Posts Tagged victoria
Choose your weapons
Posted by eN0ch in Faith, Letters, Politics and society, The Age on September 28th, 2009
Apparently Rob Hulls stands guilty of protecting unenlightened disrespect, hatred and religious prejudice in this state. But then again, the undercurrents of this debate reflect a far-from-helpful use of language.
A discussion in which only the most negative, emotion-charged vocabulary is permitted has little chance of being conducted with reason or equanimity, and thus still less chance of an “enlightened” outcome. Our gracious legislators, it seems, are permitting religious organisations to continue to practice “discrimination”. So – it’s intrinsically bad but we’re letting you do it anyway?
One person’s “discrimination” is another’s common sense. Every day job candidates are screened according to their capacity to support the company’s values or mission. Someone with radically socialist views on wealth distribution is unlikely to be made Telstra CEO, should they apply. Would that be “discrimination” or just sensible? An outstanding cricket coach is unlikely to coach an AFL side. A radical pacifist would be passed over for military field command. No one cries “prejudice!”
Rethink the vocabulary, and an intelligent debate may be possible.
Any water up there?
Posted by eN0ch in Letters, Politics and society, The Age on September 1st, 2009
Looking for water, eh Tim? Well I guess it’s the desal afterall. (Glad you’re back anyway.)
Ready to jump
Posted by eN0ch in Letters, Politics and society, The Age on July 30th, 2009
Jumps protesters ejected from parliament | Herald Sun
From the TV footage, the protesters looked ready to jump the barrier
None so intolerant
Posted by eN0ch in Faith, Letters, Politics and society, The Age on July 29th, 2009
Peter Costello is right (Opinion, 29/7) – not a statement I’ve commonly made. “According to these (state government) lawyers, a religious conscience leads to prejudice.” This surely is the fundamental absurdity of the entire so-called “anti-discrimination” proposition currently levelled at the religious school sector. When in the history of this nation have Christian schools proven to be training grounds for young sociopaths? Where is the practical evidence that children educated at such schools turn into intolerant adults? With no evidence on offer, we face the real possibility of legislated social change on the basis of unsubstantiated theory. Did someone mention blind ideological prejudice?
More might be said. For instance, there’s the crafted use of charged language. What was once freedom of choice – a pillar of liberal democracy – is now cast as “discrimination” if exercised by the wrong crowd. If applicants for a position are screened according to their commitment to a company’s culture and values, that’s good management. If a religious body does the same, that’s prejudice.
The inanity might be highlighted by some parallel propositions:
- Let’s call it “discrimination” when a major political party declines to endorse a candidate of contrary political persuasion.
- Let’s call it “prejudice” when the ADF refuses to grant field command to a confessing pacifist.
None so intolerant as tolerance crusaders.
Welcome to Victoria
Posted by eN0ch in Letters, Politics and society, The Age on May 28th, 2009
I hear there’s a new sign at all our state border crossings and airport terminals: “Welcome to Victoria – The Quarantine State”
Foot in mouth
Posted by eN0ch in Letters, Politics and society, The Age on February 3rd, 2007
State Labor frontbencher Tim Pallas should have resisted the
temptation to score a political point in commenting (3/2) on the
current public transport crisis. The Bracks government may be
spending “$2 billion upgrading rail infrastructure”. But the
reference to “decades of neglect of the previous Liberal Governments”
is both illogical and unfortunate. Victoria has been governed by
Labor for 14 of the past 25 years. Foot in mouth, Tim?