I couldn't see a relevant thread to post the following in so I created one. I hope I didn't miss an appropriate thread and if I did, I apologise.
The following was written by John Hanscombe of The Echidna and I hope it prompts people to view what is happening in Australia in a level headed manner. Some will seek to use the tragedies unfolding in the Middle East for political gain by trying to divide and sow discord in Australia.
No place for flags of war at protests for peace
Thursday October 3, 2024
The flags were held aloft as the chants grew louder and angrier. "Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh. The NLF is going to win."
For some who'd joined the march, it caused great discomfort. The National Liberation Front and its guerilla army, the Viet Cong, had a lot of blood on their hands, just as the Americans and the Army of the Republic of South Vietnam did. For those who only wanted peace and were happy to march under the Moratorium or the peace symbols, the appearance of the blue and red VC flag with its yellow star was taking things too far. They were people who knew of the massacre carried out by the Viet Cong when it briefly occupied the city of Hue during the 1968 Tet Offensive, knew of the other atrocities committed in the name of "liberation". They now had second thoughts about joining future demonstrations.
No doubt some who joined recent gatherings to protest the Israeli assault on Lebanon had similar misgivings when they saw Hezbollah flags being held aloft, along with portraits of the slain terrorist leader Hassan Nasrallah. I know I felt uncomfortable seeing them on the TV screen. Not here, I grumbled, not in Australia.
There was anguish the day after, when I found myself almost agreeing with Matt Canavan, who said banning the flag didn't sit well with his understanding of freedom of speech. (Don't worry, a mate reassured me, even a broken clock is right twice a day.)
It's almost a reflex to call for a ban on symbols and flags which offend us. But where does it start? And where does it end?
Nazi gestures and flags are now outlawed across the land. Under federal law, as a symbol of a listed terrorist organisation, the Hezbollah flag is also prohibited. That raises the question of whether we should also ban other flags and symbols. The Israeli flag? The Russian flag? It's a slippery slope.
In 2005, our own Australian flag was hijacked by drunken thugs rioting in Cronulla. For many, it became an ugly symbol of racism and bigotry. All these years later, a ute bedecked in the national flag on Australia Day is a statement of aggressive jingoism, the driver seen by most as a dickhead.
Perhaps that's how we should view these clowns who turn up to demonstrations with Hezbollah flags. Dickheads promoting war when the people around them are calling for peace. We should also remember a very small minority of protestors carried the yellow flags. Six possible offences in Victoria, according to police.
Most Australians are rightly appalled at the violence in the Middle East. The October 7 Hamas atrocity. The retribution on Gaza, with 40,000 lives lost. The bloodshed in the West Bank. The Hezbollah rocket attacks. The retribution visited on Lebanon. The whole endless bloody cycle.
The Hezbollah flag, with its upheld Kalashnikov rifle, symbolises violence. It's long been associated with bombings and assassinations. It does nothing to advance the cause of peace. And its appearance at protest is more likely to deter people than attract them.
Only a dickhead would think it a good idea to wave one around.
The following was written by John Hanscombe of The Echidna and I hope it prompts people to view what is happening in Australia in a level headed manner. Some will seek to use the tragedies unfolding in the Middle East for political gain by trying to divide and sow discord in Australia.
No place for flags of war at protests for peace
Thursday October 3, 2024
The flags were held aloft as the chants grew louder and angrier. "Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh. The NLF is going to win."
For some who'd joined the march, it caused great discomfort. The National Liberation Front and its guerilla army, the Viet Cong, had a lot of blood on their hands, just as the Americans and the Army of the Republic of South Vietnam did. For those who only wanted peace and were happy to march under the Moratorium or the peace symbols, the appearance of the blue and red VC flag with its yellow star was taking things too far. They were people who knew of the massacre carried out by the Viet Cong when it briefly occupied the city of Hue during the 1968 Tet Offensive, knew of the other atrocities committed in the name of "liberation". They now had second thoughts about joining future demonstrations.
No doubt some who joined recent gatherings to protest the Israeli assault on Lebanon had similar misgivings when they saw Hezbollah flags being held aloft, along with portraits of the slain terrorist leader Hassan Nasrallah. I know I felt uncomfortable seeing them on the TV screen. Not here, I grumbled, not in Australia.
There was anguish the day after, when I found myself almost agreeing with Matt Canavan, who said banning the flag didn't sit well with his understanding of freedom of speech. (Don't worry, a mate reassured me, even a broken clock is right twice a day.)
It's almost a reflex to call for a ban on symbols and flags which offend us. But where does it start? And where does it end?
Nazi gestures and flags are now outlawed across the land. Under federal law, as a symbol of a listed terrorist organisation, the Hezbollah flag is also prohibited. That raises the question of whether we should also ban other flags and symbols. The Israeli flag? The Russian flag? It's a slippery slope.
In 2005, our own Australian flag was hijacked by drunken thugs rioting in Cronulla. For many, it became an ugly symbol of racism and bigotry. All these years later, a ute bedecked in the national flag on Australia Day is a statement of aggressive jingoism, the driver seen by most as a dickhead.
Perhaps that's how we should view these clowns who turn up to demonstrations with Hezbollah flags. Dickheads promoting war when the people around them are calling for peace. We should also remember a very small minority of protestors carried the yellow flags. Six possible offences in Victoria, according to police.
Most Australians are rightly appalled at the violence in the Middle East. The October 7 Hamas atrocity. The retribution on Gaza, with 40,000 lives lost. The bloodshed in the West Bank. The Hezbollah rocket attacks. The retribution visited on Lebanon. The whole endless bloody cycle.
The Hezbollah flag, with its upheld Kalashnikov rifle, symbolises violence. It's long been associated with bombings and assassinations. It does nothing to advance the cause of peace. And its appearance at protest is more likely to deter people than attract them.
Only a dickhead would think it a good idea to wave one around.
