BJ,

'I am not afraid of feminists, gays, lesbians, transgender, bisexuals, Aboriginals, Muslims, Jews, refugees and other minorities.'

But it is exactly these groups that have eroded our freedoms. It is now actually illegal to hurt the feelings of these designated 'special' groups.

'We have laws against terrorism. Terrorists aren't superhuman, surely we can deal with terrorists of any stripe without losing our basic freedoms.'

Well, no. Refer to my previous post to Yoyo about people who are determined to see the world how they would like it to be rather than how it actually is.

Hi Dane,

I guess that is where we differ again, I don't want to hurt or insult feminists, gays, lesbians, transgender, bisexual, Muslims, Jews, Aboriginals etc. I would happily be friends with anyone from these groups. If I was to say anything negative to anyone from these groups it would be regarding themselves as individuals not as part of any particular group - so I am still be able to tell a jerk that they are a jerk, just not a (racial/sexual orientation slur)jerk. I have all the freedom I want or need as far as that goes.

How do these groups oppress me or limit my freedoms? How does gay marriage affect my marriage? If gay people want to settle down and have a family, that is great. Feminism has made my life better - I much prefer being in a marriage where marital r@pe is illegal - my mother and women of her generation did not have that basic protection - would the laws have changed without feminists?

But guess which group is not a hypothetical but a real and present danger to our privacy and freedoms? It isn't the Muslims or the feminists etc, it is our own government.

I am interested to see how Mr Brandis (and possibly Mr Morrison) use their new found powers of surveillance and censorship on groups they seem to see as "the enemy" their government certainly don't seem to have an issue slashing funding on scientists, pensioners, the disabled, students, the sick, refugees, environmentalists, Indigenous people, the unemployed,and other marginalized groups. These groups aren't likely to vote for them, so they can be targeted as "leaners". So much for "team Australia".

Do you think the government won't censor the media to protect those in powerful positions or to save them from "embarrassment"? Think it can't happen? Oh that's right it already did - we just don't know about it because the news has already started to be censored in this country.

An article of more importance than the silly waffle about burkas and security we've been subjected to. This is what should have generated debate and discussion for days. What a derail the burka issue was.

To all of you who think it is Okay that we have these laws, just remember the ALP was pretty Okay with them too and got them all passed. And they will get back in government again. Now you may think you've got the mob in power who are on 'your side', but it will not always be so. One day the others will be in government...

Then you guys will be the dissidents. The ABC, the only moderately independent broadcaster will be no more, the Murdoch papers will have folded, there will be nobody who will care about you as you languish in some gulag in Australia as trouble makers fomenting unrest. And the rest of us left wing freedom loving people can have our utopia!

Hey! I can see the silver lining! No wonder the ALP was keen to pass these laws.