Reg. Noudat die meeste stof rondom arme Deon Maas gesak het, werp ek graag my eie stuiwer in die armbeurs oor dié lamlendige situasie.

As jy, liefste leser, een van die mense was wat hom uitgekryt het as ‘n voorstander van Satanisme en / of jy een van die kettingbriewe of SMSe rondgestuur het in ‘n poging om Rapport te boikot, was jy verkeerd. Heeltemal verkeerd. Want jy het nie die rubriek gelees nie. As jy dit gelees het, sou jy die volgende geweet het:

Go read the rest on his blog.

Sorry, I’m not translating into English. He wrote the post so well, that a translation that does it justice would take me too long right now. Besides, the people that owe him an apology can typically speak and read Afrikaans.

Deon Maas wrote a column in the Sunday newspaper, The Rapport, that aimed to point out the differences between people and encourage people to listen to one another. By listening to one another we can understand each other. However, ironically, the exact opposite happened. A mass-hysteria campaign via sms (texts) and email called for a boycott of the newspaper. Most people taking part in the mass-hysteria did not even realise the column was already published, thinking they’re boycotting the paper that will contain the column.

The column pointed out that Satanism is also a religion and has the right to be practised. (Viva “freedom of religion”.) Instead of reading the column, most “Christians” in this country prefer to bury their heads in the sand, rather than listen to someone that thinks differently. That is not what Jesus would do, sorry. Understanding does not mean agreeing. Can’t we aim for greater understanding? Please? Would it help if I point out that most people don’t even know what Satanism is? Probably not, they’re all too scared.

The Rapport believes in press freedom, however, the boycott turned this into an economic issue, rather than a free speech issue.

<sigh>