From my conversations, one core reason Australian Jews feel so betrayed by the state is this - a feeling of, “we upheld our end of the social contract.” We came to this country, integrated, wanted to be Australian, followed the laws, and contributed to society. Now, fast forward a few decades, and we’re being persecuted by a group, significant minorities of which refuse to uphold *their* end of the social contract - dominating rather than integrating, breaking laws and customs rather than following them - and the state is giving *them* special treatment and free rein to abuse us. It’s a betrayal at the heart of what it means to be an Australian.
In Australia we have freedom of religion. The Jewish community is not trying to impose their beliefs on or force others to follow their religious laws. Regular Australians are not bothered by community festivals, in fact we often join in.
The Jewish Bakery Cafe that my daughters and I regularly visit sells Christmas themed cakes. My eldest is learning Hebrew because the owners are so nice that she wants to learn their language. Her Hebrew lessons are integrated with the local school, available to all who want to pay, and through the lessons we get invites to local Jewish events, which we are welcome to join.
My in-laws' Jewish personal trainer came to our wedding, and they were invited to his children's barmitzvah. We received more hand me down clothes from them than anyone could possibly need. When my mother in law took a fall in the street, Hatzollah were the first responders.
IDK. Depends how into it you are, there are certainly a lot of fanatically religious jews in Australia who are anything but integrated, but celebrating Hannukah doesn't seem like the bar to judge it by.
You’re right that there are some ultra Orthodox Jews in Australia who pretty much keep to themselves, but that’s 4% of the population according to the statistic I looked at (that number accounts for those who are strictly orthodox as opposed to modern orthodox, who mix more in contemporary society - as an example, I have many doctors who are modern orthodox who work in govt hospitals and treat people of all faiths). Even so, you don’t see Orthodox Jews imposing on Australian culture, harassing women, protesting disruptively, or committing violent crime. I definitely think society is improved when people mix, and some religious sects do less of that, that’s true. But to me it’s qualitatively different than how sectors of the Muslim population are behaving.
Excellent summary, Louise. I would add to it that anger about this in the general community is now white hot. For far too long we have tolerated in our midst people who are violently antisemitic. Who want to import their alien ideologies and endless blood feuds here into our country. Australia is presently run by political cowards and midwits who have acted ineffectively or not at all. In years to come, this will be seen as a defining moment in our history. Will we continue to decline, as our parent country, Britain, has declined, or will we course correct and remember who we are supposed to be?
I meant that this sort of thing won’t happen in a nation with a massive ‘state-capacity’, a relatively liberal social/economic atmosphere, respect for traditional sources of political power, and a deep abhorrence towards ideologies of any sort! The UAE personifies all of the above!
As a New Zealander, when Australia bleeds we bleed too. Watching this tragedy is unimaginable. Very scary to see the kind of people that are lurking not too deep under the surface of Australian society. And yet, even in the wake of this, left wing liberal types (not the Aus political party) are quick to jump to "not all men" type excuses for violence in the name of Islam.
Louise, for a long time I have struggled to find a woman I resonate with to look up to. It may seem trivial but anyone who was saying the things I agree with was either male or female but quite masculine, aggressive and childless. To find you who is elegant, glamorous and has children provides solace. To have you comment on Australia (as an Australian) just makes it feel like Christmas!
I don't know why the author focuses on 'progressives'. Conservatives presided over the transformation of Australian society through immigration as equally as anyone else, and go to the beach. And the Americans can take their share of the blame, as champions of globalisation in its various guises over their whole period of ascendancy. Including pressuring Australia in the 1960s to liberalise its immigration policy.
Being pro-mass immigration is a 'progressive' policy, whichever political party enacts it. Here in the UK, the so-called Conservative party has spent decades adopting progressive policies & doing the opposite of anything conservative. The name means nothing.
To be center, politically, now and not cause another "Cronulla"-esque riot though continue to provide a safe haven for my 4 year to play on beaches, both literal and figurative - as you mention in 'Life is a beach'....
Is the solution to particularly single out a religion that has shown to radicalise men far more than any other religions though to do so would mean to go backwards as a democratic country which holds at its core things like freedom to choose ...
From my conversations, one core reason Australian Jews feel so betrayed by the state is this - a feeling of, “we upheld our end of the social contract.” We came to this country, integrated, wanted to be Australian, followed the laws, and contributed to society. Now, fast forward a few decades, and we’re being persecuted by a group, significant minorities of which refuse to uphold *their* end of the social contract - dominating rather than integrating, breaking laws and customs rather than following them - and the state is giving *them* special treatment and free rein to abuse us. It’s a betrayal at the heart of what it means to be an Australian.
In Australia we have freedom of religion. The Jewish community is not trying to impose their beliefs on or force others to follow their religious laws. Regular Australians are not bothered by community festivals, in fact we often join in.
The Jewish Bakery Cafe that my daughters and I regularly visit sells Christmas themed cakes. My eldest is learning Hebrew because the owners are so nice that she wants to learn their language. Her Hebrew lessons are integrated with the local school, available to all who want to pay, and through the lessons we get invites to local Jewish events, which we are welcome to join.
My in-laws' Jewish personal trainer came to our wedding, and they were invited to his children's barmitzvah. We received more hand me down clothes from them than anyone could possibly need. When my mother in law took a fall in the street, Hatzollah were the first responders.
How is that not integrated?
IDK. Depends how into it you are, there are certainly a lot of fanatically religious jews in Australia who are anything but integrated, but celebrating Hannukah doesn't seem like the bar to judge it by.
You’re right that there are some ultra Orthodox Jews in Australia who pretty much keep to themselves, but that’s 4% of the population according to the statistic I looked at (that number accounts for those who are strictly orthodox as opposed to modern orthodox, who mix more in contemporary society - as an example, I have many doctors who are modern orthodox who work in govt hospitals and treat people of all faiths). Even so, you don’t see Orthodox Jews imposing on Australian culture, harassing women, protesting disruptively, or committing violent crime. I definitely think society is improved when people mix, and some religious sects do less of that, that’s true. But to me it’s qualitatively different than how sectors of the Muslim population are behaving.
Yeah there are plenty of non-orthodox jews that are religious nutters too. I wasn’t comparing them to muslims, I was just talking about assimilation.
Go fuck yourself, you jerkoff Jewhater.
Excellent summary, Louise. I would add to it that anger about this in the general community is now white hot. For far too long we have tolerated in our midst people who are violently antisemitic. Who want to import their alien ideologies and endless blood feuds here into our country. Australia is presently run by political cowards and midwits who have acted ineffectively or not at all. In years to come, this will be seen as a defining moment in our history. Will we continue to decline, as our parent country, Britain, has declined, or will we course correct and remember who we are supposed to be?
‘perpetrated by Muslim men of Lebanese and Pakistani descent against white and indigenous teenage girls.’
As I was reading this article I was constantly telling myself; thank god that I live in the UAE!
Care to elaborate for those of us who do not?
I meant that this sort of thing won’t happen in a nation with a massive ‘state-capacity’, a relatively liberal social/economic atmosphere, respect for traditional sources of political power, and a deep abhorrence towards ideologies of any sort! The UAE personifies all of the above!
Helpful! Thanks for sharing that.
You’re welcome!
The UAE has very strict laws on dealing with bad behaviour that it enforces very harshly. Also a comprehensive surveillance system.
Western liberal democracy only works if people behave themselves.
If you insert 3rd world people who only respond to harsh punishment it will fail.
Remind again what’s so great about Muslims that we should put up with this shit
As a New Zealander, when Australia bleeds we bleed too. Watching this tragedy is unimaginable. Very scary to see the kind of people that are lurking not too deep under the surface of Australian society. And yet, even in the wake of this, left wing liberal types (not the Aus political party) are quick to jump to "not all men" type excuses for violence in the name of Islam.
Louise, for a long time I have struggled to find a woman I resonate with to look up to. It may seem trivial but anyone who was saying the things I agree with was either male or female but quite masculine, aggressive and childless. To find you who is elegant, glamorous and has children provides solace. To have you comment on Australia (as an Australian) just makes it feel like Christmas!
Thank you for this Louise. - An Australian Jew with recently deceased Holocaust surviving grandparents.
Every liberal, pluralist country will end up with a values test for immigrants, or they will end up no longer liberal and pluralist
I don't know why the author focuses on 'progressives'. Conservatives presided over the transformation of Australian society through immigration as equally as anyone else, and go to the beach. And the Americans can take their share of the blame, as champions of globalisation in its various guises over their whole period of ascendancy. Including pressuring Australia in the 1960s to liberalise its immigration policy.
Being pro-mass immigration is a 'progressive' policy, whichever political party enacts it. Here in the UK, the so-called Conservative party has spent decades adopting progressive policies & doing the opposite of anything conservative. The name means nothing.
Brilliant piece, Louise. One of your best!
Thank you!
What is the solution Louise?
To be center, politically, now and not cause another "Cronulla"-esque riot though continue to provide a safe haven for my 4 year to play on beaches, both literal and figurative - as you mention in 'Life is a beach'....
Is the solution to particularly single out a religion that has shown to radicalise men far more than any other religions though to do so would mean to go backwards as a democratic country which holds at its core things like freedom to choose ...
Unfortunately liberalism is going to have to be somewhat illiberal to survive