Bullies whatever shape or size they are never win in the end. At school,at work,on the playing fields,in every walk of life,bullying is wrong and that's the end of the story. They always come up short in the larger scheme of things.
One could be forgiven for at one time only labelling the elite class of the ANC as the ones that were out of touch with South African society and the realities of life,but looking at the images posted on News24 of the marching by members of the ANC towards the Goodman Gallery,then sadly that disturbing "democracy by mob rule" mentality runs throughout this entire organization. And for what? Over a damn panting-yes that all a ****ing painting that shows up a leader of a party for what he truly is.
The Spear painting is not even a debate anymore as soon as City Press editor,Ferial Haffajee, got told she should remove the painting from their website. She refused to do so to begin with and held out for 10 days,but then changed her mind. And why? Because she was forced to do so against her will.Zuma's ANC told their supporters to boycott this particular Sunday newspaper and therefore she wilted.
As she puts it afterwards "because of mounting pressure...out of fear and care...a debate that has become a clash...bruised by the whole experience...and the need to put national reconciliation ahead of principle".So the ANC bullies have won. And freedom of expression,a core right in the South African Constitution,is not worth the paper it was written on. When you want to fight against censorship and then only to be told you can't or else,then what's happening to civil liberties and individual rights? Just a bad day at office for people like us or is it more cynical than that?
And its all over a petty and insignificant painting that's worth almost bloody nothing. South Africa is one of the few places in the world where anger and articulated expressiveness rub shoulders with each other more frequently than its necessary.
A piece of art that is so absorbing and energising in one minute, can become a container ship loaded with profound bigotry and bullying at the next. The ANC abhorrent governance of late we see all over the place is just bad dream to most reasonable and civilize South Africans which we will shrug off once they finally get voted out of high office for good.
All the worry, anger, embarrassment, anxiety, troubled sleeping,lack of confidence, empowerment, and nervousness that comes with being bullied will probably be done and dusted and permanently shelved when a new Party governs South Africa. Until such a time there will always be never a dull moment in the South Africa's history. References: 1.The Guardian Newspaper. 2.BBC News.
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