South Africans have come out in defense of their country after American lawyer and political commentator Alan Dershorwitz [1] called South Africa a “failed state [2]” while discussing the Oscar Pistorius [3] murder trial with Piers Morgan on news channel CNN.
The South African double-leg amputee runner fatally shot [4] his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14, 2013; the Olympian claims he thought she was an intruder.
Dershorwitz commented in the interview [5], “I’ve spent some time in South Africa recently, and people don’t want to hear this, but South Africa is a failed country.”
Watch Dershowitz make the assertion below:
South African economists immediately came out to dismiss his assertion [6], arguing that the South African state does not meet the factors that define a “failed state” such as widespread civil unrest, dysfunctional civil society, absence of an independent judiciary and a lack of protection for private property.
South Africans have taken to Twitter to express their outrage over and disapproval of his remark:
#Dershowitz [7] this trial has nothing to do with race stupid.
— Madidimalo Mabitsela (@MabitselaD) March 6, 2014 [8]
look at you own country before commenting on others Alan #Dershowitz [7] #loser [9]
— Benjamin vd Merwe (@Ben10rsa) March 6, 2014 [10]
@shyguy_2046 [11] SA is not perfect, far from it. Who is? But #Dershowitz [7] spoke from a place of ignorance and was condescending. That's the issue
— kayata! (@chiya_ninja) March 6, 2014 [12]
#Dershowitz [7] needs to watch less tv. He's on that ‘Africa is a country’ mentality. Law school clearly doesn't cure ignorance.
— kayata! (@chiya_ninja) March 6, 2014 [13]
#Dershowitz [7] aptly demonstrates genetic fallacy pervasive in #America [14];analogise #African [15] with villainy #SouthAfrica [16] http://t.co/KELL7COh2P [17]
— Progress4Afrika (@hustlechowindar) March 5, 2014 [18]
dear mr alan #dershowitz [19], south africa is far from a failed country. a developing country maybe, but not failed
— winford collings (@ScreamForKyle) March 6, 2014 [20]
#Dershowitz [7] argument epitomizes the attitude & beliefs that #Africa [21] is facing;it has more to fear from its “friends” http://t.co/KELL7COh2P [17]
— Progress4Afrika (@hustlechowindar) March 5, 2014 [22]
Some Twitter users took the opportunity to show Deshorwitz that the US is not a perfect state:
#Dershowitz [7] says you who lives in a country which lacks gun control and where kids are not safe going to school, can only be an idiot!!!
— LaziD (@Orbiter03) March 5, 2014 [23]
#Dershowitz [7], I'll rather have my SA with all its diversity and challenges than your American superiority complex. http://t.co/wd4pOGXwZ7 [24]
— Jacobus J. Retief (@KoosRetief) March 5, 2014 [25]
Americans make it difficult for the world to like them, and they have such a cool president! One rotten Yankee spoils the lot #Dershowitz [7]
— MVRTIVN (@K1D_Marz) March 5, 2014 [26]
#Dershowitz [7] calls us lawless and failed? America bombs countries and dictates to everyone. Sure say wot u like, not like America has morals
— Kerry Lanham-Love (@kerrylanlo) March 5, 2014 [27]
How does it feel living in a gun-crazy, capitalist, obese and obscene ‘god fearing’ nation Mr #Dershowitz [7] ?
— MVRTIVN (@K1D_Marz) March 5, 2014 [28]
@darrenmaule [29] #Dershowitz [7] how dare a crack head red neck openly abuse us as a nation!what about America and it's racial divide and crime?
— Shareez Bagaria (@shareezb) March 6, 2014 [30]
One user joked:
I guess we need America to invade SA and fix this #failedcountry [31], hey. Oh wait, we don't have oil. Darn. *takes a sip of wine* #Dershowitz [7]
— Clinton du Preez (@Cleintoon) March 5, 2014 [32]
However, a few agreed with Dershowitz:
Wow,so if I had to put my mind twitter with regards to the #dershowitz [19] interview then I would be so hated but to some “degrees”.HE IS RIGHT!
— Devron (@shyguy_2046) March 6, 2014 [33]
#Dershowitz [7] i torally agree with u SA IS A FAILED AND LAWLESS COUNTRY, criminals walk free even oscar wont go to jail though his a killer
— Thabang Gold (@thabangmc) March 5, 2014 [34]