“Listen, don't mention the war! I mentioned it once, but I think I got away with it…”
It’s a little over
one year since, Yassmin Abdel-Magied’s controversial social media post sparked
one of the ugliest social media back lashes I’ve ever seen, by which time she
had already apologised and deleted the post.
What followed was
nothing short of a national disgrace an aggressive and sustained media
bombardment against one woman; and for what, a simple comment “Lest we forget
(Manus)”. Ironically the loudest and most disproportionally aggressively of
those vilifying Yassmin, were those repeatedly claiming that ‘free speech’ in
Australia is under threat (whilst using media and social media to do so).
The incident, exposed
the ugly truth about modern day Australia; laying bare a nation low on empathy,
sympathy, tolerance and big on racial, religious and social hatred. The nation
showed itself to be intolerant of asylum seekers, individuals on welfare and
all the weakest and powerless in society - and then the mainstream media added
their two bob’s worth.
The hysteria, which
followed Yassmin’s Facebook post, cannot be separated from xenophobia, racism
and misogyny. If Australians are to be truly honest with themselves then they
must acknowledge that Anzac Day has been a source of controversy and protest
for a very long time. Even in the 1960’s being used as an opportunity to
protest the Vietnam War.
Yassmin did not
criticise Australian Soldiers and she did not comment on the politics of war.
Her post simply and succinctly asked us to remember, not only lives lost in
previous wars, but also the lives of those currently in harms way; fighting in,
living in and fleeing conflict zones. Instead she was faced with a lynch mob of
conservative politicians and press, most of who claim to be ‘Christians’. Yet
their conduct in this was anything but!
In this simple act one
brown Muslim woman showed more Christian understanding of the suffering of her
fellow (hu)man than all those attacking her combined.
One hopes that Yassmin
and those like her will continue to maintain the courage and humanity she
displayed and continues to display.
So tomorrow on Anzac
day, one hopes all Australians of conscience will remember not only those
Anzacs past and present, but also those: fighting, living, fleeing and dying in
current conflicts.
This in no way detracts
from the Anzac legend and sacrifice, rather acknowledges their sacrifice and reminds
us how much Australian and New Zealand troops still contribute to the nation
and the world.
Lest we forget.
Image: original drawing by VacuousNess
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