Political Perspective
By: GWEN LISTERI GUESS it should come as no surprise that a number of National Council members want restrictions on the media. Maybe someone should point out to them that the guarantees of freedom of speech and expression apply to their own less-than-intelligent comments as much as they do to the press.
A curb on us for reporting much of the rubbish that is spoken there
would probably be a good way to embark on the
called-for-restrictions, since it's people like this who are mostly
responsible for spreading fear and loathing...
IMAGINE, some of them actually 'pleading' with the Minister of
Information and Broadcasting to impose restrictions, particularly
on the print media, for among others, the following
infractions:
* being everywhere (?!)
* using vulgar language
* inviting 'danger' to the country
* spreading 'separatist' news
* 'abusing' leaders
* being agencies of other countries
* misquoting people
* 'killing' the news I'd like to invite those NC members who are
even vaguely interested in formulating educated opinions in
Parliament, particularly on a such a cornerstone democratic issue
as free speech and the press, to spend a day with us to see how the
print media operates and to ask us any questions.
Again, I have to return to my often-expressed lament.
Can they try, in the process of speaking from a public platform,
to also acquaint themselves with the country's Constitution.
Freedom of speech and press are entrenched in our Bill of Rights
which is both enforceable by the courts and protected from erosion.
i.e. you can't take them away.
Well, I guess you could, but you shouldn't! I say this in case
the concept of further infringement on these rights falls on more
fertile ground in the ruling party.
Already it is a worrying trend.
Not the ongoing unsubstantiated nonsense about the media, but
the fact that sectors of the ruling party are becoming more and
more intolerant, and often exhibit their own ignorance in the
process.
They tend to forget they are given immunity for the nonsense
they often spout in Parliament.
The media don't enjoy quite the same carte blanche.
Why do they continue to harp on and use the media as the
whipping boy for all ills in this country? Forgetting all the good
that they do.
Airing people's views for one, even when they are
inconsequential or foolish.
Exposing people's hardships and often succeeding in getting them
assistance in the process:whether it's the water crisis in Katima
or a family shack burning down in Okuryangava.
Aiding in the task of educating our nation.
Being a conduit between government and people and facilitating
the flow of information from one to the other and vice versa.
And, yes, exposing wrongdoing in Government and elsewhere, and
taking our leaders to task when they spout the nonsense they often
do.
It's not the media that make inflammatory comments or risk
setting the country alight, it's the people - often the leadership
that we report on - who do this quite adequately by themselves.
And unlike them, when we err, we correct our mistakes, and if
that doesn't suffice, we face prosecution in the courts.
That's why we invite MPs (especially those who are vocal on a
subject they know little to nothing about) to come and see for
themselves just how the media operates.
Perhaps it will contribute to some kind of understanding on
their part.
Truly, if we aspire to anything at all in this country, such as
making of ourselves an informed nation, then let us try to promote
literacy and understanding, rather than foolishly call for the
erosion of rights which many fought so hard to entrench.
IMAGINE, some of them actually 'pleading' with the Minister of
Information and Broadcasting to impose restrictions, particularly
on the print media, for among others, the following
infractions:
* being everywhere (?!)
* using vulgar language
* inviting 'danger' to the country
* spreading 'separatist' news
* 'abusing' leaders
* being agencies of other countries
* misquoting people
* 'killing' the news I'd like to invite those NC members who are
even vaguely interested in formulating educated opinions in
Parliament, particularly on a such a cornerstone democratic issue
as free speech and the press, to spend a day with us to see how the
print media operates and to ask us any questions.Again, I have to
return to my often-expressed lament.Can they try, in the process of
speaking from a public platform, to also acquaint themselves with
the country's Constitution.Freedom of speech and press are
entrenched in our Bill of Rights which is both enforceable by the
courts and protected from erosion. i.e. you can't take them
away.Well, I guess you could, but you shouldn't! I say this in case
the concept of further infringement on these rights falls on more
fertile ground in the ruling party.Already it is a worrying
trend.Not the ongoing unsubstantiated nonsense about the media, but
the fact that sectors of the ruling party are becoming more and
more intolerant, and often exhibit their own ignorance in the
process.They tend to forget they are given immunity for the
nonsense they often spout in Parliament.The media don't enjoy quite
the same carte blanche.Why do they continue to harp on and use the
media as the whipping boy for all ills in this country? Forgetting
all the good that they do.Airing people's views for one, even when
they are inconsequential or foolish.Exposing people's hardships and
often succeeding in getting them assistance in the process:whether
it's the water crisis in Katima or a family shack burning down in
Okuryangava.Aiding in the task of educating our nation.Being a
conduit between government and people and facilitating the flow of
information from one to the other and vice versa.And, yes, exposing
wrongdoing in Government and elsewhere, and taking our leaders to
task when they spout the nonsense they often do.It's not the media
that make inflammatory comments or risk setting the country alight,
it's the people - often the leadership that we report on - who do
this quite adequately by themselves.And unlike them, when we err,
we correct our mistakes, and if that doesn't suffice, we face
prosecution in the courts.That's why we invite MPs (especially
those who are vocal on a subject they know little to nothing about)
to come and see for themselves just how the media operates.Perhaps
it will contribute to some kind of understanding on their
part.Truly, if we aspire to anything at all in this country, such
as making of ourselves an informed nation, then let us try to
promote literacy and understanding, rather than foolishly call for
the erosion of rights which many fought so hard to entrench.