Date: Sat, 28 Jun 1997 13:03:37 +1000
From: Rob Schaap <rws-AT-comserver.canberra.edu.au>
Subject: Re: M-I: RE: The Bourgeois Right to Restrict Forums in which to


G'day all,

I have to agree with Tony and Carrol.  I think I agree in principle; I know
I agree with respect to our particular moment.  Maybe twenty-three years
ago, members of the Whitlam Labor government would have done the work for
us - taken on Hanson's 'arguments' one by one, using both reason and
ridicule (at which many said members were marvellous practitioners - not
least big Gough himself).  But there's no concerted voice from Parliament
House today.  When a little whine escapes our pollies today, it invariably
questions Hansonism on one criterion: potential damage to trade prospects
in Asia.

As the left is not represented in the parliament, it must give voice where
it can.  And that's on the streets, where the cameras are.  Anyway, such a
(hopefully) fleeting opportunity to energise and unify the best of
Australia (who naturally pass moments of political polarisation watching
them on the telly) should be exploited to the full.  We're gonna have to do
a lot of politics in the streets over the next few years, and without the
numbers that momentarily avail themselves (for possible medium- to
long-term solidarity), that could be a sad exercise in futility indeed.

Keep at it, Tony!

Cheers,
Rob.

>Tony,
>
>    One of the oldest (and almost knee-jerk) responses to any kindst
>of militant action (no matter how mild in absolute terms) is one or
>another variation of "We agree with your goals but your methods are
>counter-productive." That's the cry, for example, that confronted
>the civil-rights movement in the U.S. from the very beginning. And
>Lyndon Johnson's appeal to Vietnam protesters, "Let us reason together"
>was an appeal to them to commit suicide.
>
>Carrol
>
>
>
>Tony Hanson writes (in part):
>
>>
><snip>
>
>Particularly since we have to fight our way through lines of cops to get
>at Hanson.
>In fact both the Prime Minister and the Labour Opposition Leader have
>condemned our demonstrations as helping Hanson rather than hindering
>her.
>
>Tony Hartin
>
>
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