For the children, the system must change
As much as I admire Kate Halfpenny, this time she is just plain wrong. The wedding was hyper meaningless and gross.
Frank Flynn, Cape Paterson
Racialised hate
Friday night's events in Melbourne mark a terrifying turning point. An Israeli restaurant was targeted. A synagogue was set alight. This is racialised hate. It does nothing to help Palestine. In fact, it makes Palestinian dignity more elusive.
Some on the terminally-online far left will claim it's 'anti-Zionism', not antisemitism. But when Jewish businesses are attacked and houses of worship are burning, that excuse collapses. 'Zionist' has become a socially acceptable slur – a veil for bigotry.
The far right plays the same game: when Donald Trump said 'Shylocks and bad people,' he claimed it was just a literary reference. Elements of the far left now launder hatred with the same trick.
This is what happens when politicians aren't censured for saying Jews have 'tentacles,' when parties like the Greens scapegoat entire populations, when people get their news from TikTok, when unrepresentative fringe groups are given a megaphone again and again, and when even legacy media platforms platform the same predictable polemics, afraid to break ranks or admit moral complexity. What begins with euphemism ends with fire.
This isn't about Israel. It's about whether Jews in Australia can walk the streets and live without fear. Say it, and say it clearly: this is racism.
Simon Tedeschi, Newtown, NSW
The deeper currents
The article ″ Radical Israeli settlers fan the flames of hatred in West Bank ″ (5/7) is deeply disturbing. We are told these settlers are 'radical,' 'extremist,' 'fanatical.' But what if they are not?
A recent Penn State University poll, reported in Haaretz, revealed that 82 per cent of Jewish Israelis support the forced expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, and 56 per cent support their expulsion from all of historical Palestine. Two-thirds believe Palestinians are a modern-day incarnation of Amalek – an ancient enemy God commanded to be 'blotted out' – and most of those believe that command still applies today.
Given these findings, one is forced to consider that when settlers torch olive groves, shoot at farmers, , they may no longer be outliers, but echoes of a deeper current. It is not enough to be horrified. We must speak, act, withdraw support, and refuse to take part in the machinery that allows this to continue.
Fernanda Trecenti, Fitzroy
A big ugly bill
There is nothing beautiful about Donald Trump's big beautiful bill. It is a disgraceful and inhumane outcome for the nation and most of its citizens.
Mary Fenelon, Doncaster East
The Wright stuff
Tony Wright's piece (″ Why a treaty is key to better future ″, 5/7), illustrated by the beautiful images of Justin McManus, should be read by all, not just those of us with a conscience and a heart.
Vikki O'Neill, Ashburton
History's echoes
Eva-Jo Edwards' recollection of her and her siblings' forced removal from their Swan Hill family struck an uncomfortable chord with me.
In 1969, I visited Burwood Boys' Home and observed the presence there of some Aboriginal children. Without a doubt two of them would have been Eva-Jo's brothers; not for one moment did I wonder why they were there.
Now we all know that trauma for our First Peoples isn't just something from centuries-old history, but has occurred, and continues to occur in our own lifetimes. If white children were legislated to be taken from their families, if young white people died in disproportionate numbers in, and out of custody, if blue-eyed people like me had to endure constant enmity and discrimination, heaven and earth would be moved to redress the inequity, and the iniquity.
The Yoorrook Justice Commission's recommendations must be supported in full.
David Johnston, Healesville
Negative profit
Private enterprises are supposed to be more efficient than government-run organisations but, how often does the pursuit of profits result in poorer services?
Michael Brinkman, Ventnor
A sinking feeling
I am afraid the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal will go the way of all our sub deals – binned just like the Japanese and French plans.
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