A very interesting Radio Nation programme.  Well worth listening to.  Navigating the politics of identity   

Mr Hammer wrote on Sep 2^nd, 2019 at 3:10pm:


Using a deeply divided example which had two or three different tribes who happened to be white.  You should like the bit about the Muslims, Hammer...  Listen to it, it might make you think a little bit harder about what you're always rabbiting on about.   

“To me, identity means that sense of yourself in a room by yourself, and then those things that you accumulate along the way: what you care about; what you don’t, which can be just as important; whom you love. And that, to me, that’s identity. And that’s interesting.  Character is interesting. And the way we change, and refine ourselves or sometimes slip backwards, that’s just fascinating. So I resist the whole notion that what defines us are these groups we were born members of. I find that a grim, flat, ugly way of looking at the world.”
Lionel Shriver.






Identity politics - 'gender', race and all the rest of it - is shite. Touch it and you too will be smeared and contaminated.




'Gender' identity and politics is particularly Bwianesque and stupid and parochial (same things, really). Gender neutral language is impossible in French or German, for example, where every noun is gendered, mostly arbitrarily.

I will continue to delete any posts that appear to just be trying to troll

Frank wrote on Sep 18^th, 2019 at 7:06pm:


I suggest you read Thomas Keneally's book, "The Great Shame" which is about the Irish in Australia over the last two centuries, Soren.  It will tell you all you want to know about how badly the Irish have been treated downunder. 

The Irish, being Catholics were not trusted by the English Protestants and Australia was wracked until about 1965 by sectarian discrimination on the basis of religion.  The Catholics were discriminated against in employment, education and religion. 

In the Commonwealth Public Service there was no such discrimination, which is why my own father left the South Australian Public Service to join the Commonwealth Public Service after WWII.  In the South Australian Public Service you could not rise to become a Clerk if you were a Catholic.   You were barred on the basis of religion and you were limited to only being a Clerical Assistant.

When the Catholics asked for funds for Catholic schools, the State and Federal Government's initially refused.  The Catholics revolted and closed their own schools and sent all their kids to the State schools.   The State schools were unable to cope and this forced the Commonwealth Government to fund Catholic schools - How a Catholic school's fight over a toilet evolved into high-stakes political warfare.

After that, the Sectarian divide basically disappeared and today, few Australians know of it.  It has almost disappeared completely from Australian society but it did exist.  I know.  My father and my family were victims of it, Soren.   It is why I fight against discrimination against anybody on the basis of religion and that includes Muslims.   

Frank wrote on Sep 20^th, 2019 at 7:51pm:


In truth, I do not defend Nazis and Fascists and of course, Racists or Islamophobes, Soren.  Your problem is you seek justification for what cannot be justified.  You have never been a victim of discrimination.  When you have, get back to us, OK?  I believe everybody deserves a fair go, just as did Prime Minister John Winston Howard (although in truth he mean a fair go only for those that supported the Tories and not of course those that didn't). 

Quote:


Fairness, Soren.  I know the concept of the Fair Go is alien to you, being a Dane.  However, Australians have learnt the hard way, that without a fair go, they'll never get ahead.  The English hated the idea of the fair go.  Indeed, I really only learnt and understood it myself from my experience in the Army.   Perhaps you should join up?  You know, to get to become a real Australian? 

Quote:


As I have said, you're not a real Australian, Soren, are you?  You flew here, I grew here.  The Fair Go was embued into my spirit from the moment of my birth.   Australians have done it tough.  We created the ideal of the Fair Go for a reason.   When you've worked it out, you might be able to call yourself a "New Australian".   

Brian Ross wrote on Sep 21^st, 2019 at 2:53pm:



Welcome to country, Bwian.  Danes made your culture.  Bow down and pay your respects.

Frank wrote on Sep 21^st, 2019 at 7:45pm:


I wasn't aware that the Danes were even in Australia before your arrival on the scene,  Soren.  I am 100% Australian.