After the natural outpouring of emotions following the Paris Terrorist attacks, as this piece is being posted on Transform SA online, it is time for an inquest without sitting on either side of the political fence. In the main, there are two things which South Africa as a ‘new’ democracy, with a melting pot of cultures, undergoing social and political transformation, can learn. And these are:
- A young, idle, disenfranchised mind is impressionable
In the mind of a young person on the fringes of society, who feels deprived of opportunity, proponents of radical forms of thinking have a potential convert who can be easily manipulated.
- Freedom of expression can be costly
While freedom of expression is a basic human right enshrined in many constitutions of countries globally, others might not take kindly to what they consider as dissenting views. The frequent arrest of journalists globally is an example of that. So, where does one draw the line?
