Randomrants

Once again, someone has said sorry. But once again, using weasel words to get out of actually expressing remorse or regret for what was said. Today’s culprit was none other that Jim Wallace from the Australian Christian Lobby. Whilst him saying something offensive really isn’t a surprise given the history of the ACL but today’s “outburst” was particular humdinger.

From his twitter account this morning, Anzac Day…

“Just hope that as we remember Servicemen and women today we remember the Australia they fought for – wasn’t gay marriage and Islamic!”

Saying this is offensive doesn’t come close. This comment presumes there were/are no Gay or Islamic service people in Australia. Thus the sacrifice they have made for our country is dismissed in his own bile and hatred. Turns out if you lobby for Jesus the way he does, hatred and bigotry are accepted.

So we come to the hurriedly rushed out apology.

“”I unreservedly apologise for sending that out,” Mr Wallace said.” ( Herald Sun )

“Ok you are right my apologies this was the wrong context toraise these issues. ANZACs mean to much to me to demean this day,not intended” (Twitter)

Sorry, but WHAT THE FUCK. You are sorry for sending it out, but not for the tone, the message, the intolerance and the lack of understanding that it shows. Ah, but it is o.k, you have said sorry. Unless he was under the influence of drugs, mind control, being held captive in renditionand forced to write the original tweet, he did compose it, he did type it and he did choose today to send it.

If I said to a manager at work, “Sorry for the timing on questioning your sexuality” for example, would that count as saying “Sorry”, no it wouldn’t. It is time that we stood up against these statements and these kind of apologies.

Perhaps if Mr Wallace took some time to look at what the Islamic world has given us, things like say Algebra, our numbering system, a true public hospital system, university degrees, and saving us from countless Cat Stevens records he might want to stop and realise that the Crusades are over.

( there is a clarification on the ACL website ( which I doubt will change any of the above), but obviously praying to your ISP doesn’t work, and their website fell over )

( edit… the ACL website is back up, guess what, the clarification is about the timing, and the fact his father doesn’t recognise modern Australia compared to 1945 Australia… well, times do change, and I think for the better )

Update: Here is his explanation on Sunrise 26/4/11….

I particularly like the “oh the vitriol that is on twitter”,and quick lets talk about a swimmer instead of me, its wasn’t me it was the twitter brigade, I’ve only be on twitter for a week.

Which Australian values does he want anyway, post WW1 or Post WW2, Post Korea, Post Vietnam, Post Iraq etc. The differences in Australia between WWI and WWII were huge, it would help if he clarified which particular Australia he wants back. Doe he want the no women in Parliament (Pre WWI), White Australia Policy (Pre Vietnam) etc, a hark back to before technology inevitably change society, like radio, then tv, now the internet.

Yet, the only thing he is sorry for is the day he sent it, not the content.