Hon Speaker, with all that has been on our minds in this busy year, we'll probably go into our oversight and constituency periods, and eventually our recess for the Christmas holiday, with thoughts of our President vying for top spot! How Christmassy does that sound?
Jerome K Jerome once said:
It is always the best policy to speak the truth, unless, of course, you are an exceptionally good liar.
Now, I think that our President would disagree. I imagine that he would say that it is simply not a lie if you believe it!
To be fair, however, I must say I have been determined to cut this controversial figure a huge amount of slack, mostly because he has tried to cut others a lot of slack, and, by comparison with the Mbeki denial era, we have experienced freedom across this House to do the oversight that we are meant to do, with real solutions in mind. I won't lie - this has impressed me.
Perhaps our President, like the renowned Mark Twain once said, just has -
too much respect for the truth to drag it out on every trifling occasion.
Oh, come on! That was funny! [Laughter.]
Of course, all of us in this House, like it or not, are expected to lie, not because of President Zuma, but because of our career choice. Winston Churchill explained it like this:
Once in a while you will stumble upon the truth but most of us manage to pick ourselves up and hurry along as if nothing had happened.
I know that we think we are different, but the people of South Africa? Not so much!
Our President is like a super optimist. Optimists see the light at the end of the tunnel. He sees the light, but he swears blind that there is no tunnel. The DA and Cope's reaction is to call for the light at the end of the tunnel to be turned off until further notice, due to, well, you know they have their reasons. [Laughter.] Actually, I think our President is a man of great principle. But what those principles are, mostly it's hard to tell. Being an optimist myself, I'm keen to see and stay a little longer. Weighing up the pros and cons, it may just turn out to be, well, let's not be too crazy and say "a good thing", but certainly better than what we have had. And we have no idea what is to come - anything could happen!
I guess "comedian" is not going to be on my rsum at any time soon! So, maybe we should change the subject. Having said those words, "change the subject", guess what comes to mind. No, it's not the ANC but social media. Have you noticed how people just throw out any random thought? Like many philosophers, they give helpful advice to people who are way happier than they are. Now that makes me think of Voltaire when he said, and this is very good:
When he who hears doesn't know what he who speaks means, and when he who speaks doesn't know what he himself means, that is philosophy.
So do you think maybe our President is a philosopher? I'm just saying. [Laughter.]
Actually, to my surprise I've been challenged, encouraged and inspired by many amazing people through social media and have decided to leave you with the words of one of these Facebook scribes, and I think our President would be impressed:
The same sun that melts wax hardens clay.
Think about it. And thank you, Biggy Moruti, for this wisdom.
My colleagues and I in the ACDP would like to wish you all, and the staff of Parliament, a happy Christmas, safe travelling and a wonderful time with family and friends. We pray that we will all experience God's love, His joy and His peace, not only as this year draws to a close and the new year begins, but always. I thank you. [Applause.]