In Fauzi Nawawi’s Rape Joke, We See the Sickening State of Our Culture
A sick culture is reflected in jokes about sexual assault, which don’t take them seriously.
The events that transpired surrounding Fauzi’s comments about the deleted scene from Anak Halal where he jokes about a scene that was eventually cut from the film were extremely telling of how much further down the slope towards indecency and insensitivity our society is willing to go.
Fauzi’s comments were not just an isolated incident, but a glimpse into the kind of mindset that some people have nowadays, where they are so disconnected from any kind of morality or basic human decency that they can openly joke about such a serious subject like sexual assault.
Of course, Fauzi had no problem with making the comment in the first place, because he was so disconnected from the very real damage and hurt his words could cause; after all, it was just a joke to him.
Malaysia has a long way to go before it can be considered a just and fair society, and there are still many forms of discrimination that are deeply ingrained within the fabric of our culture. The fact that Fauzi could make such a comment shows how much work still needs to be done in terms of educating people about sexual assault and the effect such comments have on victims.
This is why it is so important to take these kinds of incidents seriously. They aren’t jokes. They are a real problem that exists in our society, and these attitudes need to be eradicated at the root.
The issue with Fauzi’s comment is two-fold. The first issue is that it makes light of the very real problem of sexual assault that occurs all too often in our country. The second issue is that by making such a ‘joke’, Fauzi has inadvertently made the already difficult process of speaking out about sexual assault even harder for victims of such crimes.
The normalisation of such attitudes within society can have devastating effects on victims of sexual assault. There are many reasons for this, and how it occurs is a topic that is best left to experts in the field, but the most important thing for us to understand is that it does have an effect, and that effect is always negative.
Making light of such crimes and painting them as a joke only makes it harder for victims to speak out about the issue, because quite frankly, they already face enough social pressure and stigmatic harassment as it is; they shouldn’t have to face victim blaming and scepticism as well.
This is why it is so important to not make light of such issues, and to take sexual assault victims seriously when they do speak out about their experiences. Not only does it help the victim feel like they are being supported by society, but it also helps to create an environment in which victims feel safe speaking out about their experiences.
The issue of free speech and it’s limits is a complex and difficult issue to grapple with. But one thing that shouldn’t be up for debate is the fact that joking about a serious crime such as sexual assault, which causes additional trauma to victims, and makes them feel like they can’t come forward without being judged, isn’t something that should be done in any civilised society.
Of course, Fauzi has the right to say what he wants, but it’s our right to condemn him for his thoughtless words. It’s our right to ostracise him from the public eye so that he will no longer have the platform to speak such words. It’s our right to shame him from the national stage so that he can learn that his behaviour is unacceptable.
And it is our right to do this, not because we are taking away his freedom of speech, but because we are exercising our right to prevent a person who spews such vitriol from continuing to have a voice in this country.
Our freedom of speech, our right to criticize, our right to protest — these are the rights that guarantee his. Without the freedom to disagree, there is no freedom of speech.
So, while he has the right to say what he wants, we have the right to condemn him for it, and we will continue to do so until he finally learns to keep such thoughts to himself. This applies to everyone, including the public figures that we look up to.
The ability to learn from your mistakes and express remorse for them is what separates a mediocre person from a great one. Fauzi has apologised for his mistake, and it is up to us to either accept or reject his apology and move on.
But for now, we should condemn any jokes about sexual assault and other forms of harassment. We should condemn those who make them as well as those who laugh at them, because by doing so, you are contributing to a culture where victims of sexual assault and harassment will feel too afraid to speak up, lest they be mocked and ridiculed.
If we truly want to be a civilised nation, we need to learn that there are just some things that shouldn’t be joked about. Of course, freedom of speech is a double-edged sword, and it can be used for good or bad, but it’s our responsibility as citizens to ensure that it is used for good.
As for Fauzi, I hope he learns from his mistake and stops making such tactless remarks in the future, although I doubt he will, considering he has yet to truly express remorse for his actions. The fact that he mentioned that “I do not want to prolong this issue any longer” suggests that he is more focused on ending the controversy rather than actually reflecting upon his behavior.
Doesn’t he realise that this is actually an opportunity to learn and grow as a person? It’s such a waste…
Well, I can only hope that one day, he will finally wise up. As for us, the next time we hear or witness a sexual assault or any other form of harassment, let’s make sure to do something about it.
We need to hold ourselves to a higher standard. We need to aspire to be better than what we are now.
Let’s make this world a better place for us and for the generations to come.
It is said that those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. Let us make sure that this does not happen.
