Labor Council roasted
The right-wing controlled NSW Labor Council has received a barrage of letters condemning their attack on the Books Not Bombs student anti-war protests. They are buried in the back of the letters page of the Workers Online web site at <http://workers.labor.net.au/173/letters2_two.html>.
These letters are lumped together as "Trots bomb back". It is Labor Council standard practice to label anyone who disagrees with it from a left perspective a "Trot".
The NSW Labor Council's attack on the March 26 and April 2 student anti-war protests covers for the fact that the Australian Labor Party leadership went to water as soon as the invasion of Iraq began. Labor federal opposition leader Simon Crean and other federal shadow ministers' support for Australian troops staying in Iraq to "finish their job" is well documented.
Then the Labor Council has to chime in with Carr NSW Labor government's "law and order"/"war on terrorism" agenda. Carr's government has been diligently banning protests, tapping phones and setting police on intimidation assignments for months. Muslim and Middle Eastern community leaders are under constant pressure to play along or else. Most recently they were heavily pressured to condemn the student anti-war protests.
As the US-British-Australian invasion army occupies Baghdad, a new quandary for the ALP is opening up. Crean is positioning himself as an advocate of a UN-run occupation of Iraq after the war. But where will this place the ALP on a campaign against the imperialist occupation of Iraq?
Peter Boyle
Sydney
Irregular
Emma Clancy should get her facts straight. I am not a regular contributor to News Weekly; I am an irregular contributor, as I am to a number of publications. Offer me a word rate and I'll even write for you, though you might find my work a little too factual.
I suppose the fact I've written articles on the media for News Weekly links me to it, but no more than I'm linked to the Sydney Morning Herald or the Australian Financial Review, for example.
As it happens, the only organisations I'm a member of are the Fabian Society, Greenpeace, the Wilderness Society and the Surry Hills Labor Club, but keep this under your hat: too many editors think I'm a left-winger already.
Tim Wallace
Sydney
Opinions on war not welcome
I am a teacher at TAFE NSW, Ultimo. The college has done its utmost to stop peace activists and union representatives from displaying posters about demonstrations. Posters that are put up are removed just as quickly by the security guards on campus. This afternoon, my head teacher was obliged to give me this warning: stop airing my "blatant" opinions about the carnage in Iraq on the intranet or face discipline by the college.
Two things spring immediately to mind: firstly, if we, as educators, aren't permitted to air our opinions and present vital information about such an important subject as the illegal war in Iraq, then why are we there? Secondly, where is our freedom to speech in this so-called democratic society?
The email from me that so riled the college director and her cohorts, read:
"Dear Colleagues
"Does anyone else see this SARS virus as a distraction from the murder and mayhem that are occurring in Iraq at the hands of the Americans, Brits and Australians? There are many more poor (economically) people dying of malaria everyday than this 'terrible' SARS.
"Let's put things in perspective: worry more about stopping the slaughter in Iraq than this so-called mystery illness called SARS."
The reference to SARS is because we received an email from our occupational health and safety person, and the above was my response.
Silence is complicity and the silence among the TAFE bureaucrats is particularly deafening when it comes to defending the defenceless in Iraq.
Mary Lee
Chippendale NSW
As ye sow, so shall we all reap
John Howard took out valuable propaganda time to splutter that he is sickened at the opulence of Saddam's palaces.
No wonder John Laws, the Pope, Rupert Murdoch, QEII and other autocratic crowned heads don't like having him around.
But apparently the envious little drone, curled like a snake at Kirribilli Palace, was not sickened by the torn apart little bodies of the collateral innocents who are paying the price for Liberal Party mates getting a slice of Rumsfeld's Iraqi "reconstruction". Remember, John Howard and all relaxed and comfortable pond-life: as ye sow, so shall we all reap.
Peter Woodforde
Melba ACT
Block supply
It is fine and necessary to have big anti-war demonstrations. If they turn violent, is not war violent? But must the police drag innocent horses into fierce demonstrations — they must be terrified — and why should they have to be mixed up in human madness?
But more practical action must follow. Earlier, when the Senate voted against war (the House of Representatives was not allowed to vote until cabinet had made its decision) there was talk of the Senate being able to block supply — can it really do this? Does it mean withholding soldiers' salaries, and money for arms? This would be a practical move.
Your paper reported some weeks ago that in Scotland train drivers had refused to take munitions to military bases. Was this commendable action followed by others?
It is no good bleating about "Bring the Troops Home" unless vigorous and prompt action is taken to achieve this. In Israel, apparently, 500 Israeli soldiers refused to fight the Palestinians, and were imprisoned.
Rosemary Evans
St Kilda Vic
A just war
It is indeed a just war. A war in which Iraqis are entitled to use whatever tactics they choose to repel those who have invaded their sovereign land. A just war for Iraqi people who have been forced to take up arms to defend their families and their homes. But an illegal war of aggression for the marauding forces, killing and maiming innocents in their quest for domination, strategic control and corporate profits.
Peter Baker
Lindisfarne Tas
Anti-Jewish rhetoric
Two Jews at a Paris peace rally were recently beaten up by 30 protesters. Left-wing Jews are not surprised, given the increasing anti-Jewish rhetoric on the left, thinly disguised as anti-Israel ideology.
It is important to criticise the Sharon government's actions, but blaming Israeli Jews for Bush's war is absurd, and is an unwitting repeat of the centuries old European and Arabic tradition of scapegoating Jews for unrelated catastrophes.
Anti-Israel posters at rallies, and the Green Left Weekly's frequent juxtaposing of the war with articles on Israel communicate a subliminal message that somehow Israel is to blame.
John Pilger's claim that "extreme Zionists", Jews, are causing the war further fuels this dangerous fire.
Most Jews are Zionists, which simply means believing in the right of Jews to have a homeland, like everybody else. Many of us are also activists, vehemently opposed to the Sharon government and in support of the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Physical and verbal violence against Australian Jews is at an all-time high. Anti-war Jewish activists are unsafe at rallies. We are frightened. Before it is too late, please take action.
Dawn Cohen
Balmain NSW
Horta and Iraq
Congratulations on recent articles by Max Lane and Allen Myers on the Jose Ramos Horta article that was predictably used to promote war on Iraq. "Man of peace backs war", barked the Daily Telegraph on the day that paper put it on the front page, February 27.
We do not expect to see Iraqi people killed so that East Timor can supposedly win powerful North American friends. We wrote to Jose not long afterwards, saying just that. No reply yet, from Dili.
This has taught us a valuable lesson: whatever our personal feelings about many now in East Timor's government, we must be critical of it as we would be of any other, if it is not doing the right thing.
We are, after all, in solidarity with the East Timorese people, not slavish followers of what is now the government.
It was great to see the picture with Max's article. One young East Timorese man was holding a banner that is as true now as it was during East Timor's occupation (and Australian government support of the repression): No Blood for Oil!
Viva Timor Lorosa' e!
Stephen Langford
Australia East Timor Association
Sydney
No links with illegal war
On March 24, I went to the Launceston office of Centrelink and cancelled my age pension because I cannot, in all conscience, have anything to do with the Howard Coalition government which is at present waging a brutal, immoral and illegal war against the innocent people of Iraq.
I will not apply for a Commonwealth Seniors' Health Card to which I am now apparently entitled. At age 71, having been in receipt of benefit and pension now for nine years, I know that I am making a very serious move. Over the past year I have played an active role in the Launceston branch of Tasmanians for Refugees and No War on Iraq. Now I feel liberated and intend to redouble my efforts to stop this brutal war.
Robert H Bensemann
Riverside Tas
Buffy opens doors
I feel the need to respond to Andrew Martin's letter from the last GLW (#533). Buffy is not an example of a perfect socialist world, nor does it attempt in every episode to answer questions regarding gender or race or class. It is a fantasy show. And a bloody brilliant one at that.
However, what I take offence to is Martin's statement that including such an article is a "crass attempt to win young teenagers over to our movement". As a year 12 student last year in the US, it was my experience that Buffy the Vampire Slayer opened the door to discussions about politics with my peers in a way that would not have been otherwise possible in the year of 9/11.
These students were initially inspired by the fact that here was a young woman who was kicking arse every Tuesday night. Our mutual enjoyment of this show led to discussions of sexism in the classroom and in turn led to a core of them beginning to read more books on feminism and activism. One woman felt comfortable coming out to her classmates after watching the character of Willow struggle with her sexuality. And it was these students who organised a lunchtime anti-war rally on March 5.
Discussing shows like Buffy plays a key role in engaging with people where they are at, which is a key step in opening the door to ideas such as socialism. Isolating ourselves from outside culture is a quick route to becoming cut off from the mass of people — which would be detrimental to attempting to build a mass movement.
If you cannot discuss anything other than "politics", many people become quickly turned off by radical ideas. How can one lead the masses if one cannot relate to them?
Dani Barley
Co-editor, Solidarity News
Detroit Michigan, USA
[Abridged.]
[More letters at <http://www.greenleft.org.au>.]
Civilians targetted
If reports about the shortage of potable water in the Iraqi city of Basra are true then the claim that the strategy for the avoidance of civilian casualties is successful is manifestly untrue.
The civilian deaths from disease and thirst in that city alone could be in the hundreds of thousands. Did our military planners and political leaders realise this but decided to go ahead regardless?
Col Friel
Alawa NT
Oh, what a lovely war
Nothing like senseless slaughter and misery to make you feel glad to be alive. And it'll just gets worse for the Iraqis. A right-wing US general for governor, who just happens to be an Israeli consultant and a embezzling criminal for president (unelected naturally), and who just happens to be totally Americanised and wants to give "the people's oil" to American Oil Companies.
That's democracy the George Bush-way. Poor old Tony Blair must be wondering if he's going to be completely shafted by Bush, as all his "guarantees" for Middle East peace disappear into fairyland, just as Chamberlain's were by Hitler.
The final irony is the Iraqi people will probably see aid workers as soft targets for vengeance when they finally get into assist with the mess.
Robert Wood
Murwillumbah NSW
Vindictive state
At the anti-war demo disrupting Howard's dinner at Melbourne's Camberwell Civic Centre, I parked my car across a driveway obstructing the PM's departure. The action caused a moment of brief chaos among the dozens of mounted and foot police, who parted like the seas of Galilee to find their intentions thwarted and an hour's delay to the PM's schedule while my vehicle was towed away.
I doubt that it saved many lives in Iraq but I felt some pride that it allowed the evening's efforts of several hundred protesters to end with a bang rather than a whimper.
Aside from the $275 to recover my vehicle, police imposed traffic penalties totalling $325. The smugness of the police sergeant almost suggested it was personal, but I sent off a cheque that included a $5 donation to the Police Union in recognition of the fact that (apart from the idiot minority) police behaviour on the night had been generally non-violent.
I'm not here to self-aggrandise or whinge about the fines, I knew the possible consequences and have already faced them. I just wanted to publicise the vindictiveness of the state and its readiness to abuse the mechanisms intended to facilitate an orderly society for the purpose of suppressing political dissent. This government openly defies a majority will of the people far greater than that which elected it and abuses the instruments of social order to get it's way.
Allen L Jasson
Melbourne
Left Mardi Gras
A very noticeable trend in the anti-war marches has been the very dynamic and creative use of the puppet, effigy, banner, mask etc to communicate ingenious messages. In Adelaide, we've had mock weddings, crucifixions, blood pourings, priest parades, people dressed up as giant books and so on.
Here in Adelaide every year we also have a Christmas pageant. About 50 motorised, elaborate floats with Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk etc cruise past tens of thousands of kids — a real visual festival.
Why not start to institute the same for May Day in every capital? It would be like a gay Mardi Gras, but covering all progressive causes.
The point would be: don't just march with a banner on the day, try to mould something, paper-mache something, dress up as something, satirise something and catch the attention of people and media. Use bikes, scooters etc to propel if necessary. Digitised cameras could record the creations and an archive of images could be blipped around the email networks and web pages.
The Left needs to establish an annual festival more deeply here in Australia — what better way than a Mardi Gras-type parade in every capital on May Day?
It' a good moment to start this — the recent mobilisations have just occurred, many people still have good visual stuff from then, or are thinking of it, they're in the mood, there's a burning issue, and there's still a few weeks to go!
Even if the first one is still pretty much just a march, let's try to encourage the visual and the festive elements, and plan more long-term to really give it a more solid go for next year.
Remember, the power of the visual element is profound, and leaves lasting traces — it's an extremely important way of intervening in the culture.
The US has won militarily, but lost politically across the globe, big time. It doesn't often happen to this degree. Let's ride this political/cultural wave that's emerged and make the most of it. There's still lots of popular energy out there that is seeking expression — let's give it a forum.
So gather up that outlandish idea you've had in your armchair or in the shower, haul it into the art supplies shop, hammer away on it at home or with some friends, and take it into the streets — and tell others to, too.
John Rice
Adelaide
Law
An Open Letter.
The Law is and must always be irrelevant to the behaviour of decent people. The most hideous acts and practices have been, and are often still, sanctioned by Law; and the most basic human rights and freedoms have been, and often still are, illegal.
Slavery, the payment of meagre wages to poverty stricken workers, ownership of wives and children, beating of woman and children, have all been legal. The banning of Jews, Gypsies, homosexual men, and dissenters from employment, from teaching, their incarceration, and their killing, have all been legal. The banning of interracial and same sex sexual contact, the segregation of races, the banning of indigenous Australians from city centres, discrimination against minorities of all kinds for countless spurious reasons have been and are legal in different places at different times. The meeting of more than three people in a public place has been illegal, and can still be made so. The burning of books, and the burning of people who disagree with established views, the banning of demonstrations has all been legal. Censorship still is.
In this context the concept of Human Rights against which all Law must be measured has been established. The concepts are fragile and limited and the Law is commonly used by people in power to hide behind in cowardice and in malice when in pursuit of their interests: and in its essentials, the Law is designed to be so used. The most monstrous things one can imagine are done under the cover of Law, and enforced by police and armies.
When injustice becomes Law, resistance becomes an obligation for all people of conscience.
By his policies domestic and foreign, social, economic, political and cultural, in every portfolio of his Government, John Howard in his capacity as Prime Minister has betrayed the people of Australia to American interests. In the geographical area where we must forever live, as Prime Minister, John Howard has made us a pariah state, the hated Boers of Asia, and so has betrayed Australia's long- term future.
Saddam Hussein is a monster, but America and its Australian servants are the real and immediate enemies of present and future Australians. As an Australian, I refuse to submit to the American Empire and to be silent whilst my country is betrayed to it.
The student demonstration in Sydney on Wednesday April 2nd has been declared illegal. All would-be tyrants and authoritarians ban and denigrate those opposed to them. That is the way of power.
The voice of the people is always in the end silenced unless it is heard loudest and kept alive in the throats of its students. This is a lesson of history. The defence and future of what precarious freedom we have rests with the young and their willingness to resist the power of those who would silence them.
If the adults of our country do not have the courage to reclaim Australia for those who live here, and rebuild Australia into some form of a decent caring society, then perhaps our children will. As an old man, I will stand next to those students on Wednesday, and be humbled in their presence.
Kim Walker-Beaumont
From Green Left Weekly, April 16, 2003.
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