VERY IMPORTANT UPDATE: As some of you may know; last night, on the 10th of November i attended an extraordinary council meeting at Penrith City Council that moved to oppose the construction of an Islamic Mosque in Kemps Creek. I nutted up and spoke on behalf of the Islamic community in Penrith and more so, spoke out against the hate, intolerance and bigotry that has been perpetuated throughout my community in the past weeks. What ensued was an angry mob calling for my head, screaming hate, death threats and livid that i would oppose their views and stand up for what is right, taking part of our democracy. At least i can tick off my bucket list: Getting a police escort home for my own safety, kind of flattering if i do so myself. For those of which who are curious to see what i had to say to the community last night, i have included a transcript of my speech below for all to read. Thank you. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- It has become quite clear that there are many that believe that the building of mosques in the Penrith area will be an irreversible change to the fabric of life in Penrith. But since growing up, going through school and working with the community for a number of years now, I am at a loss to what exactly they are suggesting? And what exactly is the Penrith way of life? Perhaps they is suggesting that increased traffic flow towards Kemps creek might be the problem? Or that Penrith is already overcrowded with places of religious worship? However i get the impression that they do not want Islam to be a part of the big picture that makes up the Penrith way of life. It’s clear that Australia is having growing pains in the form of ongoing cultural tension between Islamic and Anglo Australians. It’s delusional the think that inaction and idealism is an effective way of dealing with such a divisive challenge, but neither is out casting and all but completely oppressing such a large part of our community. I know places like Lakemba, Bankstown and Auburn are having problems in regards to this, but I know my community, we can work together to make things work, it is a proud, honest and thick skinned community. Penrith desperately needs real and open dialogue on some of the complex challenges we face TOGETHER as a community, much like the rest of Australia. What we don’t need is the perpetuation of hate, intolerance and bigotry. Islam doesn’t threaten Penrith, in fact the diversity it brings strengthens it. What threatens Penrith are insensitive words, which divide and continues to stir intolerance. People seems to have Islam confused with religious, ideological and political extremism. Which along with his generalizations, actually threaten our community. We are not opposing the construction of a mosque, he is opposing the reality that Islam; much like Christianity, Atheism , Sikhism and Buddhism, is a part of the Penrith way of life, while illegitimising the importance of Muslims in our community by doing so. There is a fine line between just representation and oppression and I feel as though that line is about to be crossed. I will be honest, I am not religious, I couldn’t care less what people believe, not because I don’t care about them but because it isn’t any of my business. So I am not here to support a religion but I sure as hell am not here to suppress one either, I am here to stand up on behalf of members of our community who are being ignored. We have done a pretty good job of that in this country over the years and we tread the border of entirely dehumanising people who have been part of the Australian community for over 150 years. We are dividing the community and it is unnecessary and malicious. This harmful move against the freedom of religion in our community carries with it some concerning implications, let’s not forget here what is being opposed here does not affect the religion itself, it directly affects the lives of PEOPLE, people who have lived in our community for years. It denies people the right to express themselves and conduct their lives in the way that they choose. Pushing people away, separating people from the rest of the community and laying down motions such as this breeds discontent, it furthers distrust and erodes social cohesion. You worry about radicals? This is how you get radicals. Islamic people in our community can see that we all live together in a fair, honest and hardworking community; I fail to see they have any issue with this nor oppose our way of life here. If being bigoted and intolerant suddenly became part of the way of life here, I sure as hell would be opposing that. This debate is tearing up other communities and I was rueing the day it would come to mine, but here it is and Penrith DOESN NOT NEED IT, don’t follow suit with other parts of Australia that have gone down the wrong path, let’s be tolerant, respectful, open and fair, because as a young man that’s what this community is important in being a part of it. Councillor Cornish is no doubt a good person and I have seen him stand up for Penrith on some very important matters such as the Fernhill development, he has worked hard to try and represent his community and I would expect no less of him. However he has failed to consider the diversity of the Penrith community and its culture as it is now in 2014. I ask the respected councillors to accept Penrith for what and who it has become; it has changed a lot over the years and will continue to change for years to come. Lastly as a state candidate I also ask Councillor Cornish to remember: “Hate begets hate” And hate is not part of the Penrith way of life.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 05:09:48 +0000
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