Racist Cape Town (redux)
Whether the idea that Cape Town is particularly racist is perception or reality, these are both problems. And we’re not going to fix whatever problems do exist by being offended, or by insulting those who make such claims.
Kuli Roberts, and the right to (offensive) free speech
The Kuli Roberts column, Bitch’s Brew, has been cancelled by Avusa and the Sunday World newspaper following the publication of a “racist” column which expressed various stereotypes related to a subsection of South Africans sometimes described as ‘coloureds’. But as offensive as the column might have been to some, is there ever a good reason to deny free expression of views?
Guns, booze, rednecks and traffic cops don’t mix (well)
Luke Fairweather, an ex-Western Province cricketer who also managed a Western Province youth cricket team, was shot by a traffic officer on January 5, and later died as a result. While tributes have been forthcoming from friends as well as cricket officials, the circumstances of his death, as well as his professed racist views, should not be discounted as possible contributors to his being shot.
Sala’s knee-jerk moralism on Annelie Botes award
The withdrawing of Annelie Botes’ Sala award is an instance of a moralistic reflex, rather than a considered and appropriate response to her offensive statements.
How should we respond to racists?
Allowing racists a platform allows us to present arguments against them, which provides a social pressure of exactly the right sort. We can perhaps do nothing about racists themselves, but silencing the racists might simply make it easier for others to take her place, without us ever knowing it.
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