Credit: Cathy Wilcox
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I read with concern the article ″US embassy to collect crime data on migrants″ (26/11). What exactly does that mean? Unless we are First Nations people, we are all migrants to this country, whether it be first or seventh-generation migrants. What violent crimes data are they wanting collected? Is it selective for a purpose of their own agenda or all violent crimes?
We are a very proud multicultural country. We welcome people of all backgrounds, faiths and race. We have built a country where most of us respect our differences and welcome new ideas and cultures. I have always been proud of the way our society has integrated people from all nations. This has not been without its challenges, but we must resist any attempt to divide us by claiming that some are not worthy of our country. The US administration has its own domestic agenda that it is trying to implement and maybe they are seeking data to justify this agenda. However, we must not let this interfere with our policies and rights as a sovereign country.
Susan Kelly, Highton
A strategy to appeal to Trump’s base
Both your editorial and various correspondents point out that Donald Trump should not comment on policy in Australia (“Trumpian intrusion unwelcome overreach” and Letters, 26/11). Of course this is true. Trump’s musings however are not always those of a narcissistic person. This latest is a cleverly crafted strategy to appeal to his core voters and potential new ones. Trump wants them to see him as a master statesman, influencing the world and reinforcing established privilege. Trump knows that fear drives cohesion in the target group.
This tactic is often employed in Australia and we should beware of it in all its forms. Pauline Hanson of course is against migration and Australians expressing their religion by dress. Some Australians blame migration on housing shortage. Some, led by politicians, rage against increasing housing density. We need to keep Australia as the land of the “fair go”.
Jan Marshall, Brighton
There are greater threats than this
We now hear that the Trump administration intends to collect data on crimes and human rights abuses committed by migrants to Australia as part of its global drive to combat mass migration, which it calls “an existential threat to Western civilisation”. If the truth be known, the greatest threat to Western civilisation is climate change and Donald Trump’s dismissive labelling of global warming as a hoax. The challenge for Western civilisation is whether it can survive this Trump administration. This president is the least qualified leader to deal with perceived threats to Western civilisation from climate change or Vladimir Putin and Jinping Xi.
Nick Toovey, Beaumaris
The attraction of wanting to move to Australia
The Age’s editorial accuses Donald Trump of unwelcome overreach in his advice to Australia on immigration. Australia is a sovereign nation with a democratically elected government which is well able to determine Australia’s own immigration policy. We are not a nation of race haters as Pauline Hanson suggests. Australia is fortunate in that, as a developed nation, skilled immigrants still want to come here. This balances Australia’s ageing population and reduces the future tax burden on the workforce which supports retirees.
an idea for a new test for new migrants rather than those becoming citizens. The Coalition’s idea for a test for new migrants will examine their knowledge of ″Australian values″. What are these values? How do they differ from values generally. When 20 multiple choice questions finally appear, I am sure immigration agents can coach would-be immigrants to provide the ″right″ answers, even if they are not obvious.
Geoff Black, Frankston
THE FORUM
Prepare for the time
Columnist Melissa Reader (“Everyone over 75 should plan for the final stage of life”, 26/11) provides an excellent reminder to older Australians to have a meaningful conversation with loved ones regarding their remaining years.
There are both online and face-to-face resources to help people devise a plan that fulfils their wishes and to fill in their Advance Care Directive and Appointment of a Medical Decision Maker forms. Families then know what you would want in terms of care and, more importantly, what medical intervention and accommodation style you definitely wish to avoid when the time comes. A valid will and a record of your preferred funeral arrangements are also a comfort to grieving family members.
Of course, documents can be updated if circumstances change and there should be certified copies retained by those involved. To know that your wishes will be known and adhered to wherever possible is definitely worth the few hours of planning and paperwork.
Vikki O’Neill, Ashburton
View on the street
Cyclist Kemran Mestan’s demand for a High Street bike lane ignores how locals actually use the street (“Speed limit cut to 30km/h on Preston shopping strip”, 26/11).
He is commuting through, while most people, including the elderly need the limited parking to visit and support businesses like Musical Minds, Tina’s Hot Bread, My Tho, the post office, banks and the library.
There is already a dedicated bike track running from Thomastown through to Preston and into the city, parallel to High Street and only 200 metres away. Why insist on riding on High Street at all?
As a new mother living nearby, I visit the strip often with my family and mother-in-law. Like many locals, we park near the market because there is not enough parking on High Street. Am I supposed to put them both on a bike to make that trip, shopping in tow? It is an unrealistic view of how locals actually use and depend on this street.
And dropping the speed limit to 30km/h will not change anything. Traffic is already so heavy you rarely exceed that. It simply adds more inconvenience for locals.
Lauren Truefeldt, Reservoir
People, be kind
The political landscape and media in Australia seem to focus more on what’s creating disharmony and wrong with our multicultural society than anything that’s positive and uniting; as if all this is new and only recent.
Rachel Griffiths’ outstanding documentary When the War is Over reminds us of the challenges we’ve faced for more than 50 years in coming to grips on what holds us together. It challenges us to recognise that our immigration policies and practices bring out the best and worst of us. But more importantly they open us shamelessly to both our prejudices and vulnerabilities.
Please embrace these challenges with a combination of empathy and optimism. Be kind to each other.
John Handley, Rye
Denial isn’t just a river
Would someone please explain to Pauline Hanson Mark Twain’s advice that ″it’s not what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so″?
Kevin Burke, Sandringham
Just embarrassment
Has Pauline Hanson been to hospital lately? If so, chances are she would have been cared for by a recent migrant to Australia. Also, chances are, she would have been cared for superbly. Her behaviour is an embarrassment to Australia.
Rosslyn Jennings, North Melbourne
Hanson, look deeper
It is time we remembered that many of these unwanted immigrants Pauline Hanson complains about are victims themselves. They are fleeing war, crime, famine, prejudice and any other life-threatening scenario. So if Hanson is so concerned about immigrants, perhaps she could focus on what causes are behind these desperate people rather than further victimising the victims.
Chonyi Taylor, Inverloch
Political despair
Nearly nine years ago Pauline Hanson performed a stunt in the Senate. This week, through lack of imagination, she tried the same futile stunt in the same place. In those intervening years, has she achieved anything of value for Australia at all? It would seem not, and yet more and more people now see her as a better choice than the Liberal Party. The current state of politics in this county is not something to be proud of.
Matthew Gilbert, Mont Albert
All things must pass
Your correspondent is spot-on when he refers to mispronunciations (such as ″communady″ instead of ″community″) as being due to laziness and/or ignorance; and perhaps too in suggesting that ″he has passed″ seems to some kinder than saying ″he has died″ (Letters, 26/11). However, this supposed niceness cannot really be to the dead, because they deserve at least the dignity of death. What next – a Department of Births, Passings, and Marriages; and Passing Notices in newspapers?
Peter Drum, Coburg
Excuse the youse
Alas, I am with your correspondent on the use of ″passing away″, but my ancient French school grammar book (1960s) quotes André Therive, 1956: “La langue vit sans permission des grammairiens″ – language exists without the permission of grammarians.
And Claudio Tolomei, 1554, says: ″La grammatica nasce dalla lingua, e non la lingua dalla grammatica″ – grammar is born from language, and not the other way round.
I love when people say: “Are youse OK”? So much clearer that you mean a few people (I know what ewes are!).
Luise Mock, Tawonga South
Me, myself, why?
Not only is there an aversion to the word ″dead″ (Letters, 26/11), it is customary now for people to identify as ″myself″. The correct word is ″me″, but there appears to be some stigma attached to its use. I wish I knew why.
Geoff Schmidt, Richmond
Climate is neutral
The term “watermelons” was new to me, and Elizabeth Knight’s article (″Rinehart pumps up the volume on her climate agenda megaphone″, 26/11) got me thinking.
For me, the biggest surprise is that caring for the planet is still treated as a partisan sport. I’m exhausted by the greenwashing, political point-scoring and clever labels that do far more harm than good.
Climate change doesn’t recognise party colours or witty insults. It affects all of us so shouldn’t our politics reflect that?
Julia Paxino, Beaumaris
Weighing options
Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley says, “I absolutely care about the climate. I believe in renewables. I believe in an energy transition, but I don’t believe in my children, grandchildren inheriting a lower standard of living than their parents.“
What a choice, a lower standard of living or no world to live in?
Greg Tuck, Warragul
Policies please
State Opposition Leader Jess Wilson says her main priority if she becomes premier is to attack Victoria’s “debt crisis” while at the same time expressing a desire to reduce or perhaps even eliminate one of the budget’s major source of funds, that being stamp duty.
Wilson is either an economic Houdini or she will need to take an axe to government expenditure. If it’s the latter she owes it to the Victorian electorate to articulate where the cuts will come from and by how much.
Phil Alexander, Eltham
Were readers asked?
Like many Melburnians I was shocked to read (″State Library to slash staff, services″, 22/11) about the proposed changes and cuts at State Library Victoria.
I write this sitting in the Redmond Barry Reading Room at the library. Near me are two reference librarians dealing with user queries and responding to email and phone inquiries. They act as an essential conduit between readers and the library’s extensive and varied collections.
The inquiry desk is currently staffed while the Library is open 10am to 6pm daily. If the number of reference librarians is cut as proposed from 25 to 10, how are the remaining 10 going to service the desk 56 hours a week?
Another proposed change is to cut the number of public access PCs. Free access to information has been a cornerstone of State Library Victoria since it was established more than 170 years ago. Not every user of the library will have their own PC.
Reducing access and services via cutting back on reference librarians and access to digital platforms dilutes the principle of free library service.
Finally, did the management group at the library or anyone else talk to any of the hundreds of users who come into the library every day?
John Arnold, Hawthorn
Running low on ideas
Pauline Hanson first pulled the burqa stunt in August 2017. Ridiculous then; even more so now. Is she running out of ideas?
Helena Kilingerova, Vermont
Test of the imagination
As a Pom, here’s a more cheerful way to look at the recent Test match in Perth.
Both innings had fewer overs than a 50-over one-day game. And it was mostly played like a one-dayer. So the teams obviously played two of those, not a Test. England won the first. Australia the second. We’re level pegging so far. How exciting is that?
Robert Eames, Geelong
AND ANOTHER THING
Migrants
Re Australian immigration: Donald Trump, mind your own business (“US embassy to collect crime data on migrants”, 26/11).
Lawrie Bradly, Surrey Hills
Thanks Trump, but the last time I checked the dogs and cats in Australia were doing just fine.
Graham Fetherstonhaugh, Carlton North
Donald Trump’s problem is that he thinks he rules the world.
Suzanne Palmer-Holton, Seaford
Could we please write to the US and ask them to report back to us on the number of crimes committed in the US by non-migrants.
Bill Griffiths, Carnegie
Furthermore
I love the idea of Helen Goh’s Christmas cake (26/11) and I’m sure it tastes and looks fabulous, but I had to take a Bex and lie down after just reading the encyclopaedia of ingredients.
Juliet Gavens, Portarlington
Re the letter ″Dead to me″ (26/11) my husband died recently. An admirer of correct grammar, he would not have wanted it to be said that he had ″passed″.
Sandra Torpey, Hawthorn
Re ″Rinehart pumps up volume on her climate agenda megaphone″ (26/11) Gina Rinehart would do well to worry less about the supposed leftist ″watermelons″ and think about the ″rotten apple″ climate action delayers who will spoil our global barrel.
Jenny Smithers, Ashburton
Why on earth does the media keep telling us what Barnaby Joyce might or might not do?
Ross Hosking, Blackwood, SA
A Trump-Putin peace deal? How many times can Donald Trump turn his head and pretend he just doesn’t see? (apologies to Bob Dylan )
Dan Drummond, Leongatha
The almost complete Watsonia Town Square would be more aptly named the Watsonia Blockage. Between the town square and the North East link residents of Watsonia are subjected to traffic flows we have never experienced in the past.
John Walsh, Watsonia