En Passant

Historically speaking then, McIntyre is not all that far off the mark, but he has been sacrificed on the altar of populist outrage. The response to McIntyre’s tweets is a demonstration that the popular perception of Anzac is completely out of step with the historical reality – but his remarks are also timely. We should not forget that war is never a one-sided affair in which our boys are squeaky-clean heroes and their boys murdering, raping villains.

Australia’s detention centres are concentration camps.

The anger provoked by Freddie Gray’s death has been building for years – the result of entrenched racism and economic inequality, not to mention the long history of police brutality and killings, mainly of African American men.

Paddy Gibson writes: Uncle Ray was a key link binding together many groups and struggles here in Sydney, across Australia and indeed across the world. His compassion and patience welcomed many people into the struggle and ensured they had a meaningful role to play. His passing is a tragic blow. But he lives on in the struggle. Solidarity sends its condolences to all Ray’s friends, family and comrades. Rest in Peace with your ancestors my dear Uncle, you have earned this rest more than anyone.

We couldn’t have Aboriginal people pointing out the truth about the Frontier Wars from 1778 to 1920 in which tens of thousands of Aboriginal warriors fell defending their land against the invaders could we? That would expose the reality of the essentially white character of the celebration of ANZAC Day and its reinforcement of white Australia. Stopping Aboriginal people marching in memory of their brothers and sisters who were killed during the Frontier Wars exposes that white Australia reality too.

McIntyre was telling his version of the truth, a version much closer to reality than the war porn about ANZAC Day the Australian ruling class has force fed us over the last week. Sacking McIntyre explodes the lies of the ruling class that our participation in this imperialist war was about defending freedom and democracy then and now.

As Tony Abbott prepares to spend $12 billion on useless fighter jets and up to $30 billion on submarines while at the same time he attacks Medicare, Universities, jobs, wages, unions, pensions, disability pensions, legal aid, Aboriginal communities, scientific research, and spending on social services, remember this. We are not all in this together. ANZAC Day is cover for these attacks on the poor and workers. It celebrates an imperialist war to divert attention away from the one sided class war the rich have waged against us for the last 32 years and to prepare us for future wars and justify our ruling class’s imperialist expansion in the region. The less bread we get the more circuses they put on.

Solidarity magazine writes:

‘ Mythology about the Anzacs and the First World War is still used to justify militarism today. But for a number of the Australian soldiers that fought, the experience turned them into socialists and opponents of war.’

To read more click here.

This is the link to my 32 minute interview on Monday 20 April with Sharon Firebrace on Razor Sharp. ‘2014 May Budget was a cruel budget attempted to be imposed on the Australian people against a backdrop of misinformation…..2015 Budget proceeds whereby “taxing the rich is off the table”.’ Plus much much more about the Government’s […]

Let’s unite and fight to stop the brutal war against Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders now. Let’s start by stopping the genocidal closure of 150 Aboriginal communities in Western Australia. Let’s resist.