Cancel Culture
The "Cancel Culture" police are now targetting children's books! Even the beloved "Dr Seuss" books and "Sesame Street" aren't exempt! It is a momentous task to eliminate every offending era or icon. Who decides?
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Why not delete all history books, so as not to offend those whose ancestors may have caused harm to current descendants. In reality, the social and political contexts of many icons deemed offensive today, may not align with today's society, yet are there for us to learn from.
To discount some but allow others, may itself offend certain cultures and demographics which still value these. The popular Sydney "Mardi Gras" festival offends the Christian community, but that is ignored by the "Cancel Culture" police.
The selections for cancelling are discriminatory and subjective! Cultures are decimated at the whim of the "Cancel" police, like the Judaism by the Nazis!
Today's celebrations may be offensive tomorrow. Flags, costumes and festivals create much angst among many for whom the items trigger fear.
The Australian 'white supremacist' group's Nazi swastika and salute, are reminiscent of Nazi WW11 war crimes, upsetting survivors. Australia Day celebrations offend our "first nation" people, but continue regardless!
We can't please all the people all the time. Why not live and let live and stop controlling and determining what is acceptable and what is not. To each his own. Tolerance is a two-way street!
- Eloise Rowe, Tannum Sands
Celebrating St Paddy's Day
If you're celebrating 'a touch of the Irish' in your blood on St Patrick's Day, spare a thought for whether this means you are pumping too much iron.
People of Celtic origin are more likely to have the iron overload condition haemochromatosis which is the most common genetic disorder in Australia. About one in 200 people are genetically predisposed to it and one in seven are carriers.
The good news is that early detection means haemochromatosis is no barrier to a normal life and the condition is easily managed through blood donations. But when undetected and untreated, it can cause organ/tissue damage and perhaps premature death.
So as you raise a glass to your heritage this year, vow to find out more about the 'Celtic curse' from your GP or by visiting www.ha.org.au
- Dr Dianne Prince, President, Haemochromatosis Australia.
Youth Justice Act
The Queensland Government has proposed a bill that will make amendments to the Youth Justice Act and lead to more kids in prisons and only entrench reoffending.
Statistics from the ABS show that youth crime in Queensland has decreased and is at its lowest rate since records began. The Government and Opposition are peddling fear and a disproportionate reaction to recent events. No-one wants youth crime, but the solution isn't locking up kids with complex needs and leaving them stuck in the quicksand of the justice system. The solution is well-resourced, Indigenous-led diversion and prevention programs that address the root causes of crime.
This Bill creates a presumption against bail, which means kids will not be able to participate in the diversion and prevention programs that are proved to have a positive impact on their lives, and work to address the underlying causes of crime, as well as reducing recidivism.
These amendments will make it almost impossible for these kids to rehabilitate and redirect themselves. We know that Annastacia Palaszczuk and the Government have committed to these programs and funded them in the past, so we are calling on the Government to recommit to these programs and focus on helping these kids by giving them the support they need.
- Julie Patterson, Mount Isa.