Stand up and say ‘Not in my name’

RELIGION, race, gender, ethnicity, nationality and even sport and political backing are commonly used to paint individuals with the same brush.

We frequently see the sins of one crooked politician used as a smear campaign against the whole party.

Belonging to a specific ethnic group is often associated with certain negative traits, mostly because of isolated incidents that develop into an assumption of distrust.

Race receives the broad-brush treatment most often, with people flying off the handle left right and centre, and more often than not ending up in hot water.

There is only one way to limit this bigotry and intolerance, and that is by denouncing such behaviour by saying, “Not in my name!”

When a little Muslim girl was raped and murdered in India by a group of savages who happened to be Hindu, the first people to stand up and say “Not in my name” should have been Indian Hindu men .

When hooligans invaded the soccer pitch at Moses Mabhida stadium and vandalised property and injured innocent people, Amakhosi fans should have been the first to condemn this incident and say, “Not in my name”.

When a person who is the same race as I am goes on a racist rant or commits a crime, then I must be the first to stand up and say, “Not in my name”.

When terrorists and governments use religion to kill innocent people and spread hate, then it’s up to true followers of that faith to stand up and say, “Not in my name”.

In my opinion, this is the only way to work towards a society that shares common values and it is fundamental for social cohesion. Don’t ever feel obliged to defend an offender just because you are of the same race, religion or any other shared affiliation.

RIKESH ISHWARLALL Pietermaritzburg