169 comments

1. James MasonJanuary 18, 2017 at 7:40 am

   Well said Trish .. Racism , in fact any form of bigotry, is being “judgemental”. Judgemetality means judging others by our own standards. In other words a person being judgemental thinks that they are the perfect example of a human being and all others should do as they say and do .. It’s egotistical, self righteous and mentally abhorrent and is ABSOLUTELY un-Australian.. I grew up with the idea that as an Australian I accepted others for what they are, not what I expected them to be …

2. Arthur TarryJanuary 18, 2017 at 7:44 am

   Our indigenous people have been telling us for ages about racism in Australia. It is deeply entrenched, widespread but frequently covert. Hansonism represents the worst of our national identity.

3. 245179January 18, 2017 at 7:46 am

   Hanson is poison…….

4. David GraceJanuary 18, 2017 at 7:57 am

   I feel your despair, and share it. But I’m not going to allow these dangerous fringe radicals define what Australia is. We have to become the true conservatives…the people who hold the vision of Australia that was forged to begin with in some of the remarkable legislation and judicial decisions of our early federation…universal suffrage, old age pensions, the Commonwealth Bank, the Sunshine Harvester decision, that established the basic wage…absolutely ground breaking, and then the amazing things we did as Australians after WWII…building a world leading social security system, having a time when it was possible to dream that things could only get better, and the the glorious dawn ushered in by Whitlam, universal health care, enlightened divorce laws, an Australia that looked wit confidence to the world, and knew it could hold its head high.

   I’ve painted my picture in positive bright colors, and I know there are very dark hues to balance them in our history, but there is already too much despair in those who love our Country, and we need to know that we have so much to value and conserve, and not allow the dangerous radicals to take over our beloved country.

   It’s time to be Conservative and proud and ensure all the values fought for so hard by so many are not trashed. It may be time when we have to fight ourselves…

5. ZathrasJanuary 18, 2017 at 8:16 am

   Perhaps a billboard showing couple of people wearing white hoods would be more reflective of Hanson’s Australia.
   It’s becoming more a day of National shame and contrived jingoism than a celebration of pride and unity.

   Hate is still hate, no matter how neatly it’s wrapped up in a flag.

6. helvityniJanuary 18, 2017 at 8:54 am

   Hanson might be poison, but I ask why are so many Australians willing to help her to spread her poison…?

   Why, in the first place, vote someone like this simple, uneducated ‘fish and chips’ woman in ?

   Good article, Trish, welcome back.

7. dragonnannyJanuary 18, 2017 at 8:58 am

   It is very difficult to write a comment and not appear biased or even racist or what ever one might call it. I was surprised to see the billboard photo, and while it wasn’t `offensive’ it did bother me. Perhaps a mix of different people – not just two Muslim girls – might have gone basically unnoticed. People are filled with hate – probably for a variety of reasons – an lash out when something doesn’t sit well with them. I don’t know it if is due to Hansonism rantings that people are so ready to react hatefully. I see similar comments on Facebook from people in other countries who do not have Hanson mouthing off at them constantly. My opinion, which is not hugely informed or educated on matters such as this, is that it is probably due to the actions of the radicals Muslims overseas that people now think Muslim = terrorists. It may not be so bad if these groups weren’t killing and bragging about their `conquests’ that is fuelling any fire all over the world. I wish I could remember an article on some kind of US news site about welfare overpayments ( like here) and the writer ended the article using the word `terrorists’ rather than Muslims. It is all over the world not just in Australia that people think and react as they do………… this is just an opinion based on observation, not researched and studied………… though it is interesting that in my Hons year at uni 20 yrs ago I got into a Religion and Theology course and saw bias and bigotry first hand in tutorials etc and I applied for that course to learn more about religion in every day life, and the next year Sept 11 happened…………. and life all over the world changed………and the perpetrators were Muslim and so it all began…………… Hanson joins in but she didn’t start it in my opinion. Thank you for reading this, I don’t comment often but I don’t think Hanson deserves all the credit for the current wave of hatred in this country.

8. RossleighJanuary 18, 2017 at 8:59 am

   And why do they keep putting Hanson on “Sunrise”?
   I’m not suggesting that we go down the path of those who had the billboard taken down or saying that she should be banned, but it does seem funny that the head of a party that attracted only a few percent of the votes. Why not head of The Greens or the Family First party?
   Is it the hope that she’ll say something that’ll attract the sort of controversy that’ll bring them viewers?

9. Terry2January 18, 2017 at 9:00 am

   A Hijab, a Niqab an Akubra or a Turban even a Hard-hat : amazing how we define people by what they wear on their heads.

   The advertising spinners who designed this campaign probably knocked back portraying a Burka clad woman : not photogenic ?

   A lot of hypocrisy going on here and these little girls have been exploited

10. Kaye LeeJanuary 18, 2017 at 9:03 am

    This morning’s post on Hanson’s facebook page….

    Did you have any idea the number of countries around the world that have some type of ban or are planning to ban the burqa?
    Here is a quick look a just a few, Egypt, Malaysia, Tunisia, Netherlands, France, Belgium and Germany, I could go on.
    Why are so many of our politicians refusing to see the truth of this matter and instead give weak excuses and try to wiggle out of their responsibilities with pathetic spin?
    Anna Palaszczuk has said that she doesn’t understand why the burqa should be banned. Maybe she should look at why so many other countries, including many majority Muslim countries, have decided to take a strong stand against this evil tool of oppression.
    Many others also said that the burqa wasn’t a problem because they had not seen many people wearing a burqa. That’s probably because it can be a bit difficult to see what’s going on outside if you never leave your office or bother to roll down the window of your air-conditioned limousine.
    I’m sure many of you would know from personal experience that the burqa is becoming more common than many people would want you to believe.
    The truth is the burqa is both an evil tool of oppression against women, both young and old, and an extreme risk to national security.
    It is time for strong leaders to take a stand and say NO to the burqa.
    Pauline Hanson’s One Nation will take the lead on this.
    #PaulineHanson #OneNation #Burqa #BanTheBurqa #Netherlands #France #Belgium #Germany #Palaszczuk

    A selection of comments…..

    Muslims should be banned not just one part of it.

    Ban it and those who want to wear it, they are proven Neanderthals

    Just shoot the grubs

    Hooray finally someone with sense fit in or f…..k off

    Please push for it to be banned Australia wide Pauline. & if they defy the laws / rules / regulation/ legislations then deport them back to their country straight away…oh but u were born here you say? Well spend time in jail. Just like every other australian citizen who breaks the law. F#@k sharia law, this is Australia! Abide by our laws!

11. DenisJanuary 18, 2017 at 9:27 am

    It seems that a rather small minority of people can be taken seriously and more amazing that business are so afraid of them. Every time they succeed at getting their own way, they are given more power. In the last few weeks a very small petition managed to shut down the screening of “The Red Pill”. I think it is about time that businesses stopped pandering to these low life.

12. helvityniJanuary 18, 2017 at 9:34 am

    Some years ago the Italian , now global, fashion house Benetton had wonderful ads depicting people of all colours and races wearing their clothes, and their slogan was/ is The United Colours of Benetton….That’s Italy for you, here in Oz two sweet-looking girls in headscarves on billboard is too scary ,too avant-garde, for some.

    dragonnanny might have liked it better too… 🙂

13. Michael FaulknerJanuary 18, 2017 at 9:44 am

    As leader of the One Notion Party, the Ipswich zealot Pauline Hanson, wants to ban the burqa in Queensland, and in so doing, ensure that state retains its unenviable status as the skin cancer incidence capital of the world.

14. Michael TaylorJanuary 18, 2017 at 10:25 am

    this is Australia! Abide by our laws!

    Kaye, it looks like some of Hanson’s supporters know little about the law.

15. Miriam EnglishJanuary 18, 2017 at 10:30 am

    Good to see your return Trish.

    Please forgive my long reply. I think it’s too important a topic to trim any that I say below.

    The push to conform is strong. It seems to become even stronger when people are uncertain or scared. It’s like sheep herding more closely. Hanson, in her morally and intellectually stunted way, intuitively understands how to pull people together when they feel threatened and how to increase that feeling of threat by making people believe difference is the enemy. Unfortunately we now know that conformity is extremely dangerous. It is one of the great threats facing us. It makes crowds of people act stupidly and crazily (think of lynch mobs, riots, and book-burnings). It poses great risks of stupifying our society and driving it to make truly insane decisions. The only way to make a crowd smart and sane is to increase its diversity. With sufficient diversity a crowd can actually become smarter than the smartest person in the crowd. James Surowiecki, in his brilliant and readable book The Wisdom of Crowds explained this with many, many clear examples.
    James Surowiecki – The Wisdom of Crowds (audio)

    Diversity of genes makes for a healthy population. As humans we are already appallingly inbred, with dismally low genetic variability over our entire species. This is extremely dangerous. It means a single disease could have 90% or even 100% mortality. Diversity protects populations against disease, parasites, predators, and environmental change. This is why mongrel dogs are generally much more healthy than “pure” breed dogs. It is why biologists become alarmed for the survival of a population of animals when their genetic diversity drops too low. It is why the Cavendish banana may die out — it is a clone, so has no genetic diversity and is being wiped out by a fungus that they are all vulnerable to. We need to welcome what precious little genetic diversity exists among humans. It needs to be seen as valuable.

    Economically and culturally we see over and over again that the most advanced science, arts, and thinking come from places where many different kinds of people meet. Those places have historically become rich in money, in culture, and in science. It only makes sense. Diversity puts people in contact with many more ideas and ways of doing things. Richard Florida showed in his book The Rise of the Creative Class that what made a city wealthy and attracted smart, capable, creative people was not football stadiums, or low taxes, it was social diversity. People went where there was a vibrant social environment, with many kinds of restaurants, thriving street performance, talks, opportunities for education, and with relaxing parks. Surprisingly, the best indicator he found for whether a city would attract wealthy, talented creators and investors was the richness and diversity of their gay and lesbian subcultures. It wasn’t that those people were specifically attracted by gays and lesbians, but that this was a barometer of diversity and acceptance of diversity.
    Richard Florida: The Rise of the Creative Class (youtube video)

    In the early 1960s many experiments with rats found that raising them in an enriched environment instead of a boring one increased the thickness and complexity of their cerebral cortex — that’s the part of the brain that we mammals do our thinking with. Increasing the diversity of the people, customs, forms of dress, kinds of music and art, and lifestyles helps to make each of us smarter individually by enriching our environment.

    If people like Pauline Hanson, Tony Abbott, Cory Bernardi, and George Christensen (all startlingly unintelligent people) are able to force diversity from Australia then we will all suffer for it — genetically, intellectually, culturally, financially. Worst, we risk our society becoming stupid and insane.

    We absolutely need diversity.

16. Kaye LeeJanuary 18, 2017 at 10:32 am

    Michael, the post went up an hour ago and it already has almost a quarter of a million views and thousands of likes. It is truly scary seeing how ignorant and hate-filled these people are and there are a lot of them.

    https://www.facebook.com/PaulineHansonAu/

17. Keitha GranvilleJanuary 18, 2017 at 10:34 am

    Terrorists are Muslims, therefore all Muslims are terrorists.
    Let’s extrapolate that.

    The rapist was a man, therefore all men are rapists.
    The child abuser was a priest, therefore all priests are child abusers.

    Inset your own ridiculousness here.

    This list is never ending.

    We should feel pity for Pauline, she will spend her whole life hating so many people for no reason, therefore she will be hated – what kind of life is that ?

    Fight back with love and with humour – the Australia Day video that starts with the First Australians on a beach and ends up with every nationality under the sun enjoying a bbq on the beach, brilliant.

    We all live here, for whatever reason, and if we all just got on with each other it would be an amazing country, the envy of the world.

18. HarquebusJanuary 18, 2017 at 10:35 am

    I’ll have to finish reading this later but, just on that billboard, what I see are children whose innocent trust has been taken advantage of by religion. Brainwashing Indoctrinating minors to religion is child abuse.

19. Michael TaylorJanuary 18, 2017 at 10:38 am

    Kaye, the saving grace is that it’s the original video that has had that many views (from the original news site, and not Hanson’s page as she was only sharing it). The ‘unsaving’ grace is that it’s had nearly a quarter of a million views anyway.

    We’re watching a train wreck. People are jostling for position.

20. ZathrasJanuary 18, 2017 at 10:38 am

    So, as a taxpayer funded member of Parliament, what are the important issues that must be addressed for the good of all Australians?

    Increasing overall employment?
    Providing opportunities for our youth?
    Addressing budgetary issues?
    Maintaining and improving the health of the community?
    Environmental issues?
    Resolving disability problems within the community?
    Planning long-term infrastructure requirements?
    Addressing matters of national defence?
    Maintenance of regional and international diplomatic relationships?
    Investigating current and future trade opportunities?
    Home ownership opportunities for future generations?
    The multitude of other outstanding socially divisive matters?

    Isn’t that we are paying them for?

    Apparently not.

    All those pale into insignificance when it comes to the important issue of confecting and generating social outrage over religious and cultural freedoms.

    Get rid of images of girls wearing scarfs from a billboard and everything else must surely follow.

    Her recent statement about Drivers Licences with covered faces was either a deliberate lie or a genuine display of ignorance and demonstrates she’s even uglier on the inside.

    Hate and bullshit may have gotten her into power but won’t keep her there unless she actually achieves something worthwhile.

    Clive Palmer was also seen as a saviour to many.

21. Michael TaylorJanuary 18, 2017 at 10:40 am

    Btw, I haven’t had a chance to read the article yet, Trish, but the title is a real grabber. It’s brilliant.

22. Carol TaylorJanuary 18, 2017 at 10:44 am

    One thing Hanson hasn’t considered, nor probably wants to consider is how do you frame a law defining what people should or should not wear? If you specify Muslim dress then it’s discrimination on the grounds of religion. You would therefore have to ban all forms of religious dress. Or do frame a law specifying the quantity of clothing that a woman can wear? Or specifying the amount of clothing a woman can wear from the neck up? I shouldn’t imagine that Hanson would object to women wearing floor length dresses.

    Therefore , let’s concentrate on the neck up. What about a hat and a neck scarf, might they not cover a similar portion of the head to that of Islamic dress? Then it’s the eyes. These must be revealed at all times.

    Therefore under this law of Hanson’s, she would basically make it illegal to simultaneously wear a long dress, a hat, a neck scarf and sunglasses. Good luck with that Pauline….

23. NotahansoniteJanuary 18, 2017 at 10:47 am

    It would have been better to put up MORE billboards featuring the two girls than to whimper and cower at the Hansonites’ threats and pull down one inoffensive billboard – what a pack of cowards for not standing up to the Hansonite bullies.

24. PhilJanuary 18, 2017 at 11:24 am

    Hanson’s star is rising for now as she rides the thermals of collective ignorance and prejudice but it’ll burn out soon enough. It’s an interesting exercise to project Hanson’s views, policies and rhetoric onto a fiction of Hanson as prime minister. The contradictions, calamities, calumnies and catastrophes coalesce to become catatonic, the the crisis culminates in mass cauterising of the suppurating sore.

    Many Australians, egged on by profiteers in the corporate media, are intentionally flirting with danger when they use the intellectually barren Hanson to prod the system they perceive as acting against their interests. They are correct in seeing the system like that but their choice of weapon to prod it will blow back and damned hard.

    Good on the marketing company for posting the billboard. Sure,take it down because the terminally offended can’t take it but the message of tolerance and acceptance has been received. Thanks.

25. PhilJanuary 18, 2017 at 11:35 am

    I tips me hat to the marketing company that developed the billboard. Good wishes and happiness to the little girls depicted whose sweet, innocent images on the billboard resonated with me as to what is so good about this nation of immigrants.

26. jimhazJanuary 18, 2017 at 11:53 am

    I support the removal of the billboard. It is propaganda. And all this crying over the girls feelings is the fault of the billboard creator QMS who knew what would happen and were just seeking free advertising for the company.

    The problem with it is that that it only shows muslims – not muslims mixing with Australians.

    We should never promote Australia as having a significant muslim population.

27. kerriJanuary 18, 2017 at 11:56 am

    Been keeping an eye on the twitter banter between Pauline and Lee Lin Chin!
    Oh my! Pauline has no hope against The Chinster.
    Nor do Pauline’s staff have a hope against Lee Lin’s staff!

28. Kaye LeeJanuary 18, 2017 at 12:19 pm

    jimhaz, can you tell me what an Australian looks like?

29. Jack StrawJanuary 18, 2017 at 12:40 pm

    I agree with you (Harquebusjimhaz) religion is child abuse.

30. BeeTee-EssJanuary 18, 2017 at 12:43 pm

    Good question, Kaye!

31. Carol TaylorJanuary 18, 2017 at 12:53 pm

    Isn’t it amazing how people are all about making judgements on behalf of others, this applies equally to those who force a religion on others to those who decide that others shouldn’t be permitted to follow the religion of their choice. Headscarves on little girls applies equally to those of the Muslim faith as as does to the little Brides of Christ. Why the outrage against one but not the other?

32. Carol TaylorJanuary 18, 2017 at 12:57 pm

    One thing the RWNJs hate ferociously is anyone of any race other than their own depicted as just a regular Aussie. How dare young Muslim girls be depicted as happy and smiling, the only acceptable portrayal of anyone of the Muslim faith or indeed other races is what ever Bill Leak churns out.

33. Sam GreeneJanuary 18, 2017 at 12:58 pm

    I would hope someone could pass on my best wishes to the two beautiful little girls with the wonderful smiles .

34. helvityniJanuary 18, 2017 at 1:01 pm

    I was baptized in a Lutheran (Protestant church), it was custom of the place. Neither of my parents were anti or pro religion, at the school we learnt about all religions, it was hardly child abuse, anymore than putting scarfs, hats, hijabs, or beenies on your children’s heads….

    Catholic hubby gave his faith away as a teenager, why do people believe that every hijab wearing little girl is going to be a devout Muslim all her life….

35. ZathrasJanuary 18, 2017 at 1:08 pm

    I agree that religion is poison to civilised society and the indoctrination of children is indeed a form of child abuse but some people are simply unable to accept that there’s a difference between religion and culture and blame entirely one on the other.

    However the main problem in society is not religion but intolerance.

    Also, late last Saturday night I saw three semi-clad, very drunk and heavily tattooed “all-Aussie girls” urinating in the gutter of the main street. Is that more typical of our local culture?

36. corvus boreusJanuary 18, 2017 at 1:18 pm

    Carol Taylor,
    I am pretty sure that Harquebus (and probably Jack Straw for that matter) is quite capable of hating, with equality of opportunity, all the different variations of children being intrusively and involuntarily subjected to absolute religious indoctrination.

37. Miriam EnglishJanuary 18, 2017 at 1:59 pm

    Yep, damn Audrey Hepburn.
    http://www.thepropmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Audrey_25.jpg

38. Miriam EnglishJanuary 18, 2017 at 2:11 pm

    Oh no! Grace Kelly must have been a Muslim!
    https://itstartswiththeveil.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/images-5.jpeg

    And Audrey Hepburn shows her evilness.
    https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/b1/7f/1c/b17f1c4817280746b1ee8c942295a6b0.jpg
    http://www.thriftynorthwestmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Dollarphotoclub_91812505.jpg

    And Elizabeth Taylor!
    https://itstartswiththeveil.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/images.jpeg

    OMG! They’re everywhere
    http://www.ziba-blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/head-scarf-style.jpg
    http://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/photo/bright-eyed-young-nun-with-companions-high-res-stock-photography/171099061

39. Miriam EnglishJanuary 18, 2017 at 2:37 pm

    Holy Mother of God!!! Noooo!!!!
    http://www.stephenandmary.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/virgin_maryd-150×150.jpg

    She was a Muslim and a Jew at the same time???

40. helvityniJanuary 18, 2017 at 2:38 pm

    Older country women in Europe have worn scarfs for yonks, Greek and Italian widows dressed in black from head to toe , be it winter or summer…

    In Finland the country women wore woollen headscarves in winter, summertime they were changed to cool and pretty cottons…
    Russian babushkas had their beautiful woven floral scarfs…

41. Miriam EnglishJanuary 18, 2017 at 2:42 pm

    To those who would jump to conclusions of religion based upon dress, shame!

42. Kaye LeeJanuary 18, 2017 at 2:55 pm

    Father Rod is such a good man

    

43. Kaye LeeJanuary 18, 2017 at 2:57 pm

    And here are Hanson’s followers trying to disrupt his service

    

44. jimhazJanuary 18, 2017 at 3:04 pm

    [jimhaz, can you tell me what an Australian looks like?]

    Just bad wording. I should have said “other” Australians.

    I wonder what the list of names would read like were there another Granville Train disaster. Possibly zero English names.

    It would be nothing like this.
    http://www.parramattasun.com.au/story/4389834/remembering-granville-40-years-on/

    Some of us are tired of being strangers in our own land.

45. jimhazJanuary 18, 2017 at 3:05 pm

    [Father Rod is such a good man]

    Its just cross-religion promotion.

46. Kaye LeeJanuary 18, 2017 at 3:11 pm

    Wrong again jimhaz. Father Rod despises injustice and intolerance of any kind. He is a fervent defender of refugees and gays and has a voice on many things.

    

47. jimhazJanuary 18, 2017 at 3:13 pm

    [Also, late last Saturday night I saw three semi-clad, very drunk and heavily tattooed “all-Aussie girls” urinating in the gutter of the main street. Is that more typical of our local culture?]

    Becoming so because over-immigration has been an indirect factor in taking away the trend to becoming more sophisticated. Bogans are not getting wealthy enough to settle into a more sophisticated lifestyle and not poor enough to be forced to work as in developing countries. Housing costs are forcing them out into areas where there is little work or entertainment to do.

    The main reason for this form of behaviour is the one-upmanship of the entertainment media (mainly US) – each new teen movie or reality show or youtube clip or left or right article has to outdo the previous in terms of being outrageous and this provides so many bad behaviour examples for the young.

    Over-immigration does not help as it means the government does not have to attend to these bogan problems -if we want more workers we can just get nicely compliant ones from migration. Also where immigrants don’t fit in that well in our service economy we create new boganlike groups such we see with a noticeable percentage of young middle eastern men.

    Another reason is that levels of personal freedom are now higher than ever before. Parents now have the freedom to not learn how to parent and apply discipline and many don’t.

    Another reason is the affect of drugs, not just at the time of taking, but how they change the way people think. Drugs have also led to public toilets being closed.

48. Kaye LeeJanuary 18, 2017 at 3:15 pm

    You want us all to be called Goolagong and Namatjira? Or Smith and Jones? FFS what a ridiculous thing to say. I suppose you were horrified when they revoked the aboriginal marriage laws.

49. jimhazJanuary 18, 2017 at 3:15 pm

    OK Kaye, if you promote “Muslim pride” what will eventuate?

50. jimhazJanuary 18, 2017 at 3:21 pm

    [You want us all to be called Goolagong and Namatjira? Or Smith and Jones? FFS what a ridiculous thing to say. I suppose you were horrified when they revoked the aboriginal marriage laws.]

    It is the extremely high DEGREE of change over that period. Just like adding too much sugar to a cup of tea, its been overdone and is now sickly – we will drink but not really enjoy it.

51. Kaye LeeJanuary 18, 2017 at 3:30 pm

    I have spent my life trying to instil pride in every child I have had dealings with. Their religion is absolutely irrelevant to me.

    WTF does it matter what someone is called? Or what they wear? Can you please tell me why you feel like a stranger in your own country? How has your life changed because a very small percentage of the population follow a certain faith?

    Why are you ascribing the economic woes of the nation, which could be very easily fixed if our capitalist masters so chose, to Muslims? It is not their fault that our government has so skewed the investment market towards property concessions for the wealthy that no-one can afford a first home. It is not their fault that our government has chosen to offshore many of our entry level jobs. It is not their fault that robotics are replacing people.

    Personally I very much enjoy our multicultural society and my many friends and family who come from other countries and cultures. Diversity is a good thing, I pity those who live in irrational fear

52. helvityniJanuary 18, 2017 at 3:38 pm

    Pauline Hanson was married to a Polish refugee Walter Zagorski, if she would have died in Granville train disaster, her name on the list would have un-Anglo, Pauline Zagorski.

    The Father of those two lovely girls could a REAL Australian, and their surname could be Smith.

    You assume too much, jimhaz, put Pauline on billboard and see if all real or unreal Australians will be happy.

53. Kaye LeeJanuary 18, 2017 at 3:42 pm

    Who is more dangerous to our society – those two beautiful little girls or Pauline Hanson and her band of haters?

54. ShoganJanuary 18, 2017 at 4:05 pm

    No wonder the Hansonistas & Reclaimers were pissed off, you’re supposed to use the flag to cover your face, how un-Australian not to assimilate as a racist bogan!!

    “Definitely Satire by Anna Quay”

55. jimhazJanuary 18, 2017 at 4:11 pm

    @ Kaye,

    [I have spent my life trying to instil pride in every child I have had dealings with. Their religion is absolutely irrelevant to me]
    Well it had to be irrelevant didn’t it. You’re a teacher. Wouldn’t last long if you did.

    Religious pride is different from other forms of pride, such as self-rpide or gay pride or aboriginal pride (and I’m not convinced this latter one has not been overdone, thus become harmful)

    [WTF does it matter what someone is called? Or what they wear?]

    The former doesn’t matter much – my example was just that an example of how much things have changed.

    We all know what you wear counts for a lot if you want to progress in a service dominated work environment that we now have. It creates first impressions and such impressions tend to stick.

    Personally being anti-religion I’d rather not know they are muslim. I find it arrogant that they should think I should be forced to recognise with their idiotic rote learnt beliefs.

    [Can you please tell me why you feel like a stranger in your own country?]

    Only 10-20% of the people I now work with were born here. I have caught trains to work where the carriage mostly Asian (and I now effing hate garlic or the smell of miso – many asians as a cultural/historically poor thing wash less frequently). Over 80% of the shops in my suburb are run by Asians. On the weekend I had the thought when at the mall “this place is now pretty much entirely Asian – I’d be better off pretending that I am an immigrant to Asia”. Luckily I like perving on Asian women – they are more feminine :).

    I find the average immigrant I work with to be quite boring. Conversations rarely have the oompf or the easy understanding of those when prior workplaces had only 30% immigrants.

    There are lots of reasons – but pointless to go into as they’ll all be twisted in your heads or simply discounted.

    [How has your life changed because a very small percentage of the population follow a certain faith?]

    My comments were about all immigration, not just this more backward group.

    [Why are you ascribing the economic woes of the nation, which could be very easily fixed if our capitalist masters so chose, to Muslims?]
    My comments were about all immigration, not just this more backward group.

    [It is not their fault that our government has so skewed the investment market towards property concessions for the wealthy that no-one can afford a first home. It is not their fault that our government has chosen to offshore many of our entry level jobs. It is not their fault that robotics are replacing people]

    Am I really blaming them or just explaining they make it easier for all those things to occur? You will not emotionally accept that they do, but I they do you know. I’m not actually anti-immigration, just immigration that creates higher than a maximum of 15% overseas born at any time.

56. jimhazJanuary 18, 2017 at 4:21 pm

    [Who is more dangerous to our society – those two beautiful little girls or Pauline Hanson and her band of haters?]

    Try and find a fairer comparison. You could for instance compare the owners of Islamic schools they might go to to the Hanson party. The former frequently rips of taxpayers and must in some way lead into higher level of religious subservience thus setting a few more up for terrorism. I don’t recall any muslim deaths from Hanson supporters, perhaps some mosque burning.

    in any case, my original point was that the billboard did not actually show unity – but separation by not being secular. I didn’t object to what they wear wearing – which I don’t like, but don’t care that much about as I’m quite used to it. It is only full face covering I reject outright.

57. jimhazJanuary 18, 2017 at 4:27 pm

    [You want us all to be called Goolagong and Namatjira?]

    Not a bad idea actually. Aboriginal names are fairly cool.

    Much more variety than Mohammed.

58. Matters NotJanuary 18, 2017 at 4:28 pm

    jimhaz, you can’t be for real. So many logical contradictions in so few words.

    So ‘taking the piss’ would be unfair.

59. havanaliedownJanuary 18, 2017 at 4:34 pm

    The sign was disrespectful to the girls by obscuring most of their faces.

60. jimhazJanuary 18, 2017 at 4:46 pm

    Point one out or your put down matters not .

61. MNJanuary 18, 2017 at 4:48 pm

    Would there be such an outpouring of hate if a billboard featured two nuns dressed the way Audrey Hepburn was dressed in the film titled “The Nun’s Story”? The head wear looks very similar to me – just saying!

62. helvityniJanuary 18, 2017 at 4:51 pm

    jimhaz , I’m not interested in conversing with you but who according to you are the REAL Australians, the Aboriginal people or the convicts that Mother England shipped here… What about the offspring of the coupling of those two…???

63. Michael TaylorJanuary 18, 2017 at 5:00 pm

    Some of us are tired of being strangers in our own land.

    I don’t see any strangers in this country.

    People who are racist or xenophobic might. As would ‘nationalists’.

    But I’ve never seen any.

    Though I have seen multiculturalism. And I’ve seen people exercise their religious freedom. I’ve seen people of coloured skin. I’ve seen the rich, the poor, the young, the old. I’ve seen people who dress differently. I’ve heard people speak in tongues not native to Australia. I’ve even heard people speak ‘native’ Australian: Pitjantjatjara, Adnyamathana, Njaranderri.

    Yep, seen all that, but still haven’t seen any strangers.

64. jimhazJanuary 18, 2017 at 5:08 pm

    [I’m not interested in conversing with you]

    Nor I you.

    A real Australian would be anyone who would define themselves to be so when asked.

    I’m not sure about you – you seem to have greater longing for Finland than here.

65. Michael TaylorJanuary 18, 2017 at 5:14 pm

    helvityni seems Australian to me.

66. Carol TaylorJanuary 18, 2017 at 5:15 pm

    Zero English names? Perhaps such as Costello, Jenkins, McDougall or Murphy? Call the Cornish, the Welsh, Scots or the Irish “English” then you’re not going to be popular. But perhaps you mean “white” rather than English. Our family, English, Welsh, Italian, Lebanese and Indigenous. Clearly different sides of the family inherited surnames from depending on their line, equally Australian but only the side of the family with the English surname would be acceptable.

67. jimhazJanuary 18, 2017 at 5:26 pm

    Was just having a dig. I think I recall she said she would like to move back there recently (could be misrecalling though)

    Of course she is Australian – she was a fan of Bob Ellis 🙂 I recall from Ellis Tabletalk – who barred me pretty quickly as I keep calling him egotistical.

    And come on Michael. There must have been many times when you worked in the Aboriginal domain where you were at public service meetings with all whites – where you felt you had so little in common with them.

68. havanaliedownJanuary 18, 2017 at 5:27 pm

    Australians can’t stand busy-bodies, know-it-alls, snobs or grandiose, hypocritical, effete wankers.

69. Max GrossJanuary 18, 2017 at 5:42 pm

    Protofascism – new fascism – is here

70. havanaliedownJanuary 18, 2017 at 5:49 pm

    How to tell if you’re a Fascist: examine how well one copes with differing opinions, and those that argue their point with unpalatable facts

71. Gangey1959January 18, 2017 at 6:07 pm

    A short and very pissed off letter to Poreleen ‘Ansun
    I would first like to add my apologies as an Australian adult to the two young ladies in featured on the billboard for the vile comments made in their direction. When I look beyond what they are wearing, I reckon that if they were in bathers at the local pool or at the beach no-one would pick them as anything but kids.
    The problem with you, the despicable ms hanson, and your acolytic maniac hangers on is that you are utilising the current socio-economic mess in which Australia is currently wallowing, caused directly by the ministrations of a succession of federal governments which have decided that the ”trickle down” monetary method will eventually see those of us at the bottom get enough scraps to keep us from taking what we really need to survive from those with way too much by force. ( It isn’t working mr prime minister, and just a heads up, but you had best get you and yours to the caymans pdq)
    You, poreleen, are just busy pointing out to all and sundry that there are people around who are ”not quite us” (aka muslims), so it must be their fault.
    Two things, you dopey scrag.
    1 :OED Definition of ”Australian”. NOUN. A native or inhabitant of Australia, or a person of Australian descent.
    2 :OED Definition of ”Muslim”. NOUN. A follower of the religion of Islam.
    Given that, a person either is, or is not, Australian. (It is a birthright. You are either one of the best, or you can pretend)
    Being a muslim is a choice, just the same as being a catholic, or a red sea pedestrian, or a klansman, or a politician.
    Therefore, get off their case, and let them be kids and wave their flags and celebrate Australia day however they like. They are as Australian as I am, regardless of where their parents are from.
    We normal Australians, and by that I refer to people with more than one connected brain cell (unlike yourself and your nutjob followers) who can disseminate reality from bullshit and who realise that picking on a minority group and blaming anyone else is easier than fixing the real problems because that gets your name in the papers, and a few more free flights around the country, and uncle voldemurdoch will give you a bonus after you have sold enough of his gutter tripe for him, are tired of the garbage spewed by you and those who sound as if they think like you, like p dudone, scooter moronscum, imadumic hunt and the mad monk, et al. Stop blaming small children for what you have f*cked up. (Look further up your own food chains at your own wearers of funny hats if religions are the problem,and start at the top.)
    Next time you have some left over hot air, or if you want your head stuffed further up your arse, come and talk with an Aussie who has been here for a couple of years longer than you, instead of picking on two school kids.

    Yours.
    A voice of reason.

72. Kaye LeeJanuary 18, 2017 at 6:33 pm

    ” Luckily I like perving on Asian women – they are more feminine ”

    And you wonder why some women choose to wear veils.

73. Graeme HenchelJanuary 18, 2017 at 6:37 pm

    This gofundme campaign to reinstate these billboards has raised $60000 in 6 hours and is growing by the minute.

    https://www.gofundme.com/aus-day

    Hansonism must be challenged.

74. jimJanuary 18, 2017 at 6:59 pm

    What Jimaz says. Australia day isn’t about religion then why the religious head scarfs ? some here should research the No Go Zones popping up all over Europe. And Sweden now Rape capital of Europe. my guess is the Liberals let this happen for a purpose =Terrorism .

75. Kaye LeeJanuary 18, 2017 at 7:11 pm

    Why do people insist on talking about other countries? This is Australia. We don’t have the same problems that other countries have. Our migrant settlement program is much better than other countries. We help people start new lives…or we used to until Hanson and that fool Brandis made it ok for the bigots to crawl out from under their rocks to bray their bs out in the open.

76. jimJanuary 18, 2017 at 7:12 pm

    A show on SBS last night called The Feed I started to watch it but in the first 5 min “the Government has a plan to stamp out radical islamist” over and over The government has a plan to….. again and again it’s a show aimed at teens so soon to be voters. Like only the LNP have a plan right.

    I’d be pissed if it were a nun or the pope on the board as well.

77. Loretta StoneJanuary 18, 2017 at 7:37 pm

    JUST – SO – ASHAMED. If this is “real Australia” then I no longer wish to be associated with that title. Put the billboard up everywhere. FU to the 4.1% of “Stayans” who are way over represented in the media. Go and educate yourselves you illiterate bunch of narrow minded idiots. Maybe then you will see that not so many people think like you after all.

78. helvityniJanuary 18, 2017 at 7:57 pm

    Graeme Henchel, we donated some, I find Dee Madigan an intelligent and compassionate person and she is worth our support in her fight of the spread of Hansonism…

79. Gangey1959January 18, 2017 at 8:13 pm

    I wonder how many billboards will end up being put up. Suck on that, you redneck morons. You can’t stop real people giving a shit.

80. paulwalterJanuary 18, 2017 at 8:35 pm

    What a gutless act to remove the photo from the billboard.

81. RoswellJanuary 18, 2017 at 8:43 pm

    Kaye, the reason people talk about other countries is because horrible things happen in those countries and if we don’t watch ourselves (meaning listen to Pauline) then all those nasty horrible things will happen to us.

    Capiche?

82. Kaye LeeJanuary 18, 2017 at 8:55 pm

    If they keep victimising, alienating and isolating minorities they are far more likely to be the cause of a problem than the solution to one we don’t have. I am amazed that Hanson hasn’t been shut down by the intelligence community who are the first to tell you that the Australian Muslim community are our main defence against the crazies.

83. paulwalterJanuary 18, 2017 at 9:05 pm

    It is something medieval (us, not the scarfs), some day they will laugh at us like we laugh at 16th century village oiks dunking witches in ponds.

84. Miriam EnglishJanuary 18, 2017 at 9:24 pm

    No Go Zones popping up all over Europe. And Sweden now Rape capital of Europe.

    There are a few ignorant racist people commenting here (thankfully only a few), but this comment really pisses me off. Not only is it bitterly racist and illogical, it is also wrong.

    The “No Go Zones” were shown to be a complete fabrication by the media pushing a racist terrorist line.

    For the Sweden rape assertion, the reality is a little different than you might think. In Sweden rape is given a much wider definition than in other countries. Also Swedish women have a higher tendency to report the crimes to the police. Rapists who are refugees actually appear to be under-represented.

85. LOVOJanuary 18, 2017 at 9:35 pm

    One wonders if’n the National Anthem will be sung with pride on this, soon to be here, Australia Day.
    A day when Australians come together as one people. An inclusive day…..
    A day that people that came from across the seas and made a life on ‘our’ endless plains to spare can all join in with the refrain Advance Australia Fair…
    I donated Graeme.

86. jimhazJanuary 18, 2017 at 11:04 pm

    [If they keep victimising, alienating and isolating minorities they are far more likely to be the cause of a problem than the solution to one we don’t have]

    We should not however simply ignore the imperialistic nature of the muslim religion, not that you’ll accept it exists. We reject the power grab of the Bernardi crowd.

    There is a massive difference between the billboard and the actual picture. They are at poles. You should not be merging the two – but you all are!!

    (I’m assuming the billboard image was not one fleeting image in a photo sequence on Australia Day).

    The anger should not be directed at the minority that is the Hanson supporter – but the irresponsibility of the company who put up the billboard. They are using your type in this. It is a red flag to those who feel the country is being slowly invaded – as it is under the Dynasty of Economic Biggus Dickus – but they would have felt the bleeding heart side would come to their defence, portraying it as an act of “good acceptance”.

    Due to terrorism and civil war and caliphate uprisings, over zealous imans and religious based clothes, Muslims will naturally be a cognitive association focal point for this justifiable feeling of being invaded, but the feeling stems from the total affect of consistently high immigration. Non-metropolitan folk show are seeing “multiculturalism” spread to their territory, and people who already feel “victimised, alienated and isolated” by their lack of success in this cruel, uncaring, capitalist world, would feel anger at the billboard image.

    Why stir them up? It was irresponsible to publish the billboard in that fashion.

    I find some of the concerns of Hanson supporters to be entirely justifiable and see why it is rational for them to feel that way. Unfortunately they do not investigate the true causes. They resort to ideology in much the same way as any softy that would consider this worthy of donating to, is doing.

    You need to get that many people feel the left are like “rabbits under a spotlight” – totally oblivious to what will occur next. There is a parallel here with the far right. One side loves the social, giving and motherly feeling from helping others by maximum immigration and the other loves the $. On both sides they have morphed into social idealogies/dogma equal in power to that of religion. The spotlight blinds strategic thought.

    Lets see if there are retaliations if more misleading billboards are produced. They are the sort of people who will react at some point if you rub it in their face. Gosh maybe another 1% will join the Hanson IRA.

87. Matters NotJanuary 18, 2017 at 11:23 pm

    Sometimes I think that some people ought to ‘get out more’ – travel overseas, experience different cultures, meet new people, encounter a different ‘common sense’ and realise that their view of the world is just that – ‘their view of the world’. Limited and all that.

    Then again, I am aware that many people don’t want to even consider escaping the limitations of their own backgrounds – their inherited circumstances. That they choose to remain ‘ignorant’ in many ways is a blessing. There’s already too many ‘ugly’ Australians out and about in the wider world. We should keep our ‘uglies’ here – behind closed doors with the blinds drawn.

88. wamJanuary 18, 2017 at 11:50 pm

    You don’t need to be a hansonite or a racist to object to little girls dressed to prevent the sight of their hair offending god and inciting the lust of earthly men.
    Why, trish, do you think ‘these little girls will never understand that all they did wrong was to exist as Australians’?
    Are they to be married before reaching high school? It is not that long ago ethnic girls were taught that school was a waste of time because marrige and mothehood coincided with puberty.
    Jew based religions are consistent in their fear of women and the men make sure women are indoctrinated to fit the mould and not educated to a level of escape.

    kaye a good man can be wrong. The burqa is a social imposition on women by the men of pakistan’afghanistan it is not religious yet but when ignorant men and his women allow men to put it into islam then all women will be dressed.

    I wonder if the gosford guru knows about the iranian chador or saudi niqab or nigerian abaya. I wonder if his ‘GOD thinking, means he has never even thought about societies that impose restrictions on women.

89. Kaye LeeJanuary 18, 2017 at 11:51 pm

    “We should not however simply ignore the imperialistic nature of the muslim religion, not that you’ll accept it exists.”

    Can you name one religion that isn’t hellbent on beefing up its numbers? You want to talk missions?

90. Kaye LeeJanuary 19, 2017 at 12:00 am

    Pre-1961

    “the marriageable age in Australian states and territories was the same as the age of consent: 14 for men and 12 for women. However, in 1942, Tasmania raised the marriageable age for men to 18 and for women to 16; Western Australia followed suit in 1956 and South Australia in 1957.”

    wam, I understand what you are saying re the burqa and the motivation to cover up. I think the burqa is a non-issue because I don’t believe it is worn here. The lust thing needs more examining because women here ARE subjected to unwanted attention even though it shouldn’t be so.

    As for Father Rod, he is a peacemaker. I am sure you would get a more nuanced view if you chatted with him but I like the impact his slogans make. I think he just wants us all to get along.

91. Matters NotJanuary 19, 2017 at 12:01 am

    Can you name one religion that isn’t hellbent on beefing up its numbers?

    Indeed! Perhaps go further. Why does the ‘democratic’ West spend so much treasure advancing a particular and peculiar definition of ‘democracy’ when the outcomes are evidenced by increased inequality?

    Are citizens just stupid? Or ignorant? Or both? Or perhaps simply distracted by ‘head coverings’?

92. JexpatJanuary 19, 2017 at 12:19 am

    Matters not: I cannot agree more with what you’ve written. (January 18, 2017 at 11:23 pm)

    The only thing I might add with regard to all of this is: anti-racism campaigners need to think several moves ahead and think strategically. Buying onto a QMS billboard was sure- sure as flailing a red flag before a snorting bull, to garner a reaction. That’s what billboards are for- to promote and garner a reaction. That’s their communication purpose.

    Familiar example are: “you’re hungry, eat here, next exit” or “you’re tired, stay at Snooze Inn, up the road.” It could be “buy and sell real estate- we’re good at it” or hey, “this candidate in the election is serious… ” etc.

    What reaction was aimed at here, as a whole? Perhaps the notion that “we’re all one” sort of thing- but that’s a checker player’s game, especially in the current environment.

    Now, if baiting the Hanson sorts into (what they obviously would do) was the immediate goal- goal achieved, with the counterplay of decrial (which we’re seeing, and which is fvcking righteous -in the best sense) was the goal, it might wise to consider:

    When this dynamic- back & forth- gets going in the current environment, it has repeatedly proven destructive to the very cause(s) that so many of us support.

    IMHO: there’s a there are much more effective ways to get where need to go. Chess board being what it is- not what we wish it was.

    That part comes later.

93. LOVOJanuary 19, 2017 at 12:26 am

    Jimhaz and wam, you guys are just so halal….yooze are…thats a fact….dinkom ?….I’d take the piss outta ya, but I see ya to busy already doing that to yourselves…oi..oi..oi..

94. Kaye LeeJanuary 19, 2017 at 12:27 am

    Jexpat,

    I agree billboards are there for impact. You see the impact as deliberately inflammatory. The Hansonites have regularly said if you come to this country you must fit in. Here are two little girls whose parents have brought them out to celebrate Australia Day where we give thanks for our tolerant inclusive society. But no – you don’t actually want them to fit in, you don’t want them to assimilate – you want them to f*ck right off as Trish so rightly points out.

95. Matters NotJanuary 19, 2017 at 12:45 am

    Jexpat, I hear what you say. I donated early out of sheer anger, noting with approval that Dee Madigan was driving the intellectual bus.

    And yes ‘feel good’ can be ‘counter productive’ at both the tactical and strategic levels. But I don’t want to be in the position of saying – I just laid back and enjoyed it – when I didn’t (in anticipation).

    BTW, I don’t necessarily endorse the notion that ‘arrivals’ have an obligation to ‘fit in’. But that’s a discussion for another time.

96. JexpatJanuary 19, 2017 at 1:25 am

    Kaye Lee & Matters Not:

    I understand what what you’re saying- and it’s my inclination too. In many ways…

    Yet it’s important to recognise that we’re playing the long game. The current rules and dynamics don’t favour us and the billboard sorts approaches- as we’ve seen throughout 2015-16, aren’t effective. What they do, to -use a seemingly crass metaphor is: feed godzilla with radiation. This particular bit, with the flags as accompanying symbols- well, red capes to bulls.

    Here’s an example of what we can be emphasizing, complete with Aussie values- who we are -who were were and what we should all aspire to, from the ground up.

    There are many others. Check it out:

    Excerpt: “Joel Loum Okumu’s almost 6’3” stature takes centre stage in the drama room of St Francis Xavier’s College in the NSW port city of Newcastle. The Year 12 graduate turns his head and surveys the black curtained auditorium.

    The tempo of the rise and fall of his chest slows as he prepares to take himself into the dark world of Hamlet, the antihero of the Shakespearean tragedy of the same name. Joel is about to perform his interpretation of Act 1, Scene 5 – when the spirit of Hamlet’s father appears asking for his murder to be avenged.

    It’s a performance national theatre company Bell Shakespeare describes as “unlike anything [they] had ever seen”.

    More: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/01/04/wait-second-i-actually-won-it-ugandan-refugee-wins-prestigious-shakespeare

    Even the UK Daily Mail picked it up: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4086120/Refugee-17-arrived-penniless-without-speaking-world-English-fleeing-war-torn-Uganda-wins-prestigious-Shakespeare-scholarship.html

97. Robert G. ShawJanuary 19, 2017 at 6:11 am

    I think jimhaz correct on this point, among 3 others: why this image?

    Why this particular image to represent, or symbolize, Australia on its national day?

    There could have been hundreds of other images – yet this one, 2 young smiling Muslim girls in hijab, was chosen.

    Why?

    I think the question relevant and clearly obvious.

    To Trish, I think to see the children, in this particular context, as “…just a sweet, innocent, little kid” and ‘little girls may go to bed tonight crying until they can’t cry anymore?” is a little too emotive, a little too naive for my liking. The moment they had their faces plastered on billboards, foregrounding words and images loaded with powerful and controversial meaning, they ceased being ‘sweet, innocent, little kid(s)’.

    They became instruments, or better yet, they were consciously, and some argue maliciously, transformed into lures for the ravenous nervous reflex of the darker shadows in our politics and society to glide under, to surround, to surprise, to attack.

    There was never any doubt in the minds of the architects of this campaign, this lure, that because of their artful trolling, they’d be feasting on grilled fish come dinner time.

    None whatsoever.

    Hansonsim is no aberration to this country’s political or social discourse. It is as pronounced in policy as it is the pubs. Spruiking the delights of an enlightened, abstract, ideal multiculturalism comes easiest to those who have not seen the hyper frictions seething at the boundaries of distinct cultures.

    My point?

    Those ‘no go zones’ some here fancifully claim as being ‘complete fabrications’?

    They’re not.

    Matters Not, the all too often, and intellectually lazy, call for some to ‘get out more’, is a double edged sword. The Left tend to swing it one way only. I find it both a silly and condescending argument and think it speaks more to the airbrush attitudes of the one using it.

    Whether you subscribe to or appreciate the contrary view or not, it is still absolutely crucial to hear and understand the concerns of those, who perhaps like jimhaz, are speaking about their reality, their impressions, their perspective.

    There is only one way to beat Hansonism – listen to and attempt to demonstrate that the blade of social and cultural division is not yet upon us and that through redemptive education, positive, imaginative, government and business plans promoting the joyous aspects of a rich and varied cultural civic body we can all temper any of the frictions that may arise and see ultimately the common humanity that binds us all.

    I don’t believe the billboard does that. I don’t believe it was conceived to do that.

    And I believe that to be jimhaz’ argument. It certainly is mine.

98. Robert G. ShawJanuary 19, 2017 at 6:12 am

    To the AIM mods: I’ve tried to post on Sean’s thread 3 times now but am unable to.
    Is it still open?
    Thanks.

99. Möbius EckoJanuary 19, 2017 at 6:59 am

    A crowd funding campaign has raised enough money to not only reinstate the billboard but to put up more and implement other display forms using the two girls image.

100. corvus boreusJanuary 19, 2017 at 7:28 am

     General question for contextual clarity;
     Was the offending photo of two little girls wearing headscarves the only imagery used on the promotional billboards, or were different images of other people used on other billboards in that particular Australia Day advertising campaign?

101. Möbius EckoJanuary 19, 2017 at 7:54 am

     corvus I believe it was on a rotating image billboard. I don’t know what the other images on that board were.

102. corvus boreusJanuary 19, 2017 at 8:06 am

     Möbius Ecko,
     Presumably the other ads rotating on that digital board were by other advertisers promoting other products/events.
     I am more after whether the advertising agency commissioned to do the Australia Day promotions chose to use a diversity of images in their campaign, or just the photo of 2 girls wearing hijabs.

103. RoswellJanuary 19, 2017 at 8:19 am

     Robert Shaw, I had a look but I can’t see any problem. More than likely just a glitch.

104. HarquebusJanuary 19, 2017 at 9:18 am

     I agree with Jimhaz that the billboard in question is nothing more than propaganda designed to condition us into accepting a religion as part of our culture. We see two smiling young girls because, puppies don’t wear hijabs.
     Anything that inhibits or lessens the influence of religion, including removing billboards, is okay with me.

     Cheers.

105. Ella MillerJanuary 19, 2017 at 9:19 am

     Just a thought , why don’t we ban ;
     the thongs
     the slouch hat
     Vegemite
     boxer shorts?

106. helvityniJanuary 19, 2017 at 9:47 am

     Ella, I would like someone to list me the often-talked about Australian values.

     Are they somehow different from good values of any culture?

107. John BrameJanuary 19, 2017 at 9:50 am

     Thanks for the heads up Graeme, just donated to the reinstate the billboard fund. Well done Dee Madigan.

108. John BrameJanuary 19, 2017 at 9:55 am

     Ella, we can’t ban budgie smugglers though, what would Tony wear for the bondi photo shoot.

109. helvityniJanuary 19, 2017 at 10:03 am

     John Brame, I would not ban Vegemite…

110. Miriam EnglishJanuary 19, 2017 at 10:18 am

     Vegemite isn’t Australian anymore. I think it’s Canada owned now.
     F*cking Australia! We sell everything off that isn’t nailed down. Yeah our kids are gonna have a right good life.

111. Matters NotJanuary 19, 2017 at 10:20 am

     Miriam English It’s now again owned In Australia. Bega the new owner.

     Apparently the Yanks couldn’t acquire the taste. LOL.

     http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-19/bega-buys-vegemite-mondelez/8193268

112. Miriam EnglishJanuary 19, 2017 at 1:08 pm

     Matters Not, cool! I actually prefer Marmite — from Sanitarium in Christchurch NZ. Unlike all other yeast extracts it contains vitamin B12. As I don’t consume much meat (either a tin of sardines or a few eggs, scrambled, once a week) it is handy to have some other source of B12.

     Incidentally, there is research that hints that we need larger amounts of some of the B vitamins, as we age. As we get old our mitochondria gradually stop powering our cells properly, but it seems it isn’t because they become inefficient, it seems instead our cells don’t send enough messenger telling the mitochondria to make more energy. That messenger (NAD+) is made from vitamin B3 (nicotinamide) or from niacin. Geriatric mice given NAD+ quickly develop the muscle response of young mice.
     http://digressionality.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/nad-aging-and-niacin.html

     The only thing I worry about is does it also use up your allotted time more quickly?

     We know that eating too many calories shortens your life, and a calorie restriction diet is able to extend lifespan by about a third. That’s a healthy extension, staving off the diseases of old age.

113. silkwormJanuary 19, 2017 at 1:24 pm

     I think the burqa is a non-issue because I don’t believe it is worn here.”

     Go to Bankstown Centro on any day and you will come across women wearing head-to-toe burqas.

114. Florence nee FedupJanuary 19, 2017 at 2:57 pm

     Yes, but how do they harm other people in Bankstown. Not so long ago one’s kids where educated by women in similar garb.

     I suspect as time goes by, those dressed this way will become fewer, blend into the community like all other waves migrants.

     Even in that part of Sydney from Bankstown to Liverpool, the number will be small. Most will stick to scarves.

     There are many more serious issues that we can concern ourselves with.

115. corvus boreusJanuary 19, 2017 at 4:51 pm

     Miriam English,
     By buying Marmite, you are sponsoring a form of religious fundamentalism.
     https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanitarium_Health_and_Wellbeing_Company

116. ZathrasJanuary 19, 2017 at 5:12 pm

     When it comes to Islam, the majority of it’s followers live in four countries – Indonesia, Pakistan, India and Bangla Desh.

     They oppress their women so much that at some time two of those countries apparently “forced” a woman to be their leader and they didn’t wear burqas in public or in private.

     Perhaps it really is a choice after all?

     Also, Muslim Turkey is apparently the best place to go to see authentic belly dancers.

     There is a difference between religion and culture. Not all Muslim countries are theocracies or fundamentalist, in the same way that the Amish, Mormons or Westboro Baptists are not typical of the 10,000+ competing sects of Christianity.

     Other practices, such as female genital mutilation are not religious in nature but also cultural. It is particularly common in African countries – especially overwhelmingly Catholic ones and are specifically illegal in other countries such as Iran. The practice predates both religions and is not condoned by either.

     Not all Muslim States are fundamentalist theocracies but there are some very fundamentalist Christians at work trying to influence democracies.

     I could go on about the vast differences between popular perception and fact but it’s pointless when so many are intolerant zealots in their own way.

117. Florence nee FedupJanuary 19, 2017 at 5:29 pm

     I am 75. Still remember sermon after sermon where priest condemned woman for wearing hats the size 2 bob coin. Knew better than to enter church with arms and head not covered. Knowing women could serve at Mass but never go pass altar rail while Mass was in process. A time when jeans a no no. A time when one never crossed one legs while sitting. My aunt was condemned by nuns for wearing shiny black patent shoes. Seems one can see what undergarments one is wearing.

     We have moved on. Muslims in many countries have also done so. Some like Iran and Iraq, 2 steps forwarded, one back.

118. wamJanuary 19, 2017 at 5:30 pm

     florence this is true but a disingenuous truth.

     nuns made a specific RELIGIOUS decision to marry god.
     (My in laws have two still living, one at 93, and they wear wimples to cover their head every day)

     The bankstown women are wearing a CULTURAL dress from their home country(or some other foreign country) not a religious garment set down by god.(even if it is men who interpret god’s wishes)

     dear oh dear lovo why lump me in with jimhaz he speaks for many people here and against the trapping of the Islam

     I am trying point out that ALL jew based religions treat women as flawed by the creator and women are indoctrinated from birth into the moulds of men in all three bible based. Hindu women are also subjected to men
     look at these innocent children are they sexy enough to excite god?

     ps silkworm never have I seen a burqa in Aust plenty of niqabs, the saudi cultural covering and chadors the iranian and recently nigerian ayabs absolutely stunning but no burqa(pommieland has heaps of pakistani burqas)

119. Terry2January 19, 2017 at 5:42 pm

     Confusing isn’t it ? Can Marmite be Halal or even Kosha – whatever, it’s nice on toast.

     Talking of toast, I was overseas at a hotel’s buffet breakfast divided between Halal and ‘others’ and there was a non-denominational array of breads but no toaster. I asked about the toaster and was told that : ‘ the bread here, sir, is already cooked’. I was suitably admonished !

120. Miriam EnglishJanuary 19, 2017 at 6:37 pm

     Corvus, yep. I would get it elsewhere if I could, but not much choice. Pommie-made Marmite (named “OurMate” here down-under, because the 7th day adventists swiped their name) tastes slightly different, still nice, but way more expensive.

     The traditional dress of many Islamic countries is not what you think. It’s not what they think either. It’s my understanding that they’ve been duped into discarding their culture and adopting dress from basically a single desert Arab tribe.

     Here is a picture of traditional Afghani dress:
     http://miriam-english.org/files/Afghan%20traditional%20dress.jpg

     If you go to my files directory (http://miriam-english.org/files/) you’ll see a number of pictures of Afghani people, mostly women through recent decades. We have the CIA, the warlord thugs, and the Taliban halfwits to thank for the deleterious change.

121. corvus boreusJanuary 19, 2017 at 6:56 pm

     Miriam,
     Relatives and friends who traveled through Afghanistan in the 60s and 70s speak of seeing a prevalent beauty, borne of the incredible details of craftsmanship displayed,and the people conducting themselves with dignified pride, with general honesty of gaze and dealings shown by both men and women.
     That was, of course, before an escalated influx of geo-political machinations turned it into a mangled grey chew-toy.

122. helvityniJanuary 20, 2017 at 10:13 am

     How would the Hansonites and the ‘real ‘Aussies react if that billboard had featured two lovely Aborigine boys with their Australian flags…?

     Just wondering…

123. Kaye LeeJanuary 20, 2017 at 10:31 am

     “Go to Bankstown Centro on any day and you will come across women wearing head-to-toe burqas.”

     Are you sure you mean a burqa?

124. Kaye LeeJanuary 20, 2017 at 10:44 am

     I think most people mean a niqab when they say burqa but I guess the alliteration doesn’t work as well.

     PS I taught at Birrong so I know Bankstown well

125. Matters NotJanuary 20, 2017 at 11:00 am

     KL you can go to Batu Ferringhi (Penang) and watch burqa dressed women do some parasailing. Now that’s an accomplishment. Stay at the Park Royal which is popular place for Middle East Muslims on honeymoon and eat some halal food as well. And the bar doesn’t get too crowded.

126. jimhazJanuary 20, 2017 at 11:15 am

     Or you can go to Indonesia and hear stuff like this:

     “The ABC attended one recent Hizb ut-Tahrir women’s conference in Jakarta, which made it clear that life inside the caliphate would be violent — for some.

     “Men and women who have sex before marriage — they both should be whipped 100 times each,” Hizb ut-Tahrir activist Ismah Cholil told an audience of about 3,000 women and children.

     “If they are married, and are having extra-marital sex, they should be stoned to death in public, and it should be shown widely on television.

     “The next day do you think people will still dare to do pre-marital sex?”

     She said the caliphate would treat gay and lesbian people in the same way as rapists and other criminals.

     “Kill them straight away! So their evil deed will be buried under the ground, mixed together with the bacteria, the earthworms, and they will have no time to infect the living.”

127. Kaye LeeJanuary 20, 2017 at 11:25 am

     Once again we have other countries dragged up. Shall we talk of the cultural practices of Christians in other countries too?

     We live in Australia. We are a unique country in many ways. Why must people trawl through the world’s press to find things they disagree with in other countries? It happens every time you ask someone why they are so concerned. Look what happens in the Middle East they say. Why?

     None of those things that person said can happen here jimhaz. We have laws preventing that.

128. Trish CorryJanuary 20, 2017 at 11:28 am

     Wow I have a relative who is an Indonesian Muslim living in Indonesia. She wears jeans and TShirts and has a successful makeup business. Should I tell her she’s doing it wrong!

129. jimhazJanuary 20, 2017 at 11:30 am

     I work in Western Sydney – but don’t live there. I’ve seen far fewer burqas in the last 12 months than each of the 2 or 3 years prior. Practically none. It seems to have become quite rare. There was a very small group in my home suburb who wore them but they seemed to have disappeared – not enough middle eastern muslims in that suburb.

     I’m quite curious about what has changed – is just coincidence, personal choice, a change of advice to new migrants from the mosques, change of immigration mix???

130. Matters NotJanuary 20, 2017 at 11:48 am

     In Kenya (apparently) female genital mutilation (FGM) is quite popular with the Catholics and the Protestants when compared with other religious groups.

     But one wonders which of the many thousands of Christian sects dominate there.

     Perhaps we shouldn’t generalise from small samples? For example, I have witnessed and spoken with many Muslim men who regularly drink alcohol. After all, what would Turkey be like without a cold Effes or two?

     BTW jimhaz there’s the link to your citation.

     http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-14/indonesia-not-prepared-for-potential-female-terrorists-expert/8181796

131. Kaye LeeJanuary 20, 2017 at 12:03 pm

     “I’m quite curious about what has changed”

     Change happens with every migrant group. Grandma might have worn a burqa and Mum might have worn a niqab but Australian-raised daughter chooses a hijab or no headdress at all.

     It can take time to adjust to freedom of choice.

132. helvityniJanuary 20, 2017 at 12:06 pm

     I just read how Melbourne cops and the Lord Mayor are getting unhappy about homeless people sleeping in the streets…”We can’t have lying about on our park benches, what will our international visitors think…’

     Where are you going to put them, they are homeless after all?

     I bet there are no Muslims amongst them…

133. helvityniJanuary 20, 2017 at 12:16 pm

     Exactly, Kaye Lee !

     I know daughters of a devout Muslim family, they are not even wearing a hijab… Nice people, both parents and daughters, the parents accept their daughters need to blend in.

134. Matters NotJanuary 20, 2017 at 12:23 pm

     can take time to adjust to freedom of choice

     Yep. But that’s only part of the story. Grandma might have worn a burqa because all those in her social group did so. And Mum might have worn a niqab because of social forces as well. The Australian-raised daughter probably goes to a public school and wants to be just like her friends so she is certainly tempted to wear no headdress at all, at least for some of the time when she is out and about. Don’t underestimate the social forces at work, particularly when the Muslim group is such a small minority. But such social forces only work when that minority is included and not shunned.

     As an aside, go to Antalya (population 2 million), “capital” of the Turkish Mediterranean Coast. Many. many tourists. Throughout the day, a large plane will land every two minutes. Many are bringing young men and women from Iran. The women do a ‘quick change’ along the way (complete make-over) and disembark looking just like any other tourist from Europe and elsewhere. They can party with the best of them. Grand parents would be shocked.

135. Kaye LeeJanuary 20, 2017 at 12:27 pm

     helvityni,

     I often gave a lift to a Muslim kid in my son’s cricket team because Dad was praying. He did not make his son stay and pray – his son wanted to join his team and play. Dad always came along later and helped out scoring etc. It was his choice to be relatively devout, he did not impose that choice on his sons.

136. Florence nee FedupJanuary 20, 2017 at 1:11 pm

     Many years ago while at university as mature age student I did a project with a close friend who was a Kurd Muslim. Born in Turkey but reared here, As Australian as they come.

     We prepared and did a radio presentation on the lives four young Turkish girls, all Muslims.

     it was fascinating of what came out of that exercise. One came here as very young child. Another reared in Istanbul by divorced single mother. Another came to this country with a strict father. The fourth came as young adult. Turkey in the 1980s I suspect was a much more open country than it is now.

     Surprisingly those reared in Turkey had more freedom at the time than those reared here. I have found this so with Italian migrants when they return home to find the kids have more freedom than thought possible.

     The other point to come out of the exercise, was that the four girls seen themselves as Turkish Australians. Australians in every way.

     My point is culture is forever changing along with the way we practise religion.

     Yes you will find a handful in full garb. The only ones I have met were white Australian with red hair converts to Islam.

     You won’t see thousands as some like to portray.

137. 245179January 20, 2017 at 5:04 pm

     I am a pilot, converse in a aero forum, this billboard issue came up, and immediately folks were venting off, i jumped in and stated i thought the picture of the 2 smiling lasses holding oz flags was great..etc etc.
     That sent the masses into overdrive………i’m worried

138. Annie BJanuary 20, 2017 at 8:41 pm

     Rossleigh – …. Ref. Sunrise constantly exposing Hanson on their morning show. “Is it the hope that she’ll say something that’ll attract the sort of controversy that’ll bring them viewers?

     Rather think we should all better believe it is EXACTLY that.

     And while they do that and hope she slips up – they inadvertently ( or even deliberately – I dunno ) … give credence to her, her racist ideas, her hate filled rhetoric, and her obvious inability to show any form of empathy to what ‘she’ considers to be ‘un-Orstrayian’.

139. Annie BJanuary 20, 2017 at 11:22 pm

     Harking back to the red headed senator from Queensland, for a moment.

     I believe she opened a can of worms – perhaps even Pandora’s box, and let out the evil that has been hiding there for decades. For a long time, we have kidded ourselves, that we are ‘not like this’ – ‘not like that’ … but sadly, we have been… just like ‘that’.

     Have been long enough on this earth, with a fairly good memory – to recall the ‘anti’-anything that was not white, not ‘like us’ ( i.e. the middle class here ), and the superiority with which people viewed themselves in those day ( the late 40’s – into the 50’s ). Italians and Greeks were viewed with much suspicion – and no-one would ever be caught dead, eating at their restaurants which had begun to spring up for their own peoples. … We have since ceased ‘being like that’ about them. Why ? … What happened ? … was it because they didn’t wear scarves ? … Well, hey – they did wear scarves – the Greeks in particular. One would rarely ever see a Greek lady without some form of scarf like head gear. And ( heaven forbid ) some of them even attended the Greek Orthodox Church. Not our cup of tea ? …. That has now been widely accepted as the norm, and no-one vilifies them at all. We delight in their beautiful cuisines and eat heartily of them. Same with turban headed Indian males of the Sikh following. … They are accepted and we eat with much hot delight at their restaurants.

     Then there was the intolerance of others of different religions and I am not talking about against Muslims. I speak of the differences pointed out and the advice given ‘not to have anything to do with them ‘ … between different Christian communities. Protestants disliked Catholics intensely, different off-shoots of protestant-ism ( Baptist / Methodist etc. ) … were very suspicious of the Anglican Church, as it resembled mostly the Catholic Church in its’ ways, its’ celebration of the eucharist etc., and Catholics hated Protestants. … This was across the board.

     Much was whispered behind hands, as it would never have been a good thing to be seen speaking openly about this intolerance or about ‘them’ at all. As for homeless & indigenous peoples – they were to be avoided at all costs – and if you had to travel a different street to do so, then that was the advice. I don’t speak only of my own parents ( they were the least encumbered with this hatred mentality ) … but of the general neighbourhood, friends, school, and later on work-places. The difference now is there is more to the mix. Muslims ( who have been here for years btw ) … have now become the open focus for at least hostility – at worst, outright loathing and vilification. They have a religion, but they also have a culture. But who the hell doesn’t have an actual ‘culture’ ? We all have that – it is the way we are raised.

     A lot of the foregoing in this post, can be seen much further back than my time as a child and teen. It was the remnants of the Victorian era – which frankly, could not have been more bigoted, more ‘white supremacy’, more afraid of people who were different, if they tried their best to be. That culture had whites’ against whites’ – depending on which side of the tracks one was born on ? Delightful class distinction 🙁

     So – what has Hanson done, except expose the horror of what we have all been battling with for decades. Don’t get me wrong, I have no time for her at all – her rabid outspoken-ness, her obvious lack of intelligence, her belligerence, her cunning in the way she appeals to the worst of peoples’ indoctrinizations, and her very vulgar attempt to climb to the top in politics – is appalling.

     ……….

140. Annie BJanuary 20, 2017 at 11:27 pm

     By the way – according to a Facebook report (?) … the billboard displaying those dear sweet faces, are being launched again – nationwide. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-19/new-billboards-featuring-girls-in-hijabs-to-be-installed/8194000 …. there is nothing ‘soft’ about the people who donated towards these being re-instated.

     Rather I think it shows a delightful unfolding of peoples’ generosity of spirit, and acceptance of others, without rancour. Perhaps ( or perhaps not ) it might have been handled a slightly different way – maybe a few other children in their national dress could have been shown as well – but it is what it is – and should be accepted in the goodness of spirit that must find its’ way back to our own culture. … If that spirit does not re-appear – we are lost.

     ……..

141. Trish CorryJanuary 21, 2017 at 6:37 am

     Annie, it was a rolling billboard that had the aim to show the diversity of Australia on Australia Day. This advert in that group was the only one attacked.

142. corvus boreusJanuary 21, 2017 at 7:16 am

     Trish Corry,
     So the two girls in head-dresses were only one of a diverse variety of human images used in that Australia Day campaign?
     I asked a general question seeking clarification on such several days ago (since it seemed to be quite relevant information) but no-one was able to furnish me with a definitive answer.

143. Robert G. ShawJanuary 21, 2017 at 8:13 am

     I saw your question corvus and thought it also relevant.
     Trish, do you have a link? I tried to find some indication but had no luck.
     It appears you did.

144. Trish CorryJanuary 21, 2017 at 8:18 am

     http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/01/17/australia-day-billboard-hijabs-removed-melbourne

145. corvus boreusJanuary 21, 2017 at 8:33 am

     Robert G Shaw,
     I seek such because I think that rationally refuting the concerns expressed by providing information that the campaign in question was broad and inclusive in scope, not restricted to single depiction of a religious and ethnic minority, seems more a more productive approach than reactively as branding all opponents as racist thugs who hate little girls.
     However, I like to have my facts straight first, and now I have a clearer picture (thank you Trish Corry).
     “While the digital sign featured rolling images of people from various cultural backgrounds, one picture of two Muslim women in front of the Australian flag sparked furious debate among social media users”.

146. Robert G. ShawJanuary 21, 2017 at 8:40 am

     Thanks for that Trish.
     I was hoping for greater detail of the other images though.

     My view however remains unchanged. It was a provocative choice of image, even as part of
     a sum. I would like to have thought that inclusiveness, in the composition of the images themselves, would have been a far greater positive expression. For example, each of the rolling images to contain several groups in a smiling tableau – the two Muslim girls, next to a few bronzed surfers, next to 2 uni students, one Indian, one white, next to a Vietnamese grocer.
     And so on. And so on.
     Always bound as group. Never separate, never balkanised.

     This kind of presentation does two things: one it presents difference in unity, differences embraced, differences held together by the unbreakable threads of our common humanity, and two, it instantly diffuses the reflexive kick of the Hansonites, who confused by the number of differences presented, are unable to locate the single victim to bully.
     It’s been my experience that xenophobia, racism, or nationalism, are ill equipped to deal with more than one victim at a time.

     Again, an ill conceived campaign that played, wittingly or not, into the hands of its enemies.

147. Trish CorryJanuary 21, 2017 at 9:02 am

     I find the various responses in this debate across a variety of platforms on one hand very strong, showing our respect and unity as Australians and on the other hand very sad, which shows many people are unable to process the idea that Australians are not always a bronzed surfer boy. I think it stands to reason that if we can accept a bronzed surfer boy as an Australian, but anyone that isn’t white or Aboriginal (and media portraying Indigenous people is a story on its own), needs to be in a collective diversity photo for them to be recognised as one of us. I don’t believe the photo was provocative at all. The country can’t scream assimilate and then on the other hand tell them to GTFO when they clearly have. Clearly a lot of people are very confused about what they actually want.

148. helvityniJanuary 21, 2017 at 9:16 am

     There’s no need to bully anyone; erase the bullying from homes, schoolyard, work places, politics, and there will be no need to damage billboards.
     Australia was doing pretty well before Abbott emerged, now we have added Hanson to the mix, yet our PM says : it’s never been a better time to be Australian. The last four or five years have been the worst for many…

149. Terry2January 21, 2017 at 9:27 am

     Trish

     I often think that the image of the bronzed Australian surfer boy would, one or two generations before, have been the same person as a post-war European immigrant in a threadbare overcoat clutching a cardboard suitcase as he came down the gangplank of a migrant ship.

     I was one such, half a century ago, although I wasn’t wearing my overcoat as the sun was shining and has continued to do so in the ensuing fifty years.

     We are what we are and what we are is Australian.

     Have a good weekend, all and in particular those beaming young Aussie girls.

150. Miriam EnglishJanuary 21, 2017 at 9:34 am

     Trish, thanks for the link. I laughed out loud when I read the quote of the comment by Gina Rose near the end of the article: “We are a multicultural nation, if you have a problem with that, maybe you should leave.” It is the perfect retort to racist nationalists. It really exposes their lack of thinking and their misunderstanding. It went straight into my quotes folder. Pure gold!

151. Miriam EnglishJanuary 21, 2017 at 9:49 am

     Things change so quickly. Not long ago the bronzed surfer dude (or dudette) was despised as a lazy slacker — an irresponsible druggie. It seems to have been a strong advertising campaign and some movies about surfers that changed that, along with many youths (now adults with fond memories) being attracted to the lifestyle. As others here have noted, Greeks and Italians have become an accepted part of Australian society, where not long ago they were largely hated as “dirty wogs”. We (finally) have the beginning of acceptence for aboriginal people. It wasn’t very long ago that they were considered subhuman! They were only allowed to vote in 1968! Horrifying.

     Our politicians and mass media are largely to blame. Much as I hate to admit it, a lot of our society acts like sheep. It isn’t because they’re stupid, but because they have other things taking up their time and focus. They defer opinions and decisions to others who they (erroneously) trust: politicians and the mass media. Both have failed them dismally. We need a concerted campaign to eliminate toxic racism from our society, otherwise we’ll continue to see its growth as poisonous weeds in our society. Pauline Hanson is our canary in the coalmine. We need to take note and fix the problem while we still can. Those billboards are a first step. Naturally they’re going to cop flak. We need to up the ante, not retreat.

152. helvityniJanuary 21, 2017 at 10:10 am

     Melanoma happened, the bronzed disappeared….thank god…

153. Robert G. ShawJanuary 21, 2017 at 10:46 am

     @Trish,
     let me see if I’ve understood you correctly: you find it “sad” that I’m “unable to process the idea that Australians are not always a bronzed surfer boy”?
     Is that correct?
     If it is, may I redirect you to the words I used – “I would like to have thought that inclusiveness, in the composition of the images themselves, would have been a far greater positive expression. For example, each of the rolling images to contain several groups in a smiling tableau – the two Muslim girls, next to a few bronzed surfers, next to 2 uni students, one Indian, one white, next to a Vietnamese grocer.
     And so on. And so on.
     Always bound as group. Never separate, never balkanised.”

     Here you will note that my example attempts to embrace all cultural denominations as the expression, the truest expression I believe, of diversity and multiculturalism in Australia. I’m not suggesting that only one group is representative of our society, or that any serious discussion of Australian society can take place without acknowledgement of our palpable diversity.

     I’m puzzled by your response and would ask that you clarify this point for me.

     Also, you seem to be suggesting that “collective diversity photo” to be either a bad idea, or somehow detrimental, or indicative of a failure to accept or acknowledge diversity. That is, we aren’t adult enough to recognise the legitimacy of one’s nationality or background without having them buttressed and validated by their association with “bronzed surfer boy” or other more traditional types of “one of us”.

     Is that right? Is that what you’re saying?

     Again, my point was that it was crucial to see diversity as part of a greater whole. Isolating single elements, in this case Islam under cover of “just a sweet, innocent, little kid[s]” is not helpful to that goal. It reduces further still the separateness of identity without offering the redemptive unity essential for any multicultural society to succeed.
     That balkanisation I speak of is the reason we have those enclaves, or jurisdictions, of cultural, religious, identity – protected with a passion and violence matched only by that of their (Hansonite) enemies.
     You become, we become, forever bound, between two competing notions of separateness.
     And surely that runs counter to the notion of a free, liberal Australia?

     Again, if you could clarify that point for me also.

     Confusion does indeed seem to be a ruling motif.
     Provocative symbols (arguing against themselves, I believe) do nothing to address that confusion however, and yet again those dark, nebulous, and swirling undercurrents are renewed and given dangerous focus.

154. Trish CorryJanuary 21, 2017 at 11:02 am

     Hi Robert. I’m not engaging in active commentary on my articles at this point in time. I will leave it to others to put their two bobs worth in as a response to you.

155. RoswellJanuary 21, 2017 at 11:02 am

     “Again, an ill conceived campaign that played, wittingly or not, into the hands of its enemies.”

     Robert Shaw, played into their hands? Ah, so it was a set-up?

156. Kaye LeeJanuary 21, 2017 at 11:14 am

     From what I can gather, the photo was from last year’s Australia Day celebration – it was not a deliberate photo shoot for a specific campaign, just a great snap that should not have caused any reaction other than pleasure at seeing two little Australian girls out having fun.

     Whilst I can understand the point Robert is trying to make, I disagree. It is not realistic or even desirable to think we must include every different type of Australian in every photo. Australians do not have one look that defines them and we are all the richer for our diversity.

157. Kaye LeeJanuary 21, 2017 at 11:21 am

     Is this more Australian?

     

158. helvityniJanuary 21, 2017 at 11:38 am

     Years ago Italian fashion house used those all inclusive( races/colours) ads successfully. In today’s Australia depicting possibly just two Aboriginal boys, or just two little girls in headscarfs is, to me anyhow, a heart-warming billboard picture, after all they are waving their Aussie flags, they look happy…we are tolerant and inclusive…

     Maybe Hanson’s second-coming was a bad mistake…,Abbott did not help either…

159. Annie BJanuary 21, 2017 at 3:10 pm

     Trish – (6.37 a.m. ) ,,,, “This advert in that group was the only one attacked.”

     Thanks for that – I knew it was a rolling billboard – had seen it on some link or other from Facebook … but would not be able to track that down again now.

     I also had a look at the link you provided to Robert Shaw – from sbs.com.au — and was not too delighted to see they repeatedly called the two little girls ‘women’ … That alone was bad reporting, perhaps intended to encourage further bias in some way in the article ? … however, they did put the matter right with explanations, about its return to the billboard.

     Interesting ……..

160. Möbius EckoJanuary 21, 2017 at 8:03 pm

     Billboard of just the girls back up. More to come apparently.

161. SamiahFebruary 25, 2017 at 5:25 pm

     I have a concern about the bill board as I do about the recent video of Brisbane based Yassmin (See link). https://www.facebook.com/junkeedotcom/videos/1168597126586083/
     We are a multicultural nation, built by diverse Australians. However, what I am seeing increasingly is a slick campaign to socialise the general population into accepting it as the norm for little girls to be covered up and to accept the concept of Shariah Law as something that can have a place in Australia. Notice how the normalisation process and repetition in the most “cool” and “hip” manner possible of the word “Shariah Law” bounces joyously off the tongue of Yassmin in this video. This is slick propaganda informed by psychological conditioning strategies. Please note, and I am speaking from 100% knowledge of this, the Shariah Law the hip and cool Yassmin talks about is identical to that practiced by ISIS and other groups. They all have the identical theological basis and that is why no “moderate” Muslim cleric can actually take on theologically ISIS and others because the theology is identical, hence they just condemn them heavily. If theologically types like ISIS could be challenged as acting outside of Islam, then this awful phenomenon would come to a grinding halt very soon but the fact is that this never happen unless there is a deep reform within Islam.

162. Miriam EnglishFebruary 25, 2017 at 11:52 pm

     Samiah, moderate Muslims take on ISIS all the time. Have you noticed who ISIS is fighting against? They’re attacking a Muslim country — Syria!

     How is it that you are speaking from 100% knowledge of this? Are you Muslim? Have you grown up in a Muslim family? Or have you simply read some anti-Muslim diatribes?

     You might like to learn a bit about Sharia in Australia:
     http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/09/23/explainer-what-sharia-law

     I’m an Australian. Over my nearly 64 years I haven’t seen any “slick campaign to socialise the general population into accepting it as the norm for little girls to be covered up and to accept the concept of Shariah Law as something that can have a place in Australia”. I have seen a slick campaign for little boys and girls to cover up to protect them from an increasingly dangerous sun… but that’s not what you’re talking about, is it? You say you’re in favor of multicultural Australia, but it seems you’re only in favor of that so long as people don’t look different. But that’s a part of what it means to have a multiculture here.

     I worry about any religion gaining a foothold in Australia, but I’m not overly worried about the minuscule number of Muslims. I’m more worried about the fanatical Christians trying to pervert our government. If Muslims wanted to do something similar, then I might start to be concerned about them.

163. Annie BFebruary 26, 2017 at 12:21 am

     Samiah …

     I watched that video, and in almost 3 minutes of speech, Yassmin mentions the word “Sharia” 6 – 7 times. … If she was ‘slickly ‘ promoting sharia law, then she would have focussed on that, and that alone – proselytising sharia law, as the be-all and end-all. But she didn’t. She focussed on the cultural side of Islam, and the moderate muslim applications in modern life, plus account to this country and its common laws. … As for a ‘cool’ and ‘hip’ delivery, you are being very harsh in your appraisal of her attempt to educate others as to moderate, normally practiced Islamic culture and religious observances. Had Yasminn been christian, speaking for her beliefs, I believe she’d have delivered a much more potent blow by blow description of how christianity is the only way one should go, citing the gospels, biblical phraseology, and the overt ‘threats’ to followers of christianity, if they do not obey the dictates of that theology.

     I do not question your claimed 100% knowledge of this. I do however, question whether you or anyone has the right to lambast her for speaking out – in her attempt to educate about a culturely as much as anything else based ‘ism’. Sure, there is undoubtedly extremism in the delivery of islamic ideology, but there is as much in the christian religion – if not more so. … So far, christians have not lopped off heads, in this present day – but they did centuries ago.

     Yassmin repeated, several times, that the only laws to be followed is that of the country in which a person resides. She also pointed out that sharia law applies to muslims only, who do not obey some concept of their religion – it is an “Islamic” religion thing and nothing to do with government laws and regulations, nor of people of other faiths . …

     A sect in America, spread wide across the world ( the ‘Mormons’ ) – and on this I have 100% knowledge, will excommunicate a baptised adherent to mormonism ( church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints ), IF they do not obey the dictates of that church, in the first and foremost requirement of a newly accepted mormon. That being the vicarious baptising of dead relatives into the church, under the deceaseds’ name, uttered by the member of that church, while being fully immersed in baptismal water.

     It is a draconian measure, does not have violence attached to it admittedly, but does have much threat attached. It’s main purpose is to bring into their fold – every living and deceased person, possible. Their geneological archives are massive, used for research, and the ongoing tracing of ancestors. …. ( One might be tempted to think they consider all, other than themselves, to be ‘infidels’ ?? ).

     How do I know this ? …… I was excommunicated by that sect, for flatly refusing to baptise my late father into that church, ‘vicariously’ … because I respected what he believed in, and the life he led, while he was alive. I was to be shunned ( and I was ) by all and any, who were ‘faithful’ to mormonism. I was strong enough to withstand this, as I made it my business to study more about their origins, and the propaganda they constantly put out about their ‘truth’. … I also threatened legal action, if they used any part of my story to berate and then in turn, uphold their skewed beliefs, based on my excommunication – but that is another story.

     ……….

     p.s. – Needless to say, I do not regard in any way, ISIS, it’s barbarism and radical extremism, it’s literal adherence to the more ghastly parts of the Q’ran, or its’ vile and abhorrent attempts to kill ( not just infidels either – anyone will do, if they ‘offend’ the fundamentalist adherents to that religion ).

164. Annie BFebruary 26, 2017 at 12:29 am

     Miriam …. Agree with you – 100%.

165. Miriam EnglishFebruary 26, 2017 at 12:49 am

     🙂 Thanks, Annie.
     Hey, would you be interested in joining the New Democracy Party?
     We need more women. It is a new party hoping to fix politics in Australia.
     https://newdemocracyparty.org.au

     If you’re interested email me at mim(at)miriam-english(dot)org

166. harshmindFebruary 26, 2017 at 1:56 am

     Just been scrolling through the article and responses. AIMN is a site I go to most days to see what’s going on. I love the fact that most contributors have no agenda beyond what is good and compassionate. Great article! A few sad responses that appear quite racist, but most not and that’s encouraging. I agree with Miriam in her post of January 21 at 9:49 am. Racism is pure laziness. It’s a spam (you know, the processed meat that’s already bread slice sized) sandwich on $2 white bread without the benefit of condiments. In fact it looks much like George Christensen in a suit. G’day from QLD.

167. Miriam EnglishFebruary 26, 2017 at 7:30 am

     Thanks harshmind. 🙂

     However I wouldn’t describe racism as laziness. People have a limited amount of time to devote to things. I’d like to become a good gardener, but I spend a lot of my time writing computer programs, chatting here with people in an attempt to understand society, fixing computers for friends, writing my science fiction books (read them for free at http://miriam-english.org or download them from there to read on your tablet or phone), creating artwork (mostly my book covers at the moment), and keeping up to date with science and technology (New Scientist and Scientific American magazines).

     If I had a normal, paying job I wouldn’t be able to spend as much time on these things as I do. Most people don’t have the time. They have children, a job that demands most of their energy, and some hobbies or interests. Most delegate their understanding of society to the politicians and mainstream media without realising they have degenerated into mere sources of propaganda instead of genuine information. It is easy for us to judge them by the racist feelings that are fed to them by irresponsible media and politicians, but they’ve simply made the mistake of believing faulty sources. These sources often use sneaky ways of reinforcing their dangerous message by driving up fear and anger and repeating their message many, many times.

     No matter how detestable the racism of people, I can’t help feeling they need to be helped to the truth rather than blamed for their disease.

     We need to do a few things:

     ◆ shut down the Murdoch “news” empire in Australia. It is blatant propaganda and a major source of the fear and anger, distorting people’s reactions and opinions.

     ◆ silence and/or eject racist politicians by organising really big protests against them in their own electorates

     ◆ discredit the religious extremists inside politics by using their religious extremism against them when they criticise Muslim terrorists point out that Christian terrorists are evil too. Also emphasise that Australia’s constitution declares that our government must be separate from religion, so what they are doing is unconstitutional.

     ◆ target companies which advertise on shock-jocks’ programs (this worked well in USA to destroy Rush Limbaugh’s awful racist garbage)

168. Miriam EnglishFebruary 26, 2017 at 7:40 am

     I think we should treat racism as a disease. It spreads like a contagion and makes people ill. It can even kill people. It puts society at risk of a dangerous outbreak. We can’t afford people to be spreading it around. Embarrassing the racists with arguments and ridicule and humor works can help to quarantine it.

     Vaccination works well to prevent it in children, though not so well in adults.

     We should help cure people of it wherever we encounter it. Genuine, unbiased knowledge is the best medicine.

169. Annie BFebruary 26, 2017 at 3:26 pm

     Miriam –

     Yes, I am interested in having a look at the ‘newdemocracyparty’ … so will click on the link, and get back to you on that, in the next week or so. …. I have bookmarked it.

     Interesting comments you have made above – re racism being promoted through various means, and nothing much being done about educating people about this problem ( disease ).

     I have found that many of the social media sites are the very worst vehicle for promoting more and more anti-just-about-everything, particularly muslims and indeed christians as well. Anti-semitism – rife at times. Just takes one person to spread the word and it becomes 1,2,4,8,16,32 -etc etc. and on it goes. It’s a fire that once started, is difficult to put out. And much of it is either very old news, or just some made up meme that promotes intolerance and hate. Nasty, and becomes like a virus.

     You’ll be hearing from me.

     ……..