Iam a non-Jewish atheist and was I was saddened by Jenna Price’s article, (“Jews are being torn apart. If my sister were alive, even we wouldn’t be talking”, October 11) in which she states: “It fuels antisemitism because people still can’t separate Jews from the actions of Israel, done in the name of Zionism.”
Whatever a person’s views on the situation in Gaza, Israel or Lebanon, on Netanyahu and the actions of the IDF, I think responsibility for people’s inability to separate Jews from Zionism falls most heavily upon those people themselves. Perhaps I’m being naive and high-minded, but I think that any fair-minded Australian would, and should, be able to resist falling into antisemitism, regardless of whether a Jewish person is for or against Zionism, or the actions of the Israeli government and the IDF.
It really shouldn’t make a difference what a Jewish person thinks about it. It’s inevitable and understandable that Jewish people will hold often strongly different views on a matter they are deeply affected by. The rest of us should be able hold an opinion on it without making any Jewish person feel unsafe or unwelcome, whatever their views. Jeremy Hewett, Cheltenham (Vic)
Jenna Price’s candid article resonates with me also. The tragic Middle East conflict is causing reverberations around the world: in particular it seems to be wrenching Jewish communities apart, while unifying Muslim communities. The cry for Netanyahu to show restraint needs to be matched by the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah withdrawing their call for the extermination of all Jews, in and outside of Israel. Peter Allen, Castle Cove
A Palestinian woman cries out after an Israeli airstrike on a school in Gaza this week. Credit: Bloomberg
Jenna Price laments what Israel is doing in Gaza and Beirut. With innocent people dying every day, Israel’s war machine rolls on. With Israelis continuing to build settlements in the West Bank, ignoring UN resolutions, and relentlessly pursuing warfare, is it any wonder fair-minded Jews are aghast at the horrific toll on humanity being taken by their rulers? Ian Ferrier, Paddington.
Jenna Price and other recent correspondents constantly assert that Israel’s response to the horrendous Hamas atrocities of October 7, 2023 has been disproportionate, barbaric or over the top. This prompts the question: was Israel actually not entitled to respond to the murder and rape of their citizens? Were they meant to just sit back and take it? I, too, deplore civilian losses in any war (not withstanding the fact that Hamas operatives deliberately embedded themselves among civilians), but Israel has a sovereign right to defend itself as its sees fit. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has badly misjudged the politics of this. Our foreign policy seems to be based more on domestic political calculations than on supporting a longtime ally of Australia. Evan Parsons, Thornleigh
Media management
NSW Premier Chris Minns is on the right track in wanting to ban anyone under 16 being on social media. (“Minns calls for social media ban up to age 16”, October 11) However this must be controlled by the parents who supply their children with the devices needed for social media. Perhaps the children can have the devices when they can afford them. In most cases, the children would be 16 and have a job enabling them to pay the bills. This worked well for my children many years ago. Robyn Lewis, Raglan
What penalties does Mr Minns propose after instigating bans on social media for those under 16? Detentions, parent fines, community service, mindfulness counselling, stern talking to? What funds are being allocated to execute bans? This needs to be thought through in advance and the likely effects explored. Greater preparation is needed before any action is taken. Janice Creenaune, Austinmer
Lobsters rock on
The resumption of lobster exports to China in addition to other commodities demonstrates the value of adult diplomacy as opposed to the juvenile chest-beating of previous Coalition governments (“Deal lifts trade ban on lobster to China”, October 11). How successful was that shirt fronting exercise? Neil Reckord, Gordon (ACT)
I see rock lobsters are back on China’s menu. Or to put it another way, The B-52’s are back on President Xi’s playlist. Michael Deeth, Como West
A big dish of sashimi made of Australian rock lobster and other seafood ready to be served at the Minmonfeast Restaurant in Beijing.Credit: Photo Sanghee Liu
Why stay?
Without referring to the Tarnawsky case in particular (“Marles staffer bullied out of a job”, October 11), I’m having trouble understanding the prevalence of alleged bullying that appears to be endemic in the public service, in particular, and in state and federal political offices. Is “bullying” the new term for “criticism”, which many of the younger generation appear to have a hard time accepting these days? Moreover, why would you stay in a job if you are unhappy with your bosses and colleagues? Get over it and move on. There are plenty of opportunities out there for those with drive, ambition and a strong work ethic. Michael Clarey, Merewether
Thwart report
Your correspondent, Max Redmayne, has called the government’s performance “boring” (Letters, October 11). I go a step further and call the whole situation extremely depressing. When an elected government’s handful of improvements in housing, education and the environment are thwarted at every turn by a nay-saying opposition and an incomprehensible so-called Green (but-seeming-anything-but) party, it appears the only future is hopelessly stagnant at best. Heather Johnson, West Pennant Hills
Common failures
Failed prime ministers Abbott and Truss enjoy enacting the same old playbook as they tour the world lucratively spouting the ideas that got both kicked out of office (“Tony Abbott and Liz Truss team up to fight ‘net zero mind virus’, October 11). Abbott clings to his messianic claim that he and similar conservative thinkers and dictators are right to want military strength, fossil fuels, a gender binary society and freedom from “the Left”. The amorality of his deliberate exploitation of ignorance and his disrespecting of socialist government while accepting generous government benefits as an ex-PM, clearly doesn’t trouble his ethics. Abbott’s speaker circuit fees should be outbid by the Labor government, to keep him sitting at home quietly, not troubling the world. Barry Laing, Castle Cove
The one major factor that Abbott and Truss have in common is that they were both failures as leaders. Their parties and the electorates rejected them, so it is unsurprising that they have decided to try and regain some relevance by being openly public climate deniers. Seriously, who cares what these has-beens think? Their only achievement is the fact they have marvellous records of being on the wrong side of history. Ross Hudson, Mount Martha (Vic)
Rite to bear arms
As with millions of others, I hope that the dangerous sociopath, Donald Trump, for whom truth is a yet undiscovered word in his limited lexicon, does not win the November 5 presidential election. However, indicating how deeply gun culture is embedded in that country, is his opponent Kamala Harris’ proud boast that she is a gun owner. It is a Glock and she has fired it at a shooting range. She told Oprah Winfrey. “If somebody breaks into my house, they’re getting shot.” No wonder that for guns and gun violence, the US is the uncontested outlier. Bernard Moylan, Bronte
A gun store in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Credit: Sergio Flores
Hurricane’s ill wind
It’s difficult to comprehend what the Americans are facing in this presidential election (“Biden: Trump’s continual lies put lives at risk”, October 11). Not only the constant stream of lies and shameless exaggerations emanating from Donald Trump, but now they face the lunacy of conspiracy theorists and a Trump acolyte claiming Joe Biden’s government has created hurricane Milton and “can control the weather”. This is insanity writ large – and locally, the wild claims, distortions and constant negatives coming from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s mob have us knocking on that very door. Please, let’s not go there. Bill Young, Killcare Heights
The latest manifestation of absolutely illogical reasoning over climate, along with many other things they find disagreeable, has come from the Republicans, and no doubt would find agreement within elements of our own political adherents. Their denial that climate change is caused by general human activity, but that violent weather events are caused by people of one political group, seems to be accepted by a sizeable, blinkered group of acquiescent people who once, before true labelling was introduced, might have been called morons. Donald Hawes, Peel
As a young, newly married teacher, I dreaded introducing myself to classes with my new surname (“Milton the monster cuts power to millions”, October 11). I was expecting the smart Alecs in my classes to brand me “the monster” very quickly, but it didn’t happen. The much-loved cartoon of my youth was redundant to the generation of students I was teaching in the 1980s. So I’m wondering how many of your readers “get” your headline today. Genevieve Milton, Dulwich Hill
Chop chop
Over the past four years, an average of 95,000 hectares of land was cleared annually in NSW, half of that which was “unallocated” and possibly illegal (“Australia’s $495m carbon credit program has failed beyond belief”, October 11). What is going on with government land management and auditing? Is any competent person in charge? Rowan Godwin, Rozelle
Back to nature
The Global Nature Positive Summit met in Sydney with the aim of stopping and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030, leading to a “full recovery” of nature by 2050 (“Catastrophic decline in wildlife can still be reversed: scientists”, October 11). Golly, according to that theory, in 25 years’ time, Australia will look just like it was before the arrival of humans 60,000 years ago. Can’t wait. Allen Greer, Sydney
About 95,000ha of land has been cleared every year in NSW for the past four years.
Dodging dementia
Dementia may well be causing more deaths than heart disease, but like heart disease, some dementias, possibly one-third, can be avoided or at least greatly delayed by adjustments to lifestyle (“Dementia to be the main killer”, October 11). The things to avoid and things to do are well documented and should be the centrepiece of all health education programs. It’s worth noting that there is a hypothesis that links uncontrolled type 2 diabetes to dementia, particularly vascular dementia. Whatever the link might or might not be, getting type 2 diabetes under control would be of itself a positive health outcome for heart health and possibly for an old age free of dementia. Trevor Somerville, Illawong
The Dutton divide
Your contributor has taken a poll of his own based on the number of anti-Dutton letters sent to the Herald on one day (Letters, October 11). If he were reading other newspapers, the result may be the opposite – which suggests the choice of newspaper may reflect readers’ political predilections. Jane Weiss, Mosman
Youth vote
A Google search reveals that a Dominic Pudney, then 10, appeared in Column 8 on November 22, 2020, and an Isaac Pudney, then 15, had a compelling letter in your pages on January 17, 2024. Both their addresses showed Collaroy Plateau. Presumably, they’re the same brothers whose letter is published today (Letters, October 11) So well done, lads, and welcome back to the fold. Hopefully, you’ll now become regular contributors for a refreshing change. Edward Loong, Milsons Point
Oh to be young again (Letters, October 11). I first check the letters and then the death notices. Hopefully I’m in the first section only. Angie Miller, Bondi Junction
Ban blow-ins
Georgia Ryburn, the Liberal candidate for Pittwater in next Saturday’s by-election and former Northern Beaches Council deputy mayor, claims to be a local. Yet, neither she nor her husband will be able to vote for her because while they reside in the northern beaches area, they don’t reside within the Pittwater electoral boundaries. Kristina Keneally’s recent experience clearly demonstrated that most voters won’t tolerate candidates being parachuted into their communities. It’s time the NSW Electoral Act mandated that candidates wishing to represent an electorate in the NSW House of Representatives must actually reside there before standing for election. Dr Carlo Penna, Whale Beach
University challenge
Over the past 35 years, the proportion of Australian workers with a university degree has tripled; to the extent that an honours, or even a masters degree now holds the status (and the employability power) held by a degree in 1989. Similarly, a pass level degree is now only equivalent to a good HSC a generation ago. A useful initiative could be to allow free (no HECS) university education for the first year (with accompanying testing rigour). This would allow both the university and the student to see their strengths and weaknesses. After this, a weak student could choose to continue, as at present, but under HECS conditions (as at present). In either case, the final HECS debt would be significantly less, without a full return to the free tertiary education experiment 50 years ago. Lance Rainey, Rushforth
Goodbye, sport
Goodbye, Andrew Webster. To paraphrase a famous sporting quote “Andrew, say it ain’t so.” Your articles always made me think I’d like to have a beer with you to discuss the topic further. Mark Anderson, Coogee
I will miss Andrew Webster when he leaves the Herald. He is a good journalist and we all will miss him. Bon voyage and good luck. Graham Russell, Clovelly
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