Over the past few years there have been those in spits and spats who have exercised their Australian democratic right of free speech to offer various forms of “hate speech” over ANZAC.
Not only has this been in bad taste and bought much public condemnation, there is no legal recourse for anyone to challenge such ‘hate speech’.
There are innumerable discrimination rulings against those as deemed to offer ‘Hate Speech” against religious figures and ideas, but it seems that such does not relate to the national heartache that ANZAC brings to the nation.
Say anything you like against the ideas of ANZAC - plenty of free kicks - reject the national sacrifices, spread it wide and loud supported by a willing media who have nothing else to writer about ….. but one peep against another religion by a Christian, and down pours the criticism and horror.
But “Hate Speech” against ANZAC is announced in capital letters in the media, given high status, it is heralded as free speech and whatever else constitutes such horrors,
Why
The classic defence is that this is why our military sacrificed their very lives in these wars – why – to ensure freedom of speech was sacred.
The quiet Australians shake their collective heads at such Hate Speech against ANZAC and all that it entails as a national icon and sacred expression of thought and ministry.
Mateship is such a powerful symbol of Australian culture - you don’t leave your mate - one protects one’s mates. - yet the Hate Speech uttered by those whom despise ANZAC spitting in the face of such present mateship strength of national character – is given every joy and freedom of utterance.
Comparison
Christians in Australia, have been hit again and again by exercising their free speech with the courts and tribunals jumping down their throats.
Christians are under the thumb. There are so many articles written of this, giving chapter and verse. Christians in Australia are under persecution in so many ways.
My heart cries out for Australia.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand. Dr Mark Tronson’s Press Service International in 2019 was awarded the Australasian Religious Press Association’s premier award, The Gutenberg. In September 2020 Summer Moore presented her commission portrait of Dr Mark Tronson holding the Gutenberg plaque. The above photo is the upper part from this portrait.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at: http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html
