‘Offensive’ cartoon demeans these calling for a royal fee

In accordance with cartoonist Cathy Wilcox, requires a royal fee into antisemitism are nothing greater than the Liberal Occasion and its enablers marching to Benjamin Netanyahu’s drum, the varied enterprise leaders, sports activities folks, and many others, who’ve referred to as for it nothing however helpful idiots for the political proper (Letters, January 7). So why not maintain a royal fee? The varied objections raised – takes too lengthy, prices an excessive amount of, received’t obtain something – are all basic objections, relevant to any and all royal commissions. So are the objectors saying we should always by no means have them? If not, why not? I presume they (Wilcox included) will not be saying that this case isn’t severe sufficient to justify such a transfer. If they’re, maybe a reminder is due: Australian residents have been murdered; they’ve been murdered as a result of they’re Jewish; the murders are the fruits of a two-year spike in antisemitic incidents, inflicting Jewish colleges and locations of worship to make use of safety measures not wanted by some other minority group. Bondi didn’t come out of the blue – Australia has a major problem. It must be addressed, and addressed by probably the most thorough processes accessible. If a royal fee isn’t the reply, what’s? Stephen Buckle, Glebe

I’m flabbergasted that Cathy Wilcox casually dismisses these calling for a royal fee into the Bondi killings as a right-wing, Netanyahu-led conspiracy. It demeans these from all sides of politics who imagine in good religion that it’s the proper factor to do, and is a slap within the face for the households of the lifeless who requested for it. Michael Berg, Randwick

Cathy Wilcox’s cartoon exhibiting numerous sections of the broader Australian group as marching to Israel’s drumbeat is offensive. Antisemitism existed earlier than the state of Israel was established in 1948. It existed right here in Australia earlier than Israel even commenced its response to the Hamas pogrom of October 7, 2023. Wilcox has exploited an historical Jew hatred trope to decrease the simply and rightful demand for a royal fee into the worst terrorist assault in latest Australian historical past. Paul Zwi, Bellevue Hill

Acts of violence towards Jewish persons are usually rooted within the perception of the perpetrators that they’re a part of a conspiracy of Jewry, secretly pursuing their ends and pushing their agendas, usually to the detriment of the remainder of humanity. To publish a cartoon perpetuating this fantasy reveals {that a} royal fee into antisemitism is the least that’s wanted. Invoice Meredith, Chapel Hill (Qld)

Are we being herded behind the scenes in the direction of a royal fee? Are we being subjected to a well-orchestrated advertising marketing campaign utilizing public figures to stress the prime minister? There are a lot of compelling causes put ahead to help a royal fee, however my suggestion can be to let the Richardson assessment proceed. When its report comes out in April, we as a nation can assess the necessity for a royal fee. Given the time, assets, planning prices and scope a fee requires, we’d not less than have strong analysis, data and proposals on which to set one up. We can also have some methods that could possibly be put in place instantly to assist all Australians confront and act on what the Bondi murders of Jewish Australians says about our nation. The horror of December 14 was deeply surprising for us all. We have to construct a means ahead the place the unthinkable stays unthinkable. Anne Skates, Bomaderry

Cathy Wilcox has proven how the calls for for a royal fee by well-intentioned Australians play into Netanyahu’s fingers. Many Australians abhor what the Israeli authorities is doing to the Palestinian folks, their lands and infrastructure. The true drawback we have to battle is extremism, and the actions taken to this point and people being deliberate have been in the suitable instructions. Ann Hatton, Manly

Different violence exists

Correspondent Peter Neufeld’s declare that antisemitism “isn’t like different types of racism … as a result of it may well and does encourage deadly violence” overlooks centuries of historical past (Letters, January 7). Our personal wars towards Aboriginal Australians, the Spanish Inquisition, the Crusader wars, eons of Sunnis versus Shiites, and lots of pockets of killings and deportations all around the world shouldn’t be neglected. All have concerned prejudice resulting in deadly violence. So the place ought to a royal fee begin and the place would it not finish? And obtain what? A gradual and reflective take a look at gun legal guidelines and society-wide response, together with training, would absolutely be extra useful. Invoice Johnstone, Blackheath

Wednesday’s correspondent exemplifies the hazard of treating antisemitism as uniquely violent by lowering different types of racism to mere “disdain or exclusion”. This isn’t traditionally correct. Racism towards others has at all times concerned organised violence, scapegoating and deadly outcomes, usually with broad social or institutional complicity. Antisemitism is actual, entrenched and lethal, however so is racism in its many types. To maintain a hierarchy of struggling requires wilful blindness to this actuality and undermines the very solidarity required to confront it. Sam Icklow, Dangar Island

Peter Neufeld, I believe you have got forgotten Christchurch. Janet Cook dinner Waverton

Fired by fossil fuels

It’s no secret that the US seize of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was about entry to grease. The hostile rhetoric inside the US administration that local weather change doesn’t exist, and the elimination of all subsidies to renewable energies and electrical autos, is clearly designed to facilitate continued reliance on fossil fuels. They clearly don’t suppose renewable applied sciences may return the income they make from oil and gasoline, regardless of renewables being inherently extra environment friendly and infinitely higher for the planet. Cheryl Kay, Miranda

Along with the US-backed coups cited by Colin Douglas (Letters, January 7), we should always add: Cuba 1952, Guatemala 1953, Paraguay 1954, Brazil 1964, Dominican Republic 1965, Uruguay 1973, Peru 1962, 1975, Argentina 1976, El Salvador 1980, Nicaragua Nineteen Eighties, Bolivia Nineteen Eighties, Venezuela 2002, 2026, Panama 1989, Haiti 1959, 2004, Honduras 2009. America’s historical past of backing dictatorships is nothing new. David Baird, Burradoo

Palms off Greenland

I’ve learn with horror the newest in regards to the doable hostile acquisition of Greenland by the US (“White Home escalates Greenland conflict with NATO allies”, January 7). In 2015, I travelled to Greenland to fulfill my brother, who had lived there since 1970 along with his Greenlandic Inuit spouse. He took us out in his oak crusing boat into these beautiful Arctic fjords. I felt I had sailed to the daybreak of time and my sister-in-law advised me myths in regards to the panorama as we sailed previous. I met her household whereas there and was deeply touched by their welcome and kindness. Sadly, in these previous few months my brother and spouse have left Greenland after 55 years and moved to Denmark due to the rising worry of an American takeover. I can not start to think about what is going to occur to this beautiful nation and kind-hearted folks if this continues. The long run should not be offered off to the very best bidders. Francesca Stahlut, Armidale

The most recent information is that Denmark has shipped about 1,000,000 troops to Greenland in preparation for an invasion by Donald Trump. Sadly, they’re all product of Lego, however they are often very painful if you happen to step on them. Martin Walton, Higher Kedron (Qld)

Go away QVB alone

Should commercialism at all times be prioritised in the case of Sydney’s magnificence and heritage (“QVB retailers need rid of its stained glass”, January 7)? It’s unusual that Sydney Metropolis Council is even contemplating this profit-driven request by retailers in search of road visibility for shopfront shows. The QVB’s distinctive design permits for lovely inside shopfronts. Retail premises don’t usually have shopfronts back and front. There are different metropolis retail areas accessible for these shopkeepers who don’t recognize the cachet supplied by the heritage elements of Sydney’s QVB and its beautiful stained-glass home windows. A casual survey of holiday makers to the constructing will inform council all it must know. The QVB will stand lengthy after outlets come and go. Alison Stewart, Riverview

As a former advertising supervisor and centre supervisor of the heritage-listed Queen Victoria Constructing, I used to be alarmed, if not appalled, on the proposal put ahead to Sydney Council by Neighborhood Centres on behalf of two ground-floor trend tenants to take away a piece of the colored stained-glass window panels that kind a part of the Market Avenue frontage. The constructing was as soon as threatened with demolition and is now acknowledged for instance of an important restoration. It was mentioned that Pierre Cardin visited QVB in 1986 and was extremely impressed with the detailed ground tiling and the stained-glass home windows. He apparently referred to as it “probably the most lovely purchasing centre on the earth”. The co-operation of Sydney Metropolis Council with Ipoh Ltd stands as a mannequin for a profitable collaboration within the restoration of heritage buildings. If my reminiscence serves me, on opening day on November 18, 1986, The Sydney Morning Herald itself devoted a color entrance web page to the festivities, with the headline “QVB one other Sydney jewel”. Suzanne Stirling, Paddington

QVB’s multicoloured glass panels above create a pleasant rainbow-like impact. Neighborhood Centres’ proposal to switch the multicoloured glass with clear glass would kill the goose that lays the golden egg. Retail tenants come and go. The owner shouldn’t be capitulating to tenants’ whims and fancies on the expense of QVB’s heritage character. Hendry Wan, Rosebery

The suggestion that eradicating a number of the heritage of our QVB constructing is required lacks logic or benefit. Eradicating stained glass is not going to improve its heritage significance. There aren’t any justifiable financial causes for this heritage heresy and constructing butchery, which must be stomped on by Sydney Council from an important peak. In any case, it’s a part of the Eighteen Nineties design and retailers rented their premises understanding the stained glass was a part of its inherent attraction. Customers could properly go elsewhere if the appliance is profitable. Andrew Woodhouse, Potts Level

I assumed that promoting a horse race on the Opera Home took the cake, however, not less than it was non permanent. However, the Herald reveals {that a} DA has been lodged to take away the stained-glass home windows from the attractive Queen Victoria Constructing, opened in 1898. Sydney has misplaced loads of its historical past, so let’s hope that the Metropolis of Sydney Council provides these philistines a black eye on this difficulty. Joe Weller, Mittagong

Companies in one in every of Sydney’s iconic buildings appear to imagine it’s the constructing which is affecting gross sales. Like retail in all places, gross sales are dropping whereas costs rise, partly owing to on-line purchasing. Store house owners are trying to find a perpetrator. However, if it’s the fault of the constructing’s home windows then why wouldn’t companies transfer to close by empty outlets? Maybe, the clue is the constructing itself, which attracted retailers within the first place. Designed within the nineteenth century, QVB’s continuity to the current distinguishes it in a metropolis which more and more appears to be like like different world cities – tall glass and metal buildings, wind-tunnel streets and arcades of outlets. We should protect the distinctiveness of its stained-glass home windows in a constructing that epitomises the evolution of structure and the town’s retail historical past. Glenda Gartrell, Newtown

Visiting the attractive and charming QVB was a big day out, and about the one means I’d conform to face the town. To even ponder elimination of the stained glass is full lunacy. Let’s hope widespread sense prevails and the attractive constructing stays intact. Kris Mckeon, Goonellabah

Goal unlawful bikes

There are authorized e-bikes and unlawful e-bikes (Letters, January 7). I experience a compliant e-bike. It’s a good model so the prospect of the battery combusting is successfully nil. It’s solely low-cost batteries that try this and one wonders why the federal government lets them into the nation. My motor, by regulation, cuts out at 25km/h, so I cruise at a pace decrease than most common push bikes. Crucially, in contrast to lots of the e-bikes you see youngsters flying about on, my bike doesn’t have an unlawful throttle. To make it go, I’ve to pedal. Earlier than bringing in additional draconian cycle legal guidelines, step one must be to crack down on unlawful bikes (and youngsters not carrying a mounted helmet). Children performing rudely on bikes isn’t just a failure of parenting, but additionally a failure of presidency to control and police. Keith Binns, Goulburn

Dolls have been protected

Your correspondent’s letter in regards to the Sunbeam restore centre (Letters, January 7) acquired me fascinated with the Dolls Hospital within the Strand Arcade, the place you left your doll to be “hospitalised” whereas being repaired. In these days, you had one doll for all times and it regarded like an actual child, in contrast to the freaky specimens of right this moment. My doll was referred to as Marilyn and he or she had a number of hospitalisations in her lengthy life. Toni Lorentzen, Fennell Bay

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