I am disturbed by the notion that culture should be an excuse for people’s actions when it comes to moral decisions. My thoughts are around the likes of President Jacob Zuma and King Mswati of Swaziland who practice polygamy as part of their culture.
The two polygamists are leaders of nations with soaring HIV/AIDS rates and a serious moral decay in their respective youths and communities. It is the responsibility of leaders and role models to be examples to their followers in order to build an equitable society.
Currently in South Africa 1 in 5 people are HIV positive. This epidemic requires leaders to make decisions that assist the country in fighting the disease through reinforcing and encouraging messages in order for people to practice good morals and principles. With this in mind, it is difficult for leaders such as President Zuma to speak out on issues such as abstinence, condom use and multiple concurrent partners the one partner campaigns promoted by the Department of Health. Having consciously slept with an HIV positive person ,young enough to be his daughter and also continuing to add the number of wives, he( Jacob Zuma) has set off alarm bells in that cultural beliefs should not be just carried out without clear thought and scrutiny.
Playing the cultural card is a dangerous game especially when ones personal cultural beliefs don’t evolve to complement modern lifestyle and morals. Someone else may also say it is in my culture that women are expected to brood and stay in the kitchen all day to cook, but I would be infringing on people’s constitutional rights.
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This is a very interesting topic that needs to be discussed especially by the youth. We are the future and have the power to change this country.
ReplyDeleteYou know I think what needs to change is women. They also need to buy condoms and take charge, if women don't put their foot down HIV/AIDS will forever be a big issue. Both partners need to take responsibility for contracting of the epidemic. We also need to aspire to be leaders if the leaders we have don't do their jobs.
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