Australian media self-censorship - Mahathir

Submitted by paula Potaznik (Australia), Oct 31, 2003 at 17:30

Dear Mr Pipes,
of great concern to me, and probably all jews in Australia, is the self-censorship that occured when Mahathir gave the anti-semitic speech. I was unable to find any paper, or news report, that repeated the BBC report (very strange that BBC reported it) that Mahathir was given a standing ovation. I wrote to Andrew Bolt of the Herald Sun here in Melbourne(he writes for the right-wing supposedly trashier paper). He wrote back saying one or two papers wrote that Negawati clapped. Prime minister Howard condemned the speech, but also did not refer to the standing ovation.

I know that Australia has a precarious position economically in the world, especially Asia, and the middle east after supporting the US, but I cannot understand the pathetic response. Looking at history it is a grave mistake to allow groups/leaders to the speak this way without strong condemnation and some action.

I am also concerned that here in Australia, the extreme Muslims are using the press, our democratic processes and our sensitivity to racism, to avoid condemnation and or prison terms. The left , civil liberties people, Greens( a small but increasingly powerful political party) and the media seem to have taken on the protection of Islamists at all costs. Honest open discussion is treated as anti-multiculturalism and racist. Only one point of view seems to allowed in the Media(ABC and SBS especially- both use the BBC as their model)
I wish for Muslims in Australia to be free to practise their religion, enjoy the freedoms that a democratic country allows, but not bring in prejudice and anti-democratic attitudes and behaviours.

I feel increasingly concerned for my jewish husband and "halfie" kids, and despairing that the West seems to be blinded by its own desire for fairness and protection of minorities who seem bent on destruction of what we believe in.

yours sincerely
Paual Potaznik

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