Media Censorship: Doing It For The Kids 3
Folks, we’ve reached the bottom of the barrel. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba must take us all for fools and in doing so has thrown any credibility that the proposed Films and Publications Amendment Bill has right out the window. He actually had the nerve to write in this op-ed in the Sunday Times that
All we ever wanted to do with this Bill was protect children from pornography
I kid you not. That’s the actual justification used: to protect the children. Could there ever be a more hackneyed and cliched excuse?
Just the mere fact that he used that justification should be enough to prick up the ears of concerned citizens because it is precisely the excuse that is used by politicians to push through laws that have no actual justifiable reason for ever being enacted. It is a laughable excuse and I don’t think it should be treated seriously for a second.
Absolutely.
This has nothing to do with the internet pornography, given that very few ANC supporters have access to the internet. And don’t try to tell me that the ANC has the interests of DA supporters at heart. They don’t. Control of the press, period.
Of all institutions in SA since 1994, the press is the one which has done most to guarantee democracy, blowing the stories surrounding the Arms debacle, Travelgate. Oilgate, Snuki Zik’s ANC Radio and a host of others at provincial and local level. All of these have highlighted the true nature of the ANC elite as power hungry and quite comfortable, thank you, with corrupt get-rich-quick schemes. Get rid of the press, and the ANC have carte blanche to do what the like and how they like, just like every other ‘popular’ government in Africa from Kwame Nkruma’s Ghana thorugh to Mugabe’s Zimbabwe.
This is the African way. Grab power, hang on by whatever means possible, even if it means restricting the press and slaughtering opponents.
The fact that SA has a far better economic infrastructure means nothing in tems of ‘popular’ politics taking a different route. It may alter the timescale, but that’s all.
This legislation has to be thrown out.
Inyoka – you spew a whole of bile. The press or the media has never been our guarantee of democracy. The media is regarded in many cases as hypocritical and sensationalist. People read newspapers for the sports results not for their the media’s analysis.
Your statement that ANC supporters do not have access to the internet reveals the lies you tell yourself. I am an ANC supporter, and have access to the internet at work and at home. The majority of my friends also happen to be ANC supporters also have access to the internet. Ironically, the friends who I am not sure who they support do not have access to the internet. There are internet shops that are opening up in townships across the country.
Your statement that, ‘This is the African way.’ is the revealing statement though. You show that you do not trust, nor can see any of the good things done by the ANC, because you are racist. You may think that I am using the race card, but I am not. I am just passing an observation based on your statements. You are racist, unfortunately.
It is sad though, because you could enjoy this country so much more if you were not.
Donovan
I am simply looking at the history of post independent Africa. Thre question I have asked before on this blog is whether SA can escape the trauma that these countries went through, and are still going through.
By what is happening in SA now, I think not. There seems to be absolutely no interest amongst politicians in doing anything other than enriching themselves.
What has happened to delivery? The money, I am told, is there, but it is not spent. Why not? Perhaps too many people are involved in their own business instead of the business they are paid good money to do.
There is an African way. Just like there is a European way and a Japanese way . Each culture looks at the world through a different lens. And believe me, they are just as corrupt.
As to being racist, rather read my blog before you accuse me. Everyone gets it from me – Black, White, whatever. In fact, on my own blog only three people have had praise from me. Two happen to be Black.
Cynical of politicians of every stripe – absolutely. I can think of only two who I would call honest: Mandela and Ghandi. The rest, based on the things they say and the things they do/don’t do, are a bunch of charlatans and that includes your fellow party members.
Chipped off by politicians? Yes. Disappointed by the way my optimism for a better SA has been dashed? Yes. Someone who is not afraid to speak his mind? Absolutely.
If you think that makes me a racist, fine.
Let me leave you with the one quote I will always remember.
All that is needed for the forces of evil to succeed is for enough good men to remain silent.
Edmund Burke