Harry off his leash!

My parents have an adorable dog, Harry. He gets very excitable when there is a sudden influx of people around and has to be tied to a leash until he gets used to the crowd. When he is taken off the leash he just looses himself – he rolls on the ground, prances about the place and just goes crazy in celebration of his freedom. I think that is my definition of happiness – Harry off his leash because I have never seen any creature so joyous! I feel like Harry off his leash at the World Pulse platform.

I have practiced as a broadcasting journalist and I remember getting very upset when, after writing a script for a programme, the editor would change everything to the extent that when the programme was aired on TV, I could hardly see my signature on it. Sometimes I would cry seeing a programme riddled with propaganda with my name accredited to it. My friends and relatives would call and ask, “Is that really how you think?” and I would have to cover my face and feel ashamed. Sometimes I would actually write propaganda pieces, because I was under instruction to do so. After producing a programme, I would hardly watch it when it was on air as I did not identify myself with it. Now I have a chance to write exactly what I want without having to toe the party line and fearing a rap on the knuckles and to me that is like having a leash taken off me. I am dealing with people who want to know the uncensored truth going on in the world and I do not cover my face in shame when I see my piece on line and people getting back to me asking “Is that really how you think?” This time around, this is exactly how I think!

I want to be a part of VOF because every donkey wants to hear itself bray, right? I want to ‘hear’ my voice resonate with those of other women all over the world. When I was at the television station I was using other people’s voices but this is now my time.

My friends can happily rest, they were tired of hearing me ‘threaten’ to publish my own magazine so that I could address all issues that I do not see sufficiently covered in the media. I have found an outlet for all the stories that were buzzing in my head, waiting for that elusive magazine I yearned to publish one day.

I have always loved writing and as a student, my English teacher always encouraged me to become a writer. It is not easy to get published in my corner of the world. Now I can proudly tell that teacher that I am a writer now, have people all over the world reading my articles, the publisher just fell on my lap so I did not have to lick any boots to get published!