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Anti-Semitism Politics

“Counseling” a racist before letting him in the country?

Even though it’s Christmas Eve and I hadn’t been planning on posting anything except what I hope to be humorous holiday greetings, I couldn’t resist mentioning this example of political correctness run amok:

A Croatian rock star accused of anti-Semitism will be forced to undergo tolerance counselling as a condition of entry to Australia.

A Jewish rights group on Friday expressed anger over the federal government’s decision to allow Marko Perkovic into Australia.

Mr Perkovic, singer and songwriter with the Croatian rock band Thompson, has been criticised for making strongly anti-Semitic remarks and for supporting the Ustashe regime, the fascist Croatian movement accused of the slaughter of Jews and other ethnic minorities during World War II.

Thompson is scheduled to play several shows across Australia during the Christmas-new year period.

[…]

The immigration department said Mr Perkovic would be required to have tolerance counselling as a condition of his entry to Australia.

“The department can confirm that Marko Perkovic has been granted a visa,” a spokesman told AAP.

“Mr Perkovic will be counselled regarding the multicultural nature of Australian society and the need to avoid vilification or incitement of discord in the community.”

This is just silly. Either let the anti-Semitic twit into Australia to tour with his band or don’t. The whole business about “counseling” as a precondition for his being issued a visa is just ridiculous. Do they really think “tolerance counseling” will do one whit to change Perkovic’s views? All it will do is to give the appearance of “doing” something before letting him in.

By Orac

Orac is the nom de blog of a humble surgeon/scientist who has an ego just big enough to delude himself that someone, somewhere might actually give a rodent's posterior about his copious verbal meanderings, but just barely small enough to admit to himself that few probably will. That surgeon is otherwise known as David Gorski.

That this particular surgeon has chosen his nom de blog based on a rather cranky and arrogant computer shaped like a clear box of blinking lights that he originally encountered when he became a fan of a 35 year old British SF television show whose special effects were renowned for their BBC/Doctor Who-style low budget look, but whose stories nonetheless resulted in some of the best, most innovative science fiction ever televised, should tell you nearly all that you need to know about Orac. (That, and the length of the preceding sentence.)

DISCLAIMER:: The various written meanderings here are the opinions of Orac and Orac alone, written on his own time. They should never be construed as representing the opinions of any other person or entity, especially Orac's cancer center, department of surgery, medical school, or university. Also note that Orac is nonpartisan; he is more than willing to criticize the statements of anyone, regardless of of political leanings, if that anyone advocates pseudoscience or quackery. Finally, medical commentary is not to be construed in any way as medical advice.

To contact Orac: [email protected]

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