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June 06
Edition

Pages in PDF

Regular
Features

› The Fat Lady
  Sings
  with JoAnn Pacholli

› In Tents Thawt
  with Mick Pacholli

› Sid's Comments
  with Sidney
  Somerville-Smith

› The Lie Detector
  with Mitchell
   Faircloth

› Fab's Ravings

› Technology
  with Chris Jacobs

› Your Views

› The Artful Stock Picker
  with
  Peter Hegarty

› Marketing Advice
  with Andrew Hickinbotham

› Family Issues
  with
  Marilyn Brideson

› The Culture of Appearance
  with
  Suzanne Walker

› Gallery Gazing

› Planet Clare

› Lovatts
  Crossword

› Social Scene
  with Ken James

› Live Theatre
  with Blair Edgar

› Movie Scene
  with
  Marcus Sinclair

› Entertainment
  with Gary Turner

› Grazing in the
  Suburbs
  with Mick Pacholli

› Fab's Travel

› Talking Manure
  with Mick Pacholli

› Furry Friends
  with
  Dr Graeme Smith

› Racing
  with Ted Ryan

› Rant & Rave
  with
  Paddles Hackett

› Bowls
  with Mick Pacholli

› Motoring
  with Garry Fabian

› Short Cuts
  Writers
  Competition

Your Letters

Honest and Forthright Stance

I have just finished reading your eloquent comment in the latest edition of “Metro News”.  This is my first experience of your publication.

As a Palestinian Australian, I am very heartened with your honest and forthright stance on the plight of the Palestinian people. 

I can only imagine the amount of vitriolic mail that you must receive in response to your editorial stance.

I have spent the past hour or so scrolling through your archives and I am most impressed with your papers work.  I have just now completed the subscription form on the back page of your paper and look forward to next month’s edition.

Where your paper stands out is that it allows the other sides opinion to be published.  Although I do not agree with Many Waks or Jamie Hyams, in fact I think they are delusional apologists. 

The reality is you gave them a right of reply.  I only wish that mainstream media outlets would show have your courage. 

The Australian people have a right to hear the truth. 

On behalf of Palestine I thank you for your support.

Nasser Mashni, Hawthorn

Congratulations on exposing the truth
Congratulations for publishing Manny Waks’ article (Metro, May ).
Despite having received greater international aid per capita than any other group in history, as Pacholli wrote, many Palestinians continue to live in squalor (Metro, April).
As the programme ‘Arafat’s Millions’ (Channel 9) showed the aid has been syphoned into arms and Arab leaders’ personal coffers.

Last year, when Israelis forfeited Gaza, a group of Jewish American philanthropists purchased thriving businesses for the benefit of incoming Palestinians.

However their leaders incited them to burn the hot houses that should have been used to continue Gaza’s thriving flower trade.

By contrast to the squalid conditions for Arabs who left Israel in 1948, those who stayed in Israel continue to benefit from Israeli social welfare and live in a liberal democracy wherein they vote and are represented by Arabs in the Israeli Parliament.

As Waks wrote, the security barrier would be unnecessary if terrorists did not constantly try to enter Israel to target civilians. The barrier has markedly reduced their success, thus reducing fatalities on both sides.

To repeat the obvious, if the Palestinians laid down their arms, there would be a peaceful two state solution, but if the Israelis stopped protecting themselves, Israel would disappear and the Jews would be driven out.

Congratulating you again for your publication’s ethical journalism,

Bella Ceruza, Blackburn

One Law for All

There must be only one law for all and equal justice for all and Peter Costello has made just such a landmark statement after revelations of the horrendous abuse of children and women in remote aboriginal communities.

He has effectively acknowledged that for too long people in  Australia have lost out, human rights have lost out to deviations or twists in culture and institutions and that the law is going to be enforced to protect people from now on without preference or favour as it should be.

State governments and territories have certainly been given a “smarten up” call, (the Northern Territory Government and authorities have virtually been called negligent for failing to enforce the law to protect women and children), for Costello has effectively said humans will come before the interests of habits,  traditions or practices in cultures and ahead of the interests of institutions.

Neither racial, social or criminal cultures sanctioning abuse, or institutions, be they government, religious, bureaucratic, business, insurance or hospital, either abusing by threat, action or neglect will be left unaccountable. 

Costello has said the law has not been enforced when it should have been and that it will be regardless, and he means throughout the whole Australian community. 

This gives promise and hope for Australia and Australians under a future Costello Government.

John Dobinson, North Balwyn

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