Dear stevenlmeyer,

Actually one thing Antony Lowenstein is, particularly in the Australian context, and that is a significant Jewish voice. I would venture for many Australians who take any interest in the issue he would stand as one of if not the most prominent and recognisable Jewish figures in our country. Would you care to name another?

You might want to get chauvinistic about it and say within the Australian Jewish community he doesn't rate as highly and that is fine but I'm choosing in include the whole country if that is okay.

As to the matter of cartoonists the pressure not to publish can be brought to bear in many different ways.

Michael Leunig relates; “As far as I remember, I have not done a cartoon about Israel for about a year, unless you count the ones about Iraq. Cartoonists are very reluctant to go near this prickly subject because there can be a large personal cost. One New Zealand cartoonist recently lost his job over such a cartoon, which I think is a terrible shame.”
http://www.leunig.com.au/journal/journal_one.php

Mike Evans was that cartoonist. He was awarded NZ top cartoonist twice and his cartoons were very telling, especially those that got him sacked. This one I found the most powerful.
http://cosmos.ucc.ie/cs1064/jabowen/IPSC/maps/malcolmEvans10.gif

The rest can be found here.
http://cosmos.ucc.ie/cs1064/jabowen/IPSC/php/map.php?mid=101

As an ordinary Australian I'm hard pressed to find a sack-able offence among them. Can you?

Many may well remember the cartoon of Leunig's that was rejected for publication by the Age newspaper.
http://tinyurl.com/8oq647q

May I echo your sentiment “Would that Australian editors were that bold”

Cont...

Cont...

I suspect that circumstance is the primary difference between methodologies of Jewish and Muslim extremists when addressing things they find offensive. The 'Jewish Lobby' to which Lowenstein refers has a powerful influence both within our media and our halls of power. The need to protest in our streets has been made largely redundant by the exercise of that power.

It is a similar paradigm to what occurred in Israel/Palestine where the Jewish leadership was able to forego terrorist acts when they gained enough military might to prosecute its objectives through more 'normal' and accepted (but no less devestating) means. Indeed the same paradigm continues with its conflict with Hamas. Home made rockets compete with Howitser shell and missiles fired from Apache helicopters. Does anyone really think Hamas wouldn't give up firing their rockets in a flash if given access to similar weaponry to target the Israeli leadership?

Not I.

Dear CHERFUL,

That was the same narrative I accepted for nearly 3/4s of my life so I can't be too harsh. Perhaps with more reading you might see things in a different light, who knows.

A question for you though. Did the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians start before Israel was attacked or after?

Interesting that the same right-wing Dutch newspaper that published the troublesome Mohammed cartoons had earlier refused to post a cartoon of a crucified Christ with a suggested erection because "it may be offensive to some people".

For all those looking for political, legal or military answers to the problem of radical Islam as a supposed solution - such will never work. The answer lies within their own religion - they follow an Arabian war lord in his passion, attitudes, teachings and activity.

Their claim even at the riot was they respected Jesus. This claim is a distortion of the fact, as Jesus teachings, attitudes and actions in no way was respected by them.

When Jesus was reviled he did not respond, even in self defence. To break the nexus of their attitudes the only way is for them to deal with what they claim they do respect and it was certainly not the chatacter of God as Jesus expressed. Forgivness and love for every man, even passionatly caring for the well beiing of ones enemy is the attitude Jesus lived. This attitude is the only possible breaking of political and personlal hostility held by these tribal radicals.

Examine the heart of the matter, even how we perceive what has to happen. All those throwing political and military verbal bombs at the situation will never move from behind their bunkers.

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/victimology-airbrushes-oppression-against-own-20120919-266wc.html
It is apparent from the posting of the same links over and again in this thread some come only to post.
Not to read the posts of others.
And in not looking at other links, within reason, we do not get the full picture.
Of how the country is feeling.
Credit when it is due,csteele took the time to , in my opinion, unmask a true extremist, I had suspected such, been victim of that person, but only csteele took the work on.
I however know,and we all should, ordinary mums and dads, Liberals voters, Labor, greens, too share the concerns, radical if you wish, about a growing hatred of us, from within the Muslim community.
And Highlighted by the Lebanese section.

I am not withdrawing my praise csteele however once calling me that would have shaken you.
It remains an insult to my parents distance not age prevents the shaking.
You how ever have conned some, not me, you are an apologist for all things middle east.
On record here defending them and proven lies.
I doubt you are a balanced person and doubt too you are ever offended by their actions even beheading.
Jay of Melbourne has contributed some rubbish and insults, but is not unlike you a radical in sheep,s clothing.
I agree with yabby, HATE ME FOR IT! but in some things womens mother instincts overrule common sense.
Hasbeens son being bashed is an every day some times every hour event.
We do no favors to us- or the trouble makers by ignoreing extremes.
If answers come it will be after open and honest two sided talking about the reality of this issue.
May you find a middle path extreme ones lead no place.