Driving Lessons

Today I failed my driving licence test for the fifth time.  That means, over five years, three driving instructors and two expired learner's licences, I accomplished the unspeakable task of being a professional failure.  Seriously, I should frame these failed test papers and hang them in my bathroom so that I will always remember that the crappiest time in my life was not in a bathroom.  Also, it will give my guests something to chuckle about while they deal with the tragedy of my poor cooking.

I wish I had a Rupert Grint coming-of-age moment, like he did in that movie Driving Lessons. Only, I do not have a Julie Walters figure to take me on a road trip and I am not seventeen and a half, so that moment should have happened already.  The good news is I do not feel entirely defeated.  Contrarily, I feel invincible, mostly because I did not succumb to the corruption condoned by South Africans.

Most drivers buy their licences, heck, my friends bought their licences.  And even though it is embarrassing to be an immobile twenty two year old, I still have my self-respect.  I realized, it is better to feel crappy about failing because that only lasts for ten minutes, but it is worse to feel crappy about passing for the wrong reasons, because that lasts forever.  (Knowing the person I am, guilt like that would eat away at me and destroy the quality of my life every time I use a vehicle).  

I do not want to sound like an embittered person passing judgment on the people who bought their driving licences, but those people have to know that their actions make it harder for other people to get their licences without buying them.  It is disgusting how acceptable it has become to bribe an examiner, and the only reason they keep accepting bribes is because citizens keep offering them bribes.  If everyone stopped offering bribes, soon enough examiners will stop expecting them.  The problem is not the system; it is the people running the system.  Citizens need to grow some moral backbone, you are not a criminal; you choose to be one. Citizens need to do the right thing, if that means you have to take a test nine times; then do it; because at least you are standing for something you believe in.

That is how I felt today; I declared my personal war against corruption.  I reasoned that I cannot point fingers at the President, if I myself engage in corruption.  Of course failing is terrible, you feel miserable and booking appointments is taxing on your wallet, but at least be a citizen that adds value to society instead of being one who takes value away from society.

After a while, you laugh about these things.  I joke about how I am practically part of my driving instructor's family, or how the cashiers at the traffic department all know my name because I am there so often.  I should get free family photos from the photographer because I have paid him so many times to take my picture.  

When I finally do get my driving licence, I will be able to talk about it freely, and glorify God in it, because God is righteous and things like bribery do not glorify God.  

Citizens who did not buy their driving licences are awesome human beings.  Citizens who do the right thing are the good men and women who prevent evil from triumphing.  Their actions are valuable and their victories are true.   They make this country better.  They are invincible.