Over the past few weeks we have watched, mouths agape, as the impossible happened.
One of the world’s greatest racists, Donald Trump, flounced headfirst into the terrifyingly powerful position of President of the United States. We pitied those poor bloody Americans, and felt grateful to live a world away from his xenophobic madness.
Not this week. This week, our very own Immigration Minister Peter Dutton gave us a sharp reminder than racist attitudes are very much alive and well on home turf.
In case you missed it, Peter Dutton appeared on Sky News last week to declare former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser had “made mistakes” by allowing some refugees into Australia, and the country is “paying for it now”. When asked to clarify this comment in parliament this week, Dutton said:
“The advice I have is that out of the last 33 people who have been charged with terrorist-related offences in this country, 22 of those people are from second- and third-generation Lebanese-Muslim background.”
In one fell swoop, those fearful Australians who’ve been scrambling for a target were given one on a silver platter: Lebanese Australians.
Oh, how I would love to introduce the sodden-brained Dutton to my friend Sikni.
Sikni is a razor-sharp University of Sydney graduate, journalist, a wife, a mother to two, and a proud first-generation Lebanese Muslim. She's also very concerned by Dutton's comments.
Like many other members of the Australian-Lebanese community, Sikni is all too aware how Dutton's mindless comments have worked to condemn a whole faction of proud and wonderful Australian citizens to feelings of intense shame and fear.
Top Comments
http://www.salon.com/2016/1... or in the case of Australia - One Nation
Yes, Jackie Trad is Deputy Premier in Queensland; God Help Us.
Senator Brandis summed up the LNP and ALP perfectly:
"They're not very good...I'd say that the state opposition is very, very mediocre, and the state government is very, very mediocre."
http://www.skynews.com.au/n...
One Nation are fielding candidates in all 93 seats next year and at 16% support and rising, they are going to absolutely clean up.
Yes I heard that tape too Brett and he is quite right and I can't wait for the next election.
Mediocre and hopeless the lot of them; just like federally.
Thankfully Queensland is like a whole different country. One Nation would never do well in most other states. Queenslanders can enjoy those type of thinkers all to themselves!