A multicultural utopia is not beyond the reach of our nation

Josh Szeps (“What kind of Australia do we want?” , December 20) provides a sensible analysis of where we are at as a country. A multicultural society, embracing universal values, where everyone is safe and valued for their differentness? Wouldn’t that be a great place to live? Yes, it is difficult at times, and we saw the result at Bondi of hatred and the rest of Australia not having done enough to stop it. Some of us are too quick to condemn, too slow to listen, too unaccepting of difference. Social media algorithms frame opinions in an unhealthy way; injustice to a group of people elsewhere is often more nuanced than simple. Groups providing answers and solutions often have sinister motives. Fringe politicians promoting racial hate do so by appealing to our patriotism. Australia as a multicultural haven requires us to leave our hatreds behind and build a new inclusive, accepting society. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it. Rational debate and discussion is a good place to start. Geoff Nilon, Mascot

Josh Szeps looks to the Enlightenment and, I assume, scientific rationalism as the foundation of the values that will support the acceptance of multiculturalism. Yet the willingness to sacrifice self-interest and love your enemy is foundational to Christianity, while the instruction to love your neighbour is found across the world’s major religions. Christmas is a reminder that the failure to embrace the good is nothing new and that true enlightenment requires humble acceptance rather than endless struggle. Philip Cooney, Wentworth Falls

Credit: Megan Herbert

Josh Szeps, in highlighting the urgent need to “refresh multiculturalism”, points to the importance of recognising our discomfort with differences, from the kinds of food that we eat to differences in religious beliefs, and the critical need to resolve this discomfort peacefully by making changes in long-held attitudes, a form of sacrifice, for the sake of the greater good. I would go further and argue that life at all levels flourishes best when there is balanced diversity, including in both the natural world and in human society. Our inability to recognise the significance of diversity has resulted in tragic consequences for each. Encourage, accept and make the sacrifices necessary to live with diversity, or perish. Paul Casey, Callala Bay

Thank you, Josh Szeps. For two millennia, Jewish people in Christian countries have been discriminated against, communities have been expelled en masse, and they have suffered pogroms. This is because antisemitism is a Christian tradition, supported by the accusation in the gospels that it was Jews who executed Jesus when it was actually the Roman rulers. We need our Christian institutions to stand up and come out against antisemitism. Then and only then things might change. Michael McMullan, Avoca Beach

At the same time as people were gathering to celebrate Hanukkah at Bondi, we were at our street Christmas party, where we welcomed the newest family to the street, who are of Indian background. We have people who have come from all over the world, including Indonesia, Malaysia and South Korea, to name a few. As an older person who has lived in the street for 57 years, I know help is at hand should I need it. There was no radio on, only Christmas music, so we didn’t know what was happening at Bondi. Josephine Piper, Miranda

Hatred always there

Your correspondent (Letters, December 20) may never have witnessed antisemitism in the classroom in 40 years of teaching, but almost 40 years ago I often experienced it in the playground. “Dirty Jew”, I was often called. At North Sydney Boys, no less. I copped worse outside of school. The idea that Australia is a tolerant, accepting place that has shockingly been recently engulfed in abuse and intolerance is misguided. From our dealings with our Indigenous folk to anti-Chinese riots and murders on the gold fields, our first federal legislation being the White Australia policy and the shooting of Jews on Bondi Beach, we have always had a very dark current of hatred and demonisation of whoever we wish to the “other”. It’s worth remembering that not only were Jews excluded from many clubs and institutions in Australia, but in 1938 Jews were denied right of entry here as we fled Hitler – because Australia did not want to “import a racial problem”. I’d humbly suggest, we have always had one. Unfortunately for us Jews, we are always seen as the “other” – worth demonising wherever we are. Richard Abram, Bexley

Correspondents have queried the adequacy of security at this tragic event at Bondi. I, too, wonder about appropriate deployment of police at group events. A couple of years ago, I attended a small (around 30 people) peaceful rally at Belmore Park in the city where we heard addresses from people seeking more urgent action by governments on climate change. No march was proposed – we all sat on the grass listening to the speakers. Yet we were ringed (at a distance) by 59 police officers. Elizabeth Elenius, Pyrmont

It troubles me to see members of the public walking on and around the bridge where the Bondi shooters did their murderous work. It’s mostly human curiosity, but I fear that in the future, the bridge may become a tourist attraction and even worse, a symbol for terrorists and antisemites to gather and push their agendas. Heritage value not withstanding, let’s get rid of it. In its place, let’s build a commemorative “peace bridge” of a modern design that acknowledges the victims who perished and the emergency services who assisted on that terrible day. We need hope, not hate. Robert Hickey, Green Point

For me, the sight of two coffins (“A side-by-side farewell with twin hearses for heroic couple”, December 20) personifies the horrific senseless killing at the Bondi Beach Hanukkah festival. Sofia and Boris Gurman were gunned down together as they attempted to stop the brutal slaughter of hapless innocent people, and their heroic action helps to restore my faith in humanity. It is much needed as Hanukkah and Christmas celebrate resilience and the “light over darkness” quality in humanity. Steve Ngeow, Chatswood

Drugs stance works

Capital punishment in Singapore is imposed in strict accordance with the law (“Activists fight to end death penalty”, December 18), and only after due process and rigorous trial before a globally recognised, highly ranked judicial system. Prisoners awaiting capital punishment are scheduled for execution only after they have exhausted all legal recourse in relation to their conviction and sentence, including the appeal and clemency process, which can sometimes take years. Singapore’s policies on capital punishment and drugs have worked for us, helping us stem the tide of illicit drugs and save countless lives. The arguments raised in the article are not new. The pejorative labels and insinuations used therein are regrettable. The Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act does not limit dissent or suppress alternative perspectives. A correction direction under the Act merely requires the recipient to set out the government’s position alongside the original content, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions. We invite readers to consider the arguments made in our op-ed, “Singapore’s drug stance works, regionally and socially”, March 26). As ever, the Singapore government will not abdicate our responsibility to protect our citizens. Anil Nayar, Singapore High Commissioner to Australia

Restrict guns, and their owners

While it is appropriate to look at gun ownership (“Stricter gun laws and ban on mass protests for NSW”, December 20), it is a complex matter as persons, companies, trusts and many agencies of government own them. Our immediate concern should be who is allowed to possess and handle guns and the circumstances. Private gun storage should be limited to licensed museums, gun clubs and commercial deposits with security measures such as live video monitoring by police. Guns should only be transferred between licensed deposits by licensed logistics businesses. Government should consider similar measures for its guns. Use of guns should be limited to one at a time, which should not be a practical issue for gun clubs and farmers. Each use should be limited to 24 hours. Farmers will need to establish a commercial deposit in their local town or village. These measures will also make it easier for police to limit gun use by our criminal elements killing each other what seems like every week in NSW. Peter Egan, Adelaide (SA)

Then Prime Minister John Howard (centre) addressing the gun rally at the Sale Football Club Victoria wearing a bulletproof vest, flanked by his bodyguard (right) and Local Federal Member Peter McGauran (left).Credit: Fairfax Photographic

Like many others, we believed that John Howard’s action regarding guns after Port Arthur had solved most of our gun problems, but with the rise in shooting deaths in Sydney and the horrific Bondi attack it seems we were wrong. In my ignorance I was not aware that many people make a living out of selling guns legally and are happy to do so. We are a nation built on violence, with an illegal invasion in 1788 that would be the envy of Netanyahu regarding Gaza. I urge our government and opposition to think long and carefully about our problem and then to implement laws to protect all of us against those who would kill with impunity. Nola Tucker, Kiama

“Changes to gun laws” equals “red herrings”. Alan Slade, Dover Heights

The panic is on to pass new laws against hate preachers to make everyone, especially all those politicians who took the opportunity to fire cheap political shots, happy. The trick will be to make the laws even-handed across the board so they encompass, for example, anti-semitism, anti-Palestinianism and LGBTQIA all at once. However, on their own they are still hardly likely to prevent crazy fanatics from murdering people. Strengthened gun laws will be a more effective tool. Julius Timmerman, Lawson

Wow. I thought Australia’s gun laws were tight. They’re not. It’s just an incredible amount of lip service by government who are poleaxed by the gun lobby. And a con to the rest of the world. Australia appears no better off than since the Port Arthur massacre. Ted Bush, North Epping

The tired excuse against strengthening gun laws is that it affects the 99.99 per cent of gun owners who are law-abiding citizens. The problem with this juvenile argument is that 99.99 per cent of gun owners are law-abiding until they are not. The elder Bondi killer was a law-abiding gun owner until last Sunday. Then he wasn’t. Ross Hudson, Mount Martha (Vic)

Human rights proposal

One positive outcome of the Bondi tragedy would be the enactment of a National Human Rights Charter to act as a framework for proposed legislation on hate speech etc. I understand that draft legislation for a Human Rights Charter has been sitting on the attorney-general’s desk for years. I urge the attorney to dust it off and introduce it without delay. Andrew Macintosh, Cromer

Sparks of protest

Like the Howard gun laws, the Minns protest laws do not go far enough (‴⁣⁣Hateful’ chants and flags will be banned as IS claims it inspired Bondi attack″⁣, December 20). There is a continuum between propaganda protests, hate chants and flag-waving environments. It needs a crowd. Where the crowd relates to an issue not of this country’s making, then we do not need that crowd’s propaganda. Legitimate protests remain legal, but it is too late to stop a protest during a terrorist event. Neo-Nazi, pro-Palestinian and Israeli propaganda has no place on or in our institutions, like the right to protest on streets etc. Anne Eagar, Epping

Light in the darkness

There’s candle, that’s for remembrance; pray, love, remember

Not long ago, I walked the streets of my suburb after dark, enjoying homes lit up for Diwali. This week, I walked the same streets to see Christmas lights and decorations on fences, in gardens, over balconies and in windows. But brightest of all were the lone candles burning in memory of the victims of the Bondi Hanukkah Massacre and in empathy for the wounded survivors and their grieving families. Meredith Williams, Baulkham Hills

Missing payments

While I am sympathetic to the plight of Claude Von Arx’s clients, who are forced into bankruptcy over debts as little as $10,000 (“No one should lose their home over a $10,000 debt”, December 20), another side to these laws needs to be recognised.
I have worked for small businesses suffering financial problems because they are not paid by clients who know how to skirt lax bankruptcy laws. It’s disappointing to see how people who can pay and should know better, do not. These people know that the amounts they owe will not be enough to take them to bankruptcy courts. It’s high time that professional organisations started being accountable for their registered members who flout the very law and ethics they are meant to uphold. Elizabeth Darton, Lane Cove West

Faces of our future

As they say, a picture speaks a thousand words (“Selective, private schools rule the ATARs as girls narrow the divide”, December 20). The picture of high-achieving HSC students demonstrates multicultural Australia, whether you like or loathe that term, but this is a reality. These high achievers will be future lawyers, doctors, engineers or other professionals that we will all interact with in some form. Rather than accepting the reality, we are stuck in semantics. Celebrate multicultural Australia. Mukul Desai, Hunters Hills

Could it be that the faces of the high achievers in this year’s HSC results speak volumes for the benefits to this country of multiculturalism and migration? Brian Roach, Westleigh

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