Not in our name: Why the screening of “Roadmap to Apartheid” should go ahead
The article below was written by Liat Davis and Michael Moss, and appeared in the Cape Times.
In light of the recent controversy around ‘The Spear’, another front in the battle for freedom of artistic expression appears to be opening, this time at an establishment dear to many Cape Townians, the Labia Theatre.
The facts at stake are now widely known. In April this year, a documentary film, “Roadmap to Apartheid”, which apparently draws parallels between South Africa under apartheid and the conditions Palestinians are subjected to under Israeli occupation, was pulled from the Labia after its management learned of the film’s ‘non-balanced’ focus. The Labia reneged on the contract with the Palestinian Solidarity Group (PSG), purportedly because it would alienate Labia’s core clientele. Soon thereafter, the Right2Know (R2K) Campaign in the Western Cape attempted to mediate between the Labia management and the PSG to once more screen the film.
In its brief existence R2K has received enormous support from the Labia in staging fund-raising events. Furthermore, as one of the few independent cinema houses in the country, which has in the past bravely embraced perspectives that others have shied away from, R2K took the concerns of its management seriously. An agreement was struck whereby the documentary would be shown in June followed by a panel discussion on the claims made in the film with representatives from the Zionist Federation and PSG. However at the eleventh hour, after the Zionist Federation declined the invitation to participate, the film was once again cancelled. The management of the Labia, citing concerns over the sensibilities of their Jewish patrons decided it would not make business sense to screen the film. The Zionist Federation and the Labia management, unwittingly or not, assumed responsibility for the collective sensibility of South African Jews.
As progressive Jews and freedom-loving South Africans who strongly associate with Labia’s proud tradition of providing alternative perspectives, we reject the notion that any film which offends a group of people ought not to be screened. As custodians of the Constitutional right to freedom of expression, a right that thousands of this country’s noblest sons and daughters paid the ultimate price for- we cannot but hold such a view. We endorse the petition calling on Cape Town Jews to ‘defend our right to know and the good name of the Jewish Community’ that has been launched and already garnered several prominent signatures such as that of Dr. Max Price, Prof. Shula Marks and Leslie London. These individuals essentially believe that this isn’t about the Palestine-Israel debate, it’s about our Labia, which we have always looked to for brave decisions that broaden our world view, and enliven the debates that make our democracy function. We hold the Labia to a higher standard because it has long been a place where society’s most marginalised ideas – whether right or wrong or somewhere in between – can find sanctuary. Such a voice is worth a thousand soulless Nu Metro multiplexes.
As young South African Jews we subscribe to the ancient tradition that debate is central to our Jewish heritage. This scholarly tradition stretches back to the days when rabbis debated each other over the finest nuances in the Talmudic scripture. This rich tradition, of course not specific to Judaism, thrived on differing perspectives. We can disagree without being disagreeable. No movie should be able to strip us of our basic dignity and decency. It is this very notion, our commitment to the principle of kvod habriut – the dignity of all human kind that requires us to respect the differing views of others, even if they are views with which others may profoundly disagree. In fact this is precisely what recognising someone’s inherent dignity is about. Through dialogue and debate in an open and censorship-free society we can begin bridging the chasms that separate us. To this end, we call upon the Jewish community to reject the notion that the Labia management is acting in its name and allow this film to be screened at Labia.
Liat Davis and Michael Moss are supporters of the Right2Know Campaign and leaders of “Students Against Secrecy” at the University of Cape Town. The views expressed here are their own
