An interesting email did the rounds last week. It was an open letter/apology from a former South African Breweries (SAB) employee to Proteas batting star Hashim Amla, which was posted by Bobby Skinstad on his personal blog. The story goes that when Amla requested to be exempt from advertising the alcohol beverage sponsor on his cricket kit, for religious reasons, a certain Matt Botha found himself feeling rather offended for SAB.
“I quickly chose the side of the company that had recently adopted me and immediately took a dislike to this ‘spoiled brat’ new kid who refused to wear the logo that made it possible for him to be where he was,” says Botha in the letter.
“I was angry to hear that SAB had graciously granted you permission not to wear any logos on your team clothing and saw this as a point of weakness of the brewing giant,” added Botha.
Botha then explains that his opinion of the man dramatically changed when he observed Amla play down the infamous “terrorist comment” affair and witnessed how humble and gracious Amla remained through difficult passages of play, in times of failure and even in blossoming success, as he turned into an inspirational and reliable middle-order batsman for the Proteas.
A truly bearded role model.
Skinstad said the letter “gave me goosebumps” cooed a patriotic “how far we’ve come” and sure enough the link travelled across Muslim South African inboxes with the tag “hear hear, check this truly halaal South African story out!”
However, I must digress.
Botha seems like a nice chap, but if a confession is what he sought, then he should have gone to church. In the real world, his sentiment needs to be interrogated; an apology built on misguided logic is stagnant, in fact it may even be toxic. And unfortunately, despite his intentions, the letter remains jaundiced, irrevocably misinformed and does nothing but illustrate how truly elusive our rainbow remains.
In a nation of such cultural opulence, it is telling sign when our different colours continue to sit on top of each other like unequal, insoluble neighbours.
For all intents and purposes, what does Botha mean when he suggests that Amla’s approach to life, cricket and controversy had convinced him that the cricketer deserved to be exempt from scathing comment for refusing alcohol branding on his kit?
Why do I get the feeling that Botha really means: “Despite being a prat and refusing to become a walking beer billboard, I admire you for overlooking stuff and getting on with the game?”
Say again?
When did a cricketer’s approach to life have an influence on how he is judged on the sports field? Surely he has a right to be judged by his performances alone. And we aren’t talking about substance abuse or rampant anti-social behaviour, which deserves to be wrapped on the knuckles before kids start to emulate their heroes.
So Amla asked that he play cricket without a beer logo stitched above his pecs.
Amla is Muslim and practising Muslims would rather eat their left nut than have anything to do with pork or alcohol.
What is so difficult to understand about that?
He didn’t ask for the Saudi flag to be stitched on his collar and verses of the Quraan to be narrated on the loud speakers when he walked into bat.
He didn’t ask stadiums to stop selling beer jugs so they don’t fall on the thousands of non-drinking cricket fans who come to watch him and the game. But now that he is arguably the gentlest cricketer on the international scene, “displays bravery”, “walks voluntarily” and greets umpires with the respect of an 18th century Mogul prince, he is subsequently worthy of respect, and finally, he is forgiven for turning his back on South Africa’s favourite beer.
What a joke.
I thought he was selected because his exploits on the domestic circuit made him an almost certainty into the Test line-up. When he failed at the top level, he was dropped and he returned to domestic cricket, sorted out his technique and fortified his hunger for the big stage. He didn’t get any favours. Botha describes himself as a loyal cricket fan. But then surely if he was going to mix politics with cricket, a loyal fan wouldn’t clutch straws and squeal “Amla wasn’t even selected on merit” like the whimsical knee-jerk reaction every time a new non-white cricketer is selected to the squad?
Sure, it could have been in jest, or merely an emotional response in defence of his employers, but when will this cease to be our initial reaction? Botha apologises in this letter, but what of the rest who continue to think this way? Subsequently, there are only two facts worth concluding to this matter:
1. It is inconsequential whether Amla looks the other way to verbal abuse, walks before been given out, or thanks God before he accepts praise or comment. If Botha expects fast bowler Yusuf Abdullah, for instance, to whisper sweet nothings to batsmen, and to sit back when he receives abuse even after he is done a favour and been exempt from the SAB logo, then Botha will be disappointed. Abdullah, like Amla, should be allowed to refute the logo and be as competitive and crass should they choose to be, within the confines of the game.
2. The SAB’s decision to “graciously” allow Amla not to wear the logo is easily fixed by the lack of Amla-time on television. We all know that television directors and camera-men have to give the sponsors enough coverage and too often Amla seems to cut a lens-lonely figure on the field when he isn’t batting.
Experts will tell you that the visual on television must add value to a brand; must imply development, and most importantly, should not accompany images which depreciate or distract audiences from the brand. I am not saying that our cameramen are instructed to focus on other players, I am just saying that where there are billions of rand of sponsorship, there are rarely coincidences.
It is exactly the modus operandi used by huge sponsors like Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Intel and other demons, when they sponsor international sporting events. Their names are placed at strategic parts of the stadium so television cameras are bound to catch a glimpse at any given moment of the action.
With Amla, all you get is a beard.
And if he is not batting, you wouldn’t know he was playing.
In fact, if Botha’s argument is to be dissected, it would mean that if Amla fails a couple of times, or swears an umpire out of frustration or whispers “your mother likes Osama” (a minor crime as far as modern sledging goes), he would undermine his principled stance and quickly morph into an impostor who needed to be rooted out.
As a consequence, and this question must be asked: Is he consistently under more pressure because of his SAB-averse stance? Does this mean that every Muslim cricketer or any other individual with an aversion to promoting alcohol would not only need to perform well with the bat or ball, but would need to illustrate an Amla-like zeal to be respected for his decision?
It then makes one wonder about the indomitable role of alcohol in modern sport, when in reality, the two are really incompatible.
And in the South African context, it isn’t as if we are a nation starved of alcoholic advertisement and/or alcohol abuse. If one considers that about 3 000 people in South Africa are killed or seriously injured through drunk-driving related accidents, and if you add that to the fact that about half of the people admitted to substance abuse clinics in 2009 conceded that alcohol was their primary abuse drug; Amla’s stance gives more voice to a cause than we give him credit for.
Given that South Africa has the highest instances of foetal alcohol syndrome and that surgeons at major hospitals will tell you that almost all injuries related to violence are alcohol related, the scenario seems even more grim than first envisioned.
It is more than ironic when you consider that sports bodies are empowered to promote a healthier, safer and more vibrant life, away from crime, domestic violence and cyclical poverty, only to find that God actually owns a brewery.
Amla, by default, is an advert for his religion and hints at the indomitable power of the human spirit. Though we could say that all sportsmen and women ought to reconsider their adidas and Nike labels for what they also represent in the developing world, I think Amla, like so many sportsmen/women are preoccupied with simply fighting for a place in the line-up.
Again, Botha can be commended for his honesty.
But to ignore the structure, the tangible sum of parts that make up his apology, is but one more attempt to quench our desperate thirst for plastic reconciliation, than construct a DNA of real understanding.
Consider that if Dolphins captain Imraan Khan is called up to open the innings, Pakistani-born spinner Imran Tahir is included in the squad and Yusuf Abdullah sheds some kilos and earns a Test cap, four different Muslims will be sporting kit without a SAB badge.
Yes, this is seemingly unlikely but not impossible. This dilemma is not going anywhere. We might as well talk about it properly.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 at 1:32 pm and is filed under Perspective.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
43 Responses to “Amla: A beer for your sainthood”
Sharp column, well said. I think SAB Miller would let Imraan Khan, Imran Tahir, Yusuf Abdullah and Hashim Amla not wear the logo because if they refused, their PR would drop lower than imaginable.however they would reconsider renewed the sponsorship with the Proteas.
He would still be a hypocrite if he was an asshole on pitch. If he is a ‘practicing Muslim,’ then he must also adhere to the large variety of other instructions given to him. Civility when dealing with others is principle among them (and good for him for taking a stand on them as well.)
I hate nothing more then a ‘religious’ person using their religion to make a statement while they merrily disregard the rules they dislike.
I wonder if religious proclivities are the only standard on which one might be justified in rejecting a sponsors logos… Many non-religious people feel strongly (as strongly as religious people about their religions?)about rejecting the corporate culture that has invaded sport. Could a sportsman who mourns the loss of the game’s purity make a rejection to Hashim’s to wearing any corporate logos???
Jeezus, what a rant! Blaming the dude for all that!
Maybe he must retract the letter, and let matters stand as they were before. Shoot a guy for apologising…………
Interesting article. There is a careful dialectic between conforming to accepted standards within a society and expressions of minority ‘idiosyncrasies’. The reality is - by taking a very public stand against the promotion of alcohol on the sportsfield, he has put himself up to further scrutiny - his reasons were BECAUSE of his religion and therefore, consistency to ALL its tenets would be expected. It isn’t fair- but it is refreshing to have a Muslim representing an irreproachable moral standard.
” 2. The SAB’s decision to “graciously” allow Amla not to wear the logo is easily fixed by the lack of Amla-time on television. We all know that television directors and camera-men have to give the sponsors enough coverage and too often Amla seems to cut a lens-lonely figure on the field when he isn’t batting.”
KAK. He fields right next to the pitch, usually short leg, silly point or silly mid-on. He is basically in every shot when he is not batting.
And this Botha bloke apologized. He basically said he is an ignorant twit and he apologized.
“Sure, it could have been in jest, or merely an emotional response in defence of his employers, but when will this cease to be our initial reaction?”
And what of your initial reaction? That the apology is not sincere because of flawed reasoning? A man apologizes to a Muslim whom he did not respect, possibly out of religious bias and you use it as a stick to beat him with rather than a door into this “flawed psyche”.
I am pretty sure that Amla, example that he is, accepted this man’s apology with grace and not with grudge (if at all) like you have displayed here.
Agree with Michael, huge long winded rant about someone apologising for firstly thinking amiss of a player new to the internationbal scene, then changing his mind when getting to know said player better. Zero to do with his ability and all to do with his character.
May i jump to a premature conclusion: bet you are not very good at promoting the demise of “it is telling sign when our different colours continue to sit on top of each other like unequal, insoluble neighbours.”
PS - i met a school teacher from Amla’s school during his 1st introduction to international cricket against the English when Amla was have wretched luck and form and was dropped. The teacher said the don’t worry he will be back because he has loads of “strong character”, notice it was not talent that the teacher pinpointed.
Companies that produce alcoholic drinks have no place sponsoring sports teams! The world recognised the danger of tobacco companies doing so and it is now banned! Alcohol is a disease that kills millions the world over.. but nothing is done by the media to highlight its detrimental effects , especially on the youth. come on…how many people need to die before we take action!
” However, I must digress.
Botha seems like a nice chap, but if a confession is what he sought, then he should have gone to church. In the real world, his sentiment needs to be interrogated; an apology built on misguided logic is stagnant, in fact it may even be toxic. And unfortunately, despite his intentions, the letter remains jaundiced, irrevocably misinformed and does nothing but illustrate how truly elusive our rainbow remains.
In a nation of such cultural opulence, it is telling sign when our different colours continue to sit on top of each other like unequal, insoluble neighbours. ”
…and…
“With Amla, all you get is a beard. ”
…Well, if he wasn’t bearded or religion, we would’ve admired his decision to go against alcoholism.
Its just that we’ve been culturally and religiously injected so deep down our narrow minds
that we cannot think beyond our race religion or color.
Theres a big world out there- and a short life to live.
Think outside (of) the box,
Dream,
Smile,
Play cricket,
Don’t post racist comments to such nice article,
Help Haiti,
Have a healthy breakfast,
Be nice to your neighbors,
Dont be a show off when you drive-drive with safety and arrive,
An apple a day could still keep the doctor away,
Spent time with your family,
Thank www.thoughtleader.co.za for their time and efforts,I am no way related, m in Toronto and its my first time visit to this site.
To dissect the apology in the shades you have, is in a sense to be as idealistic as expecting as pure an apology, based only on principle and NOT on the man’s ability as a sportsman.
I remember being struck by this news item years ago, Googled it, taken from: http://www.marketingweb.co.za/marketingweb/view/marketingweb/en/page74600?oid=84860&sn=Marketingweb%20detail
Now two soccer legends seem likely to follow suit. The Sunday Times reports that soccer great Jomo Sono, who is also the owner and coach of Premier Soccer League club Jomo Cosmos, is contemplating taking steps against Grey Worldwide Cape Town after the advertising agency used his name, and that of the late Kaizer Chief great Ace Ntsoeleng, in a liquor advert for Amstel.
The newspaper ad was created to announce the beer’s return to the market, and read: “Once you’ve read about the future Jomo Sonos and ‘Ace’ Ntsoelengoes of tomorrow, you’ll be 17 minutes closer to being reunited with your Amstel.”
“This is a great insult. I felt terrible when I saw that advert,” Sono told the Sunday Times this weekend.
“I do not drink alcohol and, as a matter of principle, I have always and will continue to refuse to feature in adverts that have something to do with alcohol and cigarettes. …”
[…] Thought Leader » Azad Essa » Amla: A beer for your sainthood www.thoughtleader.co.za/azadessa/2010/01/26/amla-a-beer-for-your-sainthood – view page – cached An interesting email did the rounds last week. It was an open letter/apology from a former South African Breweries (SAB) employee to Proteas batting star Hashim Amla, which was posted by Bobby Skinstad on his personal blog. The story goes that when Amla requested to be exempt from advertising the alcohol beverage sponsor on his cricket kit, for religious reasons, a certain Matt Botha found… Read moreAn interesting email did the rounds last week. It was an open letter/apology from a former South African Breweries (SAB) employee to Proteas batting star Hashim Amla, which was posted by Bobby Skinstad on his personal blog. The story goes that when Amla requested to be exempt from advertising the alcohol beverage sponsor on his cricket kit, for religious reasons, a certain Matt Botha found himself feeling rather offended for SAB. View page […]
The reason why your rant is so long-winded, is that its hard to justify BS.
For cricket teams, to maintain their high-performance and competitiveness, ALL players need to be treated EQUALLY i.e. NO special privileges to any single player.
Unfortunately, Alma simply pays lip service to his religion, otherwise he would NEVER be part of a cricket team sponsored by a liquor company. I’m afraid there is no other alternative, everything else is hypocrisy. Seems like both the company and the team bent over backwards to accommodate Amla but even this does not seem good enough for you. Now you want the television crew to focus their attention on him?…LOL
Imagine what could come next? Hindus refusing to wear uniforms of a team sponsored by McDonalds? Jews refusing to play cricket with a ball made out of pig skin.l…OOPS!! Maybe I shouldn’t have revealed that!!!
You entire argument is misguided, pretty self-centered, and reveals your basic lack of insight into what it takes to build a peak performance sport team to compete internationally. Anyway, now that they kicked out the Proteas coach, maybe now our cricket team can truely reflect our South African diversity and competitiveness and include more African players as well. Heck, maybe we might find another sponsor and Alma’s imaginary “dilemma” may disappear in the process as well.
Hurrah! Well put. I thought I was the only one who saw that side of this self righteous apology. It stinks of “You speak so well, where are you from!!” syndrome (my pet hate).
person who wrote this article- my advise to you is-
please get hold of hashim amlas agent - he will tell you that they have met botha and they were happy with what he has said and written!
so get a life!!!
please guys enough of this! the guy was man enough to say sorry- lets move on!!!
Building a nation “united in its diversity” out of our fractured past is an arduous process, best taken one step at a time and mindful of the length of the journey and the pitfalls along the way. Botha’s gesture and Skinstadt’s goosebumps are, one hopes, at least a step, however small, in the right direction on a long and winding road.
Oh god are we falling over ourselves not to offend the sensibilities of religious nutters again? You religion is your issue, stop holding others hostage to stone age ideas. Your religion is not an excuse any more.
Let Amla refuse the logo and then let him make up one 11th of the sponsorship needed from Muslim sponsors or sponsors that he deems acceptable and wear their logo instead. In fact let all players do the same.
The one thing you can’t do is blame SAB for being crass here. They are giving huge money to keep the sport alive and the players paid. If Amla does not like beer, that is his loss and his choice. It is his sensitivity that should be scrutinized and not SAB’s.
@Wodehouse, there are many who stopped watching professional sport because of the rampant commercialization that has created monsters like match fixing and generally taken joy out of the affair. I guess Amla wouldn’t be the only one targeted then..
@Michel, Botha has apologized. He must be commended. But things remain as they are.
@John, yes he fields next to the pitch, in a helmet. And when he is not there..how often do we see him? Its an observation, not a fact. I did not suggest that it was not a sincere apology. I said it was flawed, meaning that it was incomplete and needed to be interrogated. Nowhere in this piece do I vilify Botha’s intentions; I question the rationale.
@ Brent. thanks for reading as always Sir. I agree that character plays a role, but I think you are missing a vital point here. Amla needs to be judged by his performances as a cricketer, and if one likes his character, good for him. But in this case, it feels as if that his character/personality now earns him kudos and he is now respected as a cricketer and a human being. Who else is treated like that?
@Dave Harris, Hope you are well I don’t want television to focus on him, I just don’t think he deserves to be isolated or ignored.
I am glad I don’t understand what it takes to compete internationally, especially if it means balancing sucking the life-blood out of the masses on one hand and following govt recommendation to sponsor sport on the other hand.
A Truly inspiring brand and gesture.
I am glad you understand though (fancy coaching the Proteas? :P)
Azad: If Amla should only be judged on his cricket performance should the same not also apply to him? Should his primary job not be to play cricket and put his personal feelings/believes aside? (I guess this was partly behind Botha original objection)
Are we going to make the same argument for someone that refuses to play test cricket over a Sunday? The point being that it is unreasonable to expect cricket SA and sponsors to bend over backwards to accommodate players beliefs since they are participating out of their own free will and they fact that they are making a living out of it is due to the fans (which most I assume like beer alot)and sponsors. Following your same logic they are there to play cricket and entertain us that is it - not to advertise their religious believes or morality - that is a side issue.
So I agree his apology is flawed in terms of basing in on Amla’s character - it should have nothing to do with it but then I don’t understand why you then need to provide a character testimonial of Amla - it should not matter how good or bad of a Muslim he is, nor should it even matter if he is a Muslim. All that matters is that he plays cricket…
@Stephen Browne. Are the loads of “God fearing” Christians out there not also hypocrites coz we know how many sportsmen like to drink - not to mention the average “Christian” citizen who gets potted on Saturday and goes to church on Sunday.
A great article, Amla is a true ambassador for his faith and an all-around good guy. Alchol is the most evil drug of them all and advertising should have been banned long before it was for smoking!!
@John, yes he fields next to the pitch, in a helmet. And when he is not there..how often do we see him?
Would you rather have him in that position without a helmet so that we can see him better. Dude, this point that you have raised is ridiculous. Admit it. The notion that he is intentionally hidden from the camera because he is not sporting the logo is untenable. Maybe you should put in a request to the opposition players to hit the ball in his region a little bit more so that he can be on TV. Or maybe you could ask the producers to follow the ball and once it goes dead, they should pan to Amla. Come on. You are seeing a corporate bully where there isn’t one.
“I said it was flawed, meaning that it was incomplete and needed to be interrogated.”
Are we going to do that to every apology or are we going to stop at the sincerity of it? “Yes, I know your apology was sincere, good sir, but I cannot accept it because you apologized for the wrong reasons and thereby offended me even further”
At what stage do we just get over ourselves, put on our big girl panties and accept that whatever offense we feel was not meant that way. Or are we going to go to war over every apology, analyzing it and whatnot?
Totally agree with John. Azad has over-analyzed a simple apology, found stuff that really isn’t there. Sound familar? No? How about religious ideology; people always claiming to “see” and “feel” things that are in reality, not there at all.
To me, this whole rant is a cry - no, demand - for special attention to be shown to a particular religious group/segment who think they are being discriminated against. Look around the world, and you will see how this is all too obvious.
Some of the comments here concerning alcohol reveals a singular lack of critical thinking. If consumed in moderation, alcohol is not only extremely enjoyable, but has been shown to have some health benefits. Alcohol cannot be blamed for the lack of control and discipline in individuals. Don’t you realize how this argument could be used to blame any number of things that deemed harmful to human life? In some places in the world, the air is almost toxic; do you suggest all those inhabitants stop breathing? Crossing the street is pretty dangerous because of all the maniac drivers out there. DO you suggest everyone stops crossing the street? I could go on…
Hashim Amla is clearly a talented batsman; I personally admire his ability as a sportsman. However, the carefully stage-managed notion that his personal religious and moral preferences has anything to do with his talent, needs to be rejected with utter contempt. The two have nothing to do with each other.
Amla should not have been given this concession. He should have been treated like all other members of the team. No-one is asking him to drink alcohol. Where in the Quran or the aHadith does it say one must not wear the logo of a sponsor. There is no such a thing as Islamic cricket any more than there is a thing as an Islamic boat or Islamic soccer.
When playing for his country he is not representing Islam, his only concern should be for his country. SAB should have insisted that he wear the logo. It’s not as if they would be affected by a muslim boycott of it’s products.
A lot of SA christian batsmen seem to thank the Lord when they score a ton. Next thing they’ll be wanting to drag a great big cross around with them on the field.
Your religion should stay in the home and in the church, temple, mosque or whatever. People who parade their religious beliefs in public are infringing on my right to be free from religion.
What’s with the damn beard anyway, most muslims in SA seem to get along without it. Of course maybe some of the women are sporting beards under their veils. How come I can’t wear a helmet or balaclava in the bank but some muslim women (I assume they are women) can cover themselves from head to toe. It’s blatant discrimination agains motor-cyclists.
Azad Essa, my point is that Amla’s strong character makes him a good cricketer/sportsman. There are 100’s of talented sports people but only a few get through to the top and my contention is one of the important reasons is strength of character.
Eg a good SA golf pro told me that golf is 1% talent and 99% mental.
@Brent yes. does he need a stronger mental make-up than others? this is my question.
@Lenny alcohol on its own is not a bad thing. but on its own nothing is bad. but the facts/stats speak for itself that it is cause for much pain in this world. i have alcohol in my cough syrup. i didn’t say ban alcohol. I am suggesting it has no place in sport and aggressive advertising.
And your last comment on “stage management” is poignant.
@John This notion that he might be ignored on the field is not something I came up with whilst twiddling my thumbs sitting on a toilet seat. It was an observation, not a fact, discussed with me by numerous of people…Some of which don’t have any vested interest in Amla at all. I noticed it as well.
About the apology. If someone apologized to you on the WRONG premise, and you know it, is it good enough?
“Hey mate, thanks for your apology, but you still getting it wrong”
This is what this article is about.
It is not a question of sincerity. This is about RATIONALE behind the apology.
As I have said before, I do not doubt the sincerity of Botha’s apology.
Jeff, the irony of all democracies is that it inherently protects the rights of minorities. To suggest Amla’s refusal to have the logo plastered over his Test kit Islamices sport is ludicrous. He is not enforcing his personal values on the rest of the team, stadia or the UCB. He is rather a citizen of a country that ensconces the freedom of religion for the individual in itself. Why should Amla’s loyalty to the country be called into question as a result of his request not to wear a beer logo? Are Muslims not South Africans as well?
Your warped speculation on what may lie beneath a Muslim woman’s veil is crude, bigoted and quite frankly, boorish. Should motorcycle riders, or others , decide to wear helmets as a measure devotion to a faith, or the absence of it, Muslims should have no qualms about these people’s appearance in public. Their humanity too should not be subjected to conjecture by any other people. That some South African Muslim men choose to grow a beard and others not, is exactly that, their choice. You have no say on how Muslim men and women should manifest themselves in public. Being equal does not mean being the same.
Your comment, Jeff, in many ways corroborates this article. Far from being the happy clappy Rainbow nation that induces goose bumps, we continue to be a fractured nation mired in resentment over the freedoms democracy affords
Hi Azad, religion on its own is not a bad thing. But the facts speak for themselves; it has caused much pain and suffering in this world. I’m not saying we should ban it (although that would be nice), but it has no place in the public sphere.
He made an apology. How great. But let’s just see what the apology is based on, in the interest of understanding people and things better.
It is not meant to attack Botha or the sincerity of his apology but merely to expose the fact that people need to see this situation in a broader light.
The apology was based on a flawed reasoning. This is clear. ‘I support your decision now because your personality rocks’ is NOT the same as ‘I support your decision because I respect you for not wanting to promote alcohol’
The bottom line is – Anybody should be able to choose and be respected for not wanting to promote SAB…the humble, pious saint or the vile obnoxious racist. This should not matter.
Azad, I’m sorry, but I fail to see the logic of your criticism. It is a matter of opinion whether a sportsman should be judged on his character as well as his performance. Botha apologizes for prejudging Amla’s character as well as ability, having taken offence at his exemption from wearing the logo. The rationale of the apology is precisely the baselesness of prejudgement.
Even if it is a given that sportsmen shouldn’t be judged on their character, then it is still not illogical to apologize - for precisely that reason. Or are you simply saying that Botha did not in fact commit any real ethical transgression worthy of apologising for?
@Fathima
No flawed reasoning, I’m afraid. Botha apologised for prejudging Amla to be a “spoiled brat” when it turned out that he was in fact a truly devout Muslim who remained humble and gracious under the most trying circumstances. Botha’s supposed lack of respect for teetotallers is neither here nor there.
@Riya,
I too have the right to be free from other peoples’ religions. I also have the right to criticise other peoples’ expression of their religion in public spaces.
Muslims first of all are members of the umma. Only secondly are they South Africans, islam comes before country for muslims. Amla should have the right not to sport the SAB logo, but then he should be prepared to give up his place in the team, as his religious beliefs are being placed above that of the team. There should be no exceptions in a team. There are certain Christians who will not play for their country on a Sunday. Personally, I think they then should not represent the team at all.
I am not concerned with whether muslims have no qualms with the personal appearance of motorcyclists. My concern is that muslimsa are given privileges in a bank that does not apply to others. Just because a muslim covers herself does not mean they may not be a criminal. Now they may or may not be entering the bank for nefarious purposes, but why cannot the motorcyclist be granted the same privilege? A veil is no more a sign of morality and being law-abiding than is a motor-cycle helmet. After all women wearing the niqab have been known to blow themselves up, along with innocent people, in other parts of the world. A veil doesn’t make you moral.
@Riya
“Your warped speculation on what may lie beneath a Muslim woman’s veil is crude, bigoted and quite frankly, boorish”.
Because you don’t like my speculation doesn’t make it crude or bigoted. As stated in my previous post there of examples in the middle-east of muslims in niqab who have committed crimes far worse than bank robbery. Also some muslim men have been known to dress in niqab as a means to escape detection while involved in crimes. What do you think makes SA muslims any different merely because it hasn’t happened here yet.
Muslims have the right to wear the veil, but then they should have to remove it when they enter the bank, just as a motor-cyclist has to remove his helmet. It’s known as equal rights in some democracies.
People can manifest themselves in public however they wish, but then I also have the right to comment on their appearance, and even to ridicule it. The constitution doesn’t prevent me from offending people. If I think the niqab looks ridiculous I am entitled to my opinion. After all I think nuns look ridiculous too.
Of course there’s no rainbow nation where everybody respects everyone else. Try living in the real world not La-La Land.
@Azad, I notice an increasing flood of negative opinion about your faith on the net. Alone the eye-opening Geerd Wilders court case in the Netherlands with a worldwide audience will start an avalanche of wake-up calls. I’m afraid you are pushing a ‘product’ which becomes increasingly unpopular.
All comments must be approved by our editors, click here to read the editorial guidelines for comments. Please allow some time for our editors to approve your comment after posting.
profile
Azad Essa is a journalist at Al Jazeera.
He is also the author of a book called "Zuma's Bastard" (Two Dogs Books, October 2010)
Yes, it is the name of a book. A real book. With a kickass cover.
Click on the cover to find out more.
You know you want to.
or join the revolution:
www.facebook.com/zumasbastard
http://www.azadessa.com/about
Accidental Academic won best political blog at the South African Blog awards 2009 and is a finalist for 2010.
Azad's links
IOLS-Research Industrial Organizational & Labour Studies Research Unit, UKZN
In a dramatic turnaround, South African journalists have welcomed the proposed changes to the Protection of Information Bill and the Media Appeals Tri...
If you haven't sniggered, burped or laughed at the recent Zapiro-Muslim cartoon debacle then you probably had a very pleasant weekend. Other citizens...
Tens of thousands of Muslims marched through the streets of Paris yesterday to bid farewell to the burqa that is due to make its way out of French soc...
As racial tensions continue to rise over the murder of Eugene Terre'Blanche, and renewed concerns about the ability of black people to host thousands ...
I am at Moses Mabhida Stadium for a tour, when the cute journo I'm chatting to spots a giant leopard bobbing his fractious head for a couple of photog...
Loading ...
I don’t want television to focus on him, I just don’t think he deserves to be isolated or ignored. 
Sharp column, well said. I think SAB Miller would let Imraan Khan, Imran Tahir, Yusuf Abdullah and Hashim Amla not wear the logo because if they refused, their PR would drop lower than imaginable.however they would reconsider renewed the sponsorship with the Proteas.
(Report abuse)