Ever-expanding diversity industry rewards identity over a person’s capacity

Paul Kelly’s article “Dangerous rise of woke warriors” (12-13/9) is an important contribution on a subject that is spreading through the public life of Western democracies like a cancer. Those of us who were active students in the 1960s supported feminism, anti-war protests and change of government because liberal democracy, not totalitarianism, demanded freedom of protest. This woke — or cancel culture — political correctness really does take us back to the way East Germany operated. Protest, yes, but openly, honestly and never underhand and holier than thou.

C. Lendon, Cook, ACT

The social justice industry remains anathema to those who hold in high esteem the values of a liberal society. We who believe in a meritocracy have long been proud of our Western society’s willingness to reward hard work, talent and achievement. Opportunities to study, to work hard and to succeed are available to all, regardless of gender, ethnicity, indigeneity or sexual identity.

Clearly the time has come to call out this ideology which, on one level at least, is about giving jobs to people who seem unable to get them on ability. The ever-expanding diversity industry rewards identity over capacity. All this is overseen by a group of righteous saviours, smug in the belief of the superiority of their views, clutching woke credentials as their ticket to the elite, refusing to debate, preferring instead to scream accusations of racism and bigotry. What a mess.

Jane Bieger, Brisbane, Qld

Descent into disorder

Catherine McGregor (“Hope still springs eternal in this year of the infernal”, 12-13/9) insightfully portrays the sense of foreboding many of us feel as China grows more menacing while the world flounders in the grip of this terrible virus. These are dangerous times. The weaknesses of the West have never been more apparent as our freedom-loving impulses struggle against the necessary containment strategies in our daily life. The time may come, sooner than we think, when we shall have to stand together against external threats.

Vicki Sanderson, Cremorne, NSW

Games we used to play

Helen Trinca (“Living in the age of fear”, 12-13/9) quotes a survey showing 18 to 34 is the most fearful age group in Australia. I can’t help wondering if this is not the result of an overprotective upbringing. I recall primary school days in which girls swung from monkey bars and swings now banned; boys played games such as British Bulldog and Surrender, which were the most rough and tumble imaginable. One week we managed to keep a fire going in our school grounds every day so we could toast our sandwiches. Neither of our two teachers seemed to mind. At Scouts we played “wide games” at night that had us roaming over paddocks and creeks, through fences and blackberries. No one suffered more than a few scratches and bruises. Such freedom for kids now seems unimaginable.

Graeme Henderson, Milawa, Vic

Rebecca Urban’s report “Subdued, uncertain fun … Year 12s party like it’s 2020” (12-13/9) gives me heart. As a child of the 1940s we experienced much deprivation and few freedoms, growing up as we did during World War II and its aftermath. Our gallant troops fought to reverse this so our children would not know such hardship. In subsequent generations, such freedoms have led to a softening in our young, culminating in this latest generation’s unearned sense of entitlement. The quotation from that clearly mature Santa Sabina College student that “the resilience that we have adapted is an immeasurable skill that will guide us beyond our school years” is like a breath of fresh air. I hope for our whole nation’s sake this attitude has permeated through the Class of 2020.

Dr Jules Black, Manly, Qld