Paul Simon Graceland Controversy Analysis

I have never been a fan of Paul Simon’s music. However, the best song off his Graceland album would be, “You Can Call Me Al.” The song has a memorable tune where I can “bob” my head to it. The song holds meaning. It is about becoming aware of your surroundings, which I can easily associate myself with. I have always been drawn to lyrics that make me self-aware.

The Paul Simon Graceland Controversy was about how Paul Simon was going against the apartheid boycott. However, in his mind, he was still protesting against apartheid because he hired black musicians or artist to perform with him. The people of South Africa did not see it that way. The only way a boycott works is by having everyone boycott. Even if that means, breaking all ties with …show more content…
I think it serves as a lesson to remind us of the wrongdoings we have committed in the past. It makes you feel that you were a part of it, which helps with the healing process. The question asks if the TRC dispensed justice? It depends on how one would define justice. If justice is defined as retributive then no, it was not served. I feel that if I were an individual who lived during the time of apartheid, I would want the perpetrators to be punished for what they did to my family, my friends and to me, but that would bring satisfaction for only me not for others. Justice is served for everybody or for nobody. However, if justice is defined as restorative, then it was dispensed because humanity could be seen working interpersonally instead of one group overruling the other. It ended apartheid and that is what matters most. I think Bishop Tutu’s arguments for Restorative Justice and the TRC was convincing because if we do not forgive others, then we let the past dictate our future and that can lead to a life of destruction. One of my favorite quotes from the Lion King reflects this situation, “The past can hurt. But […] you can either run from it or learn from …show more content…
Retributive Justice inflicts punishment on the wrongdoers. Ubuntu means, in the simplest terms, humanity to others. We are humans through other humans and we cannot become humans alone. Our humanity is to assists one another, when an individual’s humanity is enhanced another’s is enhanced as well. Bishop Tutu says that we cannot become fully human without Ubuntu. Anything that has a negative impact on the good in our lives holds us as prisoners and no one would be able to move on. Therefore, Bishop Tutu says that accepting the concept of Restorative Justice is the only means of restoring relationships since humans need