There were two news stories today that while relatively trivial in the great scheme of things I found interesting. Firstly organisers of the Sydney Big Day Out are reportedly banning people from bringing Australian flags to the event.
Supposedly this is to counter aggressive nationalism that was displayed at the event last year in the wake of the Cronulla riots. I don't agree with the ban, as to do so in effect surrenders the flag as a symbol to the nationalists, and gives them a cause around which to rally.
I am however not organising the Big Day Out and if clubs can enforce dress codes then I don't see why the BDO people can't as well. Not being the most fashionable of people I have fallen victim to dress codes in the past and don't like them, but their merits are an argument for another time.
Today my point follows from the growing chorus of condemnation that news of the ban has elicited from the Prime Minister down to various flunkies who managed to elbow there way into shot.
Flunkies such as Andrew Robb, the federal parliamentary secretary for immigration, who has called for the event to be cancelled if the ban remains in place. Further proof that there is no old testament god as Robb was not immediately struck down by lightning for his gross hypocrisy.
Clive Hamilton and Sarah Maddison are about to release a new book outlining the extent of this hypocrisy called Silencing Dissent. It outlines how the Howard government has systematically gone about silencing its critics, and generally undermining democracy in this country.
The very same day that all these great and powerful took time out from their busy day undermining civil liberties at home and abroad to defend the flag there was another story in the news that, oddly, did not attract their interest.
Qantas banned a man from flying to London because they didn't like his t-shirt. It said something like, "George Bush. World's #1 Terrorist". Leaving aside the merits of the content lets just focus on the fact that a man was restricted from travelling because a private company didn't agree with his politics.
Qantas argued that the shirt was offensive and therefore possibly a security risk. It is not entirely clear what they thought he was going to do with the shirt that would elevate it to the level of security risk. I'm thinking something along the lines of a fatal wet t-shirt contest but I can't quite figure out how to make it work.
Will any clothing, or indeed anything at all, that could be deemed offensive be banned from flights from now on. If he had been wearing a t-shirt saying, "Bush is #1" would he have been kicked off the flight? I don't know if that is offensive as such but it certainly would be an insult to your intelligence.
Virtually anything could be construed as offensive, so we will come to the logical conclusion that nothing at all will be allowed on flights. Is Qantas phasing in flying in the nude by stealth? Because, if so, I don't think they have thought it all the way through.
I doubt that the hyper-patriotic politicians who raced to condemn the flag ban will similarly defend the rights of this dangerous and frankly remarkably stubborn t-shirt wearer (he refused to take the t-shirt off).
The essence of free speech is summed up in the quote attributed to the archetypal freethinker, Voltaire, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." I wonder if I put that on a t-shirt would I be allowed to get on a plane?
PS The Big Day Out organisers should instead try to sell, or even give Australian flags to everybody that comes through the gate.
Supposedly this is to counter aggressive nationalism that was displayed at the event last year in the wake of the Cronulla riots. I don't agree with the ban, as to do so in effect surrenders the flag as a symbol to the nationalists, and gives them a cause around which to rally.
I am however not organising the Big Day Out and if clubs can enforce dress codes then I don't see why the BDO people can't as well. Not being the most fashionable of people I have fallen victim to dress codes in the past and don't like them, but their merits are an argument for another time.
Today my point follows from the growing chorus of condemnation that news of the ban has elicited from the Prime Minister down to various flunkies who managed to elbow there way into shot.
Flunkies such as Andrew Robb, the federal parliamentary secretary for immigration, who has called for the event to be cancelled if the ban remains in place. Further proof that there is no old testament god as Robb was not immediately struck down by lightning for his gross hypocrisy.
Clive Hamilton and Sarah Maddison are about to release a new book outlining the extent of this hypocrisy called Silencing Dissent. It outlines how the Howard government has systematically gone about silencing its critics, and generally undermining democracy in this country.
The very same day that all these great and powerful took time out from their busy day undermining civil liberties at home and abroad to defend the flag there was another story in the news that, oddly, did not attract their interest.
Qantas banned a man from flying to London because they didn't like his t-shirt. It said something like, "George Bush. World's #1 Terrorist". Leaving aside the merits of the content lets just focus on the fact that a man was restricted from travelling because a private company didn't agree with his politics.
Qantas argued that the shirt was offensive and therefore possibly a security risk. It is not entirely clear what they thought he was going to do with the shirt that would elevate it to the level of security risk. I'm thinking something along the lines of a fatal wet t-shirt contest but I can't quite figure out how to make it work.
Will any clothing, or indeed anything at all, that could be deemed offensive be banned from flights from now on. If he had been wearing a t-shirt saying, "Bush is #1" would he have been kicked off the flight? I don't know if that is offensive as such but it certainly would be an insult to your intelligence.
Virtually anything could be construed as offensive, so we will come to the logical conclusion that nothing at all will be allowed on flights. Is Qantas phasing in flying in the nude by stealth? Because, if so, I don't think they have thought it all the way through.
I doubt that the hyper-patriotic politicians who raced to condemn the flag ban will similarly defend the rights of this dangerous and frankly remarkably stubborn t-shirt wearer (he refused to take the t-shirt off).
The essence of free speech is summed up in the quote attributed to the archetypal freethinker, Voltaire, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." I wonder if I put that on a t-shirt would I be allowed to get on a plane?
PS The Big Day Out organisers should instead try to sell, or even give Australian flags to everybody that comes through the gate.
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