BE STUPID

BE STUPID


"Mohau, we've got something to tell you". Announces my 16year old sister together with her BFF and cousin Itumeleng.

"I don't have money nor do i want to drive you anywhere. So leave me alone". I prepare them (these two are full of schemes)

" oh puh-lease, we don't want your money". They lament in chorus both rolling their eyes.

"I'm listening" i chirp.

"Tumi and i are going to be famous" Reabetswe announces with a beaming smile.

"Really?..." I say flatly under the magazine I'm reading.

"Well, were going to have a reality show, because you see everyone thinks we've got such exciting lives and those that don't like us are only pretending not to like us, so we figure we might as well make money from this by putting together a reality show"

"And..." Tumi interjects "...from the reality show, we are going to have a clothing line under one label catering to different people that reflect our personal styles. Mine will be more boyish and colourful, Reabetswe will be all lady like"

I lift my eyes from the magazine to radiant beautiful young faces that are glowing from the prospects of this dream. I pull myself from the magazine because in my heart i know that if i don't respond accordingly to this "exciting" news, they ll never trust me with the most treasured possessions of their heart. Their dreams. My big sister rep is on the line here. Ive already lost my cool big sister factor, i cant afford to lose the trust too, so i master some excitement to give them my full attention.

In unison they sing "we know it sounds crazy but watch we'll make it happen"
Funny how we are ever ready to defend our dreams and i don't wanna be that person that they cant tell anything to because they feel rediculed.

"It doesn't sound crazy at all girls, its very attainable. Question is do you girls want it badly enough to fully pursue it" i get an aggressive nod.

"Ok so how do these things usually work" i think out aloud, thinking back to my advertising days. "Wed have to research the process in full but i think you have to pitch the idea to a production company first and if they dig the idea you ll go to the SABC to pitch the idea, its a very involved process".

"SABC?????????????....." they yell loudly, at this point their naturally big eyes are now the size of plums.

"well guys they are our national broadcaster and they do have the highest reach" i reason.

"Not going to happen" Reabetswe declines

"Imagine that, all SABC channels are WHACK, infact they are all pathetic, so not cool" Tumi sides with her partner

"Ok, i know you guys live in MTV land but youre in South Africa. How else do you figure you are going to get this show on air?" i enquire in complete astonishment, feeling like i missed some memo.

"We were thinking more along the lines of E Entertainment" Reabetswe informs me with smiling eyes

"oh does etv have an entertainment slot" i enquire ignorantly

"No man, as in E Entertainment? ...as in Ryan Searest??"

At this point all i want to do is burst out laughing...cause this must be a joke...but the serious looks on their faces tell me otherwise so all i manage out is a suspended "ooohhh..........." i held it for a good 7 seconds just so i get my composure back. "So how do you figure you gonna find Ryan" i ask drowning in confusion, Now im certain that ive missed some memo.

"Well you know, with Facebook, YouTube, Twitter....we'll find him" they say casually.

"That easy huh?" i say swallowing my laugh

"It ll happen, you ll see" Tumi affirms me, as if im a naysayer (or like they normally say, a hater)

"Sure, but i really think you guys shouldn't scrap out SABC" i plead

"We cant be seen on SABC, it ll ruin our reputation we'll never live that down" Tumi reiterates

"Well, we cant be seen on SABC 1 that's for sure. SABC 2?... I. Would. Die. SABC 3...well only before or after Top Billing. Anything outside of that wont work for us" Reabetswe continues

"Of course". i oblige. "As long as you guys will be the ones bearing this news to the SABC"

The arrogance of our dreams is something i cant claim to fully understand. To those that aren't sold to the dream it borders on bold stupidity. Sadly enough the older we get we lose that "stupid" element. We become cynics, critiques stuck in the pessimistic view we excuse as reality. No matter how bazaar, how far fetched your dreams are its imperitive to maintian a superior level of faith. Im a full believer of dreams. I believe in God, Love and Dreams. I would rather be stupid and believe in God than be a glorified intellect drowning in faithlessness. I would rather be stupid and believe in love than be smart yet hard hearted. I would rather believe in dreams than live in hopelessness. I have fallen jealously in love with a line from the new Diesel "Be Stupid" campaign.

SALUTE