You may have noticed the confluence of public rallies purporting to be about anti-immigration in Britain and Australia. These are organised by white supremacist groups and are attacking Labor governments in both nations. The right wing anti-immigration con job conveniently misses the fact that both countries have had 10 years of conservative governments prior to the rise of Labour. Blaming Anthony Albanese or Keir Starmer is a bit rich when it is decade’s old policies driving the bus on immigration. White skinned people wrapping themselves in the national flag makes for paper thin patriotism in my book. The empire and colonial times are over folks, the world has moved on, thankfully.

“Multicultural Affairs Minister Anne Aly says anti-immigration protests on Sunday were “clearly racist” and infiltrated by neo-Nazis looking to “prey on some legitimate concerns”.
Speaking on ABC radio on Monday, Aly highlighted that some protesters targeted anti-Indian immigration in their “calls to action”.
“Now that, to me, is clearly racist when you target a specific ethnicity. That is clearly racism.” “

• (https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/multicultural-minister-slams-march-for-australia-protests/yuc2vxgbv)

March For Australia A White Supremacist Initiative

I wonder about individuals who feel the need to bolster their identity via flag waving. Do you really go around wearing your national identity and thinking this is primarily who I am? Get a life! People who define themselves by who they dislike or don’t want to live next door to are sadly lacking in what makes communities great places. Losers, invariably, blame others for their own failings, I find. Progressiveness and inclusivity are the only way forward, as we are all in this together. Those who trade upon divisiveness will not prosper, ultimately, as Peter Dutton discovered.

Right Wing Politicians & Big Business Scamming Aussies

The right wing anti-immigration con job sucks a lot of little people in. The reason why your life is fast becoming unaffordable is not because of immigration. It is the big end of town stealing your lunch, but you are too cowardly to take on the powers that be. A decade of Liberals and Nationals running things federally have put us where we find ourselves. Business runs the show downunder and not governments when it comes to money. The LNP have deregulated and paved the way for corporations to merge, and thus competition is a thing of the past. This means no consumer buying power, which equates to price setting by big companies. Inflation following the global pandemic and price gouging by corporations have seen a cost of living crisis for poorer working Australians. Chucking out immigrants is not going to reverse things. Right wing politicians do not have any real solutions, rather they exploit xenophobia and innate racism for political gain.

Turning The Clock Back Not An Option

Britain is in an economic bind because of Brexit and leaving the European Economic Union. This foolish outcome based upon right-wing nationalism has stuffed the UK for decades to come on this basis. Things like culture wars and anti-immigration are emotive pressure points that hold no real solutions for communities. Making the world smaller via small-minded policies is not a recipe for success. You cannot turn the clock back no matter your feelings. Wrap yourself in the flag for all you are worth – it don’t matter a hill of beans!

Rural Vs City Divide

In Australia, the LNP Coalition barely hold a metropolitan seat. The city-rural divide is growing. We have seen armed extremism in the bush via cop killing domestic terrorists calling themselves Christians and Sovereign Citizens. Wrapping yourself up in extreme Christianity or Nationalism is not a true marker of virtuousness. It does not make you a better person more worthy of status than anyone else. In fact, it marks you as a nutjob requiring closer scrutiny by those tasked with keeping us safe. Getting the guns out of the bush is now a priority for police. Racism, white supremacy and the anti-immigration push are not in the interests of a fairer and more equitable Australia. Regional Australia is largely whiter than metro Australia and many of the residents of rural areas lack real life experience of living multiculturally. In reality, we are all far more alike than different. Don’t fall for the right wing anti-immigration con job.

Sovereign Citizens

“Up until this moment, Australia has been pretty laid back about Sovereign Citizens and their ridiculous carry on about their rights. Unlike many other countries, where if you went around saying, ‘your laws do not apply to me,’ you would be arrested and locked up. Now, however, one of these so-called ‘freedom fighters’ has killed 2 cops in cold blood and wounded another. On this basis, the party is over folks! No more cutting these people slack. It is time to declare them domestic terrorists and to proscribe them on this basis. There is no place for individuals in this nation going around claiming that they are immune from our laws. You are either with us or against us! “

• (https://wordsforweb.com.au/you-are-either-with-us-or-against-us/)

Robert Sudha Hamilton is the author of The Stoic Golfer; Money Matters and America Matters: Pre-apocalyptic Posts & Essays in the Shadow of Trump.

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