Examine your heroes

THE extensive coverage of Michael Lucas’s recent reburial in Oudtshoorn in the Cape Times, November 6, was of concern. Not only was there a front page article by Dominic Adriaanse, but an op-ed by Michael Donen, SC.

I understand that Michael Lucas, who was hanged in 1988 for the murder of William Blaauw, a bus inspector, is seen by many as a heroic freedom fighter who gave his life for the Struggle.

However, it can also be argued that Lucas was a thug who cold-bloodedly shot a defenceless man who was trying to keep an essential public service operating in a time of civil unrest. Lucas’s heroism was certainly not in the deed… he had the benefit of numbers and Inspector Blaauw was seemingly unarmed.

Glossing over Blaauw’s murder as unfortunate collateral damage in a “just war” was insensitive as he too had a family who were traumatised just as much as Lucas’s family clearly was.

At a time when murder is rampant in our country and historical divisions are being exploited for crude populism, publications like the Cape Times, with its revered history of liberalism, must treat such stories in a way that unites rather than divides.

Many dreadful deeds have been done in the name of freedom and democracy.

Making heroes out of murderers risks the danger of encouraging today’s disaffected youth to go out and do likewise.

James Cunningham

Camps Bay