To Tory Shepherd
To Tory Shepherd,
I was made aware of your article Grab-bag of rage as the March in March was much ado about nothing when reading Victoria Rollinson’s excellent article The missing ingredients.
I took part in the march and have read your criticism, some of which may be valid. If I may be so bold, I would like to offer some criticism of my own.
You wish to denigrate protestors for not having professional signs?
“At the Canberra protest the UNHCR was the most professional looking outfit there, carrying polished signs (not floppy bits of cardboard).”
If you think that’s important then I am not surprised that you thought it an “incoherent outpouring of rage against the machine.” You go on to say
“The point of March in March was to protest pretty much everything, which meant that the valid points being made were drowned out by noise. Those signs, those higgledy piggledy signs with bad spelling and worse grammar, idiotic slurs and downright nasty smears, tainted the whole project. “
It’s rather ironic that you spend the majority of your article reporting that “noise” rather than the “valid points”. I would suggest that, without those few rather distasteful signs, you wouldn’t have bothered even mentioning the other 100,000 of us.
“They have to be smart. And that is where the Marchers failed and earned the contempt of so many. If your form of protest makes people either snigger in contempt or want to pat you on the head or give you a good bath and a spelling lesson, then you’re doing it wrong.”
Snigger at your peril. Your condescension may well end up causing you to be the one viewed with contempt. You seem to feel that we needed politicians there to lend credibility to the exercise. Once again you fail to see that it is the lack of credibility from our politicians and media that was a driving force behind this people’s protest. We are tired of spin from image consultants and advertising firms. We are tired of biased inaccurate trivial reporting by the media. What you dismiss as a “grab-bag of mixed messages” was in fact an opportunity for every individual to voice their concerns.
Saving the best of your journalistic expertise for last you end with
“But the Marchers in the end threatened to disappear up their own proverbials in a puff of BO and bong smoke.”
Oh really? I am 56 years old and I marched with my nephews who are 6 and 9. We spoke in the lead up days about why we were marching. The boys’ take on the conversation was that we were marching to save the trees and fish, and to make people be kind to each other. I thought that was a wonderful message and I was very proud of the “higgledy piggledy” signs they wrote and drew themselves. It was great to see my elderly neighbours waving their anti-fracking signs to the beat of drums played by pierced dreadlocked musicians. It was uplifting to see atheists applauding Father Rod’s speech about truth, decency, and accountability.
This video is “the horde of wild-eyed street-preacher types” that marched in Gosford.
You can’t pigeonhole the people who marched in March Tory, and you can’t identify any one over-riding reason for their concern, but if you think they are going to “disappear up their own proverbials” I would say that your newspaper is far more likely to do that in the near future than the concerned citizens of this country.
We marched because we love our country. We marched for transparency and accountability. We marched for compassion. We marched for the future of our children. Next time we will send you a press release so you don’t have to bother writing this sort of ill-informed, poorly researched, judgmental fluff in the future.
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Return to home pageI use to respect Tory Shepherd, when she wrote for the Advertiser and I believe she still does but from interstate. I must admit I have not read one her articles since I cancelled my subscription to the Advertiser. I was paying money just to read the classified and odd sports page and occasional comment column. Use to write to the letters to the editor page too. Never had one printed, I think I was considered too lefty.
Back to the subject. I wrote to Tory to tell her that she had lost my respect and that I too this 70 year old grandmother, (first march) Marched in March and will be Marching in May, and for her to get off her butt and join us and see the wide section of ordinary people who care about the direction this country is heading.
I think that he is a member of the Tory Party
Geez Kaye Lee, nailed it again! I too picked up Tory’s piece from Vic Rollinson’s excellent response and I must congratulate you on the considered way in which you took her apart. My response was more incendiary. I mean, how dare she? My wife and I are well into our 60’s, educated, and angry. I had to write to the NT News after what I called (a bit intemperately) a knuckle dragger used similar derogatory comments in a text to the editor.. Called us the great unwashed etc. it’s amazing how many of the commentariat completely missed the point that it was the great diversity of the participants and their messages that made these marches so significant. They represented a groundswell and I hope it becomes a tsunami of angst against this insensitive, incompetent and Ill advised government. Keep up the good work.
BO and bong smoke?
What a judgmental, crass, uneducated person this Tory is! Since I haven’t read any newspaper for quite some time now, I had no idea who she even was.
I really think now is the time for people to stop reading paper newspapers. They don’t have anything meaningful to say anyway . Plus buying them gives Rupert money that he doesn’t need.
Well that’s what this 42 year old lawyer without a bong says anyway!
I’m sorry Kaye but the march had no gravitas. Nothing happened.
I’m quite sure if Tory was stoned along the way more would take notice. As Shevill mentions the march needed highlights, not so much AKs but certainly the other anarchy party favours.
Have one theme for each city and rotate it weekly ffs. Don’t march once, march every weekend until the government changes its tune.
Fryaduck,
I disagree. This march was organised by ordinary people with no expertise in event management and very little advertising. With only a short time in which to spread the word, it prompted over 100,000 people to get up and have their say, many of whom have never protested before. They marched with dignity and in all seriousness. The organisers no doubt learned a few lessons about possible improvements for the future but in my opinion it was an amazing response.
Wouldn’t be surprised if the government is now paying journalists to write negative comments about the March in March. It hit a nerve. Sadly, due to lack of MSM coverage, most people were unaware of the Marches. Government wants to play it down by inaccurately portraying the Marches as being irrelevant. I couldn’t even read Tory’s article, and I doubt that many other’s would have as it is such a hodge podge of unconnected ideas that made no sense at all. What I want to know is why is the MSM complicit in covering up for this government. (ABC/SBS/Fairfax I’m talking to you !!)
They ‘the politicians’ ignore the meaning of the marches at their peril. If this were like a march in some ‘other’ countries, it would not be rough & ready signs being waved, it would be AK 47’s , Molotov cocktails & burning tyres. However, the folks marching are just as unhappy with our new ‘leaders’.
I can’t believe anyone could be so obtuse as to not see(maybe didn’t want to see)that the diversity of people and signs says it all.The amount of different things protested should be a wake-up call for the govt,the people aren’t just fed up with one thing like the Vietnam War this is a myriad of complaints.For this journalist (I use the term loosely)to belittle the march in such derogatory terms says more about her than anything else.I get the feeling she is just another of those journos who are apologists for the LNP.Their extremely biased comments count for nothing.
Exactly. Murdoch and all his paid flock are starting to become quite irrelevant.
Tory Shepherd..a typical Murdoch clone.. used to write for the comic strip Advertiser, with the usual platitudinous style you come to expect from that journal and tabloids like it.
A real journalist would have been trying to get to the nub of the sort of ISSUES the marchers were trying to draw attention to and developing a good discourse on THESE.
Anyway, the name says it all, doesn’t it?
Today they marched on the Gold Coast
“The auto industry has gone, penalty rates are going, the Barrier Reef is about to wear a layer of sludge and Gina Rinehart looks like she will soon be able to get her wish and pay no tax at all. Oh, and Rupert Murdoch will soon be able to own every newspaper, television station and radio station in Australia.
The corporations ‒ the ones who really run things ‒ have got their dream by having Tony Abbott in power. They think they have won.
We must make them think again.
It is us ‒ the people who have marched in March all over Australia, 100,000 of us and more ‒ who will stop their evil plans for Australia.
They think they’ve got us on the run. But who do they think they’re kidding?
Their time is coming swiftly to an end.
It is time for us to say: Down with the oligarchs. Down with the plutocrats. Down with the people who will make your children work for $2 a day.”
http://www.independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/march-in-march-gold-coast-down-with-the-corporatists,6302
Reblogged this on lmrh5.
Reblogged this on The Grovely Gazette.
Pingback: To Tory Shepherd | lmrh5
I noticed that the Maidan Protests in Ukraine were seen as remarkable because extremely diverse groups fought side by side, united against an elected official who was corrupt, brutal and greedy.
It is unfortunate that the press don’t seem to understand that the March in March, however pale a reflection it may be, springs from the same instinctive reaction of citizens who feel that their government is no longer working for them, but actively pursuing private interests in disregard of the wider community’s greater good.
Thank you Kaye for this piece. I’m a 73 year old bloke, don’t think I have BO and although I have smoked a bong, it was many, many years ago. The sign I carried, both in Gosford and Sydney said ‘Poor Fellow My Country – No Truth, No Integrity, No Compassion, No Respect from This Government’. It was beautifully printed on my computer and then laminated. I wonder if Tory would approve! Thanks also for the link to the Gosford March. I was proud to march with these great people and listen to the most inspiring speech by Father Rod Bowers from the Gosford Anglican Church, and I’m not a church goer. It’s on Youtube – maybe Tory should watch and learn!
Tory. What an apt name.
Reblogged this on hi2lea and commented:
Another wonderful response to a critical review of the March in March protests.
tory shepard ? is that a bloke or a woman ???roop sure trained you well, however, when you decide to rubbish the people of this country, you are casting yourself out from the main stream of society. from what I hear every day people are stopping from buying roop’s rags and television… I bet you will be long gone and decent people will still be here.
Wow polished signs, so those few millions of people protesting in Egypt weren’t really protesters at all because they did not have polished signs. If you do not have the money to make polished sign then really you shouldn’t protest, hmm I fail to see this logic!
I am a 67 year old woman. I am fairly conservative and I marched. I marched because I am very concerned about the decisions being made by this PM. and his government. I did not go back to my Bong as Tory Shepard suggested, instead I traveled back to Bowral with a group of older people who are worried about what is happening. None of us are “raving lefties” Tory.
Considering how desperately the MSM has tried to discredit it, MiM must have made a huge impact!
Might as well be discussing the colour of the megaphones. Same angle from a different journo, here’s a reply I used elsewhere:
“Lacked a unifying theme” no the theme was there. You just have to add it up. Multiple issues, decisions going against science and promised common good adds up to massive incompetence/deception. DO YOUR JOB.
Too many issues for one sign.
No it was not like any other single issue protest like invading Iraq or uranium mining. What made it different? I could tell you BUT you’re the reporter. DO YOUR JOB.
And yes, the snivelling piece you wrote was embarrassing and condescending to 120,000 people. It’s upsetting because if a protest march isn’t enough to get attention what are you suggesting we need to resort to? DO YOUR JOB so angry people don’t become desperate.
Who is Tory Shepherd?
the march was a great success but the follow up needs little billy and tanya to expose the rabbott to ridicule for his lying nastiness but labor couldn’t expose pigiron bob’s lies or howard’s absolute whoppers not the 10-13 lies of the rabbott so what will be new??????
So , tory thinks that only 100,000 + people protested AND should be discounted because the other 22,000,000 DIDN’T. Statistically , [ and here is an example , T.V. stations multiply by a factor of 35 ….every phone call that complains about something that they have shown . I.E. 35 people who would have called if they could be f’ed trying to find the station’s number late at night [ switchboard not attended other than by security ]and registering a complaint . [ ME – stats major ] ] SSOOO ! , given that, tory , this amounts to nearly 3.5 million people who DISAGREED , and would have protested if they were able , but were doing , like , WORKING, no where near a venue , overseas , ill , old , infirm ,SCARED . Over to you, idiot . Use the multiplier effect to get a real figure of voter resistant , anything else is just laziness . Or you are trying for a MEDIA MANAGER gig with some pollie because you can see the writing on the wall ……you can’t pay the mortgage if your newspaper job gets redunded .Who is going to employ you ? May have to become a FIFO for gina at $2 per hour .Good luck ! You brought it on yourself . MATT PRICE – you are sadly missed .
Couldn’t of said it better Kaye Lee.How day they say we are unwashed bong smokers as a 64 year old women I’m washed never taken drugs and have worked all my life.People like Tory live up to the name TORY..
Trust a conservative to pick miner points….it’s the message that is important…….whether the spelling is correct, or “grama” is correct really doesn’t matter. There were over 100,000 people taking part from different demographics, and different political affiliations. While polls can be shaken off by politicians, the huge support MiM has gained puts credence to the view that the Abbott gang is considered untrustworthy.
The poor journalist understanding shines through when they concentrate on minor details.
Tory Shepherd wrote a good article some weeks ago about sleazy employers, which surprised me, but I would be confident that she had a whisper in her ear to switch back to the Murdoch line. That is what she has done since.
Poor spelling does not make one a bad or ignorant person.
A few misguided off colour placards do not make a gaggle of protesters.
From the selective specific to the general population. A perfect ploy to disparage the majority.
Certainly says something about our journalist friends capacity for fairness and discrimination.
My message was not written in words it was written in feelings of disgust and horror at what a tolerant society can become under forces of greed and exploitation.
Is that a bit hard for you darling.
What a contemptible bitch this tory shepherd is,hardly think she is worth your time Kaye.
Well, Fox TV reporters did actually “stage manage” the rabble that was to become the Tea Party.
I marched in Cairns and Tory Shepherd there wasn’t one unwashed smelly person there! I also didn’t see anyone affected by drugs but then even stockbrokers can take drugs – you’re very prejudiced aren’t you. It was a very peaceful march and in case you didn’t notice, the signs may be very varied in content and quality but they weren’t protesting about EVERYTHING as you seem to think, they were protesting against Abbott and his government’s policies or lack thereof. Let’s not confuse policies with principles here, Abbott and his cronies (and one crone!) have no principles.
People like Tory Shepherd are just looking for a laugh and a pat on the back from their right wing mates – a desire to be seen as part of the perceived winning team which continues to kick and bully the losers… But nothing lasts forever! Those marches were just SPOT FIRES which are about to turn into a CONFLAGRATION. And the Tory Shepherds of this country will get consumed in the fire.
Stephen,
Unless they happen to say things like “Ditch the Witch”, in which case they are apparently representative of that rabble.
The organisers of MiM were warned by persons such as myself that if they did not minimise the “base” elements within the march (and there were more than a few) that certain elements of the media and conservative politics would focus on that at the expense of the march in general. It was 100% predictable and inevitable. Being those things, it’s precisely what happened.
People need to stop moaning about things they knew full well would actually happen.
What is it we remember from the “convoy” gibberish? We remember a couple of placards and a couple of off-colour remarks. That’s what we remember because it suits us, politically, to do so. It’s what happens.
I attended the March in Melbourne and I am a great grandmother worried about what is going on in my country.BO and Bong smoke REALLY .Your condescending reporting has lost more MSM readers. Unless you start reporting with less bias in the near future you will be out of a job.
People keep calling us lefties. I don’t knowmthe different between left and right. What I do know is that I am tired of the lies, and the hype from both State and Federal govt. The people may have elected you, but hey, that does not give you the right to do any damn thing you please. Govt is supposed to represent for the people of Australia. And all I want to do is distance myself from all the stupid things this govt is doing. Not In My Name, thanks very mich. And do protests achieve nothing?? Try reading your history books. Street protests got women the vote for a start, just one example
Thank you for writing and sharing this. What is really evident is the lack of ’emotional intelligence’ across the board with this party. They say a lot of nasty school boy stuff yet that have yet to do anything positive for this country in any way. I will be glad to see the back of them. I protested as well and from all I can see in all of the pictures around Australia is that we are a hugely diverse community of people from all walks of life…..and we are NOT going away.
Kaye Lee, I must congratulate you. This article is clear and passionate; at the same time sharp and brief. You mutilated that ‘Journo’s’ comments.
ha ha so funny guys Independent! And what were they protesting about really! the budget hasn’t come down with any nastys yet! the government is only trying to implement their election promises well what the senate will allow despite an enormous electoral majority . I mean if you wanted to be taken seriously you should have at least waited for something real to moan about and not threaten to shoot business people in the back of the head et al.
ian forrest,
This government said before the election that they were committed to reducing emissions by at least 5% and to reaching a renewable energy target of 15% by 2020. They are now backing away from both of those commitments. They have repealed environmental protection laws, approved massive new coal mines, port expansion that allows dumping on the reef, delisting of world heritage forests, repeal of marine park legislation, delay of the murray-darling buyback, culling of sharks, not provided the promised oversight of whaling because they are too busy spending tens of billions patrolling for a few fishing boats so they can lock up innocent people in hellholes overseas. They said workchoices was dead and buried but now we find penalty rates and entitlements under attack and a concerted attempt to discredit and silence the workers’ collective voice. We were promised there was no difference between Liberal and Labor on education – yonk! We were promised the Coalition’s NBN would be rolled out by 2016 – uh huh. We find the ABC under attack because of stories they have reported yet laws are being repealed to protect Andrew Bolt’s right to freedom to racially vilify people. They were left with a debt of about $280 billion and immediately increased the debt ceiling to $500 billion even though they promised to reduce the debt. I could go on and on.
The purpose of this march was to raise awareness, build solidarity, start the discussion, spread the truth, get more people motivated and the young involved, let people know they do have a voice and can make a difference. You can’t change a government overnight but you can start the campaign.
Ian,
Are you kidding? Whilst I agree the comment about shooting Alan Joyce was utterly shameful, your apparent belief that there hasn’t been any “nasties” from the Govern because the budget hasn’t been handed down is really weird. The Government has cuts funds to a myriad of things. Such as:
—————
Withdraws funding for an early intervention program to help vulnerable young people – 22 January 2014
Defunds all international environmental programs, the International Labour Organisation and cuts funding to a range of international aid programs run by NGOs such as Save the Children, Oxfam, CARE Australia and Caritas – 18 January 2014
Scraps the Home Energy Saver Scheme which helps struggling low income households cut their electricity bills – 17 December 2013
Defunds the Public Interest Advocacy Centre whose objectives are to work for a fair, just and democratic society by taking up legal cases public interest issues – 17 December 2013
Defunds the Environmental Defenders Office which is a network of community legal centres providing free advice on environmental law – 17 December 2013
Axes funding for animal welfare – 17 December 2013
Abolishes the AusAID graduate program costing 38 jobs – 17 December 2013
Cuts Indigenous legal services by $13.4 million. This includes $3.5 million from front line domestic violence support services, defunding the National legal service and abolishing all policy and law reform positions across the country – 17 December 2013
Cuts $2.5 million from community radio – 17 December 2013
Disbands the independent Immigration Health Advisory Group for asylum seekers – 16 December 2013
Axes $4.5 million from charities and community groups for the Building Multicultural Communities Program – 13 December 2013
Axes funding to the Alcohol and Other Drugs Council of Australia, forcing the 46 year old organisation to close – 27 November 2013
Cuts 600 jobs at the CSIRO – 8 November 2013
Cuts compensation to the victims of bushfires – 21 October 2013
Takes away pay rises for childcare workers – 13 September 2013
Takes away pay rises from aged care workers – 13 September 2013
——————————–
That’s merely a small sample of funding cuts this Government has made independent of any Commission of Audit or Budget. http://sallymcmanus.net/abbotts-wreckage/ for a more fulsome list of things people are concerned about.
^^^^ What he said. The list is endless. Getting rid of experts left right and centre and appointing climate change deniers to every advisory position. The obvious payment to hear the opinion you want to hear is very scary. Replacing the Head of Treasury is unprecedented. It is supposed to be an apolitical position and those that have filled it have done their job for the government of the day regardless of its persuasion. This is a very disturbing move, as is the abolition of a Science Ministry and climate change bodies.
Dan,
“Unless they happen to say things like “Ditch the Witch”, in which case they are apparently representative of that rabble. ”
Putting aside the fact that the Prime Minister and two of his female colleagues seemed happy to be photographed standing in front of these signs (and NO I don’t believe they and all their minders were unaware they were there), it was a catch cry that was repeated by other politicians, commentators and journalists. It wasn’t a couple of signs amongst a sea of thousands – it was a concerted campaign of vilification that no doubt contributed to our first female PM being dislodged.
Good Grief!!! Enough about a handful of inappropriate signs waved by some overenthusiastic demonstrators. No tories were harmed in the making of this protest. Get a grip!
What is truly obscene… what is truly outrageous is the way the Australian government(s) have been treating our fellow human beings. Government policies (and not just LNP) have been destroying families and individuals for far too long. The unemployed, the disadvantages, the asylum seekers and many others have been broken and abandoned by successive governments.
So a few nasty signs among thousands of others makes you sad? FFS… we have been party to a war of aggression, leading to the deaths, maiming and displacement of millions. Our government is currently blocking a UN investigation of war crimes in Sri Lanka. We sabotaged a a New Zealand-led push for nuclear disarmament. Yesterday we succeeded in getting the PNG Government to shut down a judicial inquiry into human rights Manus Island.
Really want to be offended by something? Be my guest….
No real journalists around these days.except the odd one.What is the MSM going to do about improving the situation.At least we have online people to give us true information.
Not always true but more reasonable comments etc.
Dan I will not be moved. I will stay the course no matter what manipulations occur. I fight from my center of concern knowing there are limited things I can do. However those that can be done will get done. If I worried about what others think of me I would go and hide. Takes all kinds to make a democracy. I didn’t moan just presented the facts. I know hissy fits are an immature waste of time but rational observations are legitimate.
Sot of a wasted argument really.
In Adelaide there were plenty of high quality signs. I like many others put an LNP election poster to good use. Admittedly everybody chose to display the back of the poster and most of the messages were hand written but it was nice to at last have something from my state representative that was in any way useful.
Well said Kaye because I believe Tory is a lying Tory who is also a Conservative Tory with a Tory agenda to sell us all out to her Tory corporate mates and their Tory bankers.
Also Kaye we now have many like Tory on the ABC and it`s slowly turning into Sky News 2
Maybe Tory Shepherd should quit journalism.
Isnt that the whole point of his profession to ‘get to the point’ even when presented with a plethora of varying issues. Present the ‘for’ and ‘against’ with a grounding of fact. Or has his journalistic instinct been dulled by the constant absorbtion of ‘one liner’ ‘focus group’ related ‘byte-sized’ slogans that politicians like to resonate around the media (in Australia at least) for the last few years outside of normal election cycle.
If the government is FACTUALLY wrong about a lot of issues then a march addressing these FACTUAL Inconguities is the logical way to go.
Or should we do one march per issue?
How many issues is that even?
The government is inept at everything from environment, aboriginals, migrants, business, macro economics, social spending, unions, telecommunications, trade agreement…
Already a wide variety of people marched in march. From traditional green/left wing people (no less valid than any opinion if their issues are grounded in FACT). To the friends who marched in Australia: firefighters, academics, engineers, geologists, electricians, plumbers. Why not ask WHY they marched!
DISCUSS!
Perhaps his apparent finite journalistic instinct should be hand held in a more objective direction.
Also: tiser@adv.newsltd.com.au
Email the paper. Its unacceptable journalism.
“Her” Sam, it is female.
I would have thought in a reporters eyes the quality of the content of the signs would have been more important than the physical quality of the signs. What are all these journos going to do once MSM is dead? I mean there wont even be a need for media officers in a pollies office, because they will have to deal with the blogosphere to get their message out. I mean imagine, a pollie having to actually directly approach the people to get their message across.
Tory I’d never heard of you until I saw you on Insiders this Sunday. You have a lot to learn about commentary on issues of public importance but you appear aware of this. If you aren’t aware of the groundswell of unease about where we are heading as a nation I think you would be wise to broaden your circle of contacts.
I think you all complain and moan and wail too much my friends we have a robust democracy with elections every 3 short years and a public that is both mostly intelligent and unwilling to put up with incompetence ala Gillard and Rudd. and what is it now $648 billion gross debt. the majority elected Abbott to try and fix this black hole before we turn into a Greece with 24% unemployment and 50% youth unemployment. so hold back on the wailing and gnashing of teeth only 2 1/2 years to go to judgement day good or bad.
Smile and be happy we live in the best land on the blue planet.
Actually ian, the debt hit $300 billion 3 months after the Coalition took office. The figure you quote is a projection for 2022-23 at which stage you will no doubt still be blaming Gillard and Rudd.
You really need to check the stuff you quote.
Can we please stop utilising the word “journalist” along with its various extensions (journo, etc), when discussing, as grown ups, Rupert Murdoch’s tame typists.
Journalism, as a calling, implies an understanding and adherence to the word “ethics”, and sorry, the current crop in MSM do neither.
Thank you