Part of the problem with why Abdel-Magied’s comments attracted such a swift backlash is the nature of Anzac Day itself. Despite government-funded initiatives to try and create one specific narrative around Anzac Day (with a particular focus on our British history), it means different things to different people.

For some, it’s purely about remembering the lives lost in Gallipoli and World War I. For Turkish-Australians, it can be about celebrating Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who fought against the Anzacs and went on to found the modern Turkish state. For others, it’s about supporting our veterans. And for plenty more it’s about getting pissed at the pub and playing two-up.

But surely within this range of activities there’s space for some reflection on the consequences of war, both historically and in the modern day. Perhaps this is what Abdel-Magied’s post was aiming to do.

There are refugees our government has locked up on Manus Island and Nauru who have fled war; in some cases they have fled wars that we are responsible for.

But even if you think Abdel-Magied didn’t express her views respectfully enough it seems like a very long bow to position them as the “ultimate insult”. Compare the response to Abdel-Magied’s Facebook post to this one by a Darwin bar, promoting an Anzac Day wet t-shirt competition



Raven finds this more offensive that what Abdul-Magied wrote.

The president of Darwin’s RSL wasn’t happy but he gave very measured advice and steered away from condemnation: “Just remember the fallen, a lot of people gave their lives. We’ve lost a lot of men and we’re still losing them in conflicts overseas, but the good thing is we’ve had no more attacks on our land and that’s an important thing to remember.”

But that was it. No heavy-handed political denunciations. Compare the muted response to an Anzac Day wet t-shirt contest with the ferocious backlash Abdel-Magied received for daring to bring up our treatment of refugees. The attacks from Hanson and Coalition MPs don’t seem to be entirely about the ‘sanctity’ of Anzac Day, but the fact that they really can’t handle having their own comfortable narratives challenged.

Mattyfisk wrote on Apr 26^th, 2017 at 4:20pm:


The only time Turkey think about refugees is when they(Erdogan) don't get their way regarding entry into the EU ... or getting paid to stop the flood of the invading horde.

When they don't Erdogan threaten to open the flood gates of muslim refugee migration.

How about all the other wealthy arab states that have taken exactly zero ... fellow muslim refugees from Syria & surrounding borders areas?

Another part of the agenda, no?

freediver wrote on Apr 26^th, 2017 at 5:38pm:


Come on FD ..... there's no such thing as reverse discrimination.

Discrimination is discrimination.

To use the "reverse" adjective you have to believe the propaganda that only one demographic of the population is capable of discrimination.

Which we all know is complete bullshyte.

Gnads wrote on Apr 26^th, 2017 at 6:15pm:


Get him, Mechanic. He just talked about refugees in an ANZAC Day thread.

Personally, I don't overly care about what some 26yr. old part-time presenter said. It's a bit offensive, but I find it more naïve than anything else.
Then again, these controversial comments tend to make a career for one where there would otherwise be none.
Who would've heard of her if not for some controversy?
That's playing the capitalism game to a tee.

The wet t-shirt contest could also be deemed offensive, even though those diggers who died in their youth would most probably be saying " Yeah baby! That's what we died for". 

President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Apr 25^th, 2017 at 7:02pm:


Incorrect.

Rightards telling lies - who ever heard of such a thing?

Yadda wrote on Apr 27^th, 2017 at 7:56am:


No.  Are you?