But now a similar controversy has broken out about American politician Sarah Palin, who seems inclined to shoot off her mouth in loose cannon fashion as much as Julius Malema.She posted a map on her Facebook page, showing gunsights aimed at a map with several American politicians that she wanted taken out, electorally, one hopes. But now one of them, Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona, has been taken out, literally, by gunfire, and Sarah Palin, like Julius Malema, is being accused of inciting this with her target map.
There is often a big gap between rhetoric and reality, and sometimes people say things metaphorically that they do not mean to be taken literally, yet there are often people who do take them literally. And now the Facebook page is full of accusations against Sarah Palin similar to those made against Julius Malema last year when Eugene Terreblanche was killed.
3 comments:
One can't help how nutters interpret someone's words though. One wouldn't be able to say anything.
Well, public figures should be more guarded in their speech, as there are a lot of nutters, idiots and simple-minded folk out there thatcould be pushed over the edge, to put it bluntly.
Sure, they might not have intended to be taking literally. But one should be aware of unintended, but likely, consequences. It is a the difference between what you can say, and what is wise to say.
IE, wisdom required.
James,
Yes, but when the nutters control the government...
Former Anglican Dean of Johannesburg, Gonville Aubey ffrench-Beytagh once remarked, after hearing of some KGB-type behaviour by Special Branch big-shot Brigadier "Rooi Rus" Swanepoel, that "the man should be shot".
He didn't know that the server to whom he made this casual remark in the vestry after Mass was an SB spy, and he was charged under the Terrorism Act.
On the other hand there was the English monarch who said, in similar exasperation, "who will rid me of this turbulent priest?" and some of his hangers-on took him at his word.
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