Two thorny issues
Anemic Fairy
scandal-conscious media?) was in uproar because of a meeting of a body
called the Forum for Black Journalists, where white journalists were
not welcome.
And a few days ago, another racial bomb went off when a video made by
white students at the University of the Orange Free State, in which
black cleaning staff are apparently humiliated, was leaked. Once again
the entire country, and to some extent even the entire world, went up
in the flames of a media frenzy.
What is a libertarian supposed to say about this? I cannot speak for
any group, but I'll give my own opinion. The Forum for Black
Journalists is, as far as I can work out, a private organization
financed by private funds. As such they have every right to be as
exclusive as they like, and base membership on whatever criteria they
desire. No need for scandals, no need for angry recriminations, no
need for any comment at all, really. As long as it goes equally for
everyone, so that if white folks decide to create a whites-only forum
or private club, they too will be left in peace to associate as they
see fit. (This is already done in Orania, and once again I have n
problem with it.)
As for the UOFS student video, the same principle applies. In this
case, it is a bit difficult to comment because the reaction was so
vehement, and so overwhelmingly emotional, that it turned out rather
difficult to get hold of any of the basic facts. I have not seen the
video (it is probably not available anywhere anymore; I haven't
bothered to look.) Judged by descriptions in the media, it is indeed
in extremely bad taste, and just about what you can expect from a
bunch of drunken, puerile students. The students involved probably
have their racial prejudices, as most people in this country do.
However, as far as I can work out, the video was a private production,
not intended for general release, by consenting adults. As such, it is
simply none of anyone else's business. If you don't like it, don't
watch it.
See how simple life gets when we have even a modicum of respect for
people's personal freedom to do as they please in their private
affairs and personal lives? Alas, not one single political party or
cultural organization in South Africa had the guts to stand up for
liberty in either of these cases. Political correctness now takes
precedence over everything else, including even the values of liberty
that the country supposedly stands for, and that thousands of people
paid for with their lives. The new system is beginning to look ever
more like the old.
Trevor
proportion, but I think there are good reasons for this.
1. It takes attention away from the many real issues threatening the
country, such as crime, electricity, health, poverty, employment.
Racism is not a REAL issue - no one ever died because someone else
thought they were inferior. When you ACT on your racist beliefs, then
it becomes a crime issue, depending on the act.
2. It allows white people to be blamed for something bad. All the REAL
issues tend to be blamed on blacks, because they make up the
government, and foolishly insist on taking responsibility for
everything. The puerile acts of 4 white boys can now become the proof
of evil of the entire white community.
3. It provides an excuse to take action - relatively simple, easy,
instant result type action - close universities, organise boycotts,
dismiss students, councils, rectors, whatever. Politicians can
pontificate without much danger of being embarassed, quite unlike
having to explain Eskom's past mistakes and future plans.
4. It gives whites in high places a chance to show how truly, truly,
really non-racist they are, while dumping on a bunch of know-nothing
hicks from the Free State.
Peeing in your food may be unpleasant, but its not fatal. Several
Indian sects (Satsangs, for example) believe that drinking your own
urine is positively beneficial. However, being raped by an HIV
positive intruder, or stabbed, or shot, is much more dangerous. This
happens several times an hour in SA, according to the stats, and is
largely a black, male problem (for obvious reasons - blacks make up
80% of the population). Nevertheless, a little more balance in
comparing the severity of these acts to student pranks would be
useful.
As you say, it is really all a matter of political correctness. Of
course, the definition of PC is the fervent belief that it is truly
possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.
Anemic Fairy
Date: Sun, Mar 16 2008 5:12 am
From: Trevor
4. It gives whites in high places a chance to show how truly, truly,
really non-racist they are, while dumping on a bunch of know-nothing
---It was this aspect of the whole thing that I found te ost
profoundly irritating: everyone desperately jumping on the
'we-are-not-all-like-that' bandwagon.
[[[Peeing in your food may be unpleasant, but its not fatal. Several
Indian sects (Satsangs, for example) believe that drinking your own
urine is positively beneficial.]]]
---As far as I could work out, it wasn't even real urine anyway.
Everyone keep on saying "What if it was your mother?" Well, if it was
my mother, I would ask her why on earth she was willing to sell her
own dignity for a bottle of liquor (which was apparently what the
cleaning ladies were paid for their acting work).
[[[As you say, it is really all a matter of political correctness. Of
course, the definition of PC is the fervent belief that it is truly
possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.]]]
---Hehehe! I like that one!