No comparison.
A friend recently posted the following link: against the dying of the light
If you don't feel like clicking above link to see the original, the text is as follows:
In late 2003, I had dinner with a man who had spent his life fighting the apartheid government in South Africa. He said a lot of things that night that I took to heart, but one chilled everyone at the table:
"In all my years running from the government of my homeland, hiding from the police, in jail, in the streets, standing against that oppression, I was never so frightened as I am travelling in America today."
We asked him why, of course, being Americans, and being shocked.
"Because in apartheid South Africa, if the police kicked down your door and locked you up on trumped-up charges, your family and friends would protest, they would know it was wrong, they would fight for your freedom, even if they failed. In America, if you were locked up and the government levied false charges or held you without trial, your family--your family--would say, well, maybe we didn't know him so well. Maybe the government knows something we don't."
It was quiet for a little while.
I'm sorry I didn't tell enough people, Farid. Thank you for trying.
This struck a chord with me for a number of reasons, so I decided to post a response. Responses are however locked until the original blogger opens them up. In the meantime, I wanted to share my thoughts:
Late 2003 in America... Two years since the tragic events of September 11th, 2001... A country still mourning, in lockdown, at war...
Not to disrespect the man whom you spoke to, but his perspective was flawed... His memory of America as well as his perception of the future were too limited, too short.
I know little of apartheid South Africa beyond what I've read... But most seem agreed upon the fact that, if the police kicked down your door and locked you up on trumped-up charges, your family and friends would remain silent. They had no choice because to do otherwise would ensure that they were next. They would of course know it was wrong, but there were simply no other options before them and if they fought, they too disappeared.
Conversely, Americans cherish their freedom of speech above all else. And they use it. From phone calls to emails, letter campaigns to blogs, social networking on the internet to marches on the street... When we have something to say, we speak loud and clear. And when that voice strikes upon true wrongdoing, it gets repeated, it gets carried far and wide.
If the police broke down the front door and carried away a friend or family... Would YOU suggest that the government knew something you didn't? Can you find a single friend who would?
Is there racism? Sure. Is there always truth and justice? No... But we try. And to compare the United States of America in 2003, to apartheid South Africa... It does a disservice to the memory of everyone who spoke up or fought... and died.
There is no comparison.
If you don't feel like clicking above link to see the original, the text is as follows:
In late 2003, I had dinner with a man who had spent his life fighting the apartheid government in South Africa. He said a lot of things that night that I took to heart, but one chilled everyone at the table:
"In all my years running from the government of my homeland, hiding from the police, in jail, in the streets, standing against that oppression, I was never so frightened as I am travelling in America today."
We asked him why, of course, being Americans, and being shocked.
"Because in apartheid South Africa, if the police kicked down your door and locked you up on trumped-up charges, your family and friends would protest, they would know it was wrong, they would fight for your freedom, even if they failed. In America, if you were locked up and the government levied false charges or held you without trial, your family--your family--would say, well, maybe we didn't know him so well. Maybe the government knows something we don't."
It was quiet for a little while.
I'm sorry I didn't tell enough people, Farid. Thank you for trying.
This struck a chord with me for a number of reasons, so I decided to post a response. Responses are however locked until the original blogger opens them up. In the meantime, I wanted to share my thoughts:
Late 2003 in America... Two years since the tragic events of September 11th, 2001... A country still mourning, in lockdown, at war...
Not to disrespect the man whom you spoke to, but his perspective was flawed... His memory of America as well as his perception of the future were too limited, too short.
I know little of apartheid South Africa beyond what I've read... But most seem agreed upon the fact that, if the police kicked down your door and locked you up on trumped-up charges, your family and friends would remain silent. They had no choice because to do otherwise would ensure that they were next. They would of course know it was wrong, but there were simply no other options before them and if they fought, they too disappeared.
Conversely, Americans cherish their freedom of speech above all else. And they use it. From phone calls to emails, letter campaigns to blogs, social networking on the internet to marches on the street... When we have something to say, we speak loud and clear. And when that voice strikes upon true wrongdoing, it gets repeated, it gets carried far and wide.
If the police broke down the front door and carried away a friend or family... Would YOU suggest that the government knew something you didn't? Can you find a single friend who would?
Is there racism? Sure. Is there always truth and justice? No... But we try. And to compare the United States of America in 2003, to apartheid South Africa... It does a disservice to the memory of everyone who spoke up or fought... and died.
There is no comparison.