The Importance of Symbols in an Age of Reason
In the YCL online journal The Bottomline Issue 22, Vol 5:October, 30 2008, Buti Manamela, national secretary of the Young Communist League, wrote an article denouncing the media's preoccupation with the matric exam results of Julius Malema (see here). In this article, Mr. Manamela seems to imply that people judge Malema by his matric results. The very idea that this is what people hold against the ANC Youth League's outspoken president is quite amusing.
The only reason that the publication of his results has caused such a sensation is that it has confirmed everything we already know about the man.
For example, an H in standard grade mathematics demonstrates perfectly well what lacks in the man's reasoning capabilities. We knew he was on shaky ground when he made statements about "Killing for Zuma" and burning down the prison if Winnie Mandela were to go to jail. The fact that he can't tell the difference between representing the interests of the people who he is supposed to represent, and pure and blatant demagoguery, tipped us off to what a slippery grip he had on reason, the revelation of his math grades served only to confirm what we already knew.
His results clearly shows that he had no interest in history, which is probably one of the most valuable fields of study for any politician, especially one with as much influence as he seems to have. How can a politician make informed decisions and take responsible action, if he doesn't have the historical perspective through which to understand the present? These revelations of his results are of public interest, because it explains why he does and says the things he does. His actions influence the lives of millions, so they have the right to know.
Mr. Manamela states in his article that he's not anti-academia, but the disregard he shows for the value of a good education proves the opposite.
Calling people who would prefer that those who tread the corridors of power to have a good education "elitist". A more absurd notion I have yet to encounter. Is it wrong that the people of our Republic prefer that those who govern us have a good education, or at least a proven track record? Is it "elitist" to expect our politicians to have good reasoning skills or a good understanding of history and economics?
Everyday we rely on skilled professionals to do the things that require a good education. We rely on doctors, lawyers and pilots to have a good education to assist us in our time of need, because what they do is too important not to have a trained, educated professional do their job. How much more important then is it that we put the power to govern us, to make decisions in the hands of people who are educated and accomplished? Their actions influence the lives of millions of people directly.
We as a people deserve more. We deserve politicians who are educated, who are accomplished and who understand history and economics. Above all, we need politicians who have the reasoning capabilities that can guide our Republic out of the tangled web of crime, corruption and to deliver effective solutions to those members of our society who needs to escape the depths of poverty. We don't need demagogues who threaten the very existence of our hard fought democracy.
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