2 | THE CANBERRA REPORTER September 2017
WE SAY, YOU SAY
EDITORIAL
Perspective
By JESSICA ADELAN-LANGFORD
Freedom of speech a tricky one
Our covers
recognised
some of the
ACT’s Filipino
Australians
making a
difference.
A look into the lives
of our community is
what we’re all about
AT THIS time last year, the October 2016 issue of The
Canberra Reporter went to press after almost two years of
talking and planning to launch a newspaper for and about
Filipino-Australians in the Australian Capital Territory.
Other states across Australia boasted their own Filipino
community publications, so why not in the seat of power that
is Canberra?
By July 2016 we had a blueprint for a monthly tabloid-size
newspaper, plus a team of eager journalists to set the project
in motion.
We took baby steps, riding as a four-page insert of one of
four Sydney-based newspapers, The Bayanihan News, for the
first three months: October, November, and December.
From the very start, The Canberra Reporter aimed for a
product that would be the equal if not better than the quality
standard of mainstream suburban and regional newspapers in
the country.
It adapted the content and design style of newspapers such
as the Sydney Morning Herald and the Daily Telegraph.
And in January 2017, as planned, The Canberra Reporter
became a stand-alone publication circulating across the ACT.
To be sure, the journey hasn’t been easy. Some members of
the team have drifted away, a few have “toughed through it”.
Producing a newspaper is nowhere near a cake walk. It
takes a lot of guts, patience, persistence and teamwork.
We’re happy to announce that the small team that put
together our last few issues is a solid and cohesive one..
Indeed, it is the perfect group of volunteer storytellers on
the lives of the Filipino-Australian community in the ACT; the
most reliable and trustworthy distributors and advertising
representatives that one could ask for.
They deserve a gold medal for their courage and effort.
Mabuhay. n
~ Editor JAIME K PIMENTEL
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Readers are invited to write in about their views and opinions on subjects of
public interest. The editor reserves the right to publish letters on any grounds.
Readers must comply with a code of ethics that requires fairness, truthfulness,
accuracy and an absence of malice and discrimination. Please email letters to
[email protected]
BACK in October 2015, approximately 1,000 people
rallied together to protest against Bendigo City
Council’s proposal to build an Islamic mosque in the
area.
The protest was organised by the United Patriots
Front (UPF), a nationalist group with an anti-Islamic
platform.
What was interesting about this protest was that
many attendees were not even Bendigo locals.
Several days before the protest, the UPF leader and
two supporters filmed themselves performing a fake
beheading on a dummy and spilling fake blood whilst
chanting “Allahu Akbar” in front of the Council’s
offices.
The three men involved were just this week found
guilty of ‘inciting contempt and ridicule of Muslims’.
The magistrate stated that their act had “crossed a
line” and was designed to “induce as many like-
minded people” to the UPF-organised rally.
Interestingly, no one had actually made a complaint
about the actions of the three men at the time.
No one had come forward to the police claiming that
they had been offended by the video and its contents.
However, the police proceeded to press charges and
now these three men have a conviction recorded
against them.
Regardless of one’s opinion of the actions and
opinions of these men, it should be asked how our
legal system allowed for people to be charged and
convicted for expressing an opinion.
Regardless of how distasteful or offensive it may have
been.
Some would argue that laws exist to protect people from
‘offensive’ actions like those of these three men.
However others would argue that it is not appropriate for
the law to make judgments on what sort of opinions are
appropriate and which are not.
In theory we all know that we are all equals before the law
and that we are all afforded its protection.
However, it does appear that those of the status quo (by
that I mean those who are white, of Anglo-Saxon descent,
Protestant and male) are somewhat less protected.
Would charges have been pressed against someone who
was expressing anti-Christian sentiments and protesting
against the possible construction of a church? Probably
not if they were ‘white’ but if they were of ethnic descent
they may have found themselves in a lot more strife.
The question of ‘freedom of speech’ is a tricky one.
Should our laws allow us all to live in a completely
uncensored society where one is free to voice any opinion
whether it be racist, sexist, ageist, prejudiced etc. or just
outright narrow-minded?
Or should our laws protect us from being ridiculed and
offended?
As a non Anglo-Saxon, Catholic, female I appear to be
doing better than the white guy next door.n
CAUGHT ON CAMERA
A random street survey on the question:
HAVE
HAVE YOU
YOU EXPERIENCED
EXPERIENCED ACTS
ACTS
OF
DISCRIMINATION
IN
AUSTRALIA?
OF DISCRIMINATION IN AUSTRALIA?
LYDIA NICHOLLS
Farrer MARCO SELORIO
Florey (now Sydney) BONNJOE RAMIREZ
Isabella Plains
I have never experienced
discrimination myself since
my family migrated to Australia
in 1967.
Australia is known for being
a multicultural country. It is
a place where people come
to seek refuge, harmony
and a new start. Census
today reveal that we’re a fast
changing, ever-expanding,
culturally diverse nation. n Asian kids were a minority at
my school. We used to get
teased until they discovered
how much smarter we were.
One incident changed my
attitude about racism when
back in Year 9 my mate got
bullied by an older student.
I was scared and didn’t
protect my friend.
Ever since that day, I made
my voice heard and stood of
for what was right. I rarely got
picked on because they knew
I was going to fight and not
cop all that rubbish.” n I felt absolutely no racial
discrimination so far in my
sorrounding communities
here in multicultural
Australia with people from
culturally and linguistically
diverse and new and
emerging communities.
Multiculturalism has been
an important element in
the making of modern
Australia, and has been
critical to fostering social
cohesion and inclusion. n
PUBLISHER
THE CANBERRA REPORTER
(ABN 44149329419)
Editor-in-Chief
JAIME K PIMENTEL
Deputy
SALLY BARBER
Editors
ARNALDO DE LEON / Motoring
Cartoonist
MIGUEL CASTRO
Photojournalists
MARILIE BOMEDIANO
GERRY MUSA
Waiver: Opinions expressed
by writers do not necessarily
belong to the publisher.
Correspondents
VIOLI CALVERT
MARILIE BOMEDIANO
CECILIA FLORES
ARNEL BASAS Advertising
ROY RAMIREZ / Manager
JOSIE MUSA / Representative
Columnists
JESSICA ADELAN-LANGFORD
ARNEL BASAS Printer
New Age Printing,
Rydalmere NSW
Legal Counsel
LINDA GERONIMO-SANTOS