Respect, Tolerance, Debate

More and more we appear to be losing the ability to have sensible, intelligent and respectful debate and discussion in Australia. That applies to politics, social interaction, comment to media, radio debate. It's all pervading.

What drives this I do not understand. But what is blatantly obvious, it's hindering our ability to talk about  important issues. As a result, there is acrimonious division I don’t recall we had in the past. People seem to vent rather than listen and, discuss and make sensible suggestions. 

I wonder if social media like Twitter drives this. Perhaps it's easier to just hurl abuse and hide behind the anonymity of 140 characters. It's not the forum for debate but that shouldn’t hinder people from making intelligent points. There are increasing numbers of people who access information via sites like Twitter, FB, etc. When I read in the last Essential Poll on average 40% of people don’t know which party is best placed to manage essential areas like the economy, our security etc I shudder. Rather scary.

A recent example. Niki Savva published a column in the Australian this week. The title; Dear DelCons please drop the abuse and play nice on plebiscite. The DelCons went to town on her. Pity really because she highlighted relevant points about the SSM plebiscite and Labor’s hypocrisy. Niki also touched on the repeal of 18C and how the DelCons might get a better hearing by changing their aggressive approach. 

It was blatantly obvious for the vast majority of readers the only intent was to launch an attack on Ms Savva because they see her as a traitor. The points she raised hardly entered the debate. Of the 732 comments (at my last count) the vast majority just slings and arrows. Slings and arrows aimed at her and at each other depending on what tribe or camp you belonged to. Senseless. The vast majority of comment was pretty childish. Although on the positive side perhaps it's good therapy. The venters let off steam. But, for political analysts scanning media to track what people considered important, it offered nothing of substance. What a waste of an opportunity. 

It might surprise many but even people we don’t like (or hold different political, social and religious views with) can prompt us to think if we bother to listen. God forbid we might even learn something and change our opinion on a point of view. I know I have many times. Much to my surprise at times. 

The art of debate requires the debater to present a succinct and compelling argument for their case. But more importantly it requires the listener and responder to listen and analyse the merits. The listening and analysing on merit appears to be missing all too often. Seriously, when was the last time that happened in politics as an example. Hawke and Howard? Just look at the level of interaction between opposing parties today. Only last week the PM’s call for Bill Shorten to work with the Government on their bank plan was met with a Twitter response from Shorten; No. For heavens sake two year olds behave like that. 

If there is one positive we can say about Malcolm Turnbull, it's he doesn’t engage in verbal mudslinging. It's a refreshing change. However, people attack him because of it. The DelCon’s, media, opposition and even a slew of backbenchers. How disappointing. Well, it is to me. 

As an avid scourer of media comment; print and social. I can’t recall the last time I read “I don’t share that view but I respect your position.” The classic response now is, “You’re a RWNJ or LWNJ I hate you.”  Similar responses follow comment to any topic; politics, social change, religion. Politicians from all camps behave like recalcitrant school kids when they can’t get their way. 

We should be able to table topics that concern us without expecting to suffer an avalanche of abuse or ridicule. That includes raising issues like Muslim extremism. People are worried about this. Politicians who knee-jerk are just as bad as those who are not prepared to have the discussion. 

The same goes for SSM. How dare a politician like Richard Di Natalie say he doesn’t trust us!!!How dare Bill Shorten  throw mud at the Australian people's suggesting we are all a bunch of homophobes and bigots. How dare politicians like Derryn Hinch ridicule us over the plebiscite!  He hasn’t even entered the chamber and, he's trying to take our right to that away from us. How dare they treat us like that!

Someone made a comment to me yesterday. It was about the SSM plebiscite and the opposition’s and others vow to block the legislation. Trashing our rights to have our say that we voted for and won. I shared the latest Essential Poll which indications the yes vote will win. I can’t say this surprised me when a poster said this, “yes, by that it's going to get up. What a joke! Doubt if I'd like my name on a gay list if I was passed. Targets for Moslems.” Seriously. But people think like that and it largely stems from the lack of intelligent debate. 

I could go on. But, in closing I suggest this. If we want debate (and sensible, intelligent  debate at that) perhaps it behoves us to act sensibly and responsibly ourselves. That means showing respect for other people's points of view. At the same time we must demand the same from our elected representatives. They must learn and accept that in a servant leadership culture, (make no mistake they are the servants of the people), they have to serve others respectfully. We must demand they do and not accept anything less. When we vote them in, we justify their behaviour. 

It was Albert Einstein who said "If I were to remain silent, I'd be guilty of complicity.” But let's bring respect and tolerance back. 

A letter to Bill Shorten, Richard Di Natale, Independents, Senate Cross-benchers (and recalcitrant Backbenchers)

You did NOT win the election. The Liberal National Coalition did. Granted, it was by the slimmest of margins but, it doesn’t  change the fact, you lost, they won. 

As for the recalcitrant Backbenchers, whilst you were on the winning side take a hint, this applies to you as well. Stop acting like the opposition. 

Now to put it into simple words. That means the majority of  Australian voters, voted for key initiatives to be actioned. 

We voted for the Sex Marriage plebiscite. If the decision is yes, then the Government is duty bound to   action. 

We voted for Superannuation reform as per the policy presented. That isn’t to say all of us are thrilled by some Of the proposed changes. But, those of us with an ounce of intelligence understand we have a problem and we all need to contribute to fixing it. 

We voted for Budget repairs as per the policies presented. 

We voted for the reintroduction of the ABCC. 

If the electorate truly believes they got it wrong then it's up to the electorate to change it at the next election. It is not up to you. It's our decision. You are OUR servants we elect you we pay you we fire you. Now it's your responsibility to make sure  the will of the majority of people is acted upon. Just DO IT. 

Stop the politics, stop the argy bargy and get on with supporting the decisions and getting this country moving again. I am sick and tired of the posturing, the grandstanding, the ego trips the power plays and, the “this is what I want utterances.” Being a politician does not grant you cart-blanch to force your will upon the majority. I would “bet London to a brick” I’m not the only who thinks as I do. 

As for the voters who ad nauseam bleat on about the Government is this, the Government that. The Government is composed of people other people elected. If you aren’t happy with the collective mix blame the people who put them there. Stop the whinging. 

The bottomline is this. Politicians work for us, start doing your job. That means implementing the decisions of the majority. If that requires minor adjustments fine, but blocking this, blocking that to flex your muscles is most certainly NOT. Senators, you sit in  a house of review. You are not the Government. It's your role to ensure the Government delivers what they promised.  By all means argue for your pet initiatives but holding an elected Government to ransom to get your way is not on.  

Voters if we as a collective have delivered the wrong result; Government and policy mix  that's our fault. We better lift our game, educate ourselves and do a better job next time. But when I see an Essential Poll which highlights even now on key issue after key issue 40% don’t have an opinion, that tells me a lot of people need remedial instruction and urgently. 

Rant over. 

The Rise of the Victim Industry and Culture

There was a column in the Australian today covering last nights Q&A program on ABC. The column addressed among other points Brendan O'Neill's and Mitch Fifield's debate on free speech and offshore detention. As usual, the comments varied. I posted a comment along similar lines to this blog. 

In the same Australian, Nick Cater had an even more direct column where he talked of HRC's Tim Southphommasane's grievance industry' seeing  bigots everywhere. It's worth a read. 

This piece tells you a lot about Tim Southphommasane. He said, "If someone says to me they’re not even going to try to pronounce my name, that doesn’t necessarily send a good signal,” the race relations commissioner told The Australian Financial Review in a revealing interview this month

“It says that they’re not even bothered to treat me with respect. How would they feel if they were told that every day — that people weren’t going to even try to pronounce their name?”

Well, guess what Mr Southphommasane, I can’t pronounce your name and I wouldn’t try. Nothing to do with lack of respect, simply, I would prefer not to make and ass of myself trying. To mispronounce your name can be viewed by some people as an insult. So stop being a drama queen in trying to make a case of something as banal as people not attempting to pronounce your name. Time to grow up. 

Within our society today we have entire groups of people who have decided they exist to take offence at things. For some, I suspect  it gives their life meaning. I am a victim, therefore I am. They hold the view, they have an inherent right never to be touched by anything as shocking as being offended. If they are, their response is, the offender is going to have to pay. As if any “show me the money” payment would ever take away genuine hurt.

Feeding off this new cultural industry, we have the “victim industry” profiteers and exploiters. Hence the new Insult Business is flourishing. There are more and more people making  a lot of money out of it. Just look at what we pay the Human Rights Commissioners. 

This culture of offence is made up of all sorts of people who are hypersensitive to life. Where the slightest comments can result in you being reported to the "thought police." For heaven's sake just look at the ludicrous QUT case. Where, in anyone's language reasonably sensible (if someone sarcastic) questions and comments  (given the circumstances) resulted in students paying up to avoid prosecution and in one case being pursued by the HRC. What an abuse of power that is. 

In this new "Victim Culture" a wrong turn of phrase, a simple word, can result in someone taking issue with it and us. When they do, all hell can break loose. Well, guess what folks we will never go through life and not be offended. It just isn't going to happen. If we were honest with ourselves we are all racists and bigots to a degree. It’s when it goes too far, we have a problem. 

There are groups of people I don't like or trust. Perhaps this will change in the future, but for now, it’s how I feel. I will continue to voice my opinion, hopefully in a constructive way. I hold the belief,  it's OK to criticise or constructively comment but it’s not OK to physically attack, abuse or hound people. But that's just my approach. 

We must NEVER cave into industries, groups or individuals who seek to control how we think, what we say and or how we act. When in reality we are simply being human and exercising our right to free thought and free speech. Groups and individuals who condemn and vilify us for holding and presenting a different opinion must not win. That is not to say I condone bullying. I most certainly don't. 

The new “Victim Industry and Culture” has gone way too far. They are a form of extremists. It has to be defeated before it's too late.  

It's A Woman's Right To Choose What She Wears

What an appalling suppression of a woman's right to choose what she wears, the ban on the burkini is by some French mayors. After all no one can claim it's a "security risk". I’ve seen it stated that people don't like it. Well, that's tough. Get over it. It's an item of clothing for heavens sake. What happened to tolerance? Given the choice  I would much prefer to see a woman in burkini than an overweight, middle-aged woman flaunting her over abundant flesh in a bikini. That definitely is an assault on my senses. 

Of course a slew of lame excuses are being proffered to justify this idiotic decision. Can you believe hygiene is one of the justifications?  The burkini consists of an outfit made from swimsuit material, which covers the body from head to ankles. The face is uncovered. It resembles a wetsuit with a built-in hood. That said, many wetsuits are also hooded. But the wetsuit manages to avoid ruining public order or offending anyone’s sense of hygiene but the burkini doesn’t. Problem solved ladies, just wear a hooded wetsuit. Whilst we are at it, someone better tell our elite swimmers who don full length suits they are a hygiene risk. 

The way the mayor of Cannes is carrying on the burkini is a grave threat to civilisation. This costume, Mr Lisnard declared, “ostentatiously displays religious affiliation”, could “disrupt public order”, and might even, in the words of one official, demonstrate “an allegiance to terrorist movements”. Could disrupt public order? Some meathead might object to a women’s choice of clothing and therefore might cause a ruckus so you ban the clothing? Unbelievable. I wonder how Mr Lisnard feels about Orthodox Jewish women who also wear modesty swim suits? 

I commented on a column covering the story in The Independent. One (ill informed) male challenged me over my comment about the suppression of rights. He asked what women in the ME were doing about fighting for rights. One of those ‘nudge, nudge, wink, wink smartass replies. I presented him with ample proof of rights-movements in Saudi, Iran, Syria and Afghanistan (yes I know Afghanistan isn’t in the ME). In reply I received a score of “thumbs down responses”. How absurd is that? When I pointed out how brave these women were. The fact some had even lost their lives. A score of thumbs down again. Beggars belief to be honest. It says a lot about the responders. 

Woman have fought for years for the right to choose (not to be confused with woman being FORCED to cover-up). Now, they are having their rights stripped from them because of ignorance  and the lack of ability of some people to move beyond bigotry and hatred. 

Anyone who believes in freedom (if they are genuine that is) must see the absurdity of banning an item of clothing that does nothing more than preserve the modesty of the wear. It isn’t a burqa it's a swimsuit. It stuns me that more women are not condemning the ban. We will decide what we wear and that applies to all women not just some. 

"There are two powers in the world; one is the sword and the other is the pen. There is great competition and rivalry between the two. There is a third power stronger than both, that of the women." ~ Muhammad Ali Jinnah 

Time for women with pens to speak up..