Greeting one and all,

I’d like to respond to a few comments if I may.

Jardine K. Jardine you stated that

"Broadcast media is not a legitimate function of government"

I agree 100%

Cobber you mentioned that:

“I seem to remember the Libs saying a few months ago that people had the right to be bigots”.

The Attorney General never said that anyone can offend on the public dime.

The fact is that if leftists want to vent their biased views let them put their money where their mouths are. Pony up the money and establish a leftist media group such as The Guardian

The crux of the matter is that ALL taxpayers are forced to fund journalists less interested in the truth when it comes up against their opinion.

Take today’s report on ABC Radio by Philip Williams reporting on the terror attacks overnight. Amazingly in the clip I heard there was no mention of word "Muslim”. Was I to infer the butchers were Jews or Baptists? Or Mormons?

You state that the ABC is “the independent media”. Independent of what? Before you say “government” it’s clear that it is independent of the current government but behaves as the communications subsidiary of the opposition.

Ttbn you claim

“The PM is too much of a coward to do anything about the ABC”.

I hope you’re wrong.

And

“I'm sick of the huff and puff of a government complaining, rightly, about the bias and anti-Australian mindset of the ABC but doing nothing about”

You and many others.

Ian D

You say

“ The day that government policies and actions cannot be held up to scrutiny is the day I want out of here”.

It’s not its role in attempting to scrutinise that upsets many. It’s that the ABC has a singular focus. It never gives the Left’s policies the same attention or criticism.

Ponder

You say

“Naturally, such a mammoth public media outlet cannot please all the audiences consistently”.

So, let's go back to the first comment, JKJ’s and query

What purpose does the ABC serve?

It’s not like there isn’t a wide array of media groups both mainstream and not; in print and electronic that news hounds and folk pushing particular views cannot latch on to.

Leo Lane, you state

“The usual leftist nonsense, on this thread, that the contemptible distorted view of the left is somehow normal, and the sensible balanced views are right wing”.

Agreed. After all if the left was the “normal”, then the Coalition would not have won the elections.

I believe a little too much hysteria has entered the fray on this topic. The person in question has obviously said and done some stupid things in the past. His comments on QandA on Monday evening, particularly his second was not well thought out and did him no favours.

Additionally it should be noted the man in question had and has been advocating for more than five years on blog and website for young Muslims to steer well clear of IS and radical Muslim fundamentalist activity, this is why I suspect the ABC thought it safe to have him put forward his opinion on the show.

As to the political hysteria following the show, well that would be par for the course and expected of the current government, particularly its “sound bite” leader Tony Abbott.

Has Abbott forgotten it was and still is Australia’s policy decisions that tend to foment hatred of the West because of our meddling in the Middle East? Primarily US hegemonic ambitions in this region, with our complicit support has not served Australia well since 2003. Our blind following of US foreign policy has been a mistake for Australia, particularly noting the current and declining state of the ME, Vis Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen etc.

Additionally our unilateral support for Israel continues to send a message to young Muslims that we fully endorse Israli actions in Gaza and the West Bank.

The U.S. Went into Afghanistan claiming it only needed to kill the 5000 odd Taliban, has now killed 10,000 and their only remains 20,000 to kill today, Unfortunately US foreign Policy is to blame and we continue to follow it at our folly.

The young man in question is but one of millions who see the hypocrisy of the west and the hatred they feel will remain so long as we blindly attempt to interfere in what they see as Muslim business.

Tony Abbott loves this kind of storm, fear makes people look to a strong leader in times of danger, which is exactly what he is taking advantage of at this time.

Just a thought.

Would the posters here classify Zaky Mallah and his comments as "left wing" or "right wing"?

Any takers?

LEGO, I have spoken to many 'average' Muslim Australians who I know would not agree with your views on lumping all Muslims in the one basket. How many have you spoken to?
I admit I haven't personally spoken to any 'radical' Muslims, but I have certainly spoken to some radical Christians, and I believe they are very similar.

If we were to adhere to your black and white way of thinking, no one would have a view on any subject at all.
I realize that your views on this subject are absolutely true to you, but I beg to differ....

Pericles, that's terribly unkind. The poor dears are flat out working which side the buttons go on their shirt most of the time and let's face it, mirrors are obviously a part of the vast left wing conspiracy to drive rightists crazy...

The last thing they need is an agent provocateur like you poking his nose in.