1. One thing that bothers me is the group of emigrating South Africans who complain about how awful things are here in South Africa. I don’t have a problem with immigration – I myself immigrated. And South Africa has it’s challenges, as does every nation. But one would hope the criticism – whether deserved or not – would lead to action. I believe it was Abraham Lincoln who said, “He has the right to criticise, who has the heart to help.”

2. From my perspective, South African are more optimistic than Americans. Definitely more resilient, and more joyful (I realise this is just my opinion, and I am making sweeping generalisations). And forgive me for saying this – I mean no disrespect – but most Americans (in recent generations) have had it too easy and therefore find it all to easy to complain over small issues.

Perhaps the bottom line is that we could learn from each other. Every country is great at something.

Unfortunately I see the criticism from white south africans typically involve an “us vs them” mentality, non-commital passivity thrown together with predictions of a future zimbabwe. A kind of pessimism that tends to end up in emigration, and it is becoming very fashionable.