The Forum > General Discussion > G'day, how you going?
G'day, how you going?
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I was sitting on a bench in front of the supermarket when the security guy was walking passed and smiled at me, his brilliant white teeth a stark contrast to his ebony skin.
"G'day", I said. He cautiously approached and said hello.
If you have never listened to another talk, I mean listened, with an open mind and heart, then you will never be as lucky as I was tonight.
In the 15-20 short minutes I heard of a young African boy who had for as long as could remember, had been minding cattle, guarding them from hungry lions. Not only had he never been to school, but the language of his people had no word for it.
Knowledge was disseminated from parent to child, brother to brother, elders to youngsters. Laws were not written but ingrained into their culture, their tribes and there families.
Honor was so important that death was preferable to dishonor.
I heard of wars and crime and how this young African had to flee, how he had to leave his family behind.
I heard of life in refugee camps, of the moving, mixing of cultures, tribes and races. I heard how this your African cattle herder, now 13 years old, attended a school within the refugee camp.
I heard how during his years in the refugee system he met a young woman, they fell in love and married.
I heard that how after a succession of processes and countries this young African cattle herder came to stand guard at Coles in Mt Druitt.
I suppose he is still today watching over the cattle as they amble past him to feed, still standing guard from the predators.
What a pity more of us don't reach out and say: G'day, how you goin, maybe it would be a better planet if we do.