Discussion: Julius Malema

Words as Weapons

Answer the following questions in a Paragraph of at least 250 words.

1. First, do a google search for Julius Malema– who is he? Why is he an important person in South African society? Who supports him? Who opposes him? (This should NOT be the longest part of your response).

2. Why do you think that Benesch starts with his story? What point does the case illustrate?

3. What does Julian Malema’s story say about free speech in the context of South Africa?

4. Write about a time when you have seen one person’s freedom of speech affect another person in a negative way. What was the language used? How did it make you feel?

Politics and the English Language

For this reading, you only need to read from the middle of page 85 (start on the second paragraph where it says, “In our time”) to the end (page 88). Of course, if you want to read more, please do. Before you answer the questions below be sure that you are familiar with George Orwell and the context surrounding when he wrote (do some research if you need to). In a minimum 250-word paragraph, do the following:

Orwell says that “The great enemy of clear language is insincerity” (p. 86) and that “What is above all needed is to let the meaning choose the word, not the other way around…the worst thing one can do with words is surrender to them” (p. 87). How do you respond to this? Start by saying what you think Orwell means by this and then use the idea to discuss an issue that you’ve seen or experienced with how language is used in the world around you (this can be something in the public, something political, something in your family or with your friends–anything goes!)