Write on: Letters to the editor
Head On
I refer to the review of the film Head On ("Ethnicity, class and sexuality collide head on", GLW September 30) by Conrad Barnett and Natalie Wood: "Ari (Alex Dimitriades) takes us on a 24-hour bender and illuminates an alienated subculture. He is unemployed, gay and the son of Greek migrants."
It was my understanding of the film (I have not read the book Loaded) that Ari is still discovering his sexuality. He may not be Gay but Bisexual. Many straight-identified men do just what Ari was doing — going to toilets for anonymous sex with other men.
It is far too easy for people to label someone based on their actions or the relationships they have, rather than allow the person to define themself or base their identity on how they feel about their own sexuality and identity.
"Johnny turns up to the Greek dance club in a dress. In contrast, Ari pretends he's not gay, running away from the problem, and running away from Johnny too."
Maybe he isn't pretending. Maybe he is not gay. Maybe he is bisexual or straight where his current desire is for quick sex with other guys.
Let's not put people in boxes. If they want a box then let them choose the one they want and to change it for another if it does not suit. Labelling people can cause more harm than good. When a person labels themself then this can be a positive and empowering thing.
National coordinator, Australian Bisexual Network
Jabiluka
Congratulations on publishing the Davis and Hinman critique of the Jabiluka electoral strategy (GLW September 3). If we are to build a strong anti-uranium movement, the alternative press has to go beyond sloganeering and cheerleading and provide avenues for criticism and reflection.
We also have to appreciate the twenty year history of the ALP co-opting, dissipating and killing off the anti-uranium movement. For the struggle ahead we have to celebrate the achievements of the Jabiluka Blockade and learn from its mistakes.
The Jabiluka Ploughshares feel that nonviolent direct action at the blockade was deeply compromised by deference to ALP wishes. Since nonviolently disarming uranium mining equipment at Jabiluka on Nagasaki Day (9-8-98) — we have been marginalised and censored by both Government and movement "powers-that-be".
We ask Green Left to publish our web site address <http://www.ploughshares.org/ploughshares> and readers to access it for our analysis and perspective as we face the Northern Territory courts and probably return to jail.
Jabiluka Ploughshares
Darwin
GST
In the run up to the federal election, some people on the left publicised the "counter-productive" features of the GST which would disadvantage ordinary people — as if these aspects were coincidental to the traditional conservatives' strategy, when indeed they formed its very purpose. What do you expect the right wing to do? Broaden the tax base by taxing rich individuals and corporations?
In fact, pushing an all-inclusive GST is a stroke of genius. Since the demise of the east Bloc "threat", the ruling class and its two-party system has managed to impose policies which steadily widen the gap between rich and poor. Hawke's Accord did it by pegging wages in a time of inflation and deregulation.
The beauty of using a change in the taxation system to slug the low-paid now is that once again the mechanism is so complex that it can be paraded as "fair", at the same time diverting people from realising that it creates new lurks and perks for the rich while in no way interfering with their old ones.
Yes, Virginia, there is a capitalist Santa Clause; he is a transnational working exclusively for the already wealthy and powerful. And while people keep on believing he is a benign old fellow with a few flaws, he'll sneak down the chimney every night to steal your children's bread.
Blackburn Vic
Titanic
The Brisbane Sunday Mail on September 27, in a nationally coordinated promotional campaign for the video release of the film Titanic, reproduced the original April 18, 1912, front page of the New York Times reporting the loss of the Titanic.
Why has this disaster now returned to haunt the world? It is an overpowering visual depiction of the Western World as it heads toward a catastrophic encounter with an "iceberg" of economic and spiritual chaos.
James Cameron's film masterpiece has made a record profit of US$1.8 billion. James Cameron could set another world record by donating a portion of the film's profits to the relief of natural disasters in Bangladesh, the Sudan and elsewhere.
He may well be contemplating such an initiative. Insya Allah!
Toowong Qld