I would like to address a few points you brought up in your letter to the editor of The Armidale Independent, May 9.
Firstly, as an “educated” person, the fact that you believe that a few opinionated call-ins on a radio station are indicative of the opinions of any proportion of the population forces me to question your intelligence and “education”. Secondly, I find it interesting your first observation of the turnout for Anzac Day at Central Park was an analysis of race. As all community members are welcome to show their respect at this event, I don’t think the lack of appearance of whoever you speak of, is grounds to declare Anzac Day unworthy of a national day. You cannot use attendance as an argument if those people don’t want to go.
Most concerning is your reference to “political correctness” of all points of view being respected. It is not known so much as political correctness as a rather important concept known as DEMOCRACY, and more specifically – freedom of speech. You say that you rightly believe the views of educated people are superior to those of less-educated people. Frankly this attitude and ignorance from an “educated” person is seriously concerning. In this community we do not gauge the importance of people and their opinions by whether or not they have a degree, we are all equal and our views contribute equally. I assume from your attitude that by “less-educated people” you are referring to those without a degree. As an educated person myself, I have experienced that my “less-educated” friends are far more compassionate, understanding and hardworking than all of my educated friends put together. I don’t appreciate the generalisation you make, and I think you have only managed to sufficiently prove (by making an example of yourself) that education means absolutely nothing in terms of social awareness.
In terms of involvement of other groups of people you wish to see at these events, you yourself pointed out that it is an open door event. It seems you are expecting that if you whinge long enough someone else will organise this international students march group, you even mention “there is no point expecting these people to lead the way forward”, if you want something done, you have to put in the effort and organise it yourself. Don’t sit on your backside and then complain that someone else has not volunteered to do it for you. Personally, I would love to see such a group proudly marching in the parade.
Finally on Anzac Day itself, it is one day of the year for us as a community to show our respect and gratitude for the individuals who fought and died for the freedom and liberty that you and I both enjoy today, it is totally inappropriate that you use it for a stage from which to launch an attack on the uniting day that it is, and to turn it into a race debate. It obviously has not occurred to you that it is not all about you.
Name withheld
