Sensationalism, morality and the media
We get the society we deserve, in that we are that society and it takes on the forms we encourage. What the public is interested in is not equivalent to the public interest – and it’s the latter that gives newspapers licence to broadcast what would otherwise be details of someone’s private life.
Redistribution of wealth
Apologies for the silence here – I didn’t get around to writing a column for the Daily Maverick this week, and also haven’t blogged, mosly because it’s quite difficult to do these things when bloody agents have entered your home – twice in the space of two weeks – and taken all your stuff. There’s [...]
Kill the Boer: Afriforum vs. Malema
Hate speech is not simply about the words, but also about the context in which they are uttered. In this case, and context, the Equality Court should not rule to ban the song/chant ‘Kill the Boer’. But even if Malema is allowed to sing it, he should perhaps choose to not exercise that freedom.
Kunene can eat his sushi as he likes
The attention focused on Kenny Kunene for his sushi parties – and the accompanying moralising – is misplaced. Why do we think he has any particular obligations to the poor?
The boer is dead (#uniteZA)
Even if the workers were aggrieved at unpaid wages, or poor working conditions, it may still be the case that those frustrations were encouraged to reach boiling point via the “endorsement” for the the murder that they perceived Malema to be offering. It’s an easy answer to blame Malema, and it’s an easy answer to think he has no responsibility in this case.
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