Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Howard's legacy, Julia's new spin

By Bruce Haigh - posted Wednesday, 7 July 2010


There is nothing underhand or furtive in relation to issues of race and racism in South Africa. There are no codes or Masonic signals surrounding and defining racism as there is in Australia.

Howard used racism for political ends while denying its existence. It was nudge and wink racism in public, encouraged more blatantly behind closed doors. It went hand in glove with the secrecy that Howard fostered in response to the fear he sought to engender and use in response to what he termed international terrorism.

Sneaky, subterranean racism rises to the surface in sulphurous, surprising bursts. Recent vitriolic musings in club surrounds from AFL and NRL luminaries give a glimpse into what some select sub-groups consider acceptable, if not normal in their social discourse.

Advertisement

It is an offshoot of the flag draped racism of Howard, where the language and symbolism of his peculiar brand of jingoistic nationalism was deployed to devastating effect against refugees and Muslims.

Mal Brough under Howard instituted a major attack on the rights and self respect of Aborigines for the same political purpose as Children Overboard. No respect, no dialogue, separate development, a Bantu Board solution in Australia.

This is Howard’s legacy; this is what he is reaping. Did he really believe it would go unnoticed?

Tragically for us the framework of his legacy was embraced by Rudd and now Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Chasing seats in the Western Suburbs of Sydney, Gillard has decided to pull the race card and lay refugees low.

Refugees arriving by boat have been woven into a modern day Australian narrative by risk averse manipulators within both major parties as, selfish, calculating, usurpers of the life-style and rights of “ordinary working Australians”.

Advertisement

Many in the media and putative victims have accepted the narrative. It has been too easy and rewarding for the major political parties to embrace, for political advantage, the short term appeal of Howard’s, “we will decide who comes here” without factoring in the long term damage to the social fabric and moral fibre of the country. Howard’s and now Gillard’s policy is the political and social asbestos that Australia will have to deal with in the future. It is toxic.

Boat people are the political and social scapegoats for all that is wrong with, and lacking, in badly planned, rapidly deteriorating and dysfunctional urban Australia. Lack of money and opportunity is what the marginal seats are saying, but it is all together too easy to avoid these big issues by hiding behind the smokescreen of a sea borne invasion of undeserving queue jumpers.

Gillard, like Rudd, takes us for fools. She seeks to spin.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. Page 2
  4. 3
  5. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

32 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Bruce Haigh is a political commentator and retired diplomat who served in Pakistan and Afghanistan in 1972-73 and 1986-88, and in South Africa from 1976-1979

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Bruce Haigh

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Photo of Bruce Haigh
Article Tools
Comment 32 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy