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Australia, we need to talk about extremism

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….Academics have warned of the emerging threat from right-wing extremism at the Conference on Community Cohesion held by University of Western Sydney this past week.

….According to a report  by The Age’s Rachel Olding, attendees framed right-wing extremism as a threat on par with Muslim radicalization in Australia, while a police spokesman admitted racial tension was having a direct impact on policework.

….At the conference, counterterrorism expert Anne Aly from Curtin University argued that violent extremism in Australia was starting to mirror that of the United States. Aly presented a recent New America Foundation study which found twice as many people had been killed by right-wing extremists than jihadists since 9/11.

….But what is driving increasing numbers of Australians to far-right views and organizations? Chairman of the Islamic Friendship Association Keysar Trad noted the influence of right wing pundits, suggesting they “take no responsibility for the hostile environment they have created.”

….In the age of the soundbite and 24 hour news cycle, are incautious comments and Islamic terrorism’s presence as the dominant security narrative actually making us less safe? And do we need to reflect on the role of our political leaders and media outlets in amplifying the perceived magnitude of these threats?

….Speaking to the conference, Deputy Commissioner and police force spokesman on cultural diversity Nick Kaldas said that increased perceived discrimination and racial tensions were having a “direct impact on policing and require us to continue to tailor [our] strategies and workforce.”

….A 2014 Ipsos Mori poll found that Australians wildly overestimated the number of Muslims in Australia. Respondents estimated that an average of 18% of the Australian population were Muslim, a full 16% higher than Australia’s actual Muslim population of 2%.

….Could certain views expressed by public figures and the media have enticed Australian citizens to more radical thinking?  Furthermore, is it appropriate for members of parliament and the media to broach these issues in arguably indelicate ways, given the tensions that already exist?

….In September of last year, ABC Radio listeners heard Attorney General George Brandis’ contention that Daesh “represents or seeks to be an existential threat to us.”

….South Australian Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi recently won a six-month inquiry into food certification after expressing concern about where money for halal certification “ends up.” Some anti-halal campaigners have expressed concern that the money “funds terrorism” while others have ironically boycotted iconic Australian products like Vegemite in response to its halal certification.

….Even our Prime Minister Tony Abbott has made controversial remarks, stating most notably last year that he found the burqa “a fairly confronting form of attire” and “wish[es] it weren’t worn”.

….It seems possible for a person to contrive, from these and other statements, an extremely negative view of Islam and Muslim people. One that does not contextualize the insignificant number of extreme voices against the whole, the complexity and achievements of the Islamic world, nor the myriad positive contributions of Islamic Australians.

….At the Conference on Community Cohesion, Mr Kaldas labelled far-right extremism and protests which “encourage divisive notions of us and them” as some of the largest challenges facing Australian police. The Deputy Commissioner’s comments follow on the heels of Nationals MP George Christensen who, at time of writing, plans to attend a Reclaim Australia rally in his electorate this coming weekend citing his support for people defending the Australian way of life, culture, and freedom from radical Islam.

….For anyone whose political views stop short of “send them back where they came from,” social cohesion and a respectful multicultural society seem necessary for a prosperous Australia. Not just in these fraught young years of nationhood, but into the future as our country continues to grow.

….It’s imperative that our leaders and media outlets be mindful of their influence, and feel accountable for the extreme worldviews they might inadvertently promote. Australia, we need to talk about extremism, but our own extremist tendencies, and the way we shape debate, shouldn’t escape criticism.

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Karl Stefanovic is not the hero men have been looking for

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Trigger warning: the following article will address themes of gender based violence and self harm.

…Don’t get me wrong, he seems like a well-intentioned guy – and along with his Today co-host Lisa Wilkinson (whose takedown of 50 Shades of Grey will go down in television history) have created a really heartening voice in the maelstrom of commercial TV recently landed in hot water over Karl’s arguably racist quips (this article was in edit by the time Karl made his initial comments).

…In November Karl announced that he’d been wearing the same suit on air for a year in order to highlight the double standard in the appearance of TV presenters. After the stunt, Karl donated the suit  which was auctioned off for $10,000 for White Ribbon, an Australian campaign to stop violence against women.

…But it’s an article in Sunday Style on March 22 Karl Stefanovic talks weed, women and why he’s bringing back the bloke that raises red flags that Karl might not be the role model men need right now.

…”I think they’ve gone soft,” Stefanovic says of Australian men in his interview. “I think they’re confused. I think their idols, a lot of whom are only in their twenties, are confused and male identity is being watered down.”

…Karl continues to present a list of things he doesn’t think are quite masculine enough including shaved chests, pre-mixed drinks, and not gambling (responsibly). ”I lament that down the pub these days guys are drinking Vodka Cruisers – I mean watermelon Cruisers? Give me a break.”

…Unwilling to accept the truth that people of all genders drink Malibu and pineapple juice because it’s fucking delicious, Karl continues to make his boldest statement.

…“I just think that over the last decade we’ve become so preoccupied, and rightly so, with trying to ensure that women are OK with us and that we’re OK with women, but I think we’ve done that now. Yeah, there’s still a long way to go for women in this country, in this world; but I think as men, well, you don’t have to give up being a man, or give up the elements of being a man.”

…Actually, Karl. I think we do. According to Destroy the Joint, 24 women have already died to violence throughout Australia in 2015. White Ribbon (the same White Ribbon to whom Karl Donated his suit) state that intimate partner violence is the leading contributor to death, disability, and ill-health in Australian women aged 15-44.

According to the organization,
…“One common cause of men’s violence against both men and women is in the way we currently express masculinity – rigid masculine norms promote and excuse aggression and this has the potential to damage and limit both young men and women.”

…When you take ‘being a bloke’, and strip out all of the parts that make for ‘good people’ generally, you’re only left with negative, or arbitrary attributes. Yet from an early age we teach our boys that men shouldn’t be emotional, should always be in charge, and should not stand lightly by if their honour is impugned. Centuries of arbitrary re-enforcement have led to a point where in 2012, men accounted for 75% of all suicides. It’s possible that if those men felt like they were able or allowed to seek help, that more of them would be here today.

…Our idea of masculinity sits at the heart of so much human suffering in Australia. And that’s why it’s so disappointing to see well-intentioned-Karl sticking up for ‘blokedom’ in such a dismissive way. While the feminist movement has revolutionized the way Australian women live, there has been no popular equivalent movement for men. In fact, the most common complaint about feminism from men is that it’s not inclusive of us, or doesn’t directly stand for our betterment.

…If we want to really start a change in men, we need to do it ourselves and utilize our intrinsic male traits inherent human traits of determination, perseverance, bravery, and grit. All it takes is for us to realign our thinking. Let’s do good things not because we’re men, but because we’re good people. Conversely let’s stop feeling negative about not being a ‘good man’ if it’s anything beyond ‘being a decent human being’.

…Change as a gender will never come unless we’re willing to embrace new ideas in our daily lives — these changes can be as small as drinking a delicious piña colada at the pub or as courageous as calling out sexist or abusive behaviour among male friends or in the workplace. We should cherish the women in our lives, and make sure that we concede the space for them to act, speak, and express themselves fully.

…Karl hasn’t turned out to be the inspiration that men need right now — Instead, we need to find the inspiration within ourselves, and a vision of a better world for everyone.