Order. Order.

Order. It seems like an innocuous word, but it’s a double-edged sword. Order is good and we appreciate it the most, when things we take for granted go offline, literally.

1. During the summer, City Hall upgrades roads, water pipes and electricity grids. No order as two lanes are reduced to one.

2. There’s an accident on Main and Mitchell. Cops and ambulances are on the scene. No order, as traffic is diverted.

3. The local team won the Grey Cup for the first time ever. No order as roads are closed for the parade.

4. Order also involves driving on the right or the left hand side, depending on which country you’re in. No order as tourists drive rented cars on the wrong side.

However, order has an ugly side because we use it to perpetuate a status quo. It is verbal. This is how we do things around here. I will not tolerate this in my house. The government must stop all these immigrants from coming to Canada and the U.S. This is not how our women behave.

Some women live with ‘order’ for the sake of the kids. Most don’t have a place to go because they’ve never had their own money. In most cases culture and tradition dictates that they stay put. They get used to the order and say: Sally, it’s not that bad, really.

‘Order’ at home is joined at the hip with public order. While order at home is reinforced by threats, insults, kicks, slaps and fists, guns reinforce public order.

Shipping and Receiving is a common sign in factories and other businesses. In the case of ‘public order’ those that ship ‘public order’ feel they have an inalienable right to display guns and pull the trigger.

Recipients die on the streets and families cringe whenever they hear the word ‘order.’

Nonqaba waka Msimang

Blogger Without Borders