When I started working in newspapers long ago (okay, we didn’t use goose feathers to write our stories, but one of the typewriters was allegedly used by Rudyard Kipling) every new reporter was issued with a book of instructions.
I remember one piece of advice that said something like: “To Bloemfontein readers the fall of a wall in Maitland Street is more important than the fall of the dollar in Wall Street.”
Over the years I have read hundreds of apparently trivial headlines that were nevertheless important to the people who read them. I recall a story in the Eastern Province Herald years ago, which said: “Members of the Methodist Church in Nanaga are concerned about the starlings that roost on the roof of their church and make a considerable noise during the sermons. A committee has been appointed to investigate ways of dealing with the nuisance.”
Right here in my hometown of Fish Hoek this week, our local free newspaper carried a front page lead story that said residents were unhappy about the untidy brick paving on the new pedestrian crossing in our main road.
Not only is Cape Town the murder capital of South Africa, and Hurricane Florence is causing people in North Carolina to flee their homes, but now we have untidy brick paving to deal with as well. Maybe it’s important to be reminded that life goes on, and for most of us life happens in our own neighbourhood. If we try carry the woes of the world on our shoulders, we will most surely go mad. Trivial headlines may be nature’s way of saving our sanity.
We know there are civil wars happening and desperate families are fleeing from genocidal attacks, but it doesn’t help to stand and weep for them. My late father was a wise man who saw life in a practical perspective. “There’s nothing I can do about the foolishness of politicians or the cruelty of criminals, or tragedies in other countries,” he used to say, “but I have been given a family and my farm staff and my neighbours to care for, and if I can make their lives a little happier, I think I will have done my best.”
Maybe if we all did that the whole world would be a little happier.
Last Laugh
The husband was in a gloomy mood. “Darling, if I die will you marry again?” “Yes, I probably would.” “Would you allow another man to move into this house.” “I suppose so, yes.” “And sleep in our bed?” “I guess so.” “And use my golf clubs?” “No, definitely not!” “Why not?” “He’s left-handed.”
* "Tavern of the Seas" is a daily column written in the Cape Argus by David Biggs. Biggs can be contacted at [email protected]
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.