(no subject)

[dreamer_easy]

I've just been reading up on Australia's new sedition laws, to work out what I can and can't legally say in my LJ. I think I'm insufficiently radical to worry. Although I now take seriously what I thought was just a joke - that Alan Jones could be prosecuted, at least in theory, for his contribution to Sydney's race riot. (Another 2GB presenter has been obliged to apologise for his on-air racism.)

On the riot, the author of Puberty Blues (significant Oz book which I still haven't read) comments: "According to many Cronulla people, what happened last Sunday was the result of years of putting up with unacceptable public behaviour by Middle Eastern, mostly Lebanese, men. "We've had enough," they said. The disrespect for other people's space on the beach had been going on for too long. This was compounded by disrespect, they said, particularly for women. As a former surfie chick, I have to say I find this a little ironic."

Comments

[stephanielake.livejournal.com]

i agree with her - im pretty tired of being treated at the beach (or elsewhere) as just a pair of breasts from either white or non-white male

[rob-t-firefly.livejournal.com]

If it comes down to it, LJ is hosted in the US... then again, that's the same US which just renewed the Patriot act.

To quote The Onion (http://www.theonion.com/content/node/43652), I'd really like to tell this damn government what I think, but thanks to the Patriot Act, they already know.

[browneyedgirl65.livejournal.com]

Hey, we did NOT renew it...!

[rob-t-firefly.livejournal.com]

Wow, you're right (http://english.people.com.cn/200512/17/eng20051217_228797.html)!

Thank you very much for the correction. I had pretty much switched off the news and grumbled to myself the past few days.

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

Good heavens! The media have been reporting the Act's renewal as though it was as good as done. Saturday's Washington Post reports that the thing is stalled. (http://www.bugmenot.com has logins for the Post if you need them.)

The guvmint needs to cough up evidence that the Act's provisions have actually protected US citizens.

[gdwessel.livejournal.com]

Kate, the gubmint can't cough up evidence it can successfully pick its nose half the time...