Hate speech is inexcusable
THE racist voice note of Belinda Magor must never be tolerated in any democratic society.
The disgusting morbid nature of these remarks is inexcusable. Hate speech poses a grave danger to the cohesion of a democratic society, the protection of human rights and the rule of law. It is a menace to democratic values, social stability and peace.
Racist hate speech incites violence and intolerance. The devastating effect of hatred is sadly nothing new. However, its scale and impact are now amplified by new communication technologies.
The use of social media and digital platforms to propagate hatred must be investigated. We cannot let the spread of hate speech continue. We cannot let people celebrate hatred and racism under the banner of free speech.
Social media sites have become hubs for the proliferation of racist propaganda. Various forms of hate speech are dangerous because of their potential to legitimise intolerance.
When this deadly pattern of behaviour is allowed to proliferate, it contributes to the creation of norms, hatred and intolerance become acceptable in society. In the digital world the potential for hate speech to incite violence is heightened due to the rapidity with which it can spread and the lack of accountability due to the means to post anonymously.
Our rainbow nation faces a barrage of racist comments virtually every week, from almost every segment of society; social media magnifies that ugly discord. Public discourse is being weaponised for political gain with incendiary crude rhetoric that debases and dehumanises people on the basis of colour, religion and ethnicity.
Maya Angelou offered these profound words: “Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible.” In our society, prejudice and racism are the products of ignorance and arrogance. Victims of racist abuse are treated as subhuman and accompanied by animalistic language.
Our democracy was born out of the ashes of hurtful racist ideology, let us be careful with our vocabulary when we voice our opinions.
No nation on Earth has suffered as much as we have under the yoke of racial supremacy. Any form of racist comment must be expunged from our vocabulary. Any form of hatred against any person is an affront to all of humanity. Let us desist from such atrocious behaviour.
FAROUK ARAIE |