Keep the faith

Keep the faith

The campaign to denigrate Senator Fatima Payman has its own playbook, promoted by a league of supporters: that is, attack her for ‘‘identity politics’’ and for representing ‘‘political Islam’’ (‘‘Australia will lose if Payman’s identity politics triumphs’’, July 7).

Parnell Palme McGuiness follows this to the letter. The aim is to deflect attention from the horrific scenes of slaughter in Gaza, witnessed daily by so many Australians.

Huge numbers of non-Muslims and non-Arabs, including Jews, attend growing rallies calling for a ceasefire.

But we wouldn’t want people to think that a majority of Australians of all identities and all faiths finds the continuing deaths abhorrent and calls with one voice for a ceasefire and a policy stance in accordance with international law.

Caroline Graham, Cromer

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese may well believe that faith-based parties ‘‘risk social cohesion’’; however, it is far more likely that he is really concerned about the future prospects for seats now held by the government. All groups or tribes in our society are entitled to form political parties that the electorate can choose to support or reject.

When the PM and others make comments about social cohesion, what they are admitting is that it doesn’t take much for race or religiously based prejudices and/or antipathies to bubble to the surface.

If the PM and the ALP seriously believe that as a community we should welcome and embrace diversity in whatever form it manifests, then there should be no fears about faith-based parties.

Ross Butler, Rodd Point

I can’t say that I’ve often agreed with the views of Parnell Palme McGuinness, but there is a strong possibility of identity politics arising in Australia leading to division, upheaval and resentment. It will cause a move to the right, just as it has done in Europe. No one wants to see that.

The possibility of the spoiling of our beautiful Australia is real.

Stewart Copper, Maroubra

One hopes Fatima Payman is aware of Andy Warhol’s words about 15 minutes of fame.

The ALP was the party machine that had her elected to parliament. The party celebrated her as being indicative of the inclusive nature of its preselection process.

One imagines that Senator Payman will be but a footnote in Australian political history after the next election. One cannot imagine what she might have achieved from within the tent had she honoured her signed commitment to the party that gave her the platform to stage her protest in the first place.

Barry Ffrench, Cronulla