It is far better to give anti Semites access to channels of communication and to use those channels to challenge their filth than to push them in frustration to other means of furthering their views such as direct action where the opportunity for rational debate or fostering feelings of common humanity are much reduced.

Who’s running in the next Melbourne Ports election against Danby?

First you say “Crikey’s policy has been to leave some fairly drekkish stuff up, on the grounds that you are no more responsible for the opinions in a comment string than you are for what is said about an article in the pub.’

The notion of ‘free speech’ carries with it responsibilities. We all have strong views on issues but the fact is, we cannot say or write whatever we think. Don’t worry, I’ve tried! And wasn’t that the Pauline Hanson issue – that we didn’t want coverage given to racist comments about Abo’s and Asians, whereas your view seems to be ‘bring it on’. That’s fine, unless you’re an Abo or an Asian.

If you invite and then publish offensive and racist comments then don’t censor anything. If you want aggressive comments, then print them all – racisms, sexism (oops, I mean s*xism, as Crikey don’t print these words), homophobia etc. E.g., Guy, I’m sure you’re not really a fat-arsed lazy homo fuck puppet of Bob Ellis, so I hope in the interests of comment strings, you won’t mind me saying so? See what I mean.

Second, Danby’s obsessed and paranoid and to think he speaks for Australian Jewry is to think Bronwyn Bishop speaks for all aged conservative nymphomaniacs. Most people in Parliament think Danby’s off the wall, in the same way we think Fielding is. You wouldn’t accord Fielding the status of speaking for Christian families anymore than you’d give deluded Danby the credit for being a Jewish representative – regardless of what their self promotion may have you believe. So tying Danby to Zionism is misleading and unhelpful. Why not ask Mark Dreyfuss or Mike Kelly their views? Or make Senator Eggleston the spokesperson for dwarfism?

Third, you know why you can’t call Jews ‘Nazi’s’? The same way you can’t call gays ‘poofs’ or dark people ‘niggers’ or women ‘bitches’. I know plenty of gay blokes who call themselves ‘big poofs/queens/homos’ or Europeans who call themselves ‘wogs’ or women who call their girlfriends ‘bitches’ – it’s an internal/inclusive term when used this way, but vilification or an insult when used by others.

Nazi’s sought to exterminate an entire religion. Whatever else one thinks of Israel’s actions – many of which are indefensible for those of us who want a two state solution - they sure as hell ain’t gassing millions in concentration camps or exterminating the entire Arab population. They may do many actions which Crikey readers find repellent, but genocide isn’t one of them, regardless of what Liz45 and Charles Herbert might say!

Guy: be funny, be angry, be a polemicist, be anti-right wing governments but don’t confuse free speech with a voice for racism and prejudice.

For example, Crikey tends to ignore my really boring emails (and only prints the quite boring ones) …