A NYT editorial has slammed Goldman Sachs for its role in the financial crisis, Ten must work out what to do with Australian Idol in 2010, how the media downturn will affect higher education, newsreaders get emo, and more.
Jewish community defends Pratt. Why?
|
Imagine this. A prominent Catholic prosecutor lays criminal charges against a prominent Catholic layperson. The Catholic community in Australia goes ballistic and individuals lobby through the media and other outlets for the layperson, and they damn the prosecutor. This scenario, while common in some countries where the separation of religion and state is not so strictly drawn, is not something we can imagine occurring in 21st century Australia. And for good reason — we would regard it as anathema to our legal system for people to argue that religious or ethnic matters have any bearing on who is prosecuted by whom in our courts. But it is happening except that it’s not the Catholics but the Jewish community which is conducting such an unedifying fight in public. As The Australian reported yesterday, the Jewish communities of Sydney and Melbourne are bitterly divided over the decision by one of their members, ACCC boss Graeme Samuel, to prosecute billionaire businessman Dick Pratt over the latter’s evidence to an ACCC inquiry into price fixing. What is disturbing about the wrangling is that it is being condoned and orchestrated by some of the most prominent Jewish leaders and institutions in Australia. The Australian quoted Robert Goot, president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, as saying, “This is something about which we could no longer keep silent. The initial (civil) proceedings against Richard Pratt had run their course without much public comment from the Jewish community but the prosecution of him for criminal offences and the possibility of him going to prison is something completely different.” Goot has been circulating a high powered petition in support of Pratt, although Goot is not commenting on the legal proceedings directly. And well known Melbourne Jewish activist Colin Rubenstein told The Australian, “The law will decide but there is a whiff that this is very unfortunate and maybe unreasonable.” A person’s religion, ethnicity or political leanings should be utterly irrelevant in our legal system, no matter who or what they are. Accordingly, that Mr Pratt and Mr Samuel are both Jewish and prominent members of the Jewish community should not be allowed to become factors in the legal proceedings between them and those in the Jewish community who are seeking to do so are undermining the principles of secularism and equality that must always be hallmarks of a legal system in democracy. There are hundreds of cases which go before our courts each year where the facts are similar to those in the Pratt case — that is, where regulators lay criminal charges after civil proceedings have been brought. That this happens is a legitimate matter for discussion on the grounds of whether it is fair or not to the individual being prosecuted, but it has nothing to do with the religion or ethnicity of the parties involved. Those in the Jewish community who are painting the Pratt v Samuel matter as some form of ethnic or religious internecine warfare are dangerously blurring the lines between religion and state. |
|
|
12 Comments
Read Big Ben Burstin’s comments above…….they repesent that reflex, whingeing response to any criticsm of any part of Australian or international Jewry…….totally lacking in balance and/or intelligence…sadly, I don’t think it will ever change…..ever.
It was outrageous for those in the Jewish community to write to newspapers defending Pratt merely because he was of the same persuasion. Especially when they are the first to call foul or accuse others of anti-Semitism. It could do no good to their own cause.
In fact-how dare their pre-empt judgemnt on Pratt on charges before they appear before a court and dismiss the claim he lied merely because he was fined on anothe rmatter connected.
That said-the continuing screeching of those like John Elliot about Dick Pratt’s so-called “generosity” to charity ignores the fact that it’s our bloody money he dontates out of the mega-millions he made via his cardboard cartel which saw every single houselhold paying over the odds for anything coming in a cardboard box.
Al Capone donated generously to charity as well but that didn’t excuse him every other action he took. While Pratt is no Capone he should face the law equally like every other citizen of this land and Samuels is correct in his pursuit of the man.
Read ’ Big ’ Ben Burstin’s rationale above…..it says it all about the worst elements of Australian Jewry……sadly, I don’t think Big Ben & his like will ever get it…….ever….
I agree with Barns. What is ludicrous is that it is not the original vulgar but lucrative rip-off crime itself that Pratt is facing the possibility of prison for, but rather the lies and dissimulation to the ACCC.
Costello originally promised to rectify this heinous anomaly in the law and mysteriously failed to act. I do not believe it is indictive of paranoia to say that there are dark forces at work here. Good for Samuel.
Hillel the Great, a Jewish prophet who influenced Jesus, told the story of the rich man who gave to the poor, attended the temple, and beat his breast publicly, all the while being a harsh and sinful man. He contrasted this with the poor man who snuck into temple, and said, “GOd forgive me, for I am a sinner.”
Which one did God prefer?
Jesus tells a similar story in the Gospels.
Ben Burstin, the Jewish community could have avoided any hassles here if some of its key spokespeople had not felt the need to go public on this. Their major point seems to be that their bloke Pratt has been a massive supporter of Jewish charities. Good on him, no probs with that, but it doesn’t mean he’s above competition laws. It’s pretty simple.
If it was a Muslim prosecutor and a Muslim defendant, they’d all be cheering from the sidelines about how modernized they had become….
Is it a matter of religion&/or ethnicity or just that some people should be less subject to the law than others. One notes the argument that has been put not always obliquely,that Pratts good works should “cut him some slack”, I suspect this is part of it . However tribal loyalties here are undoubtadly strong.
It would be interesting to see the actual words.
WTF, Sponge Boy???? Trotting out the “no one would be complaining if it was Muslims” line didn’t work for the Catholics trying to defend the indefensible ‘thou shalt not annoy’ laws, and it doesn’t work here either. For one, those members of the Jewish community who are pressuring Samuel to go easy on Pratt purely on the basis that Pratt has bought them off are acting in a morally questionable and definitely un-Australian manner. End of story on that. But further to that, MUSLIMS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS and furthermore, if Muslims were involved in a similar practice, they’d be crucified by shock-jocks, the Christian right and opportunistic politicians so fast it would make your head spin. Muslims get a harder time (often of their own making admittedly) in the media and in Australia at large than any other group since September 11 and subsequently Cronulla. What planet are you on?
Kevin Charles Herbert: “it says it all about the worst elements of Australian Jewry” and “they repesent(sic) that reflex, whingeing(sic) response to any criticsm(sic)of any part of Australian or international Jewry…….totally lacking in balance and/or intelligence”
You are a racist, Kevin Charles Herbert, however I don’t expect you and your “like will ever get it…….ever….”
Your comments, normally simply silly, are in addition in this case, extremely distasteful.
I sincerely hope you are reprimanded by the editor and administration at Crikey and moreover be seen to be reprimanded.
JamesK: normally I’d find being called a racist / idiot highly offensive. However,being called that by you is something of a badge of honour for my part.
I’ve said for many years that if speaking out against those in Australia who give unqualified support for the militarist, expansionist, anti-democratic Israeli Government is considered anti-semitic, then I must be…as must my many Jewish friends who have an identical view…..as do the leading Israeli Human rights groups, plus about 30% of Israelis, plus dozens of Jewish human rights groups around the world, plus our own Anthony Lowenstein, Andrew Benjamin…the list goes on & on.
However, sadly I don’t think blinkered people like you will ever ‘get it’.
Finally, despite your exhortations to the Crikey editor to have my comments taken off this site, apparently he/she defends the right of members of a democratic society like Australia, to give their views however distasteful others may find them. Your obvious unwillingness to accept my right, and your attempt to have my comments removed, is a clear example of the very point I have been making……may I thank you, as disengenuously as possible, for your ‘support’.
I cannot help the feeling that Greg Barnes has jumped at an opportunity to have a shot at “the Jewish community”. He has pointed at who have supported Pratt but writes little about the merits of the issue.
Is this a case of :- attack the messenger, ignore the message ?
Big Ben