Community’s courage required to combat ‘common hatred’

Peter Hartcher’s most important insight is that antisemitism has become more than simply another form of prejudice (“It’s the unique hate that inflames all others, and Australia is failing to quell it”, June 30). Drawing on ASIO boss Mike Burgess’s assessment, he shows how it has become the common hatred capable of uniting extremist groups that otherwise have little in common. The so-called horseshoe theory holds that the far left and far right, despite beginning at opposite ends of the political spectrum, almost meet and increasingly resemble one another in their methods and, at times, their hatreds. The disturbing rise in antisemitic incidents in the United States involving elements of both the far left and far right suggests this may be more than an academic curiosity. Australia should heed Burgess’s warning. Criticising Israel is legitimate; targeting Jewish Australians is not. When ideological extremes converge in hatred of one minority, the threat extends well beyond that community. It is a challenge to our democracy and social cohesion. John Kempler, Rose Bay

Peter Hartcher correctly notes that it is unreasonable to blame all Jews for the actions of the Israeli government, pointing out that there is no similar blaming of the Australian diaspora for the actions of Scott Morrison or Anthony Albanese. But it goes further than that. The vast majority of Jews worldwide are not Israeli citizens. Blaming them for the actions of the Israeli government is akin to blaming all Muslims around the world for the actions of the theocratic Iranian regime. Most Jews have no right to vote in Israeli elections and have no influence whatsoever over the Israeli government’s actions. They therefore cannot be held responsible in any way. Richard Grant, St Leonards

There are few commentators who possess the insight, the acumen and yes, the courage, to tell it like it is when it comes to the pandemic of Jew-hatred that has afflicted our country for the past 32 months as Peter Hartcher. His forensic analysis is deeply, if painfully, insightful, alerting us to the chilling reality that the issue emanates from multiple quarters, that it’s a grim daily constant for Jewish Australians and that every one of us has a part to play if we are to repair the nation’s fractured social cohesion. I hope Hartcher’s words will serve as a catalyst in healing our country. Vic Alhadeff, Darlinghurst

Team Minns must do better

Poker machine reform is surely one issue the Minns government cannot, must not continue to kick down the road (“Legal alert blow to Minns’ pokies policy”, June 30). The revenue gained from this form of gambling may well be attractive to the state treasury but what is the real cost to our community? Never mind the projected losses of up to $10 billion in pubs and clubs. This must surely be insignificant compared with costs of the associated gambling addictions, crime, violence, loss of productivity, ruined careers, ruined families, suicides, and on and on. The real cost of this harm to our community must surely dwarf any revenue gains. Gaming and Racing Minister David Harris should be less concerned with the “viability of the industry” and more concerned with the viability of our society. As with previous governments, this Minns government can do better. It must do better. Now. Bob Edgar, Moss Vale

As psychology students, we were shown a film of a pigeon being trained to hit a button with its beak and receive a seed to eat. It was then taught to peck it twice before receiving the seed. This increased to three, then four pecks before the seed dropped. Then the seed reward was stopped entirely. The pigeon continued to peck 3000 times without reward before the hapless creature was removed from the experiment. And you wonder why people play poker machines and governments and pubs want more of them? David Sayers, Gwandalan

Downhill slope

Your editorial has hit the nail firmly on the head (“Climate change effects hitting tourism hard,” June 30). At a time when the evidence of climate change is all around us, the three opposition parties in Australia – Liberal, National and One Nation – are either downplaying the need for action or denying the problem altogether. That may be politically expedient, but it’s no solution to what is the greatest threat facing humanity. And it isn’t just an environmental problem. It’s increasingly economic in its impact, as evidenced by the disaster unfolding in Australia’s ski fields. If we don’t unite to fix this problem, future generations will not judge us kindly. Ken Enderby, Concord

Nowhere is the effect of climate change more evident than in the Snowy Mountains during winter. Unfortunately, snow depth has been in steady decline since the late 1950s. With higher-than-average temperatures this season and a severe El Nino on its way, the trend is set to accelerate. According to Bureau of Meteorology expert Jonathon How, our ski fields are “on a downward trajectory as climate change intensifies”. It’s extraordinary that the Coalition and One Nation are turning their backs on our tourist industry. We need to significantly cut the pollution that is fuelling these higher temperatures if we are to keep our winter playground. The sooner, the better. Anne O’Hara, Wanniassa (ACT)

No one likes a poor skiing season, but as you struggle down that sparsely covered slope this winter holiday spare a thought for an ancient species of mountain pygmy-possum – the Burramys (“Frustrating start to the ski season”, June 30). This mouse-sized mammal is facing a completely different problem brought on by a lack of snow. The Burramys hibernates, which is a rarity on this continent. Nestled in their hiburnacula deep among the Alps boulders, a good snowfall provides them an insulating layer that stabilises the air temperature in their winter refuges to 1.5 to 2.5 degrees. A less-than-optimum cover lets in the icy air and “shocks” them out of their wintery sleep, forcing them to shiver as a means of staying warm. This survival reaction burns critical fat reserves. Starvation may meet the Burramys before the warming rays of spring and the bounty it brings. The inconvenient truth of climate change manifests itself in a mountain of repercussions. Steve Dillon, Thirroul

Liberals’ bad bet

I know where the government stands on multiculturalism – they support it. I know where One Nation stands – they oppose it. But I haven’t got a clue where the opposition stands. Leader Angus Taylor dodged questions about it and Liberal MP Andrew Hastie has now declared it’s a politically loaded term, leaving me more confused (“Multiculturalism a ‘loaded political term’, says Hastie”, June 30). If they want to appeal to voters, the opposition needs to decide what they stand for. It won’t work trying to have a bet each way. It just makes them look weak. Genevieve Kang, Glebe

Andrew Hastie claims that we have one flag. Excuse me. Australia has two flags, one representing the First Nations’ prior ownership of this land, and one representing its colonisation by the British Empire, fuelled by the notion that the Australian continent was terra nullius. The backwards slide continues. Elizabeth Elenius, Pyrmont

As a migrant (1970) I say I “barrack” for my footy team, not “root”, I can eat a meat pie with one hand, I will boo any politician silly enough to attend a sporting game – but I will never eat a pizza with a knife and fork. Fred Strassberg, Belrose

Damned if you do …

It must be tough being a political leader in this country. First, you’re copping flak because property prices are so high young people can’t afford to buy a home. Then, when you implement policies that bring property prices down, homeowners blame you for depreciating their assets (“How far is too far? The risks of a tumbling property market”, June 29). A fair-minded person might reasonably ask how else you make homes more affordable other than making them worth less. Ross Duncan, Potts Point