Thursday, August 18, 2011

"No Greater Evil "

Damn!  You folk have some of the same kind of people in OZ as we have "in Kansas". . . . and just as noisy!  Happens among the best of us, doesn't it.  We need to join with All People of Good Will and refuse to be called "No Greater Evil",  and especially to be vocal enough that the young people among us do not accept this stuff and think poorly of themselves.  We must not allow their venom to have the stronger hand.  Silence and apathy too often are seen as assent.  GET UP  and SPEAK OUT !. . . . . .JustinO
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G'day JustinO,
 
This is what's happening in Oz at the moment.
 
Gary
 
----- Original Message -----
From: GetUp!

Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2011 3:07 PM
Subject: "No greater evil."

Dear Gary,

"It won't stop at homosexual marriage - look for polygamy and marriage between adults and children to be legalised. There is no greater dream for a paedophile than to be able to legally acclaim a child as his lover."

That's what keynote speaker Rebecca Hagelin declared yesterday at the "don't meddle with marriage" event at Parliament House, as she was joined on stage by Barnaby Joyce and other conservative Australian politicians. She said there is "no greater evil" than legalising same-sex marriage, and told the crowd to join her in a "war for the future of the human race."

These sorts of disgusting comments are far beyond the pale in Australia but unfortunately, they are exactly the messages local politicians are being inundated with right now, by an extreme and vocal minority. They've been calling, faxing, emailing and visiting MPs telling them that those in same-sex couples don't deserve the right to marry.

We have one week to send a message to MPs, to our communities and importantly – to our gay and lesbian family and friends – that these people don’t speak for us. That's when local MPs will report back to Parliament on what their electorate has told them about marriage equality. Regardless of where our MP personally stands on marriage equality, we can't let these hateful messages dominate their reports.

Sign our petition and before MPs meet next week we will both print the result in an unmissable full-page newspaper ad and deliver it to their office to ensure they hear the message.

Sign the petition here.

Rebecca Hagelin wasn't alone yesterday in her hateful remarks. Bob Katter MP joined her on stage to say that the idea of same-sex marriage "deserves to be laughed at and ridiculed", and Labor MP John Murphy rose to say, "My electorate accepts that all people are equal, but my electorate also accepts, in fact rejects, that not all relationships are equal."

Think about the young same-sex attracted Australians hearing this prejudice and offensive ridicule from people who purport to represent family values and the Australian public - and what it’s like to know that Australian law supports such discrimination.

Until we have full equality, gay and lesbian Australians will always be considered, under the law and in the eyes of many, as second-class citizens. Until we have full equality the kind of homophobia exhibited in Parliament House yesterday will continue.

http://www.getup.org.au/marriagematters

I’m told by MPs that - despite constant polling that shows the overwhelming majority of Australians are in favour of marriage equality - their offices have received more pressure from those seeking to block change. That's why now is the time to speak up and demand an inclusive and better Australia.

Join us, in telling MPs that not allowing same-sex couples to marry denies them and their families legal equality and perpetuates discrimination and prejudice. The overwhelming majority of Australians support full marriage equality and it is the right thing to do. Marriage matters: amend the Commonwealth Marriage Act so that same-sex partners can be wed.

http://www.getup.org.au/marriagematters

Thanks for all you do,
Paul for the GetUp team.
GetUp is an independent, not-for-profit community campaigning group. We use new technology to empower Australians to have their say on important national issues. We receive no political party or government funding, and every campaign we run is entirely supported by voluntary donations. If you'd like to contribute to help fund GetUp's work, please donate now! If you have trouble with any links in this email, please go directly to www.getup.org.au. To unsubscribe from GetUp, please click here. Authorised by Simon Sheikh, Level 5, 116 Kippax St, Surry Hills NSW 2010

4 comments:

Gary Kelly said...

Coop: it's called scare mongering. If they can't talk sense at least they can scare the crap outta the voters.

Fortunately, we have an organization like Get Up to scare the crap outta the politicians.

GreginAdelaide said...

I signed

Gary Kelly said...

Onya Greg. The message I got back via email from my local member Rob Oakeshott was "Thanks for your thoughts, Rob O". How's that for illuminating?

As to Bob Katter MP (the Queenslander who wears a big white cowboy hat to make his nose look smaller) saying same sex marriage deserves to be laughed at and ridiculed, for a minute there I thought he was talking about himself.

What a bunch of wallies we have in Canberra.

GreginAdelaide said...

Gary wrote:
"Bob Katter MP (the Queenslander who wears a big white cowboy hat to make his nose look smaller)"

Ha I'll have to check his conk out..!! ...lol.

Yes, "wallies" is putting it far too nicely Mr Kelly. "Wankers" is more like it don't you think?
Well, most of them are.....and the ones that are not don't speak up against them on these "ticky" issues cos they believe their comments will hurt their chances of being re-elected.

Not all wankers, but gutless wonders nearly all of them.

Don't get me started on politics.....