Peter Hartcher makes a valid argument, even though it might be uncomfortable for many Australians to hear (“A frightened nation? Yes or No”, October 7). A deep-seated, unconscious attitude of negativity towards Indigenous people is, unfortunately, part of this country’s DNA.
A recent incident I witnessed at an airport check-in screening counter illustrates this. Sadly, the person security officers chose to target was a small, unassuming, middle-aged Indigenous woman. She was obviously an average lady just flying home. Yet she was the one who was chosen to have her bag opened, her personal belongings rifled through and put on display for all to see, not the rowdy, young, white yobbos in Hawaiian shirts. Her look of quiet resignation broke my heart. Pam Timms, Suffolk Park
Losing your voice.Credit: Matt Golding
Hartcher’s analysis of the path of the referendum campaign is spot-on. Even more so is his conclusion that the referendum is not just about a change to the Constitution but also a vote on the very nature of our national psyche. Are we a nation of frightened people fearful of the unknown, or are we a nation ready to embrace change and willing to move forward? Currently, the polls would tell us the former is true. If that were the result, we would do well to take heed from Yoda in Star Wars, who warned us that “fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” And if Australians do indeed want a No result, they should be careful of what they wish for. An old Greek chap called Plato once said, “We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.” Peter Robertson, Stanmore
The as-yet unanswered question at the end of Hartcher’s article echoes the title of the book authored a quarter of a century ago by the historian Henry Reynolds, This Whispering in Our Hearts. Hartcher wonders whether we live as a frightened, uneasy country, or are we better than that?
Both Hartcher and Reynolds examine the niggling unease in our national spirit, the root cause of which has to be the unsettled business of our modern nation. This unease, fright, whispering – call it what you will – continues to weigh upon our consciences, and will do so until we confront and acknowledge our troubled past and reconcile with our First Peoples. Constitutional recognition via the Voice is a key part of this reconciliation. How fitting, then, that the Uluru Statement comes from the Country’s heart. The answer to Hartcher’s question lies in our hearts.
Russ Couch, Woonona
Hartcher has gone to the nub of the problem: if you don’t really love someone, you are not going to help them. I am proud of our First Nations people and have read of their remarkable culture. Our Constitutional amendment seeks to make our Indigenous community proud, to continue the process of reconciliation as asked for at Uluru. It’s time to try their solution to their own disadvantage. Paul Goodwin, Lindfield
Having grown up in the shadow of the yellow peril, Menzies’ ‘I love her till I die’ and ‘All the way with LBJ’, it is truly depressing being reminded 60 years later that we are still a frightened nation. Maybe our so-called conservatism and caution is no more than timidity and fear of the future. Why else, apart from vaguely comforting security, do we quietly accept bipartisan support for hundreds of billions to be spent on weaponry, and also the needless expansion of the Australian War Memorial? Whether or not the Voice is approved, it’s time for artists, commentators and educators to convert our relentless nitpicking negativity under the banner of self-awareness, into a determination to build on past mistakes towards a more positive future. It’s been said many times, but a great nation’s collapse essentially boils down to the collapse of confidence. Peter Farmer, Northbridge
Ray Martin thinks I’m a dinosaur and a d---head if I vote No (Letters, October 7). Marcia Langton suggests I’m a racist if I vote No. Anthony Albanese thinks I’m stupid because I didn’t go to university, so assumes I will vote No. Then we have some extremists threatening anyone who votes Yes. Insults and threats don’t win votes. Surely people such as Albanese, Langton and Martin understand that to embrace all Australians and achieve a Yes vote the people need a detailed explanation of the Voice with specific outcomes. It’s simple. John Hopkins, Moss Vale
We expatriate Australians don’t hear too much about our homeland in the context of world news, but there has been a distinct increase in such coverage in the lead-up to the referendum. Some of us might be gratified about the newfound level of interest. The reactions of any foreign citizens when they ask about the referendum ranges from puzzlement to incredulity. One typical response: why hasn’t that been done decades ago? If the referendum is defeated, our international reputation will unquestionably suffer. Greg Robinson, Istanbul (Turkey)
Findings damn Dutton and Coalition’s cruelty
Having been a former consular officer in two overseas posts, a lawyer in two federal departments, a member of the refugee review tribunal and a retired immigration solicitor, all of which involved close contact with the immigration department, I am astounded that many seem surprised by the findings of Christine Nixon (“Focus on the boats lets millions in: Nixon”, October 8). The obsession by ministers like Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton with stopping boat people was bound to blind them and their department to other ways of entering the country without legitimate reasons. Factually and legally, boat people are far more likely to meet the UN definition of a refugee than those who can buy an airline ticket and climb on a plane in their home country. Being able to do those things suggests they are not at risk of persecution by the authorities in their country of origin. Furthermore, the offshore detention of people found to be refugees is punishing people who have done no wrong. The criminals are those who traffic in refugees. Paul Fergus, Croydon
Corker of a coalition.Credit: Matt Golding
At last, what we have long suspected about immigration secrecy, exploitation of migrants and consequently gross neglect of the national interest is revealed. What irks most is the deliberate smoke-and mirrors tactic of using the “stop the boats” issue to distract, including unwanted text messages on the eve of the last election and the scapegoating of refugees to inflame and manipulate the truth. Such appalling and neglectful policy driving a government for years, possibly in order to retain power, is reprehensible. Vanessa Tennent, Oatley
Regarding the millions of exploited and abused migrants who flew into Australia over the past decade, it is clear that then-home affairs minister Peter Dutton should have launched a No campaign a long time ago. Rob Phillips, North Epping
For years, when in office, Morrison and Dutton abused the previous Labor government on borders and how they had “stopped the boats”. Many commentators at the time pointed out, to deaf ears, that the number of “refugees” coming by plane dwarfed those coming by boat. Now that Nixon’s report has officially exposed the Coalition for what they were, what is Dutton’s response? Personal invective ignoring the substance of the report. Dutton again shows he is devoid of anything positive to say in Australia’s interests. Ross Hudson, Mount Martha (Vic)
Nixon’s inquiry into the home affairs department is very damning for Dutton, who was home affairs minister. He seems to have a short memory regarding his failings. Peng Ee, Castle Cove
What sort of country has Australia become when a large swathe of Australians care deeply about stopping asylum seekers arriving by boat, but care little about large numbers of foreign workers being exploited, or Indigenous Australians living in disadvantage? Ray Morgan, Maroubra
Greyhound cruelty a non-no: Toto
Congratulations on an excellent article, Toto Albanese (“As the PM’s pooch I thought I had it ruff, until …”, October 7). You reminded Sydney of the brutality of the greyhound racing industry which is rife in this country and driven by gambling interests. In Australia this year, 91 dogs have died on racetracks and more than 8600 have been injured. NSW alone has 31 active racetracks compared to two in the USA. As you know, the NSW industry is funded by our state taxes so I wouldn’t object if you “chow down” on Chris Minns’ ankles when you next see him. Cheryl Zabow, Riverview
Toto is right. If every poodle, labrador, pug and mutt owner out there knew their dog was suffering the cruelty that greyhound racing inflicts on hounds, there would be a deafening outcry from almost every household. Politicians would be inundated with irate and upset constituents. But not only do we sit by while the racing industry overbreeds, injures, drugs and kills greyhounds with the imprimatur of state governments, but every one of us pays for the cruelty with our taxes. By our silence we are colluding to perpetuate the suffering and ugly fate of the just one breed of dog. Judy Hungerford, Kew (Vic)
Doesn’t hold water
The arguments around the value of the nine-ship Hunter Class armada are valid (“Floating ‘turkeys’: Are we really buying duds”, October 8). It is an unproven complex and expensive design, the future fighting worth of which must be open to question. It is worth observing that while we are proposing to have nine vessels, BAE Systems are providing only eight for the Royal Navy, which has two massive aircraft carriers – white elephants in themselves – to protect while it is trying to cut costs, and maintain fleet numbers by also building five smaller, cheaper and less sophisticated frigates.
I think this was a hubris project aimed at creating jobs in South Australia. These could be generated in other ways more effective to Australia’s defence. The Hunter Class are not duds in themselves, they are simply not fit for their proposed purpose. John Jones, Armidale
How can a project slated to cost an eye-watering $35 billion in 2018 and in 2020 cost an extra $10 billion be up to 10 years late, with the weight blowing out from 8800 tonnes to about 10,000 tonnes? Has there been a defence project that came in on time and on budget since Federation? Lindsay Somerville, Lindfield
Theft as sport
Theft can’t be justified even in stressful economic times but are those who are doing it tough the ones who are stealing (“Public attitude to retail theft softens”, October 7)?
Many regard it as sport, like the young men I have witnessed who casually walk and then run out, arms laden, knowing they won’t be caught.
Let’s not forget, however, that the large supermarkets did not install self-checkouts for the convenience of customers but to cut down on staff, and theft must not be hurting them. Otherwise these checkouts would quickly disappear. Julie Robinson, Cardiff
Sweet memories
I was so saddened to read of the passing of Nicolas Fotiou as he figured large in my life as a youngster in the 1960s (“Olympia’s mystery man had a name and a history”, October 7). His shop was right by the bus stop and we would regularly stop by on the way to Leichhardt pool to stock up with lollies for the bus trip. He made the best lime milkshakes - brain-numbingly cold with just the right amount of ice-cream. He was still trading in the ’80s to patrons of the re-opened cinema. The cinema is long gone, and I suppose the Olympia will go the way of all blocks along Parramatta Rd. and become apartments. Vale Nicolas – with your passing, I feel another thread of my life unravelling. Genevieve Milton, Dulwich Hill
The end of an era: The death of Nicolas Fotiou, owner of Olympia cafe.
What a mournful story about the death of Nicolas Fotiou, who worked for more than six decades at his milk bar at Stanmore. But it’s more than that; it also marks the near end of the once-ubiquitous milk bar that existed in almost every suburb usually run by a Greek immigrant like Nicolas. Even my parents owned one, with a jukebox in the corner. But not everyone made a fortune from them, including my parents, who went broke. The memory and history of these places including some of its characters should be celebrated and maintained as they are part of our popular culture. Con Vaitsas, Ashbury
Our family used to buy our chocolates from Nicolas Fotiou when we visited the Stanmore Twin and I used to pop in for a drink on the way home from work. Even back in the ’70s and ’80s, it was like stepping back in time when you walked through the door. He was a man of few words, and most of all he became a character, there are not too many of them around now. It is a pity that most milk bars have closed – they were a part of everyday life back then. Robert Pallister, Punchbowl
It all ads up
Having recently watched more than a fair share of commercial TV, I have to ask why ACMA, the regulatory authority, allows advertisers to display seemingly attractive offers that are accompanied by fine print conditions that average viewers could not possibly fully read? The print size is too small and/or there’s too much of it. Unlike some, I don’t have a 98-inch+ screen or use freeze-frame technology. My guess is the authority’s viewers take more toilet trips than the average Joe, Jo or Joanne. Col Shephard, Yamba
Sub standard
Apart from truckloads of the folding stuff, it was initially difficult to grasp the connection between a former US president and an Australian packaging mogul. What could they possibly talk about (“Claims Trump leaked to Pratt on submarines”, October 7)? The answer was nuclear-powered submarines! Anyone else in the know about this sensitive subject has had memory failure or glossed over it as insignificant. Lyn Savage, Coogee
Diamond doughnuts
All I want is a pineapple doughnut. It has to have the traditional diamond pattern on top (Letters, October 7). Somebody must be making them in Sydney. Anybody? Elisabeth Goodsall, Wahroonga
Theatre of dreams
We do indeed have a great building, we just don’t have an opera theatre (“Our unfinished Opera House: a fitting emblem”, October 7). Charles Mackerras did conduct the overture to Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg at the opening but he would not have been able to conduct the opera in its poky little theatre. Garry Feeney, Kingsgrove
Patience, patients
Following your correspondent’s lamenting at having to wait a week to get a prescription, I predict a house shortage in Lugano (Letters, October 7). Sydney people will rush to live in such a fortunate medical locality. Waiting a just week is unique. Tony Denzel, Bonny Hills
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