Am I mistaken?....On this morning`s ABC On-Line News, the featured (attention grabbing) headline read: "Budget Benefits tipped for Working Mums" accompanied by a file photograph of two Moslem ladies and a Moslem man sitting at a table!

Attention grabbing?... certainly!,... I profess to be racially neutral but immediately felt that this presentation of headline by the ABC was both inflammatory and racist to all Australians especially coming the day after Anzac Day!

I heard last night on the news that the company "Dairy Farmers" is up for grabs by the Japanese! This must surely have impressed a lot of Diggers and their families, who were on the very same day mourning their individual loss, some of whom were due to war with Japan, and some as a result of the ongoing action in Afghanistan and Iraq!

Is there absolutely no sensativity at all out there in the world of news presentation?

I believe that the ABC was very irresponsible in using the "file photo" in this headline, and I am sure that there must be many photos of white caucasian families or Indigenous families available, that could have been used to headline the article!

After the many threads that have posted on this Forum over recent months regarding Racism, maybe we should be questioning whether this is further evidence of the continuing exploitation of the Australian Multi-cultural "experiment"?

They may have changed the photo Cuphandle.
But what you say is true. The media is becoming very provocative and hypocritical.
The Daily Telegraph in Sydney is becoming the nations biggest rubbish publication.
They whinge about sex offenders yet they constantly put in saucy photographs, sometimes of bare breasted women, and stories which stir up the juices of youth to think and do things they shouldnt want to do.
I think the media is one of the biggest reasons there is a fall of civilisation going on.
Thats a huge statement... but I believe its truth.
They are tearing down all that once was good!

What else can you expect from an insular ABC that suckles off the public purse?They have found empathy with another insular group who use their victim status as a wedge to gain unfair advantage.

Well, for a start they've clearly changed the photo. Here's the story: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/26/2227933.htm

Is it possible that some poor photo editor got file photos mixed up? (I can't think why they'd change photos mid-stream. Anyone else?)

But beyond that, what's wrong with having a photo of Muslim women in a story about working mums? What if they are working mums?

Dear Cuphandle,

As Vanilla said, "What's wrong with showing a photograph of working Muslim mums?"

Why do you call that racism?

As I wrote in another post - from the first prison ships of 1788, to the significant numbers of skilled and humanitarian migrants arriving by jet in the 21st century, Australia ia a land that continues to be populated by immigrants. With one in four Australians born overseas and 40% of Australians either being born overseas, or having at least one parent born overseas, Australia's status as an immigrant nation is an indisputable truth. In our big cities like Sydney and Melbourne multiculturalism in not an 'experiement' as you put it, but is now the mainstream. It is something to celebrate and something that brings profound cultural, social and economic benefits.

"I profess to be racially neutral but.."

Sounds to me a lot like the old line, "I'm not a racist, but.." And you can always be sure whenever you hear this line that it will be followed by a definite racial slur or intolerance. And likewise it wasn't hard to predict where Cuphandle was taking us.

So what if the picture showed two Muslim women. They qualify - they're mums, they work, they're Australian. What's your problem?

Cuphandle, if you were truly 'racially neutral' as you put it you wouldn't have even started this discussion.

Cuphandle come on mate fair go.
ABC is my radio too but it seems to think it is duty bound to be inclusive, ok by me how did you find it wrong?
We are not at war with Muslims are we?
I find nothing wrong with the photo no need to get the gun out.
Anzac day is very special for me but nothing to offend here.
Now separately the ABC can at times be as lost as Wil Robinson and I turn it of as much as I listen when some loony Lefty's are on and that is just the announcers but you fight shadows here.

The bigger issue is why the headline mentions "mums" when the tax cuts and childcare rebate scheme are putatively aimed at families. My own family unit has no "mum" in it, just a dad and two kids. Will I be worse off financially because of that? If so, why and if not, why specify "mums" in the story?

Cuphandle,
As soon as i read your post, I got ABC on line up and the picture then was of a man and womam sitting at a table and a young girl in the background. I saw nothing to indicate any religion but maybe the photo was changed.

I do not care who the people are, but I find it strange that the ABC could not find a picture that was abviously a working mum. There was nothing in the picture that indicated the woman was a working mum.

My God :-))

'which stir up the juices of youth to think and do things they shouldnt want to do'

What things? I'm intrigued!

'I am sure that there must be many photos of white caucasian families or Indigenous families available'

Huh?

When did Muslims become a race?

The ABC has been into social engineering for decades.When was the last time they viewed some positive father figures? They are more likely to portray all males as gay or twits. By most peoples definition I am a racist and sexist. For that matter Jesus was also by most peoples definition. The sad part is that the accusers are totally blinded to their own bigoted opinions. Every Easter and Christmas you can count on the usual attacks on Christianity with rehashed feminist theologians coming up with some 'new' discovery that is suppose to discredit Christ. The minority friendly ABC is always happy to portray the two mums or Islam in a positive light while demonizing what is healthy and good.

Dear runner,

I have to ask, how does portraying 'two mums or Islam in a positive light,' demonize what is healthy and good?

Please explain.

[This and subsequent posts which refer to it have been deleted. They are completely off-topic and the argument and its continuation cheapen the site. Editor]

Vanilla:

It appears to me that this thread has touched on a sensative area!

The point I was trying to make (and obviously failed miserably in your eyes)....was that if we have to have a photo of a "family" or "mums" should it not be representational of the majority of families that inhabit this country,.....namely white Caucasian or Indigenous persons,....not recent comers who seem to have to be pandered to!

If my belief in this subject is "racist" I am then a "racist" person!

I notice that another issue in the same Thread, was the pending takeover of "Dairy Farmers" by the Japanese which did NOT even rate a single comment by any of the contributors!

Maybe ethnicity is more important an issue than the total loss of everything "AUSTRALIAN"?

If this upsets you then... "frankly muh dear,....I don`t give a damn!"

Cuphandle,

I don't like the idea of censoring certain images or finding bland, "acceptable" photos (which is what you're suggesting), simply because some people are scared of Muslims or thinks they're all recent arrivals or thinks recent arrivals get secret, special government handouts (one or all of which appears to be your position). You're right — this is an issue I care about. I object to incursions on the media's right to free speech, especially if it's to make it blander so some people don't get offended. And I don't accept you as an arbiter of what constitutes Australia and Australians.

You know, we only have your word for the fact that this story originally had a picture of a Muslim family attached to it. Until I see proof otherwise, I'm afraid I don't believe you. I think you looked at that photo and thought they *looked* a but mussie. Of course, I realise you don't care what I think, but I just thought I'd be frank.

After all that hoo-haa, we still have had NO comment about the pending Dairy Farmers takeover by the Japanese?

I wonder if there are really any people out there who do give a toss about the accelerating demise of everything Australian,...or maybe it is just too late, as it seems that the country has already drowned under the weight of Multiculturalism, consequently most would prefer that we say nothing about it ?

I wonder just how long Anzac Day will survive?

Ho-Hum!

PS: IF that is "racist" then again I must be a "racist"!