LOVE IT - OR LEAVE IT

By now you have probably read or heard about Paul Giuliano, the Mayor of Moonee Ponds – Edna Everidge country -- and the racist e-mail that he sent to all and sundry. It’s one of those American-based (but Australianised) ‘My country- love it or leave it’ redneck rants that pollute the Internet and which most people delete. I won’t repeat it all but it says things like: ‘We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society. Learn the language!

He appeared on stage for the first time in years in Canberra last night. I say give him credit because the protest rock star knows all the lyrics he sings will be scrutinized now that he is the Minister for the Environment.

And it goes on to talk about ‘the pledge’ – as in the Pledge of Allegiance –which we don’t have in this country.

Mayor Giuliano meant to send it to his fellow councillors but actually sent it to the winds and presumably to some people who do speak Arabic, and Chinese, and Japanese etcetera and who may have voted for him. So now he’s backtracking.

What intrigues me about this is the Mayor’s reaction since the story broke in the Moonee Valley Leader.
He told Cathy Nilbett:

‘I had read part of the email but I (still) haven’t read it in its entirety. But it said pass it on, so I did.’  What a diligent, obedient chap. He must pass on every bit of rubbish when instructed to.

The Mayor said he was silly and didn’t support the sentiments expressed. ‘I’ve got a lot of friends who are Muslim and I hope my friends don’t take offence to it.’

But, by the time he got on Mitchell today he had a different story. He called the e-mail ‘a load of crap’. And he was actually doing his councillors, and his town, a civic duty. He only sent it on ‘warning them of a terrible hoax’.

Funny, he didn’t mention that in any covering note. He just sent it on – perhaps perpetuating the hoax. Which wasn’t a hoax anyway.

And then he had the audacity to bemoan the fact that he was ‘surprised how this sort of stuff gets through’.

Well, it gets through Mr. Mayor because knuckleheads like you play postman for it.

Friday, March 13, 2009

© Copyright Derryn Hinch 2009