Racism in South African Universitie's is a problem that has recently drawn a lot of media attention. In August, during inter-varsity, on my very own university campus (Rhodes), a student allegedly shouted out the derogatory term, nigger, at Prof Fakson Banda and his family whilst they where driving by in their car. In another case, at the University of the Free State, 4 students made a video of a group of black workers being instructed to drink beer, dance and play rugby, and also eat food that was allegedly urinated on.
It is sad that years after apartheid we are still dealing with discrimination amoungst our people based purly on the colour of one's skin. I think it is unacceptable and childish. Racism should be treated with zero tolerance. We all have the same needs and wants such as: shelter, food, love and acceptance. For one race to think and act like they are superior to another is ridiculous.
Sadly, incidenes like these are not only limited to universities, they are prevalent around the world. How long will we let such shallow assumptions and stereotypes rule us? I think that we should all learn from the mistakes of our forefathers and strive for a future were everyone is equal and free of the poison, racism, that is dividing our nations.
Related topics:
http://www.grocotts.co.za/content/racism-still-haunts-rhodes-28-08-2009
http://www.sabcnews.com/portal/site/SABCNews/menuitem.5c4f8fe7ee929f602ea12ea1674daeb9/?vgnextoid=966024152c064210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=default
Monday, October 26, 2009
Are You in Control, or Does Racism Control You
Age of Ambivalence
Danielle Bowler .
In a society where poverty is ever present and experiences of it are had it is not the state of the world which we should blame but look inwards at ourselves. This thought was triggered by the book I am currently reading called 'the bang bang club' by Greg Marinovich and Joao Silva. This book is a commentary on award wining photographs taken by the authors and their peers and highlights the post 1990 violence in South Afica whos memory has been lost in the 21st century (Photos viewed at http://www.joaosilva.co.za/ ).The dominant theme throughout this book is the indiffernce of the majority of white South Africans continued their lives in ambivalence of the mass organised violence. Following this trail of thought process I realized my generations ambivalence to the poverty of the majority of South Africans which , to an extent, has been caused by apartheid. As young journalists we need to engage with the needy support the poor and uplift the impoverished. To step out of the bubles of comfort in which we live and confront the poverty. Every world citizen encounters such povert but by wriding ourselves of this ambivilence and apathy we will find a solution and learn from the likes of Marinovich and Silva.
In the interests of reconciliation...
By Michael Moodie g09m2875
Looking back several years, I remember feeling the same sense of disgust and revulsion as I do now at what was done to the workers at the University of the Free State. I remember peering at the newspaper, seeing the humiliation to which the workers were subjected, and feeling sick to pit of my stomach.
Now, as back then, that feeling has returned although for an entirely different reason altogether. "In a gesture of racial reconciliation and the need for healing," said the new Vice Chancellor to the university, "the disciplinary charges against the four accused students will be dropped." As I read these words, I felt the sick in my stomach slowly begin to boil. When these four Afrikaans students decided to humiliate and demean the black workers in the way that they did, they spat in the face of reconciliation. Why is it that it should be reconciliation that saves them from punishment? What they did was unforgivable and they should suffer the consequences for it.
There is a time and a place for forgiveness, healing and reconciliation, but this is not it. South Africa has become too concerned with race relations to see that the actual crime committed here is a crime against our fellow man. Ignore race and ignore colour and see the bare fact here is that no human being should be treated in this way.
Once again Jonathan Shapiro has got it dead right. His latest cartoon in the Mail&Guardian says all that I have just said using no words at all:
Monday, October 19, 2009
A Cry to Save the World
How much longer will we turn a blind eye on the crisis destroying our world? Planet Earth houses us, feeds us, and keeps us alive, in return we poison it. Recent reports have been challenging us to pay more attention to this global crisis, and I agree. When we burn fossil fuels, greenhouse gasses are released into the atmosphere, which adds to the crisis of global warming.
Greenpeace has done recent studies proving that South Africa alone can reduce its annual greenhouse gas emissions by more than 200 million tons by 2050 without hindering the economic growth of the country. This can be done by making use of more solar and wind powered appliances. Also we can start being more conscious of our electricity usage and make sure we use it more efficiently.
Also making headlines is a song titled Beds'r Burning, featuring 55 famous celebrities. The song is mainly directed at world leaders, and focuses on raising awareness on the issue of global warming in order to bring them together and come up with a plan on how they can reduce the issue of global warming .This idea came from the Geneva-based Global Humanitarian Forum and was released on October the 1st in Paris.
I think with all this awareness being raised about global warming, the eye’s of the world could be opened before it is too late. It is up to us to decide if we are going to help play a part in reducing the amount of exerted greenhouse gasses or add to the detriment of our planet Earth.
Sources and related news articles:
http://www.climateark.org/globalwarmingcrisis/
http://www.health24.com/news/Enviro_Health_/1-1308,52912.asp
http://www.globalwarmingheartland.org/
http://www.news24.com/Content/Entertainment/International/1044/9902c259e9ff4476ae6743aff69db655/15-09-2009-11-56/55_celebs_for_climate_change
Something is seriously amiss..
Article abstract from: The Mail&Guardian newspaper
Headline: "DA warns against pardon for Shabir Shaik"
After nineteen years spent living in South Africa, I find that it takes a lot to shock and disturb me. Corruption and bribery have become just another part of everyday life in South Africa and like me, many other people have learned just to accept it. There was a rare moment of justice however, when Shabir Shaik was convicted for fraud and sent to prison. It was a small step towards justice, but it was a step none-the-less.
In the article I found in the Mail&Guardian, I read that Shabir Shaik had applied for a presidential pardon as long ago as April 2008. Over a year ago, a convicted fraudster applies for a presidential pardon, and for over a year the rejection letter that ought to have been sent back to him has been left unmailed. What is the ruling party waiting for? There should be no debate whatsoever as to what should be done. The small bit of me that still cares and still longs for justice stirred.. for just a moment.. and then subsided back into the depths of realisation that there is virtually nothing I can do to stop it. I have become too complacent to care and too accustomed to injustice in South Africa to bother to lift a finger. If I am the youth of South Africa today, what of the children of tomorrow?
(http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-10-19-da-warns-against-pardon-for-schabir-shaik)
Sunday, October 18, 2009
The prevelance of the 'status quo' in articles
Article abstracted from: Daily News:
Headline: “Drug mule mom finally home”
“I've paid my dues, I am stronger, and I have changed my ways for the better”, typically those are words of an ex rebellious, defiant adolescent. Was that a bold, unfair, stereotypical, statement? Truth is, if we did not live in a world that perpetuates the status quo, ideologies and stereotypes, the story of a drug dealer mom would not have made headline news.
Joeleene Phillips is a mother of two, who arrived back in South Africa on Wednesday after serving almost three years in a Brazilian prison, for smuggling 3kg of cocaine in 2006.
Somehow the status quo does not concur that a white, middle class, South African mother can be involved in drug trafficking. Even though Philips eventually admitted that she was aware that she was transporting drugs, society would typically blame the Nigerian boyfriend, who fled after her arrest, for luring her into this shameful, dodgy activity.
We have all figured by now, that news is influential on public opinion in a range of specific and measurable ways. Therefore depending on how the story is told, the quotes chosen, information presented and whose point of view is represented, the story may promote a certain point of view. The story has taken a sympathetic approach, highlighting on sensational and emotionally expressive phrases and quotes. The information presented is largely Phillips ‘moving’ opinions.
This re-enforces the idea of stereotyping ethnicity's, genders and class positions in society. To some extent, the act of Phillips was deviant from the usual societal standards and expectations. Therefore it is written in a remorseful, repentant manner. The images used also bind this suggestion. Because of these ideological subconscious ideas being reflected in this article, Phillips story may come as natural, accepted and preferred in society.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?art_id=vn20091015104153497C578411&set_id=1&click_id=13&sf=
Images
http://gallery.iol.co.za/v/iolnews/Drug+mule+mom+comes+back+home+14_10_2009/
The not so Wonderful Wizard of ASA
Lying seems to have become a cliche amongst not only South African politicians but also her sports associates and bosses. Leonard Chuene , the boss of Athletics South Africa (ASA) is one who is perpetuating this stereotype as evidence has been revealed of his lies surrounding gender tests done on Caster Semenya prior to the Athletics World Championship. The Mail and Guardian article (http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-09-18-semenya-saga-chuenes-trail-of-lies#comments ) called " Semenya saga : Chuene's trail of lies" provided evidence stating that not only did ASA conduct gender tests on Semenya prior to the Berlin Athletics World Championships 2009 but that the results were not what they should be, two facts that Chuene strongly denied. The Zapiro cartoon ( http://www.mg.co.za/zapiro/fullcartoon/2282 ) encompasses the 'saga' in a broader sense displaying a humorous yet blatant reaction to the actions of the Australian press , the IAAF and ASA whilst highlighting Semenya's innocence. Fittingly Zapiro plays on the Wizard of OZ, and yes this story could very well be a fairytale , that is a fairy tale with a gratuitous hermaphrodite and without the hero and happy ending. This cartoon highlights how each organisation by lack of a fundamental human organ has created a nightmare for Semenya , stressing their inhumanity. The bottom line amongst all the pointing of fingers and slinging of feces is that ASA lied causing Semenya irreparable damage and should meet the consequence of their actions. This virtue which could be recited by a five year old , has yet to sink into the skull of ASA.
