IT IS fascinating and somewhat disturbing to follow the Parktown Boys debacle. We live in a society where most of us agree that human rights violations and crime rates are unacceptably high, and as victims of crime we cry out for justice and retribution.
Yet in our daily lives we support crime in many forms with our passivity and silence, and show little compassion for victims in our communities.
As microcosms of society, schools should be places where children are taught how to respect and care for others, so it is astounding that Pene Kimber and her son are being castigated by parents and staff for taking a stand against practices that encourage the ills of society we should be striving together to eradicate.
Initiation ceremonies and disciplinary measures (including those of law enforcers) which involve brutal assault, trauma and humiliation do not develop boys into exemplary gentlemen - quite the contrary.
They merely perpetuate the cycle of damage, aggression and violence, as Waynne Woolls' scornful, demeaning words (Letters 5 June) illustrate. By the way, Mr Woolls, I wonder if your opinion will remain unchanged the day one of your own children becomes the abused or victimised?
We cannot complain bitterly about the monsters in our society as long as we continue to contribute to their creation.
Esther Graumann
Kensington, Joburg
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