“I think both the left and the right should celebrate people who have different opinions, and disagree with them, and argue with them, and differ with them, but don’t just try to shut them up.” A reasonable enough view from legendary movie critic Roger Ebert, but one that seems increasingly rare on university campuses, inner city suburbs and in the echo chamber of the twittersphere.
There was no celebration from Victorian police when far right provocateur Lauren Southern came to town: just a bill for $68,000, knocked down from a total of $230,000, as the price of keeping angry hordes of thought police and ANTIFA types at bay. Jamie gets comment of the week for astutely noting the similarity between the Victorian cops’ antics and the protection services offered by mafia gangs:
“I wonder when it became OK for the Police to demand protection money? What next, will they visit businesses in Victoria and demand funds to protect them from criminals?”
Peter pointed out a more apropos destination for the Old Bill’s bill:
“Police should be sending their invoice to the communist agitators (The Campaign Against Racism and Fascism) who believe that conservative people are not entitled to free speech.”
Adrian was angry:
“This is just ridiculous. Not acceptable from the Victorian government and police force. Ms Southern is here legitimately to voice her opinions.
“If protesters choose to obstruct and cause trouble - then send the bill to them - in fact, there should not be any bill for either side. And as for the police force, get out and stop crimes like gang violence before we have no go zones like France and Belgium.”
Cecil chuckled:
“Hilarious. Any idea of the costs to VIC police budgets incurred by South Sudanese people? Of course, they are not professional provocateurs. Talented amateurs, perhaps?”
Simon wanted to strike:
“I wonder how much the union movement was charged for the police resources consumed by the protest march that brought Melbourne’s CBD to a grinding halt a few weeks back?”
Howard agreed:
“I’d like to see the police charge unions for providing policing services on picket sites. These are basically publicity events so why haven’t they been charging? Oh, wait a minute, the young woman isn’t a progressive left winger or a member of a union so different ‘rules’ apply!”
John saw a scam:
“The cost to you is $230,000, but we will only charge you $68,000.” The service was never requested. Isn’t this the way Nigerian scams work?”
Cecil chimed back in:
“Everywhere we turn, we are monstered by Leftist authoritiansim.”
Jamie wondered where it all ends:
“I wonder when it became OK for the Police to demand protection money? What next, will they visit businesses in Victoria and demand funds to protect them from criminals?”
Richard played the sex card:
“Imagine the outcry if a woman were being attacked and the Victorian police demanded payment in advance to stop her attacker.”
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The concatenation of culture wars clashes continued when white feminists announced colonisation was to blame for indigenous domestic violence. D amien was dismayed:
“It’s 2018, isn’t it? And still events of 250 years ago are being blamed for events of today - that is shallow and anti intellectual.
“Still, it gives the silly left, the inner city enclaves of rich white folk waving indigenous flags, the socialists with their two solar panels, the clusters of public funded rent seekers and out of touch academics - gives ‘em all something to preach to the rest of us about.”
The song remained the same for John L:
“Here we go again! It’s all the whitefellas’ fault. Never mind that skeletal remains from times well before colonization demonstrate a high level of skull and bone fractures. Still, trust the Lefties to not let a few facts stand in the way of their biases.”
Michael mentioned:
“This childish rubbish that Aborigines we peace loving puritans who frolicked the country side sipping honey and stroking butterflies had got to end. There was plenty of violence here before white fellas arrived, still is and always has been. Like everywhere else in the world, warriors fought over territory and possessions.”
Maree called in the marines:
“Watkin Tench, a marine with the First Fleet, wrote eloquently about the mistreatment of indiginous women and girls by their men in 1788, including head injuries and body scars. This has nothing to do with European arrival.”
Kate stated:
“Of course Ms Langton chooses to ignore the proof that there was widespread violence against indigenous women long before white settlement. Paleopathologist Stephen Webb discovered evidence of skull fractures in indigenous women in disproportionate number (to males) in bone collections going back 50,000 years. Is Ms Langton ignorant of this or does she choose to ignore it because she has a mindset that all aboriginal problems today stem from white settlement. So much easier to blame others.”
Marten got mad:
“This was produced with my money! Did any of them go and spend time in places like Balgo, Fitzroy Crossing, Kalumburu?? I once intervened and stopped an indigenous man betting the beejeezus out of a woman. He was upset at me claiming that’s my woman, that’s my wife, I can do what I like.
“I can’t stand the stupid statistics that these reports trot out. If you break the law you go to jail! Justice does not see colour. The disfunction in my opinion has its root cause in the ridiculous set up of ingenious communities where there is no industry, no jobs, no incentive to get off your ass, no land ownership and free money. I defy any group of people to survive 10 years, let alone generations, and not fall into this misery pit. “
Michael mused:
“So how does domestic violence in indigenous communities stem from colonisation? Are the men so angry at colonisation that they take it out on their women? Is that the argument?”
JasonJ extended the theory:
“And the English football hooligan violence is all because of the Norman conquest of 1066?”
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Megan Lehmann in The Weekend Australian magazine exposed the terrifying reality of bullying for children of the cyber age. Helena pointed to the parents:
“Surely the parents of bullies share responsibility as well? Instilling the values of kindness and compassion in your children. Your own actions are what children mimic. If you treat your fellow human beings with civility your children learn the same. The sad thing is that child bullies become adult bullies and so the problem is continued on from generation to generation.
John noted:
“Unfortunately one doesn’t need training and a licence to have children. If we needed a licence there would be a lot getting revoked.”
Another John had answers:
“There are simple solutions that are long overdue.
“1. Anyone posting material on the Internet, including blogs, readers’ comments and social media, must be identifiable. If the poster cannot be identified then the posting gets blocked. Agencies can be created for the relatively rare instances of whistle blowing.
“2. Telephone numbers and owners of mobile phones should be traceable.
“3. Parents should be held legally responsible for any bullying by their children, with increasingly severe sentences for repeat offenders.
“In short, being anonymous is too easy and we need to make people responsible for the consequences of what they say and do. “
Kirsten wasn’t optimistic:
“I don’t think we have a hope of stopping bullies, especially when it can be done anonymously. What we should do, however, is help troubled young people walk away from their social media accounts. Since this is the source of their distress, they need to give it up, just like an alcoholic needs to give up alcohol.
“It is important for young people to realise they will NOT become social outcasts if they don’t have access to Instagram etc. Their true friends will still exist, but the trolls will no longer have access in their lives or to their minds. Anyway, it worked for my daughter - and she is now doing fine.”
Roger ruminated:
“So the message seems to be that there are no consequences for the bullies. Relying on their good nature to see the error of their ways clearly doesn’t work but there is no official attempt to deal with the problem.”
Ban the phones, said Brian:
“I think first and foremost that no children be allowed to take their smart phones to school. My wife tells me she does not like it when she sends our grand daughter a message during school hours to meet later she answers it immediately in class.
“Anyone caught bullying should be expelled immediately and the rest will get the message quickly. It’s not rocket science. Suspension only leads to more bullying and warnings to the victim when the bully returns.”
That jarred with John:
“@brian it’s not the technology, it’s people. Mostly they are cowards too scared to say something in public. In my day, it was simple, you had to have the self will and strength to approach someone and call them a name. The outcome was swift, usually a fight ensued.
“Now you can say things without fear of retribution. Society is against violence I get that, but the fear of being hit, stopped so many people from being a bully. We have told people not to fight or hit back and look what we have created. Such soft and unskilled people for a generation. Unable to cope with losing or with competition ‘everyone is a winner’ we have removed the ability of people to build up an immune system, a defensive mechanism to cope. “You can’t blame the phone, like you can’t blame a gun for the culture in America. It’s people and a society we have created.”
Andrew said tech could fix it:
“The obvious thing people are not discussing with those being bullied is about using platform tools that allow you to block bullies which makes it impossible for them to see your social media.
“We have people who when being bullied become obsessive in feeling the need to keep reading the posts from bullies rather than blocking them in the first instance. There will always be bullies so education of the use of social media tools is the only answer.”
Peter was resigned:
“Bullies have always existed and always will. I was taught how to be resilient and to stand up for myself. It was called tough love and I thank my parents and older siblings for it. We have created a generation of snowflakes with their safe spaces and offense taking. The bullies are thanking us for it.”
AnthonyR asserted:
“It may sound flippant, but like so many of the unpleasant aspects of modern Western society, this sort of callous bullying is a product, or symptom, of two now-endemic aspects of the way we raise our children: (1) a lack of discipline, and (2) self-obsession, often manifesting as a victim mentality.
“Discipline – self-discipline – has to be learnt. [And I mean discipline, not punishment: Where there is discipline, there is no need for punishment.] Children need to be taught — formally, in school, and at home, and in society in general - levels of self-control which will imbue them with levels of restraint which prevent unthinking violence in word or deed.
And the modern self-centredness produces a numbing lack of empathy. If all that really matters is ME and MY happiness, then I really don’t care if you do kys.”
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Each Friday the cream of your views on the news rises and we honour the voices that made the debate great. To boost your chances of being featured, please be pertinent, pithy and preferably make a point. Solid arguments, original ideas, sparkling prose, rapier wit and rhetorical flourishes may count in your favour. Civility is essential. Comments may be edited for length.
Miners change tune on climate change
Peak mining industry body The Minerals Council of Australia has joined the fight on climate.
Easy to point the finger
Demanding we abandon coal for climate is akin to asking NZ to give up love affair with sheep.