Extremists on the Left and Right bent on destruction

There is a case to be made that defines extremists as terrorists.

The front page of The Australian (7/1) causes one to ponder whether it’s time to call extremism for what it really is. We read that the far Right is on the march using Nazi salutes, painting swastikas on Jewish property and wearing helmets with SS logos. We also read that inner-city green activists are at war with communities wanting to create economic growth and jobs in the bush.

Perhaps these extremists should be redefined as terrorists. After all, they display no common sense and little intelligence, seldom seeking the facts and a proper interpretation of those facts, and never entertaining the possibility that the interpretation they are being fed may be incorrect. One thing is certain — they are bent on destroying the society that we value and revere. They are fascist terrorists on the one hand, and green terrorists on the other.

Peter R. Graham, Sydney, NSW

Extremism of any form is a problem (“Australians must remain vigilant about Neo-Nazism”, 7/1). It bypasses rational disagreement and debate, often because those engaging in it are either not skilled or unwilling to use it. And it can become a misguided cause célèbre as it has done for many terrorists. Democratic society has no place for beliefs and behaviour founded in extremism. Therefore, the right-wing extremists on St Kilda beach must be shown, in no uncertain terms, that peaceful protests are OK, but violent demonstrations and racism are not.

Michael Schilling, Millswood, SA

Had state and federal police been more effective in their observations and actions in the past, situations such as have recently occurred in St Kilda and other places may not have happened. It’s another failure of appeasement of an apparently incompatible minority group.

Prompt and effective action by authorities can negate any need for demonstrations that may then be hijacked by radicals.

Ken Moncrieff, Stafford Heights, Qld

Who would have thought that in these enlightened times anti-Semitism would be so alive and well in the Western world? On the political Right there is the neo-Nazi movement praising Hitler’s Germany and calling for white supremacy as Australian policy, while on the other side the leftist-Islamist alliance is promoting its own anti-Semitism camouflaged as hatred of Israel.

The old adage is that history is doomed to repeat itself, but this is probably because people weren’t paying attention the first time.

Alan Freedman, St Kilda East, Vic

Independent Queensland senator Fraser Anning’s appearance at the anti-immigration rally in St Kilda is a divisive action at a time when our politicians are asked to support racial harmony. To make matters worse, the taxpayer is being asked to fund his business class flight that did nothing to enhance and celebrate the diversity of peoples and cultures in Australia.

Ed Sianski, West Moonah, Tas

Senator Fraser Anning is condemned by all opportunistic politicians — including the socialist Queensland Premier — for attending a right-wing hate group. Well, we all know you don’t have freedom of speech or association in this country unless it’s with the Left.

But what do these politicians and the Premier say of people who associate with left-wing hate groups such as GetUp, who hate Christians and conservative politicians. That’s probably OK because it supports the Labor Party.

C. Dicker, Bracken Ridge, Qld

What a sad little pack of poseurs we saw turn up at St Kilda with leading man Fraser Anning having the taxpayer fork out for him to front up and “represent his constituency”.

Apparently there are people of African heritage who commit crimes in Queensland that “justifies” his appearance in Victoria. There are people of all sorts of ethnic heritage in Queensland who commit a range of crimes and an awful lot of them are white and male. Anning will be busy representing his constituency at the trial of white males in other states.

M. Seward, Launceston, Tas

Why do members of the far Left think it a good idea to attend a rally of the far Right, thus ensuring media attention at the rally? If the lefties tolerate all other minorities in Australia, why can’t they tolerate the far Right — all 18 of them?

John Sutherland, Couridjah, NSW