The irony of cancel culture is that we end up more polarised

Tom Switzer (“Cancel culture is destroying our society”, 16/4) is correct. Cancel culture is distorting Australian society by forcing adoption of the notions of the “woke” on to all Australians. Anyone trying to express a different view is cancelled or otherwise ostracised. The government has facilitated this, for example, by refusing to amend the Racial Discrimination Act, section 18C, where each word in the act, “offend, insult, humiliate, and intimidate” is wholly subjective. All of these words rely on the claimed emotions of a recipient at the time. However, it is the law. The government reneged on its promise to hold a plebiscite about same-sex marriage by conducting a voluntary postal vote instead.

Lindsay Hackett, Macleay Island, Qld

The irony of cancel culture is that by “cancelling” we run the risk of further polarisation. You think Coon Cheese should keep its name? Well you’re a backwards boomer, ignorant to the harrowing repercussions of colonisation. Oh, you think Coon Cheese should change its name? You must be a millennial; snobbishly woke, policing matters that should remain innocently apolitical. Instead of unity, cancel culture creates additional partition and hostility. People are brutally categorised as racist, sexist or homophobic; forbidding any attempts of justification or redemption.

Jessica Evensen, Applecross, WA

Ponzi population

Greg Sheridan’s recent article on increasing immigration stands in stark contrast to Judith Sloan’s well-reasoned articles opposing this. The paucity of his argument is manifest in his resort to the century-old “populate or perish” myth. How many immigrants will we need to deter the teeming hordes to our north — a million, 10 million or even a billion? The Ponzi aspects of immigration don’t just relate to population age. We see a short-term boost to the economy, increased strain on the environment and downward pressure on wages.

Patrick Hanrahan, Floreat, WA

Jarring note

The reduction in the unemployment rate from 5.8 per cent in February to 5.6 per cent in March is certainly good news, as highlighted in your editorial (“Harnessing good news on jobs”, 16/4). However, I found the accompanying line “Morrison hits the right note in re-engagement with the world” somewhat jarring. In my view, and I’m sure I’m not alone, Scott Morrison has failed to genuinely re-engage with women in politics, particularly in federal parliament, but also in parliament’s sphere of influence. This is starkly illustrated by his unrepentant mistreatment of former Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate, who saved AusPost from oblivion at the hands of the big banks.

Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin, ACT

Twerked off

Regardless of whether the ABC may have edited or sensationalised 101 Doll Squadron’s twerking performance at the Woolloomooloo launch of HMAS Supply; just how “twerking” — the thrusting forwards and back of the pelvis and buttocks at rhythmic speed in time to music to simulate and generate a sexual response — could be construed as a dance form representative of the community of Woolloomooloo and relevant to the commissioning of a naval vessel is mystifying. If the aim was dance representative of the culture and diverse community of Woolloomooloo and incorporating the urban scene, there must be troupes able to create innovative and awe-inspiring dance through a melding of Indigenous dance, hip-hop, dance of various ethnicities and balletic prowess — surely more inclusive, meaningful and relevant than “twerking your booty”.

Deborah Morrison, East Malvern, Vic

Fear goes viral

The dangers from COVID-19 have been added to by a pandemic of fear led by politicians and some state health bureaucrats. The quick state border closures for very few cases produced fear. The words used for new variants were loaded with emotional terms. Now the fear of clots has exploded. The risk is minimal, with more chance of being struck by lightning.

L. Smith, Kenmore, Qld

Time to recast

I have done my bit: flew to Sydney and spent up on tourist activities. While walking along the Parramatta River I was reading the story of white settlement. I was saddened much of the story is told from a very Western and white perspective. Captain Phillip and his lot were not the first settlers, they were the first white settlers. We should recast our story so it tells the truth of white settlement and the often devastating effect on the Indigenous people with their long and proud history.

Graham Reynolds, Soldiers Hill, Vic