https://x.com/isitleehazel/status/1868244368202531221

QUOTE

Anti-semitism (aka Jew hate) is not equivalent to the dislike, even hatred, even ridicule, of a religion. Muslim hate is equivalent to Jew hate. Both are scourges on society, though neither should be made to retreat to festering nests of extremism by attempts to make hate itself illegal.

Writing “f*** Islam” and “cancel Islam” is not Muslim hate. Trying to burn down a mosque while Muslims are inside would be a credible example of Muslim hate.

The history of multiculturalism in Australia is a history of assimilation into the uniquely Western ideal of universalist individualism. Under this Western ideal, every individual is free to pursue the religion and philosophies of their choosing, so far as they harm no other, but is not free from criticism of their beliefs. “F*** Islam” is a criticism of a belief, crude, ineffective, devoid of meaningful content though it may be.

The West, including Australia, isn’t a city on a hill due to some vague notion of ‘multiculturalism’ but because of the promise we make each other to respect the sovereignty of the individual. When that promise is broken, by force of the majority or force of government, the West is no longer the West but a mere shadow of itself. The West falls when individual liberty falls, an especially egregious outcome for the marginalised.

Many politicians these days take for granted the freedom that individualism grants us and they’d give it away to save people from the discomfort, even confrontation, even offence, of having their beliefs scorned. Worse still, some would give it away simply for votes, for power. None of these politicians are worthy guardians of liberal western democracy.