On Peter Dutton’s divisive messaging:
Suzie McKenzie writes: For the likes of Dutton to use the Palestinian people’s plight as a political cudgel and divisive tactic is beyond crass, and downright subversive to all we should hold near and dear.
I am a dual citizen born in the US, and I watch both US and Australian politics very closely. Dutton is a Trump-like, extreme-right wannabe. He would bring to Australian shores divisive and damaging us-vs-them politics, where “them” is anybody not white and Christian. I abhor the very thought of this ideology taking root in Australia any more than it already has.
As if Pauline Hanson wasn’t enough of a blemish to suffer, Dutton threatens to be a bulbous boil of poisonous divisiveness, purely for his own benefit.
This is not about national security. It is about political one-upmanship masquerading as a national security risk. It is about a non-existent threat purportedly coming from sick, starving and scared humans.
Beware those who seek power for power’s sake.
On Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s cultural erasure of Palestine:
Judy Hardy-Holden writes: Thank you, Dr. Max Kaiser, for your thoughtful, gracious article. Surely we must all know that there are Jews who do not support the horrible destruction wrought by the political and military elite of Israel.
A dead child is a dead child. A bombed school or hospital is a bombed school or hospital. The colour, culture and country of anyone killed by an invader is irrelevant. The pain, anguish and suffering of those who are left is a human response.
We all belong to humanity, but some of us refuse to acknowledge what a precious gift that is.
Sandra Schmidt writes: I concur with everything Max Kaiser wrote. There have been many songs and music produced in memory of massacres and wars throughout history.
As someone from the UK, it makes me uncomfortable and ashamed for the massacres and genocide attempt which occurred with First Peoples here in Australia. But we can’t erase this from history, we can only acknowledge it and restore what was taken.
This is a shameful part of Israel’s history which we need to acknowledge for what it is: a genocide of the Palestinian people.
Shame on Australia, Peter Dutton and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. We too are complicit in the erasure of these already oppressed people at the hands of Israel.
On the Democrats’ prospects in November:
Steve Brennan writes: Although there is always the novelty factor at play with a new, and in this case female, presidential candidate, I think the jubilation is not going to burst. In presidential races, in America especially, the people vote for candidates. The policies come second.
What I am seeing clearly is that Americans are hurting badly and they view Kamala Harris as a fresh wind talking about the things they are feeling. This is only going to grow in strength, especially as Trump becomes more enraged and incoherent.
The other very important factor is that a growing number of Republicans are throwing their support behind Harris. This has much to do with Trump’s Republican agenda of extremism, fascism and Project 2025 — clearly a manifesto of how he would rule America. Decent Republicans don’t want a bar of this insanity.
I think a very real possibility is that the Trump campaign will implode, unable to adjust to the growing force of the Democrats led by Harris.
My prediction is she will win a very close election and go on to be possibly the most consequential person of the 21st Century.
On what Albo can learn from Tim Walz:
Catherine Rossiter writes: By rights, Peter Dutton should be anathema to most of the population (and his team is less than inspiring). Yet he is gaining ground on the government. Sadly, I think Anthony Albanese is becoming a shrinking PM.
Where are the headland speeches? Where are the bold policies? Where is the sense that this government has identified the key challenges and is prepared to take strong measures to address them? I am thinking about the cost of living and housing, but also about a changing climate, fixing our totally distorted and under-funded education system, gambling reform and taxation reform.
Tim Walz is right. Being tentative and uninspiring because you are scared you won’t win is almost guaranteed to be a self-fulfilling prophecy.
