Political apathy a blight on humanity

Left meets right
As Waleed Aly points out in his opinion piece (″⁣The walkout of writers shows how promiscuous the politics of safety can be″⁣, 22/8); several years ago, conservative libertarians argued that section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act impaired their freedom of speech to insult and offend people on grounds of their race, whereas these days they argue that inflammatory, divisive and disrespectful language should be avoided in order to prevent insulting and offending people on grounds of race or political/religious leanings.
However, it also can be argued that left-wing progressives back then, advocating keeping section 18C are today arguing that being directed to avoid such language limits their freedom of speech, despite it enabling hatred of Jewish Australians.
And regarding the divisive notion of ″⁣safetyism″⁣, whereas, for a more harmonious multicultural society, I prefer terms like inclusion and equality, such as shown by the recent cancellation of a right-wing Israeli parliamentarian’s visa based on fears that he could upset Muslim communities.
But why then is avoiding the use of inflammatory, divisive and disrespectful language that’s fuelling the surge in antisemitism a violation of freedom of speech of writers at a writers’ festival?
Henry Herzog, St Kilda East

Treaty millstone
There is no such thing as a “Right side of history” (Letters, 24/8). The Allan government “treaty” with Indigenous people is not a “milestone”. It is a millstone, which, along with all Labor’s other errors and omissions – and debts – will weigh down the state for years, or decades, or generations. Can we expect other “identity”-based elected bodies? If not, why not?
Anthony Caughey, Elwood

Treaty overdue
Fantastic news: “Treaty negotiations complete, a historic agreement is within reach”, (23/8). Two hundred years late, but better late than never. Congratulations Labor.
Patricia Rivett, Ferntree Gully

No child alike
Not so long ago, early years’ classrooms catered for diversity – developmental delay was not unusual and class programs were adapted accordingly. Commonly, five-seven-year-old boys, in particular, were not ready to sit and listen. The aim of a prep-2 program was to tap into kids’ interests, build their self-esteem, and engage them in learning.
These days, we expect all kids to measure up in the same way on the same day with a national testing program which takes no account of normal developmental differences, let alone specific developmental delay. We now mandate a prescriptive one-size-fits-all teaching program for beginners as if all kids develop in exactly the same way.
It is no wonder parents are anxiously seeking support. They believe their kids are failing when they are forced into a system that is no longer set up to nurture the needs of individual learners, with in-school support as required. Parents should be celebrating milestones instead of comparing their kids.
Susan Mahar, Fitzroy North

Empower, not surveil kids
For the past 30 years, I have dedicated my career to the early childhood education and care sector. The growing calls to install CCTV cameras in early childhood classrooms are deeply concerning– they suggest a lack of trust in our teachers and educators. Such measures undermine the very foundation of education, which is built on trust, respect, and human connection – qualities no camera can capture.
Early childhood educators are highly skilled professionals who nurture not only learning but also children’s confidence, curiosity, and emotional wellbeing. What they truly need is increased investment in professional development and supportive environments that recognise their expertise – not invasive surveillance that reduces their vital work to mere footage.
Children are active agents with rights, not passive subjects to be constantly monitored. Excessive surveillance strips them of dignity and erodes safe, nurturing spaces where meaningful relationships grow. Education should empower children, not condition them to accept surveillance as normal.
Trust, professional respect, and genuine support protect children far more effectively than cameras ever could.
Rebecca Drysdale, Essendon North

Don’t go back
On International Women’s Day 1975 I marched, I attended celebratory functions, I shared in the euphoria that said ″⁣you’ve come a long way sister″⁣. I read with increasing despair Julia Baird’s article (″⁣Gilead rising: In Trump’s America, misogyny has found a powerful toehold″⁣, 23/8) on the ways in which extreme forms of misogyny are taking over in America (and maybe in Australia as well).
As always, it is up to women to resist this creeping sexism and do all we can to disallow this march backwards.
Gloria Meltzer, Chewton

Tradwives and trad men
Reading Jacqueline Maley’s piece about ″⁣tradwives″⁣ made for difficult reading, not because of the topic itself, but because Maley’s contention is inconsistent (″⁣Women should keep house: Baking mad or the conversation we need?″⁣, 24/8). I have known several women who fulfil the criteria of a tradwife – or perhaps a ″⁣tradwoman″⁣, as some are unwed – and yet, none did so to please someone else.
It is an insult to the intelligence of women to assert they are still living in the shadow of men. Instead of challenging, in truth dismissing other people, if there is a societal or relational problem, we should be asking what is causing men to grasp for the ″⁣manosphere″⁣ and women to traditional ideals of gender roles.
Anders Ross, Heidelberg

Red tape, red herring
Beware the ″⁣red tape″⁣ argument. When business whinges about ″⁣red tape″⁣, think workers’ wages and entitlements like super, sick pay, long service etc, occupational health and safety regulations, and their biggest bugbear, environmental safeguards.
Business wants to be able to bulldoze, drill and/or ride roughshod over habitat and property everywhere without impediment or oversight. This is what business means by removing ″⁣red tape″⁣.
Business wants no regulations, to pay no tax, and secretly wouldn’t mind a return to slave labour, but don’t you dare remove their lucrative government subsidies.
Judy Loney, Drumcondra

Taking the train
I have also taken the XPT train to Sydney and agree the service needs to be improved to reduce the time taken (Letters, ″⁣Long Track to Sydney″⁣, 23/8).
I was told by the staff that the train was capable of travelling at 136 km/h on good sections of the track. If the whole track was capable of this speed and an express service provided, the trip could be done in about five hours going city centre to city centre. If you take time to get to and from the airport, the security check, boarding time etc. many people would take the train instead of flying.
Peter Hogan, Fitzroy North

Councils go basic
I’m alarmed to see councils across Victoria rolling back climate commitments. Darebin was the first council in the world to declare a climate emergency in 2016, starting a global trend that has since spread to thousands of jurisdictions.
Yet now, even here, the language and ambition are being watered down. Just across the creek, Yarra, once a progressive leader, has also swung sharply with a more conservative coalition of councillors – and it shows.
This “back to basics” smokescreen is being used to wash away responsibility for climate change, as if it’s no longer urgent, popular or solvable. That is deeply irresponsible. This was the hottest summer on record, and our cities will only get hotter. Climate change will cost every local community far more, through storm clean-ups, damaged infrastructure and skyrocketing insurance, than acting early ever would. We know meeting this moment requires big change, but every big change begins at the grassroots. Councils should be stepping up, not stepping back.
Cate James, Northcote

Orwell’s achievements
Writer Anna Funder exaggerates George Orwell’s flaws while minimising his achievements ″⁣Animal Farm has turned 80, but we still don’t know who wrote the best line″⁣, (20/8).
Feminist writer, Rebecca Solnit, in her book Orwells’ Roses, presents a far more balanced and nuanced portrait of the man who was sick all his life, died young, was a champion of the poor and downtrodden, fought for the Republic in Spain, loved gardening, wrote some of the best essays in the English language and was among the very first to see through Stalin’s Russia – yes much of this with the considerable practical and intellectual support of his wife Eileen O’Shaughnessy. As for ″⁣no vanilla creature could give us that scarifying insight into darkness″⁣, 1984, this is to place Orwell in a double-bind: Thanks for the masterpiece, pity you had to be a bastard to write it.
Michael Read, Carnegie

Supporter transference
It was extremely disappointing to hear so many Essendon supporters loudly boo when Adam Saad was in possession of the football on Thursday night. Saad came to Carlton some years ago from Essendon and he is entitled to be respected for his ability and his decision. Frequently, players change clubs for a variety of reasons.
As a Carlton supporter all my life, I hope my fellow supporters do not demean themselves, and our club, by booing any Blues’ players who transfer to other clubs next season. Unfortunately, I fear that could happen.
Tom Ward, Sorrento

AND ANOTHER THING

Ghislaine Maxwell
Re ″⁣Maxwell saw nothing inappropriate”, (24/8). She “also said she did not witness any sexual abuse by Epstein”. Phew, I guess that gets Donald and the late Jeffrey off the hook. Now let’s see about a presidential pardon, for the ″⁣wrongly convicted″⁣ Ghislaine.
Lawrie Bradly, Surrey Hills

Ghislaine Maxwell delivered the classic self-interested denial in the Trump Epstein matter. Well, she would, wouldn’t she?
Paul Custance, Highett

Furthermore
Ukraine declared independence on August 24, 1991, but how much longer can it remain independent with current American and Russian leadership?
Vera Lubczenko, Geelong West

While Albanese might be afraid of change, I think his party with fewer Baby Boomers and more young people will demand change. God help us if they don’t. We have to stop the intergenerational poverty which is currently the case.
John Rome, Mount Lawley, WA

AFL
It took the cardinals two days to elect the new Pope, five days for the AFL to resolve the Izak Rankine case.
Peter Schiller, Camberwell

Snoop Dogg? The AFL appears to me to be a little hypocritical. I saw recent snippets that presented him as a homophobe of a rather unsavoury character. It goes against the AFL’s own policy does it not?
Bill Proctor, Launching Place

Finally
What a combination! AI (Artificial Idiocy) and deregulation (“cutting red tape”) to solve the housing crisis? (″⁣AI and a new ‘strike team’ deployed to combat housing crisis″⁣, 24/8). SF (Spectacular Failure) is assured.
John Laurie, Riddells Creek

Lately, there have been so many articles about chatbots and the like(“After three years with ChatGPT”, 24/8) that I fear that a malign artificial intelligence has taken over the pages of The Age.
Sandra Torpey, Hawthorn

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