Letter to the Editor: don’t mention the war

DEAR News Of The Area,

THE extraordinary events of the last two months have revealed much about Australian society, status quo politics, and the suppression of our mainstream media.

The shock and horror of Bondi, which will forever define Xmas 2025, has revealed an Australia still living in a global bubble where the realities of the world around us might as well be on some alien planet.

Sadly, this significant event in Australia’s immediate and future history, rather than being the catalyst for an honest, transparent and outward looking debate, with considered change, has only further suppressed healthy public commentary, spawned further irrational anti-Islamic, anti-immigration sentiments from opportunist racist politicians and hate groups, rushed legislation which places even more questionable restrictions on the Australian public and media, and given birth to a costly public enquiry which will be severely hampered by the criminal trial of the lone surviving perpetrator.

The public outpouring of grief, both spontaneous and orchestrated, essential to our dealing with the tragedy, stands in stark contrast to our seeming inability to grasp what has been happening, and is still happening to tens of thousands of innocent fellow humans, just half a flight to Europe away.

This is not at the hands of a couple of lone actors, but recognised and supported governments and their agencies.

David Wood

Boambee East