The simple statement, 'God is for us', is in truth one of the richest and weightiest utterances that the Bible contains.
J. I. PackerRead
Crime is fast destroying the moral fabric of South African cities, and is becoming a major threat to South African democracy as well as the prominent manifestation of a "class war" that is largely a continuation of the "race war" of yesterday.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Crime undermines the ethical foundations of society and poses a significant risk to democracy.
Achille Mbembe's quote highlights the detrimental effects of crime on the moral integrity of South African cities, suggesting that crime is not just a social issue but rather poses a significant threat to democracy. He draws a parallel between contemporary crime and historical socio-political conflicts, indicating that the current struggles can be viewed as a continuation of past 'class' and 'race' wars, thus inviting a deeper examination of social justice and equality in South Africa.
Themes
CrimeMoralityDemocracySouth AfricaSocial Justice
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about urban development, one might cite this quote to emphasize the importance of addressing crime to ensure democracy.
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