February has been declared Race Free Month and every day in February we at MyPE will be combating the subtle racist nuances that hamper our thinking, cloud our judgement, restrict our development and increase the tension in South Africa.
Writing in the Daily Maverick, South Africa’s Minister of Communications, Faith Muthambi says; “As the custodian department for communication platforms in the country, our conviction has become stronger that we have done the correct thing by tabling an amendment to the Films & Publications Act of 1996 which, among other things, will compel all online content distributors, to ensure that their content is not offensive or in violation of the country’s laws.”
Full opinion piece here: Regulating offensive comments online, defeating the scourge of racism.
The good minister is admirably recognising that we do have a problem that seems to be getting bigger and not diminishing but, I have a problem in the instrument being used to combat the problem – more laws and more big sticks that take the onus of voluntary good citizenship away from the citizens of South Africa. With more laws we are saying; “Don’t worry about wrongdoing in South Africa – we have a law that takes care of that!” Then the law will be tested and if the initial testing fails it will be left to the next generation to deal with it. How many laws have been repealed lately?
An example – my son attended a well known school in Port Elizabeth and brought a general letter home that required my signature. This letter asked for his parents to give permission for the school to search his locker and person. It transpires that the concern was about a looming drug problem and the school intended asking the SAPS to bring dogs onto the grounds. Did I sign the circular? NO! Reason: The Longhair and I were sufficiently involved and active in our responsibilities as parents to realise that giving the school ‘permission’ was an abdication of our responsibilities as the moral guiding hands in our son’s life. In short – if the school had a concern with our son we were willing and open enough to discuss it, support the school (or our son based on our honest findings) and take action to fix the concern. I personally have to resist measuring people within my immediate family according to a higher code than people outside of our immediate family.
“Policy makers globally are grappling with how to regulate online content to ensure that users don’t compromise national security, facilitate illegal activities or cause indignity to others through the distribution of hate speech or offensive materials, while balancing freedom of expression,” continues the honourable minister.
Again – it is right and proper that ‘policy makers’ focus on finding solutions but I fear for the method.
The right and proper thing to happen is for the good person to do something – a problem that has been recognised since the days of Plato. The actual words that are often quoted as being uttered are; “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” ~ mostly attributed to Edmund Burke (January 12, 1729 – July 9, 1797) an Irish political philosopher who is often regarded as the father of modern conservatism. Wikiquote disputes the origin, though.
As a country we should be focusing on how we can enable good citizens to vigorously protect each others rights. As South Africans we rally around triumph and excellence and recognise good. The release of Nelson Mandela, our first democratic elections, the first Rugby World Cup victory, the African Cup of Nations victory, hosting the World Cup are all examples of how we moved closer together in celebration of our country and the excellence produced by fellow citizens.
Is it possible that we could lead our citizens away from evil and divisive language?
Do we need to focus on a different kind of teaching?
Is a return to religion and the tolerance taught the way to go?
How do we teach our citizens to be sufficiently involved and active in our responsibilities to ensure that we put South Africa and her excellence first without abdicating our responsibilities to the greater good?
Sign the Pledge to go Race Free.
Related: February 2016 Race Free Month Articles
Alan Straton
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