Freedom of speech

www.firstnationstelegraph.com

Freedom of speech

by Stephen Hagan Cartoon by Julie Dowling

I

’ve had various complaints recently on First Nations Telegraph’s Facebook page in which a number of our readers raised concerns about the probity of publishing an offending Opinion piece

by Anthony Dillon on our Website, Facebook and Twitter sites in which he makes the claim that the words

‘coconut’ and ‘ape’ are not offensive words. http://goo.gl/n6WkQ The unambiguity of those making complaints forced my hand in penning this editorial: Person 1/ Can’t believe you guys even published this. Who’s backing you guys? Murdoch? Bolt?; Person 2/ I would like to know who is really behind this page now because you are truly misrepresenting MY people and I am sick of

people like you!! And if your ignorance is due to your youth I suggest you close this page until you have educated yourself properly on all the issues our people have faced & continue to face everyday; and Person 3/ Call me an ape down the street and see wat u get.

It perhaps didn’t help the cause that in true Anthony Dillon style he addressed – or should I say confronted (in writing

on Facebook) – each challenging complaint with a strong defense of his position on the topic.

Anthony Dillon: A truth which some find uncomfortable is a truth nonetheless. I had hoped that the truth that we don’t have to be victims of other people’s opinions that we disagree with would have been liberating.

But clearly not. I thought that the truth that many Aboriginal people in remote communities are

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suffering at levels many of us could not imaging may motivate some people. But apparently not.

A decade ago I would’ve had no problems dismissing Anthony or people of his ilk, whether they’re First Nation or not, who have an ultra conservative view on what words does or doesn’t cause offense.

He would not have had his column published in a forum I controlled back then.

But times have changed and so have I. Perhaps it’s old age or the fascination of wanting to explore the essence of the debater’s line of reasoning that I’ve allowed Anthony’s publication in this case.

Or perhaps it’s demonstrating to myself and readers who know my background, that I’m able to rise above my personal and public views on this topic in the interest of promoting free speech.

On 30 May I made it very clear in my last editorial on the same topic, under the headline Are Australian Racist? and assumed that readers where across my personal position on this theme. http://goo.gl/GDEcS To this date, and for those who are not aware of my background, I remain the only person from Australia to take an

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individual case of racism (against the Australian government and the three tiers of domestic courts’ judgments) to the United Nations in Geneva and win.

To read the background to the case and to view full transcript of the decision click on: http:// goo.gl/1uflw I’ve also gained awards for a book written on the topic and a documentary I made with my wife Rhonda on my very public campaign to rid the N word from a public epitaph in my hometown of Toowoomba.

I appreciate there will be many readers who will say: You of all people ought to know better than to promote this stuff from Dillon!

Clearly in Australia today we’re still not mature enough to engage in discussions on this issue and therein present our current dilemma.

If we think that wishing this controversy of inappropriate and racist name-calling away, and keep our fingers cross that racism in all its ugly rawness does not see the light of day again embellished on the front pages of newspapers or lead stories on television coverage, then we’re kidding ourselves.

My role as editor of First Nations Telegraph -

and in wearing a different hat from litigator – is to allow disparate people of contrasting political persuasions and of unconventional thinking on social, religious and cultural issues to have equal opportunity of expression.

The only things I won’t stand for in FNT are columnists or Facebook contributors using profanity or being liable with their opinions.

I’m also on the public record as saying Australians are the most racist people in the world.

I’ve also preface that observation previously by saying 20% - a figure that’s growing slowly - of Australians are not in the racist category and who celebrate our culture and promote and appreciate our aspirations as First Nations people.

That 20% of mainstream Australians our genuine friends - will continue to assist us in creating an Australia that offers a better future for our children and their children where they will not have this same race debate in their lifetime.

We clearly have a long way to go and I don’t know whether the current government or the one who’ll replace them in a couple of month’s time – and who intends to water down the Race

Discrimination Act to make it easier for the Andrew Bolts and Eddie McGuires of the world to go unchallenged on issues of race and prosper to our detriment – will realize that Australia we dream of.

At the very least if the open and frank discussions on FNT Facebook page can be maintained, and the controlled rage continued, then our rapidly expanding national and international readership will get to appreciate the depth to which this public discourse impacts on our mob.

The one thing you’ll never see me doing is responding on Facebook to online debates as I don’t wish to influence, in any shape or form, anyone’s line of reasoning.

I will, however, continue to delete and, when necessary, ban those who have seen fit to use profanity and liable as a form of disagreement to what is an open Facebook page for free expression.

First Nations Telegraph was created to promote public debate, to inform the broader community of our aspirations and to empower our mob.

We will continue to do so.