HATE SPEECH

Hate speech outline

1.      Single element lead – Negative effects of hate speech

2.      Summary of other actions

a)      the blame game

b)      The displaced

c)      Suggestions

3.      Support for the lead

a)      Quotes

b)      Facts

4.      Support for other actions in order

a)      The politicians should stop the blame game. They should take this matter seriously and find possible solutions. Pointing fingers won’t help.

b)      The government should look into the matter of the displaced people. The genuine cases should be refunded or even relocated to a new place.

c)      People should strive to stay in harmony and avoid been manipulated for selfish gains.  Getting paid to something evil against your neighbor should not be your drive, instead you should refuse and be loyal to your country.

Hate speech

Inflammatory public speech rises steadily before outbreaks of massive violence, suggesting that it is a precursor or even a prerequisite for violence, which makes sense: groups of killers do not form spontaneously. In most cases, a few influential speakers gradually incite a group to violence.

Kenyan politicians have become involved in public hate campaigns, even using the social networks as a platform to spread their propaganda. The atmosphere in the country is reminiscent of 2007 short before riots broke out. Angela a student from Daystar University said,

“It’s diminishing to see politicians do this and get scot free. This kind of act could lead to people turning against each other like in 2007.” She adds on to say, “this kind of people should be arrested and serve as an example to the rest.”

No one is above the law; everyone should pay for what they do. Hate speech is not something to joke around with. It can cause instability, disunity, disintegration and chaos. Back in 2007, peace was disrupted, people turned against each other, properties were destroyed and massive lives were lost. What’s more shocking we still have Kenyans who haven’t yet recovered from the tragedy. We have some refuges in Uganda who are still waiting for the government to compensate them.

“The government should strive to restore peace in the country and avoid the blame game. About the displaced persons, some cases are genuine. The government should be able to sort out that.”

That was Joe Mwangi’s opinion, a student from Kenyatta University. The recent attacks from Mpeketoni were blamed on the opposition party. Our leaders are spending all their energies into blaming each other instead of working together. A house divided by itself cannot stand; this is what the leaders don’t understand. There’s nothing good that will come out of the blame game. Although the Alshaabab’s claimed the attacks, it’s not yet clear. There’s this habit that has emerged with the interior, after every attack he says “the Alshabaab’s have claimed responsibility.”  These claims are done without even investigating what led to the matter and who did it .The Kenyan Human Rights activist John Githongo said that, “this kind of confusion will only cause tension to build up.”

As Kenyans we should remember that 1200 people were killed and hundreds of thousands were displaced. This was when supporters of former President Kibaki and his contender turned on each other.  That time clear lines were drawn along the borders of ethnicity. Should we let the same thing happen? As Individuals we should not let other people manipulate us for their own selfish gains. We are one   ; the country belongs to all of us and not just a few.