Howard's Legacy, Australian Flag Causes 'Tension' : Melbourne Indymedia

Iemma attacks Big Day Out flag 'ban'

NSW South Wales Premier Morris Iemma has branded as outrageous a reported ban on the display of the Australian flag at Thursday's Big Day Out rock concert in Sydney.

[Despite the Cronulla race riots.]

The concert's organisers say they are not banning or intending disrespect to the flag, but are discouraging its use at the Big Day Out because of recent incidents where the flag has been part of tensions.

They say the event is primarily a music festival, rather than marking Australia Day on Friday.

Mr Iemma says the stance should be withdrawn immediately.

He says it is up to the organisers' own security arrangements and police to deal with anyone using the flag to start trouble.

[So instead of trying to prevent crime they would rather deal with crime?]

Iemma: "They deal with the security and the police will deal with any problem-makers and anyone who's going to go along to the event to break the law, and the law will be enforced," he said.

[Where are they going to deal with them? Prison? Isn't it better to prevent them making a deal of it?]

Iemma: "It's not for the organisers to treat our flag with such disrespect. It's an outrageous position and it needs to be withdrawn, withdrawn immediately."

[Why is it an outrageous position? The organisers did not treat your flag with disrespect. The religeous neo-nationalists right wing islamofascists fanatics - including John Howard and his fundamentalism - treated your flag with such disrespect.]

State Opposition leader Peter Debnam says it is political correctness in the extreme.

"The message to the organisers has got to be straightforward: Embrace the Australian flag or move your event off State Government property," he said.

[I take it that we do more good things than bad things Peter?

In other developments:

John HoWARd, Fun-da-mentalist, Playing with Fire

John HoWARd, Fun-da-mentalist, Playing with Fire

“I like your Christ, [but] I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

“Those who say religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion is.”

– Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948)

http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2007/01/137111_comment.php#137118

Lib/Lab

Just close your eyes, you didn't see nothing did you? But make sure you put on a jolly good show old beans otherwise the coffee won't be perked and you'll never get away with it.

http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2007/01/137126_comment.php#137134

Related:

Cronulla race riot

The lifesavers asked for it!
The Mainscream Media asked for it!
The Police asked for it!
Then the community decided it was ok to be racist!

More: http://adelaide.indymedia.org/newswire/display_any/9715

Race Riot Nationalists spread to third Sydney suburb

The latest violence comes after a racially motivated pro-government right wing Nationalist media taking John HoWARd's lead, ended up in a riot at Cronulla Beach which saw several people of Middle Eastern appearance attacked. Shame HoWARd....Shame on you!

More: http://adelaide.indymedia.org/newswire/display/9717/index.php

Thugs ruled the streets, and the mob sang Waltzing Matilda

Sometimes when a victim was cornered, the mob started singing Waltzing Matilda. Advance Australia Fair was similarly employed against obstructing police, and the usually good-natured "Aussie Aussie Aussie" chant in the mouths of the Cronulla crew assumed a menacing tone.

More: http://adelaide.indymedia.org/newswire/display/9719/index.php

International Human Rights Day

One of the events for International Human Rights Day in Melbourne was a rally outside the State Library attended by about 100 people on Saturday December 10. Issues canvassed by speakers included opposition to mandatory detention of asylum seekers, treatment of indigenous Australians, opposition to the "anti-terror" laws, and scapegoating of the muslim community.

More: http://adelaide.indymedia.org/newswire/display/9714/index.php

Australia: More race hate from the political and mass media establishment

Big media switches over to super race hate campaigns again no doubt to cover up for John Howard, while he gets a buzz in Broome WA on holidays? Or is this what we're going to get until their big media and political establishment can once again shrug off their responsibilities and complicity in their wide spread lies and hate at home and their killing in Iraq, which includes torture, and rendition. Once again this is about what someone is alleged to have said, all ears open. But what about corruption who's going to deal with that? Hey Howard? What about you Dud? No not big media! If it's left up to big media all we're going to get is islamophobia because it suits them, is divisive and is a great way to cover-up for their lack of responsibility. Thanks!

http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=42903

Islamophobic Australians attack peaceful Aussie mufti

January 15, 2007 - Aussie mufti Sheik Taj al-Din Hilali's recent comments during an Egyptian TV interview have triggered more Islamaphobic outrage in Australia, with a number of politicians, including Federal Immigration Minister Senator Amanda Vanstone, laughing him off as an "irrelevance" or demanding he "stay in his native Egypt if did not like Australia."

http://adelaide.indymedia.org/newswire/display_any/57907

Sheik's comments spur calls to Immigration Dept?

Now it's alleged that the Sheik Taj el-Din Al Hilali comments spurred calls to the Immigration Department? What was the point of the pr exercise if people weren't going to call her? Why does she distance herself from her government and political media establishment's xenophobic pr campaigns?

http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2007/01/136146.php