Entries from April 2008 ↓

In contrast to the most recent proposal by the anti-discrimination commission, a more straightforward and efficient way to tackle discrimination is by using free speech and the power of choice.

The general public are overwhelmingly offended by any racial abuse and are forthright in castigating the perpetrator. Despite the view of the Muslim woman and the journalist, this clip shows how free speech and free choice are much better at treating social ills than regulating speech.

Phillip Coorey has a humorous op-ed in today’s Sydney Morning Herald about Kevin Rudd’s increasing — and unrestrained — use of acronyms. Hey, I’m all for the everyday FAQ, IOU, PS, ATM and ASAP. But there is a limit to how much we should invoke acronyms, particularly in conversation. Right? Not sure? See below.

Ever since Washington, where Rudd cooly dropped the acronym CSBM (confidence- and security-building measures) during an address to foreign policy wonks at the Brookings Institution, collecting examples of what Rudd calls “geek talk” has become a trip favourite.

At the NATO summit in Bucharest, where Rudd spoke of war in terms of establishing and measuring performance benchmarks, the ABC’s Louise Yaxley asked him whether the leaders had streamlined the rules of engagement that apply to the NATO soldiers.

“You mean RoEs,” said Rudd.

Continue reading →

The News Limited papers are reporting today that Hizb ut-Tahrir will be launching a magazine this week.

THE hardline Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir is poised to launch its first magazine in Sydney this week to be distributed on university campuses, sparking concerns the group is ramping up its activities in Australia.

The plan for the publication, called Idialogue, has terrorism experts worried about the potential infiltration of universities by radical groups seeking recruits.

The Age reports that Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner wants to reverse the burden of proof in racial discrimination cases:

Race Discrimination Commissioner Tom Calma wants the burden of proof in cases of racial discrimination to fall on the alleged offender, instead of the person making the complaint.

Mr Calma said Australia’s laws made it difficult to prove there had been discrimination.

In other words, once an accusation of racial discrimination has been made, it won’t be the responsibility of the accuser to bring evidence to support their allegation, but the accused must then prove that he or she is not really a racist.

Good idea?

Tanveer Ahmed, famous for saying “nooooooooo bingo” on a television game show, is teaming up with Daniel Pipes in this debate to argue that Islam is incompatible with democracy.

Story:

Plans for a mile-high tower in the Saudi Arabian desert have been unveiled by the billionaire owner of London’s Savoy Hotel.

At 5,250ft, the £5billion project, masterminded by two British engineering consultancies, will be twice as high as its nearest rivals, skyscrapers under construction in Dubai and Kuwait, and almost seven times as high as the Canary Wharf tower in London’s Docklands.

Prophecy:

…Barefoot, naked, shepherds compete in building tall structures. [Sahih Muslim]

A while back, I was an editorial assistant on a remarkable website called The Electronic Intifada. It focuses on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, shedding light on what life is really like for those living under occupation. It’s professional, well-presented and has been around for years. The founders have worked tirelessly, attempting to restore the balance in media coverage. One of those founders is Nigel Parry, a multi-talented activist, who covered his experiences in Palestine in a compelling personal diary.

Nigel’s latest journal series is even more grim. In From Ramallah to Rikers, he shares with readers his agonising period of incarceration at Rikers Island, highlighting the devastating deficiencies in the US criminal justice system. It’s shocking and crushing to read — but it’s important.