Intolerance, racism, bigotry and censorship.

Logos | 13/09/2006 - 12:40

This is not strictly a topic relating solely to our industry but rather to the country we live in which is greatly changed from the country I grew up in. It relates to a thread about Sedition and the Arts which was around a while ago.

I note that we are being asked to discuss whether or not Vistors to our fair country should be required to sign an undertaking that they will embrace our culture. Our culture which includes freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Neither of which we would have of course if we became a Muslim nation under modern Sharia law.

And there lies the great paradox of democracy and all it's attended freedoms. We must guarantee freedom of speech and the opportunity to be elected to people who would remove our freedom of speech and seriously damage our free election system if elected.

It happened in Italy in the 1920's and in Germany in the 1930's.

I will defend the right of free speech, on stage, on TV, in newspapers in magazines and etc. Free speech which in many ways has already been curtailed with the application of political correctness. I happen to find racism abhorrent in all it's forms but can we afford to muzzle anyone. If we can argue to muzzle National Front today we can almost certainly find arguements to muzzle the Catholic Right tomorrow the Muslim church the day after and so on.

We are daily moving towards muzzling "radical" Muslim clerics. Who decides they are radical and who is pure enough to cast the first stone.

Modern conservatism with Mr Howard as Prime Minister and the very Catholic Mr Abbott as Minister of Health is making a great many medical treatments the religious right doesn't like more and more hard to get evry day. Our employment rights are being eroded and we are being returned to a state of lassaiz faire economics that existed in the 19th Century.

And what are we doing in the world of performing arts. Where are the protest plays, where are the true social satires? Where are today's Shaw, Barrie, Pinero? Where is the street theatre?

Rent shows promise. But otherwise? The Boy From Oz?

Give me a break.

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Here here

Author: Neville Talbot
Date: 13/09/2006 - 13:05

I guess when so many of us at the 'pointy bit' are usually fairly young, and when the younger generation today has grown in relative comfort, there simply isn't the drive at any serious level to confront many issues.
We are quite happy to 'let it sit'.
As a young girl (the assistant director on a show I was doing a couple of years ago) said after the previous federal election, "I believe if it aint broke, don't fix it".
She simply didn't believe or care that a govt who lies and abuses various sectors of our communities was broken in any way. She was comfortable, and that's all that mattered.
I guess it's harder to care when you can pay your bills etc...

We as a country believe ourselves tolerant and accepting, and will not consider/accept other evidence. I do wonder how many germans or italians in the 20's and 30's believed this also, until it was too late...
Good topic- look forward to (hopefully) a rush of replies.

It's the simple things stupid...

We need the agitprop of the

Author: Na
Date: 13/09/2006 - 14:41

We need the agitprop of the 70s... I think we are on the verge of revolution pushed by the people - but I don't think it will come for at least another decade or two.

I don't think it's complacency, I think it's just that we haven't been pushed far enough in this country. We have a relatively stable environment; no real civil or national 'wars', the country is fairly rich, and we have a reasonable amount of 'justice'.

9/11 proved to the Americans that their continent and oceans don't protect them from the worldly concerns of anger, frustration, poverty, politics, and the people rising up to say something. Australia has really yet to face something on a similar magnitude.

I'm not saying that Australia would need a 9/11-type event to make a stand; just that we're a multicultural country, with different backgrounds, and it's hard to see an issue become so common and so passionate that people would make a communal, national stand.

The Prompt Copy
Networking emerging theatre professionals
www.thepromptcopy.com

Sticky Apple Legs
http://stickyapplelegs.artsblogs.com

Puppets in Melbourne
www.freewebs.com/puppetsinmelbourne

When push becomes RIOT!

Author: Labrug
Date: 13/09/2006 - 15:28

For those who came in late, Logos refers to the Sedition and The Artist thread linked here.

http://www.theatre.asn.au/personal_blog_entry/sedition_and_the_artist

The issue as it relates to Artists in general is rather troubling and something not seen in many years. So far, things have been relatively quiet, apart from the rather unfortunate incident with the ABC's "The Chaser", who in many people's opinion, overstepped his bounds. His example, while not specifically to do with sedition, is poignant none-the-less.

We have been given promises that freedom of speech will not be impinged. It already has been. Arrests, accusations, Politician's tell us (as a community) to adhere to Australian Values, must pass English Tests to be a citizen, etc, etc.

I do agree with the basic premise of the sedition laws which talk about the illegality of invoking or attempting to invoke, violence or offencive actions against the government, public, ethnic groups and other community groupings. However the the policies did not initially make allowances for the Artistic Communities and had the potential to be mis-interpreted on a fairly wide basis making our comedians prime targets if they weren't careful. The Chaser incident just goes to show how fine a line it is we walk.

And that doesn't even begin to cover issues such as cultural bias and tolerance.

Absit invidia

Jeff Watkins
Perth based Actor/Performer
who can also sing ... and occasionaly dance
Fight/Sword Choreographer
Virgin Director

http://au.geocities.com/labrug

PRESENTING - The Premier Event for UPstageWA
http://www.theatre.asn.au/meeting/2006/upstagewa_what_is_this_thing_called_acting

Free Speech

Author: Logos
Date: 14/09/2006 - 10:12

Any law which curtails free speech is abhorrent. I find the racist policies of various right wing organisations disgusting, I do not like the dogmatic statements by various Muslim clerics around the world that we should all turn to Islam to be safe. But, they all have a right to say it and I have an equal right to say that I believe they are wrong. I do not accept the sedition laws, I do not accept the almost inevitable introduction of an identity card, I will go to jail rather than carry one. I do believe that those who actively plot to illegally overthrow our legitimate government should be stopped and probably sent to jail but I still defend their right to say they don't like our government. I say I don't like our Government.
There is no general movement to defend the gradual erosion of our right to free speech and freedom of religion because people disagree with those that are muzzled. Just remember, the next to be silenced could well be you.
It may be true that we have nothing to fear if we are not breaking the law but what if who you are becomes illegal. Not a long step from where we are now.
Don't let your rights be eroded.

Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing.
www.tonymoore.id.au

I agree...

Author: Na
Date: 14/09/2006 - 16:13

Time for an election I think. (Not that that would really fix things...)

The Prompt Copy
Networking emerging theatre professionals
www.thepromptcopy.com

Sticky Apple Legs
http://stickyapplelegs.artsblogs.com

Puppets in Melbourne
www.freewebs.com/puppetsinmelbourne

History and today

Author: Tari-Xalyr
Date: 16/09/2006 - 11:50

Freedom and speech and Freedom of religion - I believe - relates immensley to the entertainment industry. People are just forgetting that.

I do not like to believe that there is a dieing passion to make comments on out society through our arts and I believe it's happening the only serious problem is where it is happening. The shows I have seen recently and been involved in recently are comments on not only humanity but the past, present, future and make serious social and political statements. We don't need to make new plays to make a relevant comment we just need to choose the correct plays.

My friend's piece is a small example from last nights show I was in. Her entire piece is based on the choices people make and how they are effecting the world and everyone in it. Small choices that lead to lasting effects.

I saw "The Lesson" at Garrick - it is a comment on Nazi Germany. It's a comment on WW2. Its just a choice to be made.

Another piece in the show last night wsa about the seriousness of reality and although focused on reality tv it adressed the dying freedom of this nation quite strongly.

The ideas and protests are ther ein theatre we just need to look for them.

History repeats itself. The idea that we are a "free nation" "the land of opportunity" is imbedded into the national pysche and it wil remain so for a long while yet. Australia is a evolving country we have had no revolution to bring about rapid change and in honesty I fear revolutions immensley. They lead to change yes. But who si to dictate and decide what sort of change, when, who and how? nobody has that right. The German people didn't believe what they were doing was wrong. Neither did the Japanese after they opened the Bamboo Curtain. Hey these countries to a certai extent still refuse to accept they were "wrong" The japanese don't teach teh darker sides of their history. An exchange student we had told my teacher he was lying about her country's past because they don't learn it.

History repeats itself but we fail to learn from it. The happenings in the world right now and in our own country are being adressed through theatre - effective or not they are there.

Freedom will soon become like perfection - an unobtainable goal humanity has created and set for itself - if we are not careful. Your silence can do alot more harm then you think it can.

~ Tari

The Writer is a child forever listening at the keyhole of the adult world.

16/09/2006 - 12:05 Logos Is that all there is? Well

This is not a new concern

Author: Logos
Date: 21/09/2006 - 08:28

I have been trying to remember this quote and have just found it on www.quotationspage.com

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
--Benjamin Franklin Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759

This is currently the state of play both here and in the US. We are giving up essential liberties to obtain a little temporary safety.
Phone lines accept anonymous denunciations and take them seriously we accept loss of freedom of speech we are setting up a situation in which tyrants and demagogues can rule.

Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing.
www.tonymoore.id.au

Down the Line

Author: Labrug
Date: 21/09/2006 - 09:35

Nice quote and well said. Give an inch, take a mile. Puts into my mind the ever so slight marginal win the liberal party had some years back and then John Howard making the statement that he had been "given a mandate for the GST." The inch was the closeness in the votes, the mile was the policy itself.

Another analogy comes to mind - Cracks in the pavement lets in the weeds and gives way to new cracks.

Absit invidia

Jeff Watkins
Perth based Actor/Performer
who can also sing ... and occasionaly dance
Fight/Sword Choreographer
Virgin Director

http://au.geocities.com/labrug

Intolerance, racism, bigotry and censorship.

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