Minorities and the Wedge
We have a PM ready and willing to disparage by sleight of phrase any vaguely critical comment emanating from the Moslem community. If a Brit accuses Australians of being the descendants of convicts there’s some mock indignation, even pride at our rough roots. If it comes from a Moslem it’s offensive.
But, like the Aborigines, the Moslem community represents a minuscule percentage of our population (and importantly our vote) yet warrants a greatly disproportionate amount of scrutiny and criticism from politicians. There’s a strong correlation between the size and voting power of minorities in our midst and the degree to which they are exploited for political wedge politics.
Articles
Howard has been a master of dividing and conquering the masses. The media steps in and simply amplifies the situation.
We appear to have entered an era where so many are ripe to believe, as long as it suits their preconceived ideas.
After growing up in the anti-nuclear era, nuclear is now “clean and green”. The facts about nuclear waste, the expense of building nuclear power stations and the moral issues, no longer matters. People are ready to believe new “facts”.
It also appears we have entered an era where hate and fear dominate. For a long time now environmentalists have felt the fury of those wishing to conserve only their own opinions.
I don’t blame Howard, I look at the people who vote for his government and wonder what motivates them. The economy springs to mind.
Once the economy is promoted above all else, what hope have we to achieve a balanced society? What hope is there to halt the growing tide of intolerance when the masses are distracted by money?
It is interesting to look back to our Bi-Centenary in 1988 when we showcased our successful multicultural country to the world. “We are one, but we are many….”.
We were one country where multiculturalism was a success!! We did it well! Yet, after ten years of John Howard stroking the racist underbelly of Australians, viz “They threw their children overboard” and “they hate us for our way of life” (is the man insane?) we are now a nation with simmering racial tensions waiting to burst through the social veneer.
How we have changed after a decade of John Howard!
Australia’s multicultural policy is articulated in the 1999 New Agenda for Multicultural Australia, which has a strong focus on harmony, inclusiveness and the benefits of diversity. The Council for Multicultural Australia has been established to assist the Government to implement the agenda.
The Australian Government is fully committed to Australian multiculturalism, a policy which recognises, celebrates and responds to Australia’s cultural and linguistic diversity.
Source:
Combined 13th and 14th Periodic Report of the Government of Australia under Article 9 of the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination
Presented to the UN CERD Committee in 2005