All Australians want legislation that is fair and results in keeping our culture, peace and identity in place. Unfortunately 18C is not that. It is alien legislation to Australia, our culture and our way of democracy.
What does makes our culture tick are easy going values that prevent us from developing bitter roots.
We are both a forgiving and giving culture. We do give people a second go at life. Look at our justice system—you do the time and you are out and back in society, there is no permanent disfigurement, limbs removed or scars from lashings.
We also look out for each other with thousands of Australians volunteering as lifeguards, CFA, Army Reserves, kids sports coaches, Foodbank, Meals on Wheels…Rotary—our caring is cultural. If you really want to see the character of an Australian then watch what happens in a community when there is a disaster.
Just last week I heard of a guy that had his own little transport business when his wife was killed in an car accident. Truck drivers came to him and took over doing his rounds for no pay. Clients stood by him until he and his family was back on their feet. There is no legislation behind these acts of human kindness…this is just the way we are, as Australians.
What 18C creates is a legitimacy to find offence and empower bitterness. It says my skin can be as thin as I choose and you need to be vigilent not to offend me otherwise I will take my retribution at law or lash out elsewhere—and it will be your fault beause I am offended. (Charlie Hebdo).
We have ample legislation that covers off on harming others. Bullying is not a quality we endorse as a culture and our legislation around this extends to verbal abuse. But not being able to discuss an ideology or single out anti Australian behaviour because it might be deemed offensive to that person or group is dangerous to the common good.
18C Legislation creates the platform for pluralism. If an immigrant is allowed to feel totally secure in their alien ways amidst our majority Australian culture then there is no social pressure to become Australian and sample or adopt our cultural norms. Instead 18C is requiring Australians to walk on cultural eggshells in their own land to accommodate behaviour that is both alien and counter our values, and ways—that is simply ridiculous for a majority culture.
The beauty of our democracy is that through free speech we are able to fully discuss and modify our culture where we see fit and at times we do. 18C however, makes it an offence to scrutinise and discuss another culture or religion. Therefore this legislation is encrouching on our democratic freedoms and cultural processes, which is also against our agreed system of government.
Let’s call 18C what it really is —a piece of UN legislation that is paving the way for universal blaspheming laws. This is a Sharia agenda to not to allow the criticism of Islam and Muhammad. It allows an alien culture to dictate how it will be treated in a foreign land. It is unAustralian and frankly creating a wall that is preventing assimilation into our culture. I am tired of watching our media dance around the Islam issue. I am tired of people like Lisa Chesters in today’s Bendigo Advertiser insinuating that those that don’t support 18C are “racists” and “bigots”.
Quite simply, if you support 18C you are part of a UN-Sharia agenda and not Australian or supportive of our democractic process. Democracy requires freedom of speech. Even our Christian heritage advocates “turning the other cheek” and frankly developing a little bit of thick skin —it is what makes our great culture so easy going.
18C is alien legislation that will stop others integrating and becoming “Australian” and will lessen our strong democracy. It is unfit to be included in our laws and needs to repealed immediately. Please support every effort to do so by contacting Senator McKenzie with your views. (LINK)
Here is a link to the Bendigo Advertiser article regarding Senator McKenzie and 18C.
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ACT 1975 - SECT 18C
Offensive behaviour because of race, colour or national or ethnic origin
(1) It is unlawful for a person to do an act, otherwise than in private, if:
(a) the act is reasonably likely, in all the circumstances, to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate another person or a group of people; and
(b) the act is done because of the race, colour or national or ethnic origin of the other person or of some or all of the people in the group.
Note: Subsection (1) makes certain acts unlawful. Section 46P of the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 allows people to make complaints to the Australian Human Rights Commission about unlawful acts. However, an unlawful act is not necessarily a criminal offence. Section 26 says that this Act does not make it an offence to do an act that is unlawful because of this Part, unless Part IV expressly says that the act is an offence.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), an act is taken not to be done in private if it:
(a) causes words, sounds, images or writing to be communicated to the public; or
(b) is done in a public place; or
(c) is done in the sight or hearing of people who are in a public place.
3) In this section:
“public place” includes any place to which the public have access as of right or by invitation, whether express or implied and whether or not a charge is made for admission to the place.
Please note that the UN has made religions like ISLAM a race.
