It turns out that one of the #FeesMustFall leaders, Mcebo Dlamini, university fees are being paid by the Gauteng government.
And, not so long ago, Ntokozo Qwabe, a leader of #RhodesMustFall campaign fought to remove a statue of the 19th Century imperialist from Oriel College in England. This, whilst he was a recipient of a Rhodes scholarship himself.
The irony is that they both benefited from the largesse of the Gauteng government and the Rhodes estate, respectively, and yet were their most violent critics. A classic case of biting the hand that feeds you.
Hand biting has probably been going on since we became conscious – Judas and Brutus being the uncontested champions in this sphere.
Much to my shame, I certainly can’t stand in judgement of Messrs Dlamini, Qwabe, Judas and Brutus since I’ve bitten one or two hands on this journey too.
So, why do we turn against those that have shown benevolence to us and given us a hand up? I have some thoughts on this, but no definitive answers:
- Sons bite their parents’ hand because they need to break away and become their own man. As we all know, an acorn that falls too near to the tree will rot. So, cutting the apron strings and going on a journey of manhood is the natural order of things.
- Some do it because it is politically expedient and benefits them. Take a bow, Brutus, President Zuma and EFF Commander in Chief, Julius Malema.
- Some do it for the money. The poster child for this is, of course, Judas Iscariot. I’m sure each of us knows at least one person who chose gold over conscience.
- Some do it for career advancement.
- Some do it to right a wrong. How many kings and presidents have been toppled in the name of “conscience”? Of course, the irony is not lost on us – the toppler becomes the the wrong he or she tried to right. And he or she gets toppled in turn. And, the cycle never stops.
- Or, maybe it just that when we are given stuff by others we feel indebted to them and this is not a great feeling. It kinda makes one feel weak and not powerful.
I suppose there are two themes that play out in hand biting – self interest and gratitude.
As human beings most of us are interested in serving the self. We have little room for serving others. We are selfish.
Of course, if we took a moment to pause, we’d realise that a bit of gratitude would be in order. The very people we’ve stepped on, sidelined and bitten are often the ones who’ve given us a hand up so that we get to be where we are today.
I’m sure the natural order of things was never meant to be that we repay kindness with cruelty. I think the natural order of things is that we are here to be of service to one another and not to ourselves. And, the only payment that’s required from us is that of gratitude that we get to stand on the shoulders of giants so that we can see further.
Comments
2 responses to “Why We Bite the Hand that Feeds Us”
Perhaps the one who got “fed” felt he was in a great position to stand up for those who are forgotten. There’s a Sesotho saying that roughly translates into “A mouth that eats is insulting the ones that are not”
The way they are going about it may not be the best (destructive and regressive even), but I am of the opinion that what the students are fighting for (or some version of it) is very much attainable.
One way to look at it is… They are biting the hand that feeds them and are hence ungrateful, another way is… They are brave enough to demand the “impossible” though the way they are going about it is grossly misappropriating the attention they have generated, another way is….Those barbaric, uncultured radicals… And countless other takes on the matter.
The wonderful thing about what they are doing is that it is opening up discussions, and if we engage fruitfully, amazing resolutions are in store for us all.
In my opinion:
there is nothing wrong in butting up against convention that opens lines of communication and introduces new thoughts and change;
biting the hand that feeds you is, de facto, abhorrent; but,
calling for free education is not, in my opinion, biting the hand that feeds you. It is seeking delivery from the hand that feeds you of a promise that was made by the head of the hand that feeds you.
There is a responsibility both on the feeder and the fed.
The Sotho saying has resonance.
There is a lot for all to learn.