Andrew Bolt: Multiculturalism made Victoria vulnerable to coronavirus
The second wave of this coronavirus outbreak has hammered home the dangerous pitfalls of diversity, with immigrants a common denominator in the worst virus hot spots, writes Andrew Bolt.
Opinion
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Three weeks ago I said something terrible – “sack him!” cried the mob – about Victoria’s second wave of coronavirus.
I said this outbreak, which on Sunday sickened another 273 people, “exposes the stupidity of that multicultural slogan ‘diversity makes us stronger’”.
In fact, that diversity that had now got us into this fresh disaster, with Melbourne shut down again.
And now look. Is it coincidence that the three worst virus hot spots in Victoria have been seven public housing commission towers (145 cases), the Al-Taqwa College (134) and the Cedar Meats abattoir (111)?
Many of the people in those towers are immigrants, often from Africa; the al-Taqwa community is Muslim, many immigrants; and Cedar Meats, is a Labor-donating company that employs many immigrants.
What’s more, the virus slipped out this time from Victoria’s “quarantine” hotels, thanks to the slackness of private security guards, often from immigrant families. (At least 49 of them and their close contacts are infected, after big family get-togethers that broke social distancing rules.)
Be calm. I am not “blaming immigrants”. You could even argue, if it suits, that wicked capitalist Australia let poor immigrants suffer most.
But multiculturalism has made Victoria more vulnerable not just because we’re increasingly a nation of tribes, less likely to make sacrifices for people outside our “own”.
There’s also the “language and cultural problems” that Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews admitted the virus fighters faced.
Health warnings had to be translated into an astonishing 53 languages, and even then the Health Minister said they weren’t reaching some groups.
In fact, some have people illiterate even in their own language. The Muslim Women Australia suggested simpler messaging, perhaps using pictures.
Of course, many born-here Australians have spread the virus, too, and acted like clowns.
Now, in a healthy society, people disagreeing with me would explain why I was wrong.
But that’s not how it works in this cancel culture. In response to my initial column, my editor was bombarded with letters simply abusing me (“racist”) and demanding I be censored or sacked. Many said they’d complained to the Press Council.
But I did not read one that rebutted my argument, which I fear will also be ignored by the inquiry the Victorian Government picked – carefully – to check what went wrong.
So, shall we wait until the next virus to discuss this?
NOTE: The Press Council has decided this article partially breached its Standards of Practice. Read the full adjudication here.
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