The Courier Mail, 19th September 1998
By Lawrie Kavanagh
Clear guidelines apply when you wish to discuss subjects which have excied the loathing of those trendy Lefties who occupy the high moral ground on everything of consequence in this politically correct society.
Top of the list is to make it plain from the outset that while you do not disagree with their outraged "morals" you would like to raise a few contrary points that you hope will not reflect badly on you in the areas of racism, sexism and any other "ism" or "phobia" held sacred by the loonies.
But just this once I will dispense with such niceties and say that it is difficult to recall a time when the holy protectors of Australia's high moral ground made such a mountain out of a molehill as now with their rantings regarding the alleged racism of Pauline Hanson's supporters.
Quite the contrary. If racism charges can be levelled at anyone in this debate, they surely can be directed at those extreme demonstrators who have deliberately harassed, taunted and defiled average Australians in their honest democratic endeavours to attend whatever political rally they damn-well please.
Might I remind such foul-mouthed, lamebrain demonstrators that many of those plain, ordinary Australians being wrongly accused of racism are the ones who not only fought and suffered to keep this country free of twits like you but have also paid a lifetime of taxes to help with your education, as wasted as it sometimes is, and in some cases to allow you to bludge on the system. But that's the downside of democracy.
One of the racist claims levelled against Hanson has been her talk of Australia becoming "Asianised". In fact our Development and Trade Minister, Jim Elder, tabled such a document in state Parliament this week in reply to a One Nation member complaining that he was fed up with the racist tag.
I've got a confession to make, Jim, old son. I don't want to see Australia become "Asianised" either - or "Russionised" or "Yankified". Most dinkum Aussies would agree, the same way a billon plus Chinese don't want to see their country "Aussified" or "Anglicised"... or "Asianised" for that matter, if you get the drift. The same way any country in the world wants to retain its identity.
It's called national pride and if so-called Australians haven't got it, then they should get the hell out of the place. Take your hang-ups and your demonstrations to some other part of your favoured world where they'll be appreciated. As a destination guide, try watching SBS nightly news as it takes viewers around the planet's fair dinkum hot spots of mainly racist-inspired riots, wars and suppression... Cambodia, Serbia, Afghanistan, Algeria, Albania and, yes, Ireland, the land of my ancestors.
Why not take your demonstrations to Asia and see democracy at work first hand. Yes! Take them to Asia where they're sure to be appreciated. You'll get your deserts there, for sure.
Believe me, Hanson's anti-racist opponents aren't getting anywhere near their desired target with their ranting public protests. Quite the opposite. Such un-Australian demonstrations as seen in this campaign have many older Australians reflecting that while this right-wing Hanson party has few solutions to whatever problems plague us, could it be any worse than the left-wing minorities at present in control of the Senate?
The answer is a definite no. In fact, it might do this nation a big favour to give its powerful political minority a swift kick up the jumper just this once. Let's see how the lofty loony Left cops seeing the best intentions of the majority's representatives in the Lower House at the mercy of right-wing whims for a change.
Let's see how the loony Left handles a right-wing Senate should Labor get in... the way the Prime Minister John Howard has had to deal with the opposite situation for the last two and a half years.
Such a frightening prospect no doubt sends visions of national disintegration through the born-to-rule classes of both parties. But cripes! Look at the stupid blunders both have made in the past and are making now.
Does it ever occur to you that since many election policies are so dramatically opposed - poles apart mostly - then at least one side, and quite possible both, must be terribly wrong despite all the whizzbang technology and alleged brainpower available to both the Coalition and Labor?
Look at the ruling classes on a world scale. How can the international boffins get it so wrong that this world appears to be on the verge of a depression that some say will equal the '30s? After all, we've moved on from the brilliance of the space age. This is the cyber age. Yet they're still getting it wrong. They can't be too bright eh? Well, bright academically maybe - but definitely not bright practically.
But getting back to our near-neighbours' perception of Australia's racism, Jim Elder, who is just back from an Asian junket, did what a lot of critics are doing in trying to deal with Hansonism: put the cart before the horse.
He told State Parliament this week that it doesn't matter if One Nation was racist, Asian businessmen believed it was and it was up to One Nation to "get out there and ensure that the perception out there is corrected".
Wrong, Jim. What you should have done in Asia and still be doing today back home is attack the outright lying, racist politicians, journalists and commentators both here and particularly in Asia who gleefully promote the perception of racism in Australia. That is the lie damaging Australian business, not this rag-tag party that is winning wide support thanks to the challenges it offers and the fear it inspires in the self-promoted born-to-rule classes.
We have our fair share of racists, in direct proportion to other nations, no doubt, and no one can change that. But they are under control to such an extent that Australians can hold their heads up today as one of the most tolerant people on earth.
If you have any doubts then tune into SBS nightly news as it brings our ethnic Aussie brothers and sisters their latest bloodshed from their former homelands. And yes, from the home of my ancestors, Ireland, too.