Try a communist/fascist society where all media is owned by the State and the citizens get indoctrinated into "group thinking" and hear/read only what the government want you to hear/read (similar to the apartheid media). Citizens are exposed to only one line of thought and are unable to think for themselves. The State or a wealthy political party (for example instead of spending millions on birthday parties, free meals and expensive hotels, consultants and workshops) can at any time produce media material to counter act the views of the free press. It is the principle of freedom of expression and freedom of the press that must be protected. You must never forget that where there is no freedom of expression the government simply steps in and shoots protesters - there is no toyi-toyi in a society without freedom of expression and then there is no free press to report the authoritarian and suppressive behaviour of government I.e. Tianaman Square amongst others. Thank goodness the ANC introduced free press, no longer can the police shoot innocent protesters, no longer can the police arrest without detention etc etc these sort of things are immediately reported by the press which was not the case in the apartheid regime - never forget that without freedom of the press you are lft with suppression of information. What is your alternative to a free press and freedom of expression - how would you propose an alternative to the media so that citizens are informed of current events? Never forget it is the capitalist countries who send millions $ of financial aid and other resources such as doctors and medicines to the poor countries (despite their anti-poor values) - or do you suggest that they should not do this? What is the alternative? We all know the problems but what are the solutions and have these solutions been tried and tested before. At the end of the day it is about creating a peaceful environment in which all citizens of the world can live in peace and harmony whilst sharing in the riches of their own nation - the problem is when the State cannot provide that environment and only members of the inner circle enjoy the riches of the country (Zimbabwe) no matter whether it is capitalist or otherwise (the former USSR). What do you have to say about the awful things the international press has to say about George Bush, about how they print photos of UK MPs in compromising situations, expose them for spending money on porn videos etc etc forcing them to resign - or is that also wrong? This has nothing to do with Zuma (who was lucky enough to receive millions of Rand from the poorest of poor to finance his legal battle which privilege is not given to the poorest of poor when a starving man steals a bag of bones to feed his family) it isn't about the individual it is about the rights of the whole population, including yours, to be able to enjoy freedom of expression. Regards Maureen -------Original Message------- From: Bongani Masuku Date: 2009/04/07 04:54:51 PM To: Maureen Dosoudil; yclsa-eom-forum; [email protected]; Colin Eglin Ngakane Mokoena; Khulu Radebe; Jeff Rademeyer; Dali Ramncwana; Rapula Monkwe M T Ronyuza; t.mpondo; thulani kunene; [email protected]; [email protected]; Pat Ntsobi; Puseletso Mokone-skhosana; al...@gpg gov.za; [email protected]; Andries Mapetla; alinam; Solly Mapaila; Dr Mako; Diteko Moreotsenye; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; vuyo mhlakaza; [email protected]; bakos; [email protected]; Ntombomzi Mjajubana; mzukisi ronyuza Subject: RE: WHAT IDI AMIN DID TO JOURNALISTS. In a capitalist society like ours, the media are nothing but the running dogs of crony capital, parroting the most reactionary views that seeks to protect capitalism and anti-poor values. In the name of democracy, they feed the whole society with the most rightwing views. By freedom of association in such a society is meant the right of those who have money to pay their writing mercenaries, so-called journalists. It is not meant the freedom of poor people to speak against and confront the evils of capitalism, to expose the lies behind the system and freely propose an alternative system. Who determines what should be the main point of discussion in society. We are forced to discuss about some old pity-seeking fellow called the Dalai Lama, while none want us to discuss the 5.2 million Congolese who died in Congo merely for multinational companies to steal the cobalt, coltax and all the rich minerals of that country, none want us to discuss the real reasons why Somalians are still dying like flies. None of these so-called free journalists ask the relevant questions about why call North Korea to halt arms race, but allow Israel to accumulate warheads with the open supply from the US. Coming back home, the media only remembers freedom of expression when it must persecute JZ, but does not do so when we must be told what happened to Waulter Basson and all those who killed like him. Where was the so-called free media when he was freed, where was it when the settlements were made with the various agents of the former apartheid order who made arrangements with the NPA to be set free. This is the media freedom we hear trumpets about, shame!
From: Maureen Dosoudil [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 3:44 PM To: yclsa-eom-forum; [email protected]; Colin Eglin Ngakane Mokoena; Khulu Radebe; Jeff Rademeyer; Dali Ramncwana; Rapula Monkwe; M T Ronyuza; t mpondo; thulani kunene; [email protected]; [email protected]; Pat Ntsobi; Puseletso Mokone-skhosana; [email protected]; [email protected]; Andries Mapetla; alinam; Solly Mapaila; Dr Mako; Diteko Moreotsenye; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; vuyo mhlakaza; [email protected]; Bongani Masuku; bakos; nomsh...@l esedilm co.za; Ntombomzi Mjajubana; mzukisi ronyuza Subject: Re: WHAT IDI AMIN DID TO JOURNALISTS. But then Idi Amin was an authoritarian dictator who did not allow freedom of expression and did not tolerate criticism - the founding principles of democracy and essentials of the Freedom Charter. Idi Amin also spent too much time worrying about what journalists said about him and not enough time addressing issues of poverty and hardship amongst the poorest of the poor - but then who really cares what happens to the poorest of the poor as long as they vote the ruling party into power so that we can keep our comfortable jobs and flashy cars? This continual beating of the press reminds me of the "hated apartheid regime" who also curtailed freedom of expression and censored journalists - this is one of reasons why the previous regime was able to stay in power for so long - information, debate and criticism in a free press did not exist under apartheid, the people were not informed and debate not encouraged because nobody was asking questions. One of the things that the old ANC did bring to our new democracy was freedom of the press but now it seems that the new ANC has forgotten where it comes from and why - this is how Zimbabwe began - slow, insidious break down of democratic values. You do not have to agree with what you read but you have to defend the right of freedom of the press and freedom of expression - you should read Time magazine and see what was written about George Bush but not once did he attack journalists for what they wrote. This photo is a sad testament to the suppression of freedom of expression. Regards Maureen -------Original Message------- From: Mzukisi Ronyuza Date: 2009/04/06 09:14:12 AM To: yclsa-eom-forum; [email protected]; Colin Eglin Ngakane Mokoena; Khulu Radebe; Jeff Rademeyer; Dali Ramncwana; Rapula Monkwe; M T Ronyuza; t mpondo; thulani kunene; [email protected]; [email protected]; Pat Ntsobi; Puseletso Mokone-skhosana; [email protected]; [email protected]; Andries Mapetla; alinam; Solly Mapaila; Dr Mako; Maureen Dosoudil; Diteko Moreotsenye; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] za; vuyo mhlakaza; [email protected]; [email protected]; bakos; [email protected]; Ntombomzi Mjajubana Subject: WHAT IDI AMIN DID TO JOURNALISTS. Idi Amin did not what like what the journalist wrote about him which is why at some stage he rounded them up and made them kneel in front of him and make a pledge never to write what they wrote about him. I HOPE JONATHAN SHAPIRO (ZAPIRO), THE ZIONIST, WAS PART OF THEM. (See the attachment) --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] . -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
