The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
The Forum - On Line Opinion's article discussion area



Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Main Articles General

Sign In      Register

The Forum > Article Comments > Lessons from Hansonism > Comments

Lessons from Hansonism : Comments

By Brian Holden, published 12/2/2008

What can the Pauline Hanson experience teach us? How did she become a household name?

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. ...
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. All
Dozens of studies on Hanson and Hansonism have been published. One of the reasons they rarely got public airing is that denigrating the 'elites' who wrote the studies was a big part of Hansonism, and of Howardism as well.

Hopefully we've moved on from the kind of politics that relies on sinking the boot into minorities, elite or otherwise.
Posted by chainsmoker, Tuesday, 12 February 2008 9:22:32 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
“Feeling threatened by strangers is rooted in our survival instincts.”

Many Australians seem to deny this instinct, thinking that to acknowledge that they are human means that they are ‘racist’. It is this denial of human instinct and adherence to the artificial concept of political correctness that will eventually see Australia and all Western countries go under.

While there will be people who would talk about ‘change’ and the fact that we no longer mark out or scent our territory, human instinct cannot be changed. Only the way we go about protecting ourselves from ‘strangers’ has changed.

Prediciton in the media today - white people will be in the minority in America by 2050.

David Holden’s “change of consciousness” cannot overcome basic instincts. Brainwashing and weakness of character can suppress natural instinct; and the weak of character, in order to protect their new ‘beliefs’, then become very hostile towards those who are able to resist.
Posted by Leigh, Tuesday, 12 February 2008 10:12:11 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
"Prediction in the media today - White people will be in the minority in America by 2050".

Lets see! 20% of the world population is white, and as the indigenous people of America are not white. That sounds a fair balance.!
Posted by Kipp, Tuesday, 12 February 2008 10:59:50 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
The obvious lesson from Hansonism is that a significant proportion of the Australian electorate is both stupid and racist. Fortunately, they remain a minority, albeit a noisy and hateful one.

Brian Holden: "Xenophobia is the natural state to be in and a change in consciousness is required to step out of it"

Quite so. I think that "change in consciousness" is known as 'civilisation', and it is usually achieved in individuals via the process of socialisation, including education. It is evident that those unfortunate Australians who supported Hansonism had limited exposure to those civilising processes.
Posted by CJ Morgan, Tuesday, 12 February 2008 11:10:45 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Xenophobia the natural state to be in? What garbage! The implication is that most people are racist like Pauline Hanson. It also assumes that the concept of race - an artifical construction - is somehow part of human nature (whatever that is).

Hanson only won Oxley in 1996 because she was still listed as the Liberal candidate on ballot papers after she was disendorsed at the last minute. In 1998 she lost her seat after redistribution. Since then she has been unable to win a seat even in the Senate where winning is easier than in the House of Representatives. Moreover, she was never able to shift the ALP's core constituency - she did more damage to the Liberals and the Nationals by splitting the conservative vote (Richard Court pointed this out when he lost the WA premiership in 2001).

In the end she turned out to be another opportunistic hack with a minority following and less successful than those perennial losers the National Party.

Maybe the lesson is that if you want to do time in the big house then aspiring politicians should follow her lead.
Posted by DavidJS, Tuesday, 12 February 2008 12:15:19 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
The obvious lesson from Hansonism is that a significant proportion of the Australian electorate is intolerant and racist. This was shown by the leftist media who actually hate free speech and are often intolerant of truth. Many of the professional protesters would not even allow another point of view other than their own to be presented. We saw a lady who was not well educated with some good and bad things to say. The 'champions' of free speech would not even allow people to go along and listen. The leftist intolerance was probably the greatest thing learned by Pauline Hanson who had more in common with them than they realised.
Posted by runner, Tuesday, 12 February 2008 12:58:17 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
There is a lot of truth in your article but it is not the whole or "nothing but." I have a mind formed by experience, not academia,
The media stories amused me. The friends that said they thought she was right about some things, worried me.Racism embarrasses me, in that I feel obliged to speak up against it in conversation.But aware of the rancorous arguements that can follow, I prefer to try some humorous comment that defusers the opinios expressed.Among men the accusations sometimes of a sexual nature help.And a joking comment can cause hilarity that demeans the person talked about and their published opinions successfully and belittles their arguement.Sure enough she was proven to be a light- weight against the innate goodness of most Australians and her recent ripping off, of the coffers of the electoral allowance gives her some compo. for her stupid jailing.Meanwhile she is now a part of our history of jokes!
Posted by TINMAN, Tuesday, 12 February 2008 1:19:10 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
While I never agreed with most of her policies (or rambling thoughts) the perilous Pauline was the greatest thing that happened to Australian politics for a long time. She made the fence-sitters sit up and think, and she showed how little some people valued the right to free speech - for many, free speech was fine provided it did not contradict their own opinions.

Never was there a politician less like a politician, and I believe that is why so many of us - jaded by conformist hacks on both sides - were so impressed by her. She was the Grandma Moses of politics. I always voted for her at every opportunity just to show my disapproval of, and disdain for, establishment pollies.
Posted by Reynard, Tuesday, 12 February 2008 2:46:13 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
The most significant thing about Pauline Hanson was she proved the Australian system of politics works.

We would be far poorer a nation and far worse served if the Pauline Hanson’s of the world were prevented from growing to their full potential (even if they burst shortly after).

I am not a Hanson supporter, I always thought she was a bit too thick to endure.

But better Hanson and Greens and Democrats be with us and able to express their passions than we were the rubber stamp electorate of some form of (socialist) despotism.

I was saddened when I read Screaming Lord Sutch passed away in England. Although he never achieved the political representation of our Pauline, he and his “monster raving looney party” was a constant reminder of how politicians are the servants of their electorate (in Sutch’s case the court jester) and not a bunch of pious quasi-potentates full of gravitas and faux-compassion.
Posted by Col Rouge, Tuesday, 12 February 2008 3:06:30 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
There is nothing quite like a Pauline Hanson to bring out the true racists and hate in a society like ours.

She says "All Australians should be treated equally"

and the racist haters spew forth their bile "YOUR A RACISSSST"

This is like Michael Moore saying:

"Yes...there have been large numbers of awful terrorist attacks...
and
Yes..there will continue to be huge terrorist attacks...
BUT..
There is NO large terrorist threat out there"

At which point I make the sound of a bloke flicking his lips while making a continuous sound.. you know.. bedeber-bedeber-de..what ever it it..

How sooo many people can on the one hand describe themselves as

-civilized
-intelligent
-far sighted
-compassionate
-tolerant

yet in the next breath be like either Michael Mooron.. or the critics of Pauline Hansons clear statements of "Equality" and come up with 'racism'....woooooeeeee!

Well.. it goes without saying, (but I wanna sayit anyway) that it makes you look like a pack of first class blind freddy type drongo's.

The lessons of Hanson?

-Don't EVER be frightened of morons who call you a racist when ur not.
-Learn to speak better in public.
-Use Alternative means of getting your message across.. (than the mainstream media)
-Don't allow them to edit out all sense from your speeches.
-Have a strong and robust security team who will deal mercilessly with the ratbag 'ur a racist' crowd if they get out of control at rallies.
-Hold 'anti racist' rallies at the headquarters of the groups who regularly call her a racist.
-Name and Shame key figures who are in the category of the last point.
-If they call you a racist.. call them 'immoral racist deviant traitors'
-When they say you're just in it for the money, make a pre-committment that all funds in excess of costs will goto an indigenous charity.

and so on. "Attack is the best form of defense"

Gooooo Pauline...
Posted by BOAZ_David, Tuesday, 12 February 2008 3:18:55 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
TINMAN

I would not say that Hanson "ripped off" her electoral allowance. She got about $200,000 each for the 2004 and 2007 failed attempts. As many including herself felt that she would win, a windfall of dollars was probably not on her mind.

Hanson would have worked hard between 2004 and 2007 building up her new party. Is $200,000 too big a compensation?

What of the Democrats? Unlike Hanson, their wipeout in 2007 was a forgone conclusion and yet they still contested seats. Did they "walk off" with $2 for every primary vote they got?
Posted by healthwatcher, Tuesday, 12 February 2008 3:29:58 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
If I recall Miss Hanson said that aboriginal issues 'always come back to money'. How refreshing that is about to be proved wrong.
Posted by Taswegian, Tuesday, 12 February 2008 3:46:02 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
POINT TAKEN,I only meant that if I was jailed for something like speaking my mind rightly or wrongly I'd go for the money!
Posted by TINMAN, Tuesday, 12 February 2008 5:56:41 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
To respond to some of the statements made:

Racism was probably a survival mechanism when we were still tribal and territorial but now that we have become more civilised the best defence from our enemies is to make them our friends or at least to 'do no harm'. Ensuring that international economic and foreign policy is fair and equitable is one way.

Racism is usually based on fear of the unknown or fear of differences which might be perceived as a threat to a way of life of set of values.

It is disenfranchisement and policies that unfairly discriminate that breed terrorism. Historically, think the British Empire and Ireland, the uprisings in India and China and terrorism in Latin America in response to dictatorial regimes. Terrorism has always been with us but after the immensity of 9/11 became much more part of our psyche.

Religion just fuels the debate, it becomes the Cause in some cases but is not the root cause but it serves as a great 'recruiter'.

While we live in a democracy we have to be prepared to hear things we might not agree with but at the same time be thankful we live in a country where this freedom is permitted.
Posted by pelican, Tuesday, 12 February 2008 6:28:54 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
The equation of racism with xenophobia is a false one. Xenophobia is fear of the foreigner - the outsider. The Bush administration in the United States is tremendously xenophobic ignoring or opposing the International Criminal Court, the Law of the Sea and other instruments of international cooperation which previous US administrations have built up. Yet it is one of the least racist of administrations. A black woman followed a black man as Secretary of State. An Orthodox Jew followed a Hispanic as Attorney-General.

When Hanson was first elected from Ipswich she announced that she was going to represent white people. Since she was elected to represent all in her constituency that was clearly racist. It was also xenophobia since her statement put non-white people as outsiders.

Racism is xenophobic, but xenophobia does not necessarily include racism.
Posted by david f, Tuesday, 12 February 2008 7:35:34 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
I think Hanson's movement had the seeds of fascism in it. It was a dual organisation. It had a large middle class membership and support from a section of the working class - the less unionised, the less educated and those unemployed or more likely to be unemployed, especially in and around rural towns.

Hanson expressed their fear and anger and attacked the other - refugees, aborigines, whoever was not part of Hansonism's societal groupings. The concentric rings of support and the use of racism to meld its supporters seems to echo the Nazis in their early days.
Posted by Passy, Tuesday, 12 February 2008 8:18:45 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Dear CJ Morgan,
You have right, now we know that there are racists but they are a very small minority. The truth is that Howard tried to follow Hanson's steps but very careful and of cause at the end he did not elect even as MP. Hansonism gave us the opportunity to sent a very clear message. THE RACISTS HAVE NO FUTURE IN AUSTRALIA.
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide
Posted by ASymeonakis, Tuesday, 12 February 2008 11:47:53 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
How can Hanson NOT be called a rascist when she based her whole reason for entering parliament on the notion of an "aboriginal industry" and her maiden speech was all about being "swamped by Asians"? Wasn't it exactly this sort of thing that cost her her Liberal preselection?

I also recall that she placed an order on her ex-husband not to publicly elaborate on her demeaning attitude toward the aboriginal clients of their plumbing business but some of her statements still made it into the public domain.
Her mother's casual TV reference to the Yellow Peril gave an idea about her upbringing.

He was, and still, is a nobody - a creation of the media that cashed in on her controversies on the way up and then fed off her political corpse when she was jailed. They later recycled her "celebrity status" for TV ratings but moved on when she had nothing new to offer.

At least she had the common sense to cash in financially during the last two elections.
Posted by wobbles, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 1:01:20 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Wobbles....

'swamped by Asians'... makes her either a racist or a prophetess :)

I remember in 1981 'they said' "Box Hill will be swamped with Asians within 5 yrs"

At the time it was attritubed to 'racist xenophobia/propoganda'.....

I didn't really know what the basis of it was, because I was on leave from overseas service, where I was 'swamped' with Asians who I didn't mind a bit, I just remember the comment.

But now, one can drive throught 'Little Singapore' :) ie..Box Hill.

So... not that it actually bothers me, still, I could understand some residents feeling a bit 'identity threatened'.

Of all that I've heard about Pauline.. the only thing I'd truly call racist would be a reported comment here.. "I will represent white people" if thats true..then its rather sad and indeed racist.

She also said "All Australians should be treated equally, irrespective of race"..which is definitely an ANTI racist statement.

Well.. have fun on this one :)
Posted by BOAZ_David, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 7:47:00 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Passey

You raise an interesting point. Hanson was not a facist - just some naieve person thinking that she could do something about a situation which she saw as being out of control.

If Hanson had actually succeeded in getting some form of movement going, then smarter people who were facist types would emerge to capitalise on what she had established.

Remember the 2 Davids behind Hanson? Not that they were facists but each of them knew that they could not be the face of the party.
Posted by healthwatcher, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 9:19:35 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Whether or not one agreed or disagreed with Paulines and One Nations policies is irrelevant. The question is what lessons were learnt from her time on the political scene.

The two main things that were learnt, in my view, are as follows.

1. Because of the ammount of money the Government and Opposition spend on advertising. The media will everything to discredit any emerging party, especially when there is quite a deal of support for that party, its policies and leaders.

2. The two major parties have a cosy relationship and will tolerate a few small parties, like the Greens and Demos, but if a small party begins to get too big and becomes a threat to them, like winning 10 seats in Queensland, they will collude to bring the party down. Take Abbotts 'get Pauline committee' and the Beattie Governments involvement in the trumpted up charges and jailing of Pauline.

If anyone doubts this, ask why no crown witnesses were charged with perjury after Pauline and David Ettridge were aquitted.
Posted by Banjo, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 10:18:33 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
"Swamped by immigrants" would be xenophobic - "swamped by Asians" is definitely race-specific.

As far as enclaves go, all major cities have them. They are usually temporary and tend to fade away when no longer needed. I remember inner-Sydney suburbs with English/Greek street signs years ago - now English only. Earl's Court in London was known as "kangaroo valley".

Maybe she isn't a typical racist/supremacist but she's definitely a small-minded bigot.
Posted by wobbles, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 12:34:34 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Not nearly enough people add the word 'ignorant' when they talk about racism. IMHO, Pauline was pretty damn ignorant, as well as a racist. Her comments didn't deserve the oxygen of publicity.

But the real issue was Hansonism in the media and public discourse.

Whose followers bashed an elderly person with a brick for going to hear public speech? It wasn't Pauline Hanson's followers that did that! It was self-righteous hate, whipped up in the media that inflamed the leftist rent-a-crowd to the extent that they committed an act like that.

It wasn't so much the statements by Pauline that caused our asian neighbours to feel unwanted or threatened. It was the huge beat-up the dumb words got in the media
Posted by ChrisPer, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 12:48:19 PM
Find out more about this user Visit this user's webpage Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
I'd add one more idea to this otherwise excellent article. Core to Pauline's appeal was her working class ethos- work hard get rewarded and keep striving. That some middle class wannabe journos, academics and hoi polloi felt threatened by this says more about them than it says about Pauline.

Nobody could argue with the case she presented against the capitalist class, except those same people. (By capitalist I mean those who make money out of money; not by the production of goods and services, and the exchange of same).

And you can include in that a parliament full of party hacks who never got, (figuratively or literally) their hands dirty in an honest days work.
Posted by palimpsest, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 5:56:26 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Hansonism was a devious National Socialist that appealed to the working class and blamed the scapegoats for the Nations ills. Hitler used the same ploy it can be dangerously effective if unemployment is running over 25% and inflation at 25%. Fotunately the Anti Nazi League closed its ranks and exposed this festering parasite for what it was. It beats me how the establishment released her from GAOL after being convicted. Today was sorry day and didn't make us all feel great to see a united country with leader of the opposition in bipartisan support well done Brendan Nelson although he had to appease the heartless right by raising the incest that happens not mentioning of course that it happens with caucasian folks too. That should not have been raised. I feel proud to be Australian under a Rudd led Government whee we cann all be united and love each other. It is only the Wilson Tuckey's and the Andrew Boultons that will never know what unity is.
Posted by Bronco Lane, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 9:10:16 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
CHRISPER.... excellent observation mate. (the half brick thrown by...)

I also recall during our recent state elections.. a Family First candidate was also bashed by some 'Leftist Thugs'.....at a polling station.

Perhaps another lesson from Hansonism is that.. 'the TRUE HATERS' are those who will first try the media crucifixion method and if that doesn't work.. attack the person physically. The Left is like that...and you see it in embryo form here.. where they speak about "you are full of hate" (which is how they interpret 'disagreement') and then.. you can also note that they themselves speak with 'true' hate... a thinly veiled disguise for the 'I hope some of our blokes bash them' attitude underlying that hate speech.

So... LESSON.. "The most virulent Hate speech, and Hate Actions, comes from Leftist thugs"

Perhaps a good response to that is to be 'prepared'.
Posted by BOAZ_David, Thursday, 14 February 2008 7:02:09 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
BOAZ David old fellow, as you well know THUGS can be left center or right.All you are saying is "I'm RIGHT, and all thugs come from the left.Hitler versus Stalin do you really think that?
Posted by TINMAN, Thursday, 14 February 2008 4:07:30 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Boazy Family First Supporters are thugs they were extremely violent during the passing of legislation when there was parity for the age for same sex to those of heterosexual preference. Gay Marriage the freedom of choice for a woman to have an abortion on the National Health
Posted by Bronco Lane, Thursday, 14 February 2008 8:38:47 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Agent Provocatuers always create the violence so that the Trade Unionists are blamed by the media. Hate Crime is any hate incident which constitutes a criminal offence. which is perceived by the victim, or anyone else, as being motivated by prejudice or hat. This may include people who are different:
1 RACE
2 BELIEF OR RELIGIOUS SECT
3 SEXUALITY OR GENDER
4 OR ARE VULNERABLE ADULT BY REASON OF AGE, FRAILTY OR ANY DIABILITY.
Hate crime includes domestic violence crimes against race, belief, differents sects, gay, lesbian, bisexual. transgender, disabled people, the elderly, other vulnerable adults or young people, Bullying, harassment, graffiti, physical, sexual or emotional abuse- could all be examples of hate crime. These are all the issuea that Hanson was raising by inciting hatred and Howard with Kevin Andrews was doing the same so that they could cling on to office. It fooled the Australian people all the time but fortunately the Australian people finally found out when the penny dropped over the Hicks and Haneef the Queensland Doctor case.
Posted by Bronco Lane, Thursday, 14 February 2008 10:36:09 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
I think the Jackie Kelly incident showed us that there are other ways of influencing voters than simply being a thug.

Just use fear and prejudice, and where it doesn't exist - create some.

Now I wonder where she got that idea from?
Posted by wobbles, Saturday, 16 February 2008 1:38:26 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
How can the like of Abbott, Andrews and Howard be Christians when they are out and out right wing Conservatives it is just not compatible while they were playing the racist card and carrying out Hanson prejudices and bigotry. Mr People Skills Abbott is still making one liners that puts more egg on his face each time he opens his mouth.
Posted by Bronco Lane, Sunday, 17 February 2008 11:31:19 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Abbott, Andrews and Howard are Christians. Christianity has a tradition of hatred, intolerance and violence as expressed in the Crusades, the Inquisition, witch-burning and the Holocaust. Compared to those expressions of Christianity Abbott, Andrews and Howard are mild.
Posted by david f, Monday, 18 February 2008 12:15:34 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
All Religious Demoninations have regrets on their past such unchristian evil behaviour occurred. The Pope fraternised with Hitler while Jews were being marched to the gas chambers. Not one religioun can say they have done any good for mankind. The German Ideology is far greater spreading the word of compassion than any bible or Koran.
Posted by Bronco Lane, Monday, 18 February 2008 12:24:37 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Bronco Lane “How can the like of Abbott, Andrews and Howard be Christians when they are out and out right wing Conservatives it is just not compatible while they were playing the racist card and carrying out Hanson prejudices and bigotry.”

I suspect your own bigotry is being revealed.

It is a simple matter to run off at the mouth about those who have been elected to public office when you, yourself obviously lack both the persuasive skills and election potential of a cockroach .
Now if you want to make a comment which constructively criticizes the recent Liberal government, I suggest you make it and I will happy debate it.

If you prefer to spew the moronic venom commonly associated with a retarded dingbat, feel free to continue and I will be happy to regard you with the same dispassion and contempt as you choose to use against your betters.
Posted by Col Rouge, Monday, 18 February 2008 2:00:20 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Dear Bronco,

We differ on definitions. One can define Christian behavior as that behavior exhibited by Christians. The Crusades, Inquisition and Holocaust are examples of Christian behavior since Christians did those deeds. It is a copout to call them unchristian. Evil acts are of course not limited to Christians, but it is a denial of responsibility by Christians to label an act called for by Christian authorities and carried out by Christians unchristian. It is implicitly equating Christian with good.

Jesus said, "By their deeds shall thee know them."

No religion or ideology exists solely as an abstraction. They are defined in large part by what their adherents do.
Posted by david f, Monday, 18 February 2008 3:55:50 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Don't you know, Bronco, it is not unusual for Christianity to have periods of change.

Love your Enemy - quoth the young Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, also backed by Blessed are the Meek and Blessed are those that Maughn.

Also the Roman emperor Constantine forgave the Christians their meekness giving them command of the whole universe as well as allowing them to gird their loins to take up the sword and conquer other countries, something the early Jesus objected to.

Last year we received the latest change from our former Anglican friends here in Mandurah who in trance-like postures have been receiving spiritual messages backing the American ultra-right-wing Pento-Fundies as well as fully supporting the Jews against the Arabs.

Looks like Socrates' statement about Out with the Gods and in with the Good is becoming so much commonsense.
Posted by bushbred, Monday, 18 February 2008 6:57:21 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
The author writes: "Xenophobia is the natural state to be in and a change in consciousness is required to step out of it."

I suspect what the author labels 'xenophobia' is actually the natural - and perfectly healthy - instinct of self-preservation.

You see, as much as Western elites like to pretend that ethnicity is irrelevant, the truth is that humans remain, at base, tribal creatures. And ensuring the preservation of one's own tribe, culture and nation is a universal trait among all peoples. It's only people of European stock who suppress their self-preservation instincts in favour of utopian universalism. This bizarre worldview is particularly prevalent among the elites in Australia. Of course, in a hundred years, when mass immigration has transformed Australia into a largely Asian nation, the Asian countries from whence these immigrants came will still be ethnically Asian.

As for the rise of Hansonism, it was the inevitable backlash against the undemocratic immigration policies pursued by the major parties. The same plutocratic policies which continue to serve an odd-fellow alliance of big business elites, multiculturalist social engineers and ethnic minority groups. And I predict that as an increasing number of Australians begin to feel threatened by the ethnic and cultural transformations brought about by mass immigration, public discontent and anger will once again reach boiling point.
Posted by Dresdener, Wednesday, 20 February 2008 3:15:35 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Dear Dresdener,

Xenophobia is prevalent, but the racial expression of it is not universal. In ancient Rome and in other cultures such as that of the Goths there was little or no racism. A Roman citizen could be black skinned or blond and blue eyed and be accepted as a Roman. As long as a man could handle a sword and was loyal to the Goths his ethnicity didn't matter. The emphasis on race is in modern European cultures but is not universal. In the early twentieth century black American musicians would go to France and be accepted.
Posted by david f, Wednesday, 20 February 2008 3:44:54 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. ...
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. All

About Us :: Search :: Discuss :: Feedback :: Legals :: Privacy