whatever but… perhaps these folk you refer to, who are carrying on through life hedonistically aren’t innately bad people and do their share of good deeds… and places like that bring them enjoyment is possibly just them getting their earthly rewards instead of in the hereafter.
I agree with Azra. Although I really do think some people genuinely believe they can buy themselves happiness. Perhaps too, if your life is unfulfilled, lack of faith, or even a weak faith you can turn to the world and it’s shiny charms.
Nielfa – I’m sure that folk generally aren’t bad or evil, I’m sure everybody deserves nice things, but what about social responsibility? Neighbours rights and all that?
there seems to be a thirst to reclaim authentic spaces but then we need to question the validity of these claims… whose to say what is and what isnt, because the evidence suggests that all might not be on the same page about the definitions here… so the yuppies will continue to grate on your nerves is what im saying 😛
on a more serious note, one of the imminent problems coming up from the prep towards 2010 is that the historic Warwick Junction early morning market in Durban is being uprooted, and informal traders being flushed out of the area to make way for a multi-million dollar shopping mall project…
other such events will creep into city spaces over the next few months, and what exactly will we do about it??
yup agree cant stereotype all us kids 😛
hmmm i miss out on a lot of the heritage of my city because the crime confines us to certain contrived spaces 😦
I agree with all the haters – let’s stop all development of new enterprises, especially those that that threaten our old & derelict past. In fact why stop there. Let’s throw down the old and the derelict nostalgia and restore it to it’s original prestine unspoilt sand & bush that was there before the settlers arrived.
Unfortunately our nostalgia has been built on the ruins of anothers. The circle of life & all that.
And the owners of the multi-million dollar palaces? Whether out of the goodness of their heart or as a tax break, they do give, even if we may not see it. And the more dollars they earn the more the there to aid the plight of their fellow man. Do they not need labourers to build there palaces?
So let them earn and consume and let the world be better for it.
Don’t judge less ye be judged.