Freedom of Speech or Freedom to Hate?

Friday, 21 October 2005 was the last day of the SRC (Student
Representative Council) elections at the University of Pretoria, but
the impact of some of the posters displayed on campus will be
remembered for a long while to come. The posters I’m speaking about
were used by a particular student party as part of its election
campaign; posters that are blatantly discriminatory and racially
exclusive; posters that have littered the campus this past week and
have left a foul taste in the mouths of many students. The fact that
such posters were actually allowed to be displayed is both outrageous
and deplorable. It’s as though the campaigners are proudly flaunting
their racist ideology, and dare anyone to challenge them.
University of Pretoria student, Lisa Scott decided to take action and
wrote a letter to the campus newspaper The Perdeby. In her letter,
which we’ve included below, she questions the impact of ten years of
democracy in South Africa. Whether or not the letter is published in
The Perdeby is yet to be seen. But we here at Bruinou.com would like
to show you, as she so aptly puts it, ‘the reality of our “rainbow”
nation’.

“The Reality of our Rainbow Nation”
I’d like to get realistic about the state of our idealistic “Rainbow Nation”.
Over ten years into our democracy (a democracy most are aware was paid
for literally through blood, sweat and tears), the 2005 SRC elections
at the University of Pretoria are tainted by ASB (Afrikaanse Studente
Bond) posters with discriminatory, derogatory and long since discarded
slogans – “Good fences make good neighbours” says one, while another
“We’re proud of our past” – sporting no-less [sic] the OLD South
African Flag.

Can I get a witness, PLEASE?! Are we all living in the same time and place?
Despite the fact that the posters embrace the policies of separate
development we are trying to correct, the permission to display the
posters reflects University of Pretoria administration’s embracing of
these derogatory slogans.
Make no mistake of the consequences of this public display of
deformation against our young democracy – the SRC elections at the
University of Pretoria represent the microcosm of South African society.

I am appalled that an institution, whose fundamental function is that
of educating our future leadership, cannot see the implications of the
socialization of students by allowing the public display of these
blatantly discriminatory slogans. The stench of old, racists notions
[sic] of Apartheid is overwhelming. I hear the rumbles of unhappiness
of my fellow students in the corridors and the murmurs on the Piazza –
ten years in and SOME things have yet to change!

Other posters include “Proud Afrikaner, Proud White”. It’s called
redundancy – no need to repeat yourself, as if Coloureds could be
Afrikaner? But more importantly, the last time I checked, He’s taking
ALL colours in at the Pearly Gates – it may not however be the colour
of your skin that determines your admission, but rather your
discriminatory actions.

I’m fiercely sacred [sic] of our young democracy (yes, YOU’RE apart of
it too) – the images of people losing their lives for my freedom are
forever engraved in my memory! I do hope (and even pray) that you’d
stay – embrace the notion that all peoples of South Africa can happily
co-exist. If not, I hear Richard Branson’s just started launching
commercial space travel – maybe you could get a group discount? Because
I just want you to know one thing, and of this I am certain – wherever
you may go on this planet, you will be confronted by the just
institutions of democracy, equality and freedom.”