Sorting it out ourselves

A try-hard, zero tolerance crusade against perceived prejudice is doomed because its champions fail to grasp the ironic relationship between political means and ends. It's fine to pursue the goal of an egalitarian society, provided one first accepts there can be no formula for success, since any such formula, and the punitive formalities it brings, implies distrustfulness. It's illogical, not to mention immoral, to demand your fellow citizens be more open and accepting when you yourself are assuming the worst of them.

Thankfully, many Australians can smell the confused hypocrisy of the elitist worldview peddled by Leach and others, but are fearful of attempting to express it. Those who do, typically enflame the situation or eventually kowtow to the received orthodoxy. Hence our increasingly polarised and dysfunctional democracy.

Bigoted words may reflect bigotry. Or they may stem from anger, acute frustration at having to tolerate the profound ignorance of the do-gooders within our political elite.

Neither a politician, an AFL fascist or Leach can define the difference (which is part of their unidentified problem). And even if they could, it would still be up to the individuals involved to sort things out. A fair go is a two-way street based on mutual respect.

Those "boofhead commentators" and members of the public critical of Milne's treatment are not necessarily, as Leach cynically suggests, trying to maintain a "playground of prejudice". They are attempting to highlight the lie we've fallen victim to.

It didn't matter to O'Brien if Milne was being a proper knob or just provocative. He rose above it, which you'd think would be a happy occasion. He proved himself either way, and in doing so put the onus back onto Milne. At least for a moment.

Instead of celebrating this achievement, the AFL and meddlers like Leach can't help but make things worse. Not only do they actually discourage Milne from taking responsibility for his actions, they send a damaging message to the people of Australia, young and old: bureaucracy and officialdom can and will resolve our differences and make us the great country we all want it to be.