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Issue No. 328 | 13 October 2006 |
Straw Men
Interview: Australia�s Most Wanted Industrial: The Fox and the Contractor Unions: Industrial Wasteland International: Two Bob's Worth Economics: National Interest Environment: The Real Dinosaur History: Only In Spain? Review: Clerk Off
Classifieds the New IR Attack Dog States Keep Stakes in IR Blueprint Meatworkers Boned by WorkChoices Democracy Overboard in Bass Strait Unionist Targeted for Deportation Taxpayers Taken to the Cleaners Workers Lose Right to Choose Lawyers
Legends The Soapbox Obituary Fiction
The Unpromised Land
Labor Council of NSW |
Tool Shed The Unknown Tool
If you needed any more proof that John Howard has turned Australia into a meaner and more backward place, it's hard to go past the dreck over the airwaves and in the letters page last week. The yokels were baying for blood, because the Returned Services League had the temerity to allow a young man, who had burned the Australian flag during the riots last December, carry the flag during the Anzac Day march. Any hope that the RSL's gesture might be taken as a sign of both apology and forgiveness was soon quashed, with the few-toothed-ones telling shock jocks they would hurl eggs, beer cans and pitchforks at the kid. Loons with the cognitive ability to write sent their missiles through the Telegraph. Port Macquarie's Ron Nichols wrote he would "happily do time" to ensure the RSL President and the former flag burner would "not get any more than 100m down the road on Anzac Day". David Chambers of Burwood was a little more reserved, perhaps, in claiming the RSL's decision "shows ideologies of tolerance, diversity and forgiveness have become a psychiatric illness in this country". These are probably the same people who profess that Australia is a proudly Christian country. They must believe the only reason Jesus turned the other cheek was to reach for another can of whoop-ass*. And sure, burning the Australian flag might be disrespectful, but apparently threatening to maim people marching in a parade for returned soldiers is acceptable. Clearly, the thing that has become acceptable is for these morons to get about in their Reg Regan attire, sucking back on their tinnies, having a go at anything that's different or actions that might show an ounce of compassion. These half-wits are the same ones going around saying new arrivals have to embrace Australian values. This is all bullshit - the values debate is a case of labelling people from non-Anglo backgrounds the "other" so the insecure can make themselves feel more Australian.
In fact, they'd prefer if newcomers would not accept Australian values, because it makes them even more convinced they are the "real" Australians. But, the bad news for them is they aren't - they are merely the ugly Australians that John Howard has turned into our flag bearers. * apologies to the comedian I stole that line from.
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