Friday 29th of March 2024

Review no. 190: You're wrong on Hanson, Margo (Faramarz Ostowari)

I enjoyed your book, however, I did find the subtle suggestion that Pauline Hanson represents people who feel suppressed by Government, Big Business and Big Media a little difficult to swallow.

Hanson was elected because she appeared on the Liberal ticket (even though she had been disendorsed shortly before the federal election). She had also stated bigoted/conservative (words that are synonymous with eachother) views concerning the unfortunate plight of the indigenous members of our Australian community. Categorisations such as the 'Aboriginal industry'evidence such bigotry because they are entirely false and expressed for the purpose of vilification.

Hanson then got her juggernaught moving following her maiden speech in parliament where she stated that Australia was being swamped by Asians and that Multiculturalism did not work. No other comments were given any significance by the media.

It is not difficult to categorise her support as predominately from the bigoted members of our Australian community. This may well be a subjective point of view, but it comes from an immigrant who grew up through high school in the 70's and was regularly subjected to bigoted comments and the occasional threat of physical abuse. I heard the same tones from Hanson and her supporters and ultimately, despite my view that Tony Abbott is a whimp of a man, I do believe that he did Australia a favour by his actions in destroying Hanson.

I was also fortunate enough to have true Australian's provide a helping hand to me in my younger years. These Australian's were school teachers, cub/scout leaders, football coaches and the like. The same people that Hanson and her ilk refer to as do gooders and bleeding hearts merely because they were willing to accept me as a new Australian and help me to become part of the Australian community by giving me a fair voice. The Australian's to which I refer were simply good, kind and democratic people.

Anyway, I am extremely relieved to hear that many of the true Australians are not prepared to tolerate the undemocratic and conservative ways of Howardism.