Leftists cry ‘diversity’ but are quick to shut down real diversity of opinion
Extinction Rebellion’s week of protests around the globe is just the latest example of hard-Left brainwashing that calls for diversity … but decries anyone who may have a differing opinion, writes Piers Akerman.
Opinion
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- Extinction Rebellion Australia: Saints or serial pests?
- Protesters literally put their heads in the sand
There is an alarming degree of institutionalised stupidity globally and Australia has shown it is not immune to this lunacy. Over the past week there have been demonstrations in cities around the world by a group calling itself Extinction Rebellion.
If anyone read their pathetic slogans, they would have been laughed off the streets rather than dragged off them by hardworking police officers.
One demonstrator shrieked that the world was running out of food because of climate change.
All the available data reveals growth in food production is still outstripping the increase in population.
The growth in crops is attributed to a degree to increased CO2 emissions.
These idiots might ask themselves why tomato growers using commercial greenhouses actually buy cylinders of CO2 to help their crops grow.
But they’ve been brainwashed into believing the apocalyptic message spread by the hard-left and the solar and wind generation industry, which is constantly pressuring governments for greater subsidies because their industry cannot compete to provide cheap, reliable and transmissible energy.
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Joining a demonstration is reassuring for social misfits. It gives them a sense of family and purpose, but when the purpose is phony it just makes them look ridiculous.
That’s why government and business figures who say they “accept the science” look so pitiable.
The real science doesn’t support the theories and modelling (much of it falsified or inaccurate) upon which the global warmists base their protests.
Thoughtful people might ask why the raucous global warmists don’t permit any discussion of their pet subject, why they label those who challenge their ginned-up theories with the pejorative “denialist” label?
They might ask why alternate views are banned by The Conversation, ostensibly a site for discussion that enjoys funding from taxpayer-supported universities and governments?
This stifling of views is part of a dangerous trend.
ABC chairman Ita Buttrose said on Tuesday she wants more diversity of ethnicity at that taxpayer-funded institution but the billion dollars the public shells out doesn’t buy a single conservative viewpoint, so what does the colour or religion of the presenter matter?
Ita, you were around 56 years ago when Martin Luther King delivered his “I have a dream” speech in Washington, but let me quote one paragraph: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.”
The content of their character.
In days gone by, all executives, media or otherwise, sought out excellence in their prospective employees, they didn’t judge people by the colour of their skin.
Buttrose has suggested the national broadcaster may need to introduce quotas for Asian or Middle Eastern staff members.
She challenged Australian media organisations to take note of the lack of diversity among its ranks.
“We’re made up of many different cultures and nationalities and at the end of the day, most of us call ourselves Australians,” Ms Buttrose said.
“And we have to reflect that and we don’t always do that.”
This is the humbug that underscores the damage multiculturalism has done to our nation and has led to migrant ghettos where learning English is not a priority, and nor is the right of women to enjoy their personal freedom.
The corporate bullies have signed up to the diversity courses, yet there is no evidence employing people on the basis of diversity provides greater productivity, even if it shuts down discussion.
The world does have a model for shutting down discussion, let Ms Buttrose and corporates who subscribe to her model be aware. It’s the big bully on the world stage — China.
Point out the truth about China’s totalitarian rule, its treatment of the Uighur people, its attempts to control the people of Hong Kong, and China will use the same strategies as are used by radicals on our university campuses.
Not just shut down their social media settings, but ban their products.
This is not dissimilar to the tactics used by the Nazis as they rose to power in the 1930s and, of course, it is offensive to point out the historical similarity, but let’s not erase from memory what occurred within the lifetimes of many.
Let’s put truth back on a pedestal, not succumb to the vibe, as popular culture tends to, and let’s put character back into the equation, not skin colour or religion.
If it makes the “woke” generation uneasy, it can’t be all bad.