On the 16th March, top South African entertainers and crime industry folk will relaunch a version of the classic Tears for Fears hit Shout. Apparently, this is whats needed to stop crime in South Africa. Apparently we citizens need to buy a copy of this song, join together and SHOUT just like criminals do to intimidate victims. More shouting is apparently just what we need to create peace.
So how will this campaign work? I know; it will help raise awareness of crime in South Africa! Now theres something we need more of. It seems that when good intentions lack the ability to create change, we justify them on the basis that they will help raise awareness.
Last year, we werent asked to SHOUT. We were asked to MARCH against crime".
The year before that we were asked to join the FIGHT against crime as people all over the country dusted off their old Baby Browning and took lessons at the range.
When are we going to stop SHOUTING, FIGHTING and MARCHING? It doesnt work! If it did I would be the first to say shout away! Not only that but do we not realize that we are doing more harm than good by our use of such rhetoric? We have a history of using violence to achieve our ends; why continue to use the language of violence to create peace? It makes no sense.
And when are we going to stop raising awareness? We dont need more awareness.
And when are we going to stop building the careers and profiles of our actors, singers, business folk and other celebrities who benefit more from these forays into crime than the nation does?
There is no quick fix to crime in South Africa. No amount of MARCHING or SHOUTING is going to replace the long, often arduous process of repairing, mending, reforming, rebuilding, healing, reconciling, feeding, tending, talking, rehabilitating, changing attitudes, caring, respecting and loving.
Come onlets be sensible and avoid quick fixes that dont work.
Cheers
Justin