Australia and the
world has been rightly shocked by the images emerging from Iraq, images of
beheadings and of young Australian, British and American men participating in
brutal atrocities. We are right to be disturbed that young men from Australia
and other countries are leaving to fight in support of this barbaric cause. I
have no sympathy at all for this ‘Islamic State’, or whatever they call
themselves today. I have little sympathy for the young men who leave Australia
on these ‘adventures’. Although I do think we should be taking the time to
understand why they might be doing it.
I do, however, have to
speak out when our Prime Minister raises the spectre of such acts occurring in
Australia. Perhaps they could. People do shocking things to other people every
day for all kinds of reasons, few of them religiously or politically motivated.
But what could be Abbott’s motivation for suggesting that we need to be ever
vigilant to prevent such acts from occurring here? It’s obvious to me. These
are the usual fear tactics that governments use to shore up their flagging support.
When you are making a mess of domestic politics, what better than to turn the
nation’s eyes outwards, towards that ever-present, nebulous threat of
terrorism.
It is always best, of
course, to keep the threat vague, while exaggerating it out of all proportion.
This is how governments make themselves appear strong and important. This is
how they justify more and more expenditure on defence and security. All kinds
of measures can be introduced in the name of national security. I have said
this before and I will say it again. I will continue saying it until the day I
die.
Mr Abbott, I for one
do not live in fear of a terrorist attack. Such an attack is certainly
possible. But it is nowhere near the forefront of my concerns for Australia. And,
as terrible as such an attack would be, it is not the worst thing that could
happen here. Worse is the gradual whittling away of our rights and our freedom
in the name of this threat. Worse is the eroding of our society and our values
under a conservative and regressive government. Worse is the almost total
neglect of the very real and serious environmental threats that face us now. In
the name of defending and saving this country, you are gradually stripping it
of everything worth defending and saving.
I am deeply concerned and
saddened by what is happening in Iraq, Syria and other parts of the Middle
East. But I am concerned, not because of some nebulous threat to me or
Australia, but because of the terrible suffering that is actually occurring there
right now. This tragedy is not about my
safety. It is not about this country’s security, however much governments and
the media want to make it so. It is about me
and it is about us only insofar as we
share a common humanity with those who are suffering as a result of the human
race’s interminable inhumanity. We also share, perhaps to our shame, a common
humanity with those who are perpetrating these atrocities.
What would a real
leader do at this time? He would be assuring the nation that, while the threat
of terrorism to this country is real, it is not huge. He would be taking measures
to understand what is driving these young men to go and fight in this distant
war. He would be assuring the Muslim community here in Australia that we do not
fear them, and that we do not blame them for what is occurring over there. Nor would
we blame them if any kind of atrocity or terrorist attack were to occur here.
Instead, he uses this
opportunity to ever so calmly and reasonably instil fear into the Australian
community, and sow the seeds of suspicion and hatred against the Muslim
community here and around the world. I realise that none of his exact words can
be used to justify this assertion. Abbott is far too canny for that. We are slowly
being stifled and deadened in this country by Abbott and other infinitely calm
and reasonable men and women, with their calm and reasonable propositions. I
also know, however, that the effect of his words is to sow the seeds of fear
and suspicion, and fan the flames of hatred. He can then ride in on his white
charger and save us all.
Just remember: If we constantly
live in terror of terrorism, terrorism becomes unnecessary.
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