Descent into hell
Man of Steel's denials of racism in the Sydney gang riots is completely in line with a leader and a government that has carefully manipulated these sentiments in the electorate in the past, and is still doing so with Anti-terror laws. (Remember a parade of ministers recently advising dissatisfied Muslims that if they 'don't want to assimilate into this country' to leave.) The rioters are just 'exuberant youths breaking laws' says Mr. Ruddock, although hate speech and attempted murder are hardly 'exhuberance' for any typical Australians.
Other documented cases of manipulation (in a way that speaks to the racist elements of Australia without overt demonstration, called 'dog-whistling') include the failure to recognise or apologise for stolen generations of indigenous, the 'we'll decide who comes here' sentiments of the Tampa incident and election period, the Hansonite party which for some years assured the Coalition of power by swapping electoral preferences and parliamentary votes.
The failure to recognise and condemn the implicit racism of the violence in Sydney contradicts the perception of many other politicians and the population; yet Howard and government are depending on a credibility they barely posesses anymore. Worse, neo-nazis are also clearly implicated in the violence; as are media commentators in Sydney (identified by excellent reporting on the ABC's evening TV news and the SMH) who create a sense of public menance, yet disclaim responsibility for those who act on the fears that are created. Last week for instance, 2GB's Alan Jones was reported urging a 'community show of force' in Cronulla - exactly what happened. And yet we have a federal government again desperately trying to deny a reality the rest of the country has no problem identifying, and fascists in the streets instigating violence for an agenda that conveniently appears to suit elements of an extreme conservative government.
Man of Steel and his cronies say that charges of racism complicate issues. What is 'complicated' about racism that has been tacitly fostered, and allowed to spread unrestrained? The politicisation of cultural fears by government as part of the 'terrorism debate' (and as part of electioneering) is having results that are undeniably ugly and socially damaging; and indeed, with the passage of the dreadful Sedition laws, the stifling of dialog and the rise of mindless force may be just the beginning of a descent into hell.
Item posted by AutoEditor at 3:33 pm ::
