All Politics is Local

Those who know me know that I revel in social media. I thrive on the ability to express myself, and to make contact with all sorts of people, from a trade in the suburbs to old school friends, to the people who own the voices of my favourite radio stations to politicians, activists and public figures. Those who know me will also know that while I can swear like a sailor with a toothache, I don't do it often. My inner voice has more in common with Gordon Ramsay than I like to admit, but I have an 'inside voice' that I use online.

I'm pretty polite and respectful on social media. I rarely lose my temper, although my default sarcasm comes through too often. But I'm basically respectful of those I interact with.

Masters of Social Media: Mark Robinson and Andrew Laming

I was last night, too, when my local LNP member's Facebook page caught my attention. The subject was the Safe Schools programme, and Mark Robinson MP was complaining that Queensland Education Minister Kate Jones was not acting to address the horror of the safe schools programme.

I've read great slabs of the course material, I've watched many of the Safe Schools videos that are available as learning resources, and I'm in favour of this programme. According to the Safe Schools website:

Safe Schools Coalition Australia is a national network of organisations working with schools to create safer and more inclusive environments for same sex attracted, intersex and gender diverse students, staff and families.

There's a lot to respect about the Safe Schools materials, and while it isn't perfect, it's the best we have. 

By the way, anyone who suggests that as I'm not a parent, I have no right to an opinion can just get in the sea right now. 

Mr Robinson and some of his Facebook supporters have described the programme as "Un-Safe Schools". I asked Mr Robinson what was in the programme materials that made it unsafe. He was either unwilling or unable to answer with any specifics.

Another commenter, Julie Robinson, discussed an e-petition to have the Safe Schools programme removed from Queensland schools. Julie Robinson is Mark Robinson's wife. Here's what happened next.

I'll admit, I was too-ing and fro-ing about whether to mention in my post that Julie is Mark's wife. I chose not to; it's irrelevant, as she is also a constituent, and has every right to her own opinion. Equally, she has no business making up numbers to support her argument. 

The rest of the comments were short notes of agreement with Mark's initial post...except for the one from Shaun Edwards. He wanted to introduce Shariah (sic) Law into the thread. I responded with something like "What about it?" I could not see - and still can't - what Sharia Law has to do with the Safe Schools programme.

Self portrait of the blogger

And there it is. According to my local state member, I'm a troll. I pick incredibly polite fights with strangers on the internet. 

Did I mention that along with calling me a troll, Mr Robinson also deleted my post to Shaun Edwards and blocked me from commenting on his Facebook page? He's blocked me on Twitter, too, has never posted on his Instagram account, and seems not to have a Pinterest account. He's not alone; it's almost standard Liberal Party/LNP operating procedure to use social media as another distribution channel for press releases.

Having blocked me from using social media to contact him, I opted for the Contact form on his website to communicate. 

I am disappointed that you have suggested that I am a troll, that you have deleted a relevant Facebook post, and that you ultimately blocked me from commenting on your Facebook page. I am an engaged and aware constituent of Cleveland who just happens to disagree with you. I have been unfailingly polite; I have treated you with respect, but I have challenged your perspective on a number of issues and I have asked direct questions. 

Social media, and indeed politics, are not tennis matches where players can be penalised for showing dissent. Vigorous debate is healthy, and yet you refuse to engage, or even acknowledge people who disagree with you. You represent all of us, Mark, even the dreadful lefties. When you close off communication with people whose views differ from yours, you deny them informed representation, but you deny yourself the opportunity to put your own case forward, you lose the chance to learn about your constituents and your perception of your electorate's disposition is skewed. 

I don't expect you to change your mind on any of the issues we disagree on; I do, however, expect to be treated with the same degree of respect as I have always treated you. Perhaps you would like to chat with Steve Minnikin. We clashed too, but instead of blocking me, we met for coffee and had a chat. 

I await your written response.

It's 3:45pm, and there's no response yet. I'm wondering if a letter to the local paper might be in order. 

Safe Schools - Steve's Perspective.

Today, my friend Steve Molkentin received a private message about the Safe Schools programme. Steve, a practising Christian and all round good guy, chose to share his response on Facebook, and has generously allowed me to reproduce it here.

I received this private message from an FB friend today:

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Just like to let you know what the labor party stands for in the safe school program. At prep they will and do introduce the child having the opportunity as to what gender you would like to be. Big discussion for young children. Yes you don't have to make this discussion now but you can start experimenting hey go to the boys toilet if you are a girl and if you are a boy go to the girls toilet how safe are you feeling now. That is one issue and there are many more. When it comes to discrimination don't go there open the boarders and let them come and soon we will be like the best terror spot around. Don't close your mind yet open your eyes and see what else is undercover that they have not told us about. Being a family that grew up in the church like your parents marriage is between a man and a woman and imagine a world where more children have not had the family balance that works and we have more questionable values thrown in where do we go now how many pedefiles there be here now. Just thought I would put you in the light.
---

I won't identify them. I know I have other FB friends who would think the same/similar as above.

I offer this response to that person and the other like-minded friends on FB:

This election, more than any other, has become about division. Dividing us along age (Boomers v Milennials), dividing us along sexuality (supporting Marriage Equality & Safe Schools or no), dividing us by means (removing services/increasing cost of services for those with little). Then there's the division based on what you think Australia should do with asylum seekers (last night's ACA was appalling in its portrayal of the situation in Nauru).

I am a person of faith. I struggle to be the best reflection of Jesus most times, yet I persist.

The Christ I know offers love, grace and compassion to all people. It doesn't matter your age, faith, sexual preference, means, ethnicity, place in the world. If we get the bit where we love God with all our being and then we love our neighbour as ourselves, we won't get hung up on scare campaigns from the ACL about gender fluidity, shared toilets and educating people so that the LGBTIQ+ community aren't the bogeyman.

Some of the advice contained within the Safe Schools material.

I encourage you to not be drawn into division. Care for your neighbour - and, according to Jesus, that's anybody that isn't you. Don't project your belief system onto someone that doesn't believe the same as you... just love them. Be compassionate. 

Please do not spread misinformation, false truths and least of all hate. Have informed conversations. Listen to other people and consider their experiences and points of view.

It burns me some of the things the ACL do in the name of "Christianity" and "Christians" around the country. As difficult as it is God asks me to love them too. (I am thankful daily God doesn't ask me to agree with them or support them.)

I reject the assertions in the above message that the Safe Schools program is dangerous. That's not how I read the material in the program.

I reject the suggestion that only a marriage of a man and a woman can offer a "proper" home for children. By extension it suggests that single parent families are incomplete, and that couples who don't have kids are somehow less valuable.

I wholly reject the way we are dealing with asylum seekers. Horrors are being committed in representation of Australia. Of us. By us. Show these people who ran for their lives some mercy. Channel the money spent on the camps in Nauru into processing centres in Indonesia and the like to end the business of those who would take advantage of the weak and vulnerable and put them on boats.

I love God, and I love you. If you believe there's truth in the original message I shared above I'll happily chat with you about it, and I'll pray for you (and with you, if you'll let me). Please be prepared for me to challenge you strongly if you are person of faith and you think any of the original message is biblical and how God wants us to operate.

PLEASE - if you are going to comment or reply to comments to this, I ask you to be polite. I will delete anything that is intentionally racist, inflammatory, or gets personal (not only of the people commenting, but also of politicians, etc).

For those people of faith - God asks us to care for everyone, and when given the chance share what he's all about. That doesn't give us the right to condemn or influence/advocate laws that separate and divide. Start from a place of love and see where the Spirit of God leads you.

For those that have experience hate, been singled out or ostracised because people believe something different to you - I'm so very sorry.

Enough division. The only way we'll conquer these things is together as people who care about each other.