Everyone should take care with language that we use
I REFER to the heading of an article in the Townsville Bulletin (27/11/20), “Inmates running the Asylum.”
I want to make it very clear that I do not under any circumstances condone the behaviour of the young offenders at the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre and I strongly support the fact that the employees always deserve and have the right to a physically and mentally safe workplace.
The purpose of this letter is to draw the community’s attention to the power of language and the potential for unintentional harm that it may inflict on some citizens.
Immediately prior to reading the Townsville Bulletin I had been listening to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Mental Health: Queensland panel hosted by the Queensland Mental Health Commissioner. This report contains the staggering $43bn to $70bn cost to the Australian economy due to mental ill-health and suicide.
A standout message in the report discussions related to a need to focus on addressing stigma reduction and normalising the conversations about mental ill-health and suicide in our communities.
The National Mental Health Commission has released a document: Compassion First: Designing our national approach from the lived experience of suicidal behaviour.
I would suggest that the heading “Inmates running the Asylum” does nothing to promote reducing stigma and taking a compassionate first approach.
The term ‘asylum’ is an old term used to name mental illness institutions in the past, where the history in general is not good. In Townsville we did not fare well at all in the Burdekin Report, which resulted in the closure of Ward 10B at the then Townsville General Hospital and significant changes were made to the system. We must remember we have citizens who may have been admitted to Ward 10B as well as many with family and friends in the same situation.
Mental health and wellbeing is everyone’s responsibility. I am asking that the Bulletin pay attention to the power of language and also take a positive role in promoting positive mental health and wellbeing in our community.
CATHY O’TOOLE, Aitkenvale.
HOWARD STILL HIDING
JOHN Howard is still trying to disguise his and what will be proven in years to come the worst decision (if not war crimes) ever made as a prime minister.
He is still hiding behind the 9/11 attacks as his reason we followed the USA into Iraq/afghanistan for his current defence of the SAS troops under investigation. Actually Johnny, it was weapons of mass destruction. Even after numerous investigations
in Iraq couldn’t find any. But nevertheless you, us, we – whichever way you want to put it – helped kill approximately 290,000 Iraqis in the air raids that we so proudly displayed at prime time TV time – nice one Johnny.
But if that wasn’t enough, you needed a distraction from that so you jumped on the bandwagon of terrorism and headed us all over to Afghanistan where after five years it has been suggested that it became no more than a revolving door for us and the allies to send troops to a live training ground at the expense of the Afghan people.
As a consequence we have the situation we do today of soldiers flipping out through shear exhaustion and frustration. But will you ever be investigated as to your justification to send us to these places? No way.
FRED MCCULLOCH,
Pimlico.
PARDON FOR PRESIDENT
WITH the presidential pardoning of Michael Flynn, and previously a turkey named Corn, who will be the next to be pardoned?
There could be family, friends, coworkers or technically every person in prison. The family option is not new as Bill Clinton pardoned his brother, Roger. The real question is who will or can pardon President Trump if they wish to?
There is some doubt as to whether he could pardon himself and waiting for the incoming President Biden to issue pardons might be risky.
President Trump could take a day off for ‘illness’ and VP Pence could then fill in and pardon Trump.
Of course, this is only a theoretical possibility and surely there is no need to pardon anyone else.
DENNIS FITZGERALD, Box Hill, Vic.
TRUMP’S ENEMIES
NOW that Joe Biden has won, all of Donald Trump’s enemies are coming out of the woodwork.
First up our own Malcolm Turnbull (who else?) to inform us that Biden and his friends “will return to the fray with real enthusiasm” to bring about net zero emissions by 2050.
And the genuine haters: Democrat congressman Bill Pascrell who wants Trump and his “enablers” to be tried “for crimes against the nation”.
Not forgetting an old-time foe, Alexandra Ocasio-cortez, currently seeking a list of Trump supporters “to hold them accountable for complicity”.
Shades of George Orwell’s 1984 where Winston Smith, a clerk in the Ministry of Truth, plans to delete “any trace of people who threaten the absolute role of the party”.
Biden talks of restoring the moral leadership of the country. Is this how he intends to do it?
PC WILSON, Gold Coast.
NEW NATIONAL ANTHEM
NO doubt you’ll be flooded with responses to the call for a new anthem. Mine herewith.
“Australians let’s all go to war, from Iraq to Siam.
“Lest we forget” we’ll hear no more, whilst we’re with Uncle Sam. When he says ‘jump’ we ask how high and hurry to comply.
We stay with him through thick and thin and never count the cost to see it through and never rue the young lives we have lost.” ROSS REID, North Ward.
BRING BACK THE CANE
COLIN Baker in Letters 26/11/2020 hit the nail on the head. We need to bring back the cane into the schools because that is where the rot starts.
Thanks to the cotton wool and fairy floss lobby, the ‘urban nobility’ having mental problems, the crime rate is out of control. I often ask: What made Britain a great nation? Answer: Their navy! And what made that navy great? Answer: The cat of nine tails! Iron clad discipline! ALEXANDER SIMON,
Kelso.
CALL IN THE POLICE
LET the police take over the Cleveland centre if the people there can’t control the youth.
I can’t understand how this current situation has got out of control. Instead of whistle blowing take control – that’s your job. MONTY STUBBINGS,
Currajong.