From the desk of ROLAND ROCCHICCIOLI

The Envoy is a comparable role in Canada, the European Union, the United States, Greece, Romania, and the United Kingdom; however, given Australia’s colonial past the position is problematic at best, and deeply divisive at worst.

The Envoy’s 49 “key actions” recommendations, several of which will be undertaken by the envoy’s own office without legislation, lack some specificity; its implicit intent to silence dissent is startling. Interestingly, some quarters of the Jewry, and Constitutional and Human Rights Lawyers, are critical. The proposal for funding withdrawal from performance productions/arts festivals, universities and the ABC, for alleged/perceived anti-Semitic violations is frightening. No-one has been touched by the Cosmos with infallible judgement. It could be posited, with fairness, the Australian Envoy’s consanguinity — closeness of blood, might prove an impediment in the ultimate decision-making process — “seeing the forest for the trees”…

Theatrically, the funding penance is redolent of the erstwhile, authoritarian powers gifted England’s Lord Chamberlain to arbitrarily ban, unconditionally, production of plays he deemed unacceptable. Anyone having experienced accusations of unfounded antisemitism — the implacable foraging for imaginary discrimination, will bridle at the thought, and the introduction of such power. Specifically: Is Shakespeare’s play, The Merchant of Venice, about antisemitism, or is it anti-Semitic? Learned scholars are undecided. Validly, theatrical practitioners would consider an authoritative judgement beyond the Envoy’s purview. The play underscores the cruelty of antisemitism, and its capacity to devastate — Jewish and Christian.

The Oxford Dictionary defines “phobia” as an extreme or irrational fear or aversion to a specific object, situation, or activity; also, it can be disproportionate to the actual danger posed by the object or situation. The definitive answer regarding Australia’s racism is historically nuanced, and complex. Possibly, and in the absence of empirical evidence, the aggregate might be found to conclude: YES.

Xenophobia (racism) is a prejudice against people from other countries. Australian 1950s government employment advertisements carried a shameless restriction: “Catholics, Jews, and Irish, need not apply”. Repeatedly, we stridently articulate the differences and wittingly ignore those traits which unite our community —ethnicity notwithstanding. Correspondingly — and with profound deference, the Roman Catholic church is not the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church; Jews are not the chosen people; and those who do not believe in the Islamic God are not kāfir. The imperative tenets of deep, personal Faith should not be proclaimed as universal truths. They do not, nor should they be applied, to define the character of secular society.

Axiomatically, antisemitism should be rooted-out. It is a foul, polluting canker; it has no basis in truth. Conversely, the current flurry of focused outrage should not ignore homophobia, lesbophobia, Islamophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, ageism, and the multifarious and devastating discriminations suffered by our minorities. Collectively, these phobias create the “wicked problems” which so bedevil our lives. Perceptions matter. None is pre-eminent; all are equal and deserving of precisely the same degree of respect and protection under The Crown.

We need be cautious of kneejerk reactions and their potential to divide and exacerbated society’s “wicked problems”.

Roland can be heard with Brett Macdonald radio 3BA — Monday 10.40am. Contact: [email protected]