Does everyone need to take a step back and have a few deep breaths? The level of abuse I am seeing online as the arguments over our treatment of refugees intensifies is getting a little out of hand.
The fact that less people appear to be coming to Australia by boat (and let’s face it we have no idea how many people are trying, due to the secrecy around it) is no vindication of our asylum seeker detention policy. Especially when the Secretary General of the UN has personally questioned it in public.
Holly Holm was incredibly impressive in her recent upset defeat of Rhonda Rousey. Still, I was surprised that the tide of public opinion seemed to move quicker than one of her kicks- and hit Rousey just as hard.
Where were all these critics and doubters before the fight? I have to admit I have very little interest in cage fighting, but it was hard to avoid the hype about Rousey in the lead up to the fight and I didn’t hear a word of criticism. I’m incredibly proud of a young man who really made this point for me last week. Although he has a diagnosis of ASD and has had considerable difficulty engaging with his education in the past, he has shown tremendous courage and tenacity this year, surprising a few people with what he was capable of. This was never more evident than when he decided he wanted to plan and organise a fundraiser after learning about the effects of dementia. It is humbling to be your teacher James.
http://education-news.education.tas.gov.au/2015/11/personalised-learning-james-fundraising.html So in the same day the Tasmanian parliament's vote to support marriage equality actually exceeded my expectations of the courage and intelligence of our politicians; those same expectations were brought crashing back by the sheer ignorance and bigotry that is Jacqui Lambie.
Even when you know you speak the truth, there are times when it is better not to speak at all.
The recent attacks on Paris, affected people worldwide and elicited a range of reactions, especially on social media. Predictably there were some who were quick to generalise their hatred to all Muslims, just as many were ready to argue that these terrorists represented Islam as much as Dylan Roof represented Christianity. David Leyonhelm’s public statement that it wouldn’t have happened if everyone in France was armed seemed particularly tasteless given that it came so soon after the news broke. There were also efforts to highlight the inconsistency of our response to these types of attacks, compared to atrocities that occur in other parts of the world and the ongoing plight of millions of refugees. I am not going to argue any of these issues today. I don’t think it is the time. Right now a lot of people are scared, hurt or grieving. Let’s respect that and give them a few days to heal, even if you are sure you are right. The will be time to debate the political causes and ramifications of this tragedy, but that time is not now. |
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