Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

We are playing a dangerous game

By Brian Holden - posted Friday, 3 August 2007


Howard tries to hide his “them and us” mentality. Here are two occasions when he did not:

  • he and Peter Reith knew the boat people did not throw their children overboard, but as there was an election campaign at the time, they failed to pass this information on to the public: they were aware that mass-insecurity increases the conservative vote; and
  • John Howard publicly supported Pauline Hanson’s “breeding like rabbits” speech as legitimate free expression - until he realised that she threatened to take away enough of the far right voters from his party to put him out of office. Then he set out to destroy her.

Since 9-11, not a single person has been killed or injured by a terrorist on our soil. In that time about 10,200 have been killed and about 91,800 have been seriously injured on our roads. As a motor vehicle tears into flesh and bone with the same violence as a bomb, can we use that statistic as an overreaction indicator?

Advertisement

There has been no government-sponsored effort made to bring Muslim and non-Muslim Australian’s together in a display of camaraderie and preparedness for a bombing in this country which would allow us to calmly deal with the event. Instead, if there is a bombing, the Howard Government and talk-back commercial radio have created a public readiness to viciously hit out at any Muslim within striking distance.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. Page 2
  4. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

82 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Brian Holden has been retired since 1988. He advises that if you can keep physically and mentally active, retirement can be the best time of your life.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Brian Holden

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Photo of Brian Holden
Article Tools
Comment 82 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy