Call time on the vitriol

It has infected our discourse on both sides of the debate

The Prime Minister is right to call out “tribalism” in our nation (“Tribalism creating a nation divided, says PM”, 19/3). And the oft-maligned Pauline Hanson is right to say it’s OK to be white — a sentiment jarring for some when first uttered and scathingly jeered at in the wake of the horrific slaughter in the New Zealand mosques.

Yes, it is OK to be white. It’s OK not to be white. It’s OK to be indigenous, African-Australian, Asian, Middle Eastern, European. It’s OK to be a Christian, Muslim, Jewish, a Hindu, a Buddhist, an atheist or an agnostic. What’s not OK is to be a hate-filled, self-righteous, judgmental, violence-mongering, ideological bigot.

Rather than constantly taking a swipe at those whose views we disagree with, even views we detest, even if those views are deservedly detestable, how about we work to reduce the amount of judgmental animosity, righteous or otherwise, swirling in our midst, and lately exacerbated to boiling point?

Deborah Morrison, Malvern East, Vic

I have noted from presentations in the media since the New Zealand massacre that it is often second-generation Australians, including those who have their origins in largely Muslim countries, who rail against our concept of freedom of speech. These children, who have not suffered actual persecution first hand, follow the precepts of political correctness and tend to label language that offends them “hate speech”. I wish we would all forget labels except for the one that labels us all “Australian”.

There has been fault, violence and fear on both sides and especially at the extremes. Let us all admit fault and move on. Things will only escalate on both sides if we continue to lay blame. Whether we worship God, Allah or no one, judgment is for the courts and infinity.

Margaret Mack, Chermside, Qld

I have been disgusted by the politicisation of the Christchurch massacre and the virtue-signalling by the far Right and far Left. When all the flowers have wilted and the world has moved on, the problems, of which this is but one phenomenon, will remain and those who are paid to solve them will still be hurling their verbal weapons at each other in an attempt to keep or gain power. “Tribalism” is on the nose at the moment. There are good aspects of tribalism, such as belonging to a group that provides social, economic and emotional support to its members. This happens in Australia.

Then there is the bad aspect, based on “hate, blame and contempt”, where the members of the tribe are indoctrinated by their leaders to believe that they have been violated by their enemies. When the two are linked they lead to the sort of tribalism that produced Nazi Germany, the Islamic State caliphate and mass murderer Brenton Tarrant.

Jim Wilson, Beaumont, SA

Your editorial rightly censures those who would point-score over a tragedy that should bring us all together (“Mainstream Australia is grieving, not politicking”, 19/3). While conservatives disown Fraser Anning for his insensitive comments, some on the Left are drawing that line “from the Tampa to Christchurch” and linking the massacre to all who support border security and calling out Labor for its ambivalence on this issue. We should confine our condemnation to terrorism of all kinds, whether jihadist or white supremacist.

John Morrissey, Hawthorn, Vic

All the commentary swirling around Fraser Anning aside, is anyone suggesting that if they were suddenly egged from behind they wouldn’t have taken a swing that just happens to connect as an automatic defensive response?

If you need to be outraged about something how about the fact that Anning is in Parliament in the first place on the back of just 19 votes, total. Now that is something to be seriously outraged about.

Jim Ball, Narrabeen, Qld

Credit must go to the only source of dignity after Christchurch and that is the Islamic community itself. The rest of the noise is largely shrill hate-speech, group-think and hysterical overreaction. Too many politicians and commentators have rushed self-righteously to prove how repulsed they are, as though the horror of what happened needs stating and restating to somehow prove their virtue and their tribal superiority.

Keith Mouatt, Robina, Qld