In response to the Editor’s Note, Hatred is never on, week ending 17 July,
I would have expected better from you? This call is unverified as to its origin, and yet you and your staff make the assumption that this had to be a hateful racist ‘white woman’ clinging to apartheid.
It saddens me more when you perpetuate this false perception by publishing a comment that nobody can verify as to its origin or authenticity. I have no doubt that your office did, or may have, received such a call, but this could just as easily have been a mischievous person trying to create a perception of hatred and racism.
As a reputable local paper, I believe you would be better served not commenting on this unless you had received an avalanche of calls in a similar vein as the one allegedly received. One rude, obnoxious caller is not a whole indictment of all white people in general.
If we are to move forward as a nation, we need to be more responsible in our own actions and how we try to portray what we think and do.
Now I realise the person on the receiving end of this hateful call was offended and shocked, but I am sure you get calls such as these daily, and surely before publishing and giving credence to such a call, one should first try and verify its authenticity.
All that you have done is give the caller the satisfaction that she had an effect, and the caller now may believe that she can use this type of phone terror in future again, should she feel the need to vent her personal hate.
