Extreme view the new normal
ABC AND BIAS
OH dear. Poor ABC. More complaints of “bias”. Probably, the complaints will continue till we have no ABC. Curiously, although Liberal Party MPs seem to complain most often and most noisily, I suspect Liberal voters will be the big losers if we do eradicate the ABC; Labor voters seem to watch commercial TV and will hardly notice. Has anyone done a survey?
I think the problem has at least two parts. 1. As in the song from Vaudeville: “All the world is odd, except me and thee, and even thee are a little odd”. That is, we all think that we are the “normal” ones with the “normal” opinions, and that everyone else is “odd”. For Liberal Party politicians, this takes an extreme form where they believe that they are not just right, but Right. 2. Further, the meaning of “liberal” has changed, and the word “Liberal” has become its antonym, causing commentators to use the convoluted phrases, “small ‘L’ liberal”, and “’Liberal Party’ liberal”.
The unhappy consequence of this is that the ABC will be accused of “bias” whenever it is unbiased, and Liberal Party politicians will concede lack of bias only when the ABC presents a conspicuous Liberal Party bias. question to the panel on the show. If the full truth be know, his contentious question proved to be a trigger for some useful, constructive debate, from all speakers on the panel.
Where in this episode was the reason for the ABC’s management being demonised by the conservative right of Australian politics? The PM, and his other Cabinet “glove puppets”, engaged in hype and emotive scaremongering on the morning news. Many conservative critics clearly showed the attackers had not listened to all the interesting and broad-ranging points put in this discussion of current issues affecting our nation. Is not this type of political discourse the true beating heart of a vibrant democracy?
The question raised by the PM’s “terrorist”, sparked a massive Liberal Party beat-up and overreaction. As a direct consequence, this Government response, aided by questionable “shock Jocks” wishing to chase ratings, inspired horrible scenes where thugs, blockaded the ABC, intimidated innocent workers and, to their utter disgrace, did so bearing our national flag. Much of their banter was ignorant, aggressive, threatening and narrow-minded.
The critics who fanned this outburst intended to generate a “right-wing”, ProGovernment backlash. These critics included the PM and senior ministers, all of whom used intemperate language. They were, therefore, directly responsible for the violent fallout. None of the critics, appeared to have fully viewed the show in its true context. What was needed was a balanced, considered and measured intellectual assessment of the content.
I am ashamed of our nation’s lurch to the violent political right. I do not worry 4WD talks being urged So typical, uninformed opinions slating the off-road 4WD fraternity. Yes, like cyclists, there are a given few who make life hard for the others who actually do the right thing. Not all 4WD people are destroyers. about the ISIS thugs as much as I do the nasty cliques fanning hysteria and division on our community. It is a pity some of our elected representatives were key players in fostering such serious community division for some questionable short term political gains!
Send in the censors
I HOPE the ABC will defend itself vigorously against the charge the Prime Minister is trying to make about a so-called terrorist appearing on Q&A. Certainly the person concerned was not engaging, but the ABC must retain its independence and present all points of view.
It is worth adding Mr Abbott refers to the man as a terrorist, but he was in fact found not guilty by an Australian court. He is an extremist, but that is also true of some on the right-wing of Australian politics. We should be able to hear both sides and make our own judgments or the next step will be outright censorship.
Moral outrage
TONY Abbott’s moral outrage at the Q&A program is trivial and obscene. He displays no outrage at the horror of a traumatised five-year-old child trying to swallow razor blades while imprisoned in Nauru but demands that heads should roll because the ABC broadcasts something opposed to his viewpoint. Mr Abbott’s head is the one that should roll.
Double standards
ON one hand federal Bass MP Andrew Nikolic objects to taxpayers subsidising political advocacy (Talking Point, Mercury, July 6). On the other, he accepts taxpayers subsidising his political campaign and his political cause.
Equality
MARRIAGE is equality between one man and one woman, as the self-evident reality of human existence shows. It’s the gay movement which rejects marriage equality, by denying the equality of the sexes that’s essential to marriage.
They are us
THREATENING radicalised young Australians with loss of citizenship is no deterrent, given their indoctrination into a “heroic cause”. To strip brainwashed, misguided young adults of citizenship would render some stateless, a breach of international law that may impact disproportionately on Muslim Australians and foment more alienation among the young. The Australian-born remain ours, whatever their ethnic or religious background, or crime.
Beware toll gate
IF they put a cable car on our mountain, a toll gate for cars going to the top of the mountain will be next.
Mike England of Black Hills