Unequal strokes
THE social fibre of our communities in South Africa is in a dangerous stage of unraveling and I believe the mainstream media, social media and some community organisations and politicians are partly to blame for this unacceptable situation.
For example, the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is brought to our communities by biased and sometimes gravely propagandistic reporting and actions, pitting sections of the community against each other.
The uncontrolled outbursts on social media and undisciplined statements and rhetoric by some politicians and leaders in government contributes to stigmatising and demonising people in our communities. This has now reached a dangerous level. Freedom of expression enshrined in our constitution is threatened.
The Shashi Naidoo debacle is a case in point. After expressing her views on social media, she received death threats. It seems the Israel/Palestine conflict is used by anti-Israel proponents as a tool of division. If you do not support their narrative, you’re an outcast and a target for persecution. What happened to our rainbow nation?
The same happened to Dr Mpho Phalatse, MMC at the Johannesburg city council, when she reiterated her support for Israel at a Friends for Israel annual conference. The EFF and ANC threatened that they would not allow the budget to pass if Phalatse was not fired.
On Thursday June 21, a man screamed antiSemitic insults to Jewish passengers at OR Tambo International Airport. This happened in full view of tourists from other parts of the world.
If the goal was to seek justice and reconciliation that would be one thing. But that is not the case and some pertinent questions should be asked.
Why do these actors on the hate stage choose to ignore the status of women in the majority of Middle Eastern countries and public executions in Saudi Arabia? Why are they silent on the grave atrocities taking place in Iraq, Syria, Nigeria, Somalia and other countries where innocent people are being murdered just because they don’t practice the same religion as murderous gangs?
I find this very strange, to say the least. South Africa is a multicultural, multifaceted country consisting of various races, religions and creeds.
If we allow the current divisive actions to go unchecked, we will end up with a shattered country that none of us wants to see our children and grandchildren having to live in. — Willie Paterson, via e-mail