There are values that unite all Australians
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I’ll take most of it
Thank you for clarifying what Angus Taylor, Pauline Hanson and “that group” actually said to Denise Sivasubramaniam (Comment, 18/4). “You” are an important and welcome part of “our part” of Australia, which I cherish.
Jo Firth, Highton
Try again Taylor
While I appreciate the humour, as an Australian since 1965 I disagree with your correspondent’s findings (Letters, 17/4). I’m not talking about Strine; I have never built a barracks for a football team; I rarely eat meat pie and I don’t like tomato sauce; I think I know the meaning of ″a fair act″, and it’s not something that’s practiced often; not worrying simply means that I won’t worry about it (not that I don’t need to worry) and my feet and straps are mutually opposed.
Far from appealing to the lowest common denominator, Angus Taylor seems incapable of recognizing that people living in dictatorships can aspire to a home in democracy, that the Howard-era “Australian values” he advocates are the values of any Western democracy, and that many Australians do not actually meet the standards he espouses for immigrants. Sorry, try again.
Alison Fraser, Ascot Vale
dog whistle tactic
Since the inception of multiculturalism as policy by both the Labor and Liberal governments, the underlying principle of social cohesion has been a commitment to common values, that is, values shared by both the majority of Australian citizens, regardless of their origin, and universally by other liberal democratic countries. Parliamentary democracy, separation of powers and the rule of law were never exclusively ‘Australian values’, but following the highly successful application of the ‘us and us’ formula against refugees in the Howard era, anti-immigration elements distorted the principle of ‘sharing’. The dog whistle became a useful tool for Angus Taylor in his attempt to attract the votes of people who did not want to share Australia with anyone different than themselves, but did not appear overtly racist.
Trevor Hay, Montmorency
strong criticism
Thank you to Tony Wright (″How a headstone reveals the power of belonging″, 18/4) for a gentle but powerful critique of the current demonization of immigration, using a poignant recognition of the importance of ancestry to human health and well-being.
Kay Moulton, Surrey Hills
Trump the mirror
Psychiatrists who describe Donald Trump as exhibiting malignant narcissism, psychopathy, and other disorders, including early dementia (″Disorder″, 18/4) neatly pathologize the portrayal of Trump as rational, reasonably decent, and obvious to anyone not trapped in webs of political fraud, corruption, or delusion. How such a man can maintain the support of a significant number of US voters is puzzling. One commentator, Michael Jochim (not a doctor, but a rock drummer!) believes Trump offers a well-rounded mirror to angry victims. “If you’re a racist or a misogynist, he’s your man. If you cheat, if you lie constantly, if you make fun of disabled people, if you feel cruelty is your forte, if intelligence makes you insecure, you’ve found the man you’re looking for.” Trump has amplified and normalized such bitter resentments, and if just one or two of them triggered recognition, then you have become one with MAGA.
Peter McCarthy, Mentone
Gilded as charged
Rather than psychiatric diagnoses gleaned remotely from Donald Trump’s state of mind, what should probably be considered most alarming is the president’s obsession with a triumphal arch taller than the Arc de Triomphe. A teenager’s focus on how bigger it is better, combined with the high-level ignorance and unintentional comedy in his comment about the French ″only having history″, is bound to drive one to despair. America’s “Founding Fathers” had urbanity, eloquence, and creativity in abundance; and, conversely, Trump comes across as a diminutive mind, devoid of culture except in his “gilded” version. It is not out of the question that ideally Trump would aspire to the traditional Roman ‘Triumph’; Version in which the defeated leaders of an enemy force are paraded in cages before the emperor in a boulevard parade.
Surreal is the key and relevant word here.
Jon McMillan, Mornington
The man is not there
Therefore, US President Donald Trump is unhappy that we cannot stand with America. From our perspective, we are not happy that Trump is not there.
Tony Haydon, Springvale
More than history
“It’s going to be 50 percent bigger… all they have is history,” Donald Trump said of his proposed Arch and the French Arc de Triomphe. He could also say, let’s not forget humanity, class, modesty, fashion/art and gastronomy.
David West, Essendon
a loose ball
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is the biggest loose cannon the US has deployed in years.
He has no desire or intention to bring peace anywhere. That’s what Hegseth wants, as this administration has renamed that position secretary of war: war.
John Walsh, Watsonia
Justice for Palestinians
As your correspondent wrote (Letter, 18/4), more than 700 Palestinians have been killed since the so-called ceasefire was declared in October. This reminds us that Palestinians continue to face collective punishment every day. Murders, hunger, very limited healthcare, displacement, threat of violence and humiliation. This is contrary to International Law and United Nations resolutions stating that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory is illegal. This view is supported by the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice.
While Australia recognizes the State of Palestine, it has remained silent on more direct actions such as sanctioning Israel and our participation in the Lockheed-Martin F35 bombers that turned Gaza into dust.
There has been a deep silence on Palestine since the US and Israel’s war against Iran. Where is the search for justice and human rights for Palestinians in the international community?
Judith Morrison, Nunawading
Lone Pine growth
The excellent article ″These trees do more than honor the dead″ (17/4) did not cover everything. Gallipoli pine is difficult to grow and grows slowly.
Six were grown in Australia from seeds of the original Lone Pine, a symbolic World War I victory. One of these was erected next to the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance. It succumbed to aging/pollution. One was planted in Wattle Park and survives. It is the site of the City of Whitehorse’s Anzac Day ceremony.
Years ago the council produced the seeds for this. I attended the planting ceremony of a sapling next to its parent.
If I remember correctly, two of the others were housed in a monastery in the Western Region. There are other parks in Australia where Gallipoli pines are found, but not from other trees, but from “Kalsız Pine”.
Roderick Smith, Surrey Hills
Librarians’ skills
The expertise of State Library reference librarians was once again exemplified by ″The ray of light led the librarian to the identity of the fallen soldier in the photograph″ (17/4).
Artificial intelligence cannot replace dedication, compassion, care and outside-the-box thinking. It is a shame that the State Library director did not recognize the true value of these roles or consider the needs of the public when he proposed major staff cuts and changes to service delivery late last year. Although this was ultimately canceled, changes will undoubtedly be made gradually.
Olga Gountras, Melbourne
