The St Kilda rally isn’t an aberration. It is the natural conclusion of the moral and intellectual collapse of Australian conservatism.
Scott Morrison deserves some praise. It’s not often a half-hearted condemnation of neo-Nazis deserves plaudits, but achievement is relative – among Australian conservatives, unequivocal criticism of the far right now puts you well ahead of the pack. That’s about the lowest bar that you can set, but rather than stepping over it, much of the commentariat takes it as an invitation to a limbo contest. The same people always claiming that “everything is racist now” seem to have decided that nothing is, not even Roman salutes.
This is why Scott Morrison can attack the gestures on display on the weekend, but he can’t attack the sentiments: because they’re shared by people on his front bench. “I have repeatedly asked of the crime-plagued Sudanese in particular: who let them in?” asked Andrew Bolt, and that’s the loudest voice on the Australian right.
It’s true that not every local conservative is like this. But the exceptions are marginal, or powerless, or paralysed, or can’t seem to wrest the megaphone away from the bigoted.
The left-wing caricature of the right-wing is that their ideas are just a series of shoddy disguises for sexism, racism and homophobia, that conservatism is the natural home of “homophobic, anti-women, climate-change deniers”, to quote the federal minister for women, Kelly O’Dwyer.
Who can say, here, that this wrong, when so many are determined to prove it? Where else, in the English-speaking world, is still having controversies over Sambo drawings in the 21st century? If recent years are anything to go by, the difference between the right and the far-right in Australia isn’t some ideological gulf. Too often, it’s what people are willing to say after they’ve had two beers.
Tag: Racism
So excuse my cynicism when Scott Morrison took to Twitter to tell us “I thank Vic police for their efforts dealing with the ugly racial protests we saw in St Kilda yesterday. Intolerance does not make Australia stronger. Australia is the most successful migrant country in the world. This has been achieved by showing respect for each other, our laws and values and maintaining sensible immigration policies. Let’s keep it that way, it makes Australia stronger.”
Far from being strong on national security, you are jeopardising it by alienating and marginalising groups in our society.
You unleashed the hounds, Scott and you did it for cynical political advantage. And now we are reaping what you sowed.
If you care about a safe Australia, we must send this mob of shit-stirrers packing. Get back under your rock and let decent people work together for all Australians.
Israeli police estimate that there are hundreds of thousands of illegal guns among Palestinian citizens of Israel, a community suffering from under-policing and high levels of violence. Are the guns the problem? And what can be done about it?
via ‘Israeli authorities treat gun violence in our community as an Arab problem’ | +972 Magazine
Media generated racism and collective punishment isn’t this a case of vilification against the media and the local council? (ODT)
These online people didn’t get my meaning, clearly. I wanted to be elsewhere because in a place like Berlin I am not an Aboriginal person living under the unique circumstance of Australian racism. I state I’m Aboriginal overseas and people don’t tend to erase my history, they don’t deny my humanity and they don’t criminalise me. They tend to be interested and respectful. I’m not on the back foot, continually having to prove that racism exists, that Indigenous people experience the brunt of it via being the displaced traditional owners and that our lives matter.
In Australia Murdoch media the largest media group in Australia happily allowed Andrew Bolt promote and give a platform to Southern, and Molyneus and News Corp did the same with Blair Cotteral why? The purpose is to increasingly fragment us culturally rather than allowing us to unite economically the difference between democratic equity and fascist constraint Internationalism and Nationalism (ODT)
In Austria this year a state-level branch of the ruling far-right Freedom Party of Austria proposed a new law requiring Jews to register with the government if they wanted to buy kosher meat (the same rule would apply to Muslims buying halal meat). One of the party’s candidates in January’s national election had stood down after it was revealed he was a member of a fraternity whose songbook included lyrics about killing Jews, including “step on the gas, we’ll manage the seventh million”. He claimed not to have read all the pages.
In Germany, the increasingly popular far-right party AfD recently disciplined some of its local politicians for exchanging Nazi and anti-Semitic imagery and messages on WhatsApp. There are police guards outside Berlin synagogues and violent attacks on Jewish children in German schools.
via Anti-Semitism on the rise in Europe along with racism in general
WE MAY LIKE TO tell ourselves we are not a racist country in Australia, but let’s face it, a lot of Australians are racist. They may not all be neo-Nazis, but they are racist nonetheless. In New Zealand, our nearest neighbour, they celebrate Maori culture with the haka at major events such as the football. In Australia, we have inquiries into black deaths in custody while booing and racially vilifying footballers who celebrate their indigenous culture from the sideline. On one hand, we celebrate cultures like Italian and Greek with food festivals and celebrate Chinese culture here with colourful festivals involving dragons and traditional dancing. But on the other hand, we celebrate Lebanese culture here with the Cronulla riots. Of course, we now look back on the Cronulla riots as a dark day in our history and we’ve come a long way since right?
Both sides of Government have labelled Fraser Anning’s maiden speech ‘appallingly racist’, saying it was incumbent on all politicians to at least give the impression they’re not inflaming race issues to garner votes.
via Government Denounces Blatant Racism, Calls For Return To Thinly Veiled Racism – The Shovel
Another Bolt from the white Right
Let’s be clear. Bolt’s language about Jews is redolent of the past. In response to the article, the President of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria, Jennifer Huppert, said that there was ‘a rise in ultra-right-wing activity in Victoria and this type of activity can fuel antisemitic, anti-Islam and general racist debate and language in our community.’
The Australian Jewish Democratic society expressed their anger and then stated:
In response we say to Andrew Bolt and white supremacists everywhere: we are not interested in assimilating to White Australia. We are not interested in being subjects of your racist attacks. We – as migrants, as people who have lived in this country for a long time, as people who have faced racism and antisemitism of so many different guises over such a long period of time – are here to tell you that we will win and you will lose. Your vision for how society should operate will never succeed. We will continue to work with other others to ensure that a strong, cohesive, anti-racist, justice-based society is the future for “us” all.
Bolt also attacked the descendants of 1950s immigrants. He wrote that in Five Dock, Sydney,
‘ … one in seven residents still speak Italian at home.’
Clearly, Andrew Bolt’s othering is all-embracing — from white Jews and those speaking a foreign language to Muslims of any colour and brown and black people.
Five years ago, when I began my term as Race Discrimination Commissioner, I wouldn’t have said it was likely that we would see the resurgence of far-right politics. I wouldn’t have expected that the biggest threats to racial harmony would come from within our parliaments and media.
Race looms large. It’s there in the panic about “African gangs”, the warnings about multiculturalism veering into “ethnic separatism”, the questioning of a non-discriminatory immigration policy, the alarm about foreign influence by China.
Debates about such issues help set the tone for our society. They have made some groups in our society more vulnerable than ever to racism. In Melbourne, for example, Sudanese-Australian leaders have spoken about how members of their communities fear being targeted. Many are fearful about leaving their homes.
This is how racism works. It creates doubts and divisions – and it forces its targets into retreat. And where the seeds of racism are planted in political speech, they bear bitter fruit in society.
And it’s false to charge that calling out racism is an act of national disloyalty. Anti-racism is in fact an expression of patriotism. We fight racism because it diminishes our nation. We fight it because it is an assault on our values and our fellow citizens.
Southern’s far-right associations, her promotion of the key ideas of white ethnonationalism, and her willingness to become directly involved in racial provocation should give us pause.
So, too, should the willingness of News Corporation’s daily newspapers to promote her.
Perhaps it’s no surprise that Andrew Bolt railed about her visa problems. Nor that Miranda Devine had Southern on her podcast to talk about how antifa and Muslims cause her immigration woes.
But earlier puff pieces about her visit, and op-eds defending her in regional newspapers, suggest that News has a disturbing inability to distinguish between ordinary, conservative provocateurs, and those adjacent to white nationalist or fascist movements.
This fits with a pattern on the Australian right. Nevertheless, should News later condemn those who protest against Southern’s appearances, we should remember their role in defending Southern, and advertising her shows.
Nato is both a rip-off and very strong. Theresa May’s Brexit plan is both pathetic and terrific. Trump’s interview with the Sun was both fake news and generally fine. Trump has all the consistency of Katy Perry’s Hot N Cold, except when it comes to two things: immigrants and Vladimir Putin.
Immigration is where Trump’s journey begins and ends: the message running all the way through this stick of rock. Trump told the Sun that immigration in Europe was “a shame”. Why such concern? “I think it changed the fabric of Europe and, unless you act very quickly, it’s never going to be what it was and I don’t mean that in a positive way.”
But just in case anyone had any doubts, Trump took his explicit nativism several steps into more sinister territory on Friday while standing next to the British prime minister. When asked about his “fabric of Europe” comments, Trump began by talking about terrorism, before explaining his thinking.
“I just think it’s changing the culture. I think it’s a very negative thing for Europe. I think it’s very negative,” he said, as if we didn’t hear him the first time with the foghorn. “And I know it’s politically not necessarily correct to say that. But I’ll say it and I’ll say it loud. And I think they better watch themselves because you are changing the culture.”
Let’s drop the euphemisms: Donald Trump is a racist president | Opinion | The Guardian
Australia’s Conservatives will love this
Public figures including a Labour peer have called for the BBC to cancel the programme, saying rebroadcasting the speech would work to normalise racism.
The original speech was delivered by then Conservative MP Powell to a Conservative Association meeting in Birmingham.
via BBC ‘normalising racism’ by broadcasting Rivers of Blood speech
Running from Apartheid Dutton not to another Apartheid
I am a white former South African living in Australia, grateful every day for my citizenship. But I am here because, partly, of an unearned privilege. I’m a refugee with a gold-class ticket: I have white skin and I speak fluent received pronunciation English.
“‘Caucasian race’ is the name of the white minority that sits at the summit of human hierarchy. This christening occurred in 1775 at the hand of Johann Friedrich Blumenbach.” [Emphasis added]. Thank you, Eduardo Galeano, and the word in Italics is quite appropriately emphasised.
Blumenbach was a German physician, naturalist, physiologist and anthropologist, whose teachings in comparative anatomy were applied to his classification of human races, of which he determined there were five.
Five years after Cook’s ‘discovery’, and three before Phillip’s ‘settlement’, Blumenbach “saw humanity as a five-story pyramid. On top, the whites. Over the next three floors, the races of dirty skin marred original purity.”
via The dangers of appeasement (Part 1) – » The Australian Independent Media Network
Holmes claims that she agreed to give Matthews $70,000 to help build a retreat center on an unused piece of land, which she did. But Matthews claims that she agreed to give him between $1-2 million, and continued to SUE her for the remaining funds after she refused to pay him more.
via Struggling Mom Wins The Lottery And Donates $700,000 To Local Pastor. Then He Sues Her For More…
He was only doing what Andrew bolt does for a job
Complaints about racist remarks made by the disgraced head of Victoria Police’s own Professional Standards Command were lodged more than a decade ago, but Brett Guerin continued to be promoted through the ranks, The Age can reveal.
Mr Guerin resigned in disgrace on Monday evening, after The Age published details of shocking racist and obscene comments he made under the online pseudonym “Vernon Demerest”.
via Disgraced senior ethics cop subject of previous racism complaints
As things stand at the present, Australia’s Constitution does not recognise Indigenous or Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ prior occupation and custodianship of their land.
Actually, section 51(xxvi) allows special laws to be passed to the disadvantage of Aboriginal people, and section 25 enables state laws to disqualify people of a particular race from voting at state elections.
An expert panel recommended to remove sections 25 and 51(xxvi) and adopt new sections:
1) Add Section 51 (A) to recognise Aboriginal peoples’ occupation of the land and continuing relationship with lands and water. The section would also pay respect to culture, language and heritage, and state that the government can only make laws to the benefit of Indigenous People.
2) Add Section 116A specifically to prohibit racial discrimination for all Australians. It would forbid any government from discriminating against a person based on race, colour, ethnicity or national origin.
3) Add Section 127 (A) for recognition of languages and to acknowledge and protect the role that languages have in Aboriginal communities.
via A belated ‘Recognition’ and a ‘new policy’ (Part 2) – » The Australian Independent Media Network
Hundreds if not thousands of Bedouin are having their citizenship revoked seemingly for no reason, according to ‘Haaretz.’ Shocking as it may be, it’s not surprising. Citizenship has never provided non-Jewish Israelis with the same security it gives their Jewish compatriots. Imagine going to renew your passport or change your official address and after a few minutes of pattering on a keyboard without looking up to see the human being in front of him or her, a government clerk informs you that you are no longer a citizen of the only country you have ever known. The country of your…
Source: Israel is systematically revoking Arabs’ citizenship. Don’t act surprised | +972 Magazine
Seven more African-American Fox News employees are expected to join two black colleagues who are suing the network for racial harassment from former comptroller Judy Slater and accounting director Tammy Efinger, according to a new report from New York magazine’s Gabriel Sherman.This escalation in Fox’s legal troubles comes amid lo
Source: Nine Black Employees Are Now Suing Fox News For Racial Harassment
The unpopular proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act are likely to fail, just like the Turnbull Government.
Source: Amending the Racial Discrimination Act: Making bigotry great again!
Over 5,000 people marched in Tel Aviv in one of the largest Arab-Jewish demonstrations the city has seen in years. Over 5,000 Arab and Jewish demonstrators from across the country marched together on Saturday night in Tel Aviv against home demolitions and in support of equality for all. The demonstrators called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan to step down, after months of incitement against Palestinian citizens of Israel. The demonstration was organized by a large coalition of organizations and political parties, including “Standing Together,” Hadash, Meretz, “Yad B’Yad,” “Sikuy,” and others, was the largest…
Source: Thousands of Palestinians and Jews protest gov’t racism in Tel Aviv | +972 Magazine
And how to reform our bigoted brains.
Source: The Science of Why Cops Shoot Young Black Men | Mother Jones
A white nationalist ethnostate. A secret D.C. party. Many chilling revelations.
Source: My Journey to the Center of the Alt-Right – The Huffington Post
Boris Johnson has been accused of “dog whistle racism” and “base politics of the worse kind” after remarks about Barack Obama’s Kenyan heritage – as Nigel Farage echoed the controversial comments.
During a segment on drug incarceration, Fox News’ Eric Bolling suggested the higher incarceration rates for African Americans are not about race, but instead because “blacks committed more of the same crimes.” From the April 22 edition of Fox News’ The O’Reilly Factor:BILL O’REILLY (HOST): I feel very
Source: The O’Reilly Factor Peddles Racist Myths About High Incarceration Rate For Drug Violations
Nader Galil discusses Adam Goodes’ fight for a tolerant multicultural Australia and argues that if we can get this right, our reward will be an identity that will stand firm.
Source: Racism or placism?
A new study by the Coalition Against Racism in Israel reveals that the vast majority of Israelis believe their society has become more racist over the past two years. By Yael Marom Over half of…
Source: One in every four Israelis experienced racism last year, poll finds | +972 Magazine
Successive Israeli governments since 1948 are responsible for the institutionalised discrimination against Palestinians.
Cleaning services are being promoted to potential clients in north Tel Aviv with a flyer that prices its cleaners according to their ethnic origin. The advert also refers to its employees in the feminine only.…
Source: Tel Aviv service offers cleaners priced by ethnic origin | +972 Magazine
A terminally ill woman is gaoled for unpaid fines of $3,622 and, rather than receiving urgent medical care, is treated with derision and contempt before dying.
Source: Inquest into death of Ms Dhu in police custody exposes institutional racism
Black Lives Matter activists say five protesters were shot by white supremacists who had previously threatened them
Source: Five people shot at Black Lives Matter protest in Minneapolis: Police – Salon.com
The Australian arm of Mensa – the organisation for those with an unusually high IQ – held its annual Christmas get together in locations around the country this weekend.
Filled with chants, flags, and discussions about metaphysics, the gatherings were a chance for members to catch up and discuss their favourite equations.
“Often we feel like outsiders. So this is a wonderful opportunity to mingle with like-minded people, throw around some literature quotes maybe, or just count in prime numbers for a while,” member Dave Jenkins said. “They close off the streets for us as well, which is nice”.
Mr Jenkins can be seen in the picture above pointing out which chapter of Mensa the group is representing. “We have a bit of friendly rivalry with the other chapters,” he joked.
Fellow member Jack Short said the conversation at the Christmas functions can get quite heated. “Oh yes, there’s a lot of shouting. Get a couple of hundred fervent Einstein fans in the one place and there’s bound to be a bit of passionate debate!”
And you wonder why Congress is so homogeneous?
Australia’s racists will be forced to look further afield for their paraphernalia, after they were left with no choice but to boycott retailer David Jones.
The department store – which yesterday confirmed footballer Adam Goodes as an ambassador – said sales of flag capes and singlets had already plummeted. “That section of our stores was very quiet yesterday,” a spokesperson said.
Melbourne man Jonno Waite confirmed he will no longer shop at David Jones, but said it had nothing to do with the fact that Adam Goodes was Indigenous. “I just don’t like the way he ambassadors,” he said.
He insisted he had not singled out Goodes. “I boo lots of sports people who make ads. Loads. Just can’t think of any right now”.
Lesley Williams, 68, suffered racial discrimination as an Aboriginal mother raising three kids alone. Her daughter, Tammy, 37, is a barrister who has recorded her mum’s stories for a new book.
Aussie Racism – it’s time to Stop. Think.…
Political commentator Andrew Bolt said recently that Australia is fundamentally not a…
![Aboriginal people in Australia often feel the government acts unfairly towards their communities [Getty Images]](https://i2.wp.com/www.aljazeera.com/mritems/imagecache/mbdresplarge/mritems/Images/2015/7/12/05a6591ca5f2411289732965d688d9fb_18.jpg "Locking up Aboriginal children in Western Australia")
It’s just a coincidence that the only player we abuse is an outspoken Aboriginal man, a section of AFL fans said today.
“It’s got nothing to do with his skin colour. If Goodes was white – and wouldn’t it be a little bit less threatening for everyone if he was – I’d still boo him, probably,” one fan said.
Another fan said the booing was purely to do with the dual Brownlow medallist’s on-field antics. “It’s got nothing to do with being Aboriginal. If he toned down his theatrics – and perhaps his skin colour – there wouldn’t be a problem”.
“It’s got absolutely nothing to do with the fact that he doesn’t play the role I’ve decided I’m comfortable with an Aboriginal man playing, and nothing to do with the fact that he needs to just pull in his head a bit and be thankful for everything this country and this sport has given him. It’s because he stages for free kicks,” another said.
But one fan said it wasn’t just Adam Goodes who is booed, claiming booing was part of the game. “I’ll boo a player for a quarter or so if he’s hit another player, or for a lifetime if he’s hit a nerve”.
White Australians will advise non-white Australians as soon as they start being racist, it has been decided.
“This is a good system that removes any confusion,” a spokesperson said. “At the moment we’re not being racist, but we’ll let you know if that changes. We’re experts on this, so there’s nothing you need to worry about”.
Another spokesperson – who has extensive experience in the racism area – strongly agreed. “I understand that this can be complex for some people – it is a little tricky if you’re not experienced in this kind of thing – but we’ve got it covered, ok?”
He said there was no need to get all uptight. “What’s important is that we take the emotion out of this issue and just stick to the facts. That way we can just get everything back to normal”.
