Credit: Illustration: Badiucao
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ISRAEL
The article by Louise Adler (″The things I’ve learnt you can’t ask about Israel″, 21/9) is a profoundly impressive expression of opinion on the ongoing war in Gaza. It does not berate any of the participants, but makes such strong points that no humanist could fail to agree with the utter senselessness of ongoing conflict.
The article reflects correctly on mistakenly using past injustices to give weight to current events. History shows that such justifications do not and cannot lead to peace, a lesson that the players and their allies on all sides of the conflict should acknowledge, accept and appreciate.
Peter Roche, Carlton
The current Israeli path will never end in peace
Louise Adler’s article (21/9) is a humanist perspective. How dare we Jews fail to acknowledge that the treatment of Palestinians by successive Israeli governments, magnified to the extreme by the incumbent Netanyahu government, demonstrates suppression and displacement, and forces us to ask what is the endgame?
You cannot war yourself to peace, you cannot eliminate generational mistrust and hatred by endeavouring to crush Hamas and Hezbollah; they are far more than terrorist organisations, they are ingrained emotional and psychological traits that will perpetuate ad infinitum until the cycle of persecution and subjugation ends.
We can only move in the direction of peace, harmony and mutual respect when we accept that the current way is not, and can never work.
Maurie Johns, Mount Eliza
What about Islamist denial of Israel’s right to exist?
Louise Adler (21/9) concludes her article by saying, “Peace and justice will only come to the region when Palestinians are recognised as a people with the right to self-determination, sovereignty and their own state.” For balance, she should have added – and when Palestinians and the various associated Islamist groups recognise Israel’s right to exist. Adler’s opinion piece is just that – an opinion, to which she is, of course, entitled, emotive as it is, however there are pertinent facts which she chooses to omit. To detail these facts is beyond the capacity of a short letter.
George Greenberg, Malvern
Deep-seated denialism
While Louise Adler (21/9), writes that collective amnesia must enable diasporic Jews to ignore the reality of Israel’s occupation, perhaps a more accurate explanation is a deep-seated culture of denial, shadowed by anti-Palestinianism. How else could anyone who values all human lives equally accept Israel’s self-portrait as a tolerant, democratic state given its flagrant violations of international law over many decades and now its live-streamed obliteration of Gaza?
Angela Smith, Clifton Hill
No roadmap provided
It takes some art to discuss the Israel/Palestine conflict without once mentioning Hamas or the Iranian dictatorship. But Louise Adler managed it without blinking. The idea that anyone who is compassionate and decent wants to see an end to the long-suffering misery of the Palestinian people and that everyone else is a heartless villain is intuitively appealing. Who is in favour of suffering? Certainly not the Israeli people nor the long-suffering Palestinian people. Certainly not the kindly arts community in Australia.
The people who regard suffering as a weapon of theocratic war are, of course, the medievalists in the Tehran dictatorship and their proxy war force – Hamas – and Hezbollah, the Houthis and their various Syrian and Iraqi factions. Who drives the suicide bombing of fellow Muslims all over the Middle East? Who puts civilians in harm’s way while hiding themselves in tunnels? Who ruthlessly murders their Fatah opponents, and any others like them at every opportunity?
Adler’s views may bring comfort in writing festivals but they provide zero roadmap for how to get peace and end the suffering in Gaza. Until you have a solution for medievalists who regard peace as weakness and martyrdom (of their own unwilling civilians) as religious perfection, there will be no end to the suffering.
Evan Thornley, St Kilda East
Distorted picture
In her article (“These are the things I’ve learnt you can’t ask about Israel”, 21/9), Louise Adler paints a distorted image of Israel. There are Palestinian cleaners, but there are also Palestinian lawyers, judges, doctors and medical specialists. Israel is the only country in the Middle East where Palestinians can vote. And they have their own political parties.
Prior to October 7, Gaza residents did not have to “crawl under barbed wire” to get into Israel – 30,000 of them travelled to Israel every day for work. Palestinians could have had their own state on the West Bank in 1948, and on at least three occasions since. They have rejected a Palestinian state because it would require that they accept the state of Israel.
The war would be over if Hamas released the hostages. And peace would be possible if they accepted a two-state solution.
Bruce Hartnett, Alphington
Palestinian support
I wish to express my respect for Louise Adler for her courageous article (21/9). It is sad that we in a Western democratic country should be in awe of expressions that support humanity, and condemn atrocities.
Finally, the comparison of the Palestinian plight with the Warsaw ghetto has been put forth. In Australia, we see very little public support for Palestinians, other than from the Greens and the diminishing protesters, while the narrative from both sides of government and the mainstream media is for the unconditional support of Israel. Any condemnation of Israel is swiftly labelled as ″antisemitic″.
Saima Aijaz, Rowville
Not antisemitic
Bravo Louise Adler for your article (21/9). If anyone other than a Jew had written this article, they would have been branded an antisemite.
Marilyn van Loon, Point Lonsdale
Infantilising Palestinians
Louise Adler is entitled to express her opinions, but to claim that as a Jewish state, Israel is intrinsically anti-democratic is as risible as asserting that England, as a Christian state, is anti-democratic. What matters is that Israel’s Arab citizens are afforded the same legal rights as its Jews.
Like so many of Israel’s critics, Adler infantilises the Palestinians. She ignores the fact that since 1947 they have rejected numerous offers of their own state, and that their refusal to accept Israel’s existence is the core cause of their ongoing misery.
Geoff Feren, St Kilda East
THE FORUM
Memo to next mayor
I’m excited about the possibility of a greener Melbourne with an overdue restoration of so-called wasted spaces, to parks. (“Wastelands to become parks under $40m plan to give the city a change of greenery”, 22/9).
A heating planet is causing our cities to become heat banks, in need of cooling. More parks can help. Access to more parkland could alswastelands greenery nick reeceo help deal with the ever-increasing anxiety and depression endured by people in our community. The next lord mayor of Melbourne has a challenge and obligation to green wasted space.
Isabelle Henry, Ascot Vale
Sports gambling
Re “AFL, NRL in final push to torpedo gambling ad ban” (21/9), I was not shocked by the behaviour of the rich and powerful AFL/NRL, but that the government might acquiesce. In a liberal democracy, government’s role is to restrict the excesses of capitalism and to prioritise the common good. Gambling is not a common good, especially when rolled out in scale. Gambling becomes an addiction in a significant number of people and causes financial hardship for families. Gambling advocates have the temerity to recruit to their argument the ordinary citizens who “enjoy a flutter” and those involved in community sport.
Sports gambling revenue benefits nobody but sports bodies and betting agencies. The AFL and NRL need to get a better business model, and show some concern for the common good. And the government needs to have courage, and do its job. It can be difficult to resist wealthy lobbyists. It is interesting that one of the arguments against an Indigenous Voice to Parliament was that it would give one group special lobbying advantage over another.
David Clarke, Camberwell
Self-serving lobbyists
“Peter V’landys and Andrew Dillon are using their sway with political leaders” to water down the proposed gambling ad ban.
V’landys also “has a relationship with Albanese”. What does holding “sway” or “has a relationship” mean? Those who wish to gamble in all its diverse forms already know exactly where and how to do it. The self-serving arguments from lobbyists, and those with apparently even closer ties to our politicians, must not “sway” them from fully implementing the initial vision of the late Peta Murphy for the betterment of society and particularly, our youth. The decision is clear.
Peter Thomson, Brunswick
Caesarean deliveries
The Australian College of Midwives is quoted in The Age, “More mums than ever having caesareans” (21/9)“, as saying there are too many caesarean deliveries performed for what is a natural physiological process and this leads to mothers having longer recoveries, problems breastfeeding and future pregnancy complications.
As an obstetrician with 30 years’ experience, I can say these assertions are falsely based on retrospective data that takes a caesarean birth as the starting point and then attributes later problems to this mode of delivery.
A more accurate picture is given if we look at “intention to treat” statistics, that is follow women from the point of planned choice of delivery and assess the outcome from here. Unfortunately, the information governments require to be collected after every birth fails to make this crucial distinction.
The increasing number of women who choose a caesarean understand the process and plan for recovery. They generally do very well. Whereas others who hope for an unassisted vaginal birth but don’t achieve this may be disappointed, or have a more difficult time recovering, sometimes due to the underlying reasons that led to the caesarean.
Although pregnancy and birth are physiological processes, so are complications such as postpartum haemorrhage, asphyxiated babies and later pelvic floor problems. The Australian Birth Trauma Association was formed to support families dealing with unexpected consequences of this assumed natural process.
Fortunately, in Australia women still have reproductive choices. We can decide when to try conceiving (by ceasing reliable contraception), when to not continue a pregnancy (with safe abortion services), and what model of maternity care and mode of birth we wish to aim for.
Dr Jenny Dowd, Ivanhoe East
Second-rate thinking
Australia is the laughingstock of the developed world (“Mining, gas and the tax ’hardly anyone’s ever paid‴, 22/9).
Weak governments have pandered to the mining giants who have cried that they will run away if they have to pay for the resources they take, largely for free, and god forbid they be required to pay tax.
Had we elected governments with intelligence and backbone maybe we, too, could have had a sovereign wealth fund like Norway or collected a respectable revenue from our gas like Qatar, but the Australian public has an annoying habit of electing politicians that do not have our interests at heart. Donald Horne said it best in his 1964 book The Lucky Country, “Australia is a lucky country run mainly by second-rate people who share its luck.“
Ross Hudson, Mount Martha
Cold case wait
After nearly 50 years, the murder of my friend Susan Bartlett and her housemate Suzanne Armstrong, may have a conclusion.
The dogged belief of police that evidence to identify the killer would be found, then a long wait for an arrest to be made for a result, along with John Silvester and Helen Thomas’ work kept the “Easey Street murders” in the public eye. Thank you all.
Cavell Zangalis, Hawthorn East
Church profits
“Eighty-year-old kinder facing eviction as church looks towards lucrative sale” (22/9), provides another example of a church reaping profits from the sale of a property. In many instances properties were donated to the church and its operation was subsidised by the congregation, taxpayers (through its charitable status). New laws are needed to ensure religious and charitable organisations return all profits made from the sale of unused properties to the community. Government could then support Gardiner Preschool and other community not-for-profit organisations to buy their own properties and continue to provide their valuable services.
Carolyn King, Malvern East
Thanks Jason
I am sad, Jason Steger. I am sad to read (21/9) that you will no longer be producing the book pages.
Over the years, as an ardent reader, these were the pages I luxuriated in, where I discovered the next books to buy or to reserve at my library, where I rejoiced when you wrote about the world of books, authors and publishers.
You linked the past of literature with the present, the young reader with the old, our history and our future. I thank you for enriching my life.
Miriam Gould, Malvern
Having a laugh
It’s great when something sets you off chuckling over breakfast, as did the suggestion by your correspondent (Letters, 22/9), that the elderly who can no longer drive just get a mobility scooter.
The vision of me tootling off down our sloping, unmade gravel road and navigating the raceway at the bottom, with nary a crossing in sight, had me snorting into my cornflakes.
Gabrielle Gardner, Montmorency
AND ANOTHER THING
Zelensky’s gambit
Volodymyr Zelensky’s request to the UK and the US for permission to use their long-range missiles to strike Russia seems like an invitation to start World War III.
Reg Murray, Glen Iris
Furthermore
The report (22/9) that the Uniting Church intends to sell a property in Glen Iris and cause the closure of a kindergarten does not appear to be a very Christian action. Quite the opposite in fact.
David Eames-Mayer, Balwyn
Do I have to continue to pay the wages of politicians who spend time in court on party matters? Are they on leave, or are they there on my time?
Pam Stokes, Beaumaris
With regard to the PLC swimming pool, I suppose it’s their money and they can spend it as they wish. It might recruit new students so they can make more profit, and then they can donate more to charity.
Suzanne Palmer-Holton, Seaford
Gambling addiction
If AFL and NRL business models (and thereby community sport) are so dependent on gambling proceeds, then there is something seriously wrong with their ethics and business models (″Football codes push to torpedo gambling ad ban″, 21/9)
Brendan O’Farrell, Brunswick
The sporting codes that complained when they lost tobacco and liquor advertising are now complaining about proposed bans on gambling advertising. It’s time for them to seek a healthier option.
Phil Lipshut, Elsternwick
AFL grand final
What a week of finals footy. The lights went out for the Power while the Swans soared. The Cats meowed but the Lions roared. What will be the final outcome? Will the Swans be bloodied or the Lions limp back to the lair?Martin Newington, Aspendale
At last, an all-Melbourne grand final: the Roy Boys versus the Bloods.
John Mosig, Kew
Finally
The 1899 grand final revisited. It seems like only yesterday.
Dorothy Opat, Elsternwick
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