The Myer Christmas Windows unveiling event faced an unexpected challenge due to planned protests by Islamic pro-Palestinian activists.
The Myer Christmas Windows, a cherished Melbourne tradition since 1956, have been a source of joy for generations, drawing over a million visitors annually. This year, however, the unveiling event faced an unexpected challenge due to planned protests by Islamic pro-Palestinian activists.
The activist group Disrupt Wars announced their intention to disrupt the unveiling ceremony to protest the ongoing conflict in Gaza. In response to safety concerns, Myer decided to cancel the public event scheduled for Sunday, November 17, 2024. Despite the cancellation of the unveiling ceremony, the Christmas windows will still be open for public viewing from November 17, 2024, to January 5, 2025.
After reading a whole lot of commentary, and listening to the organisers interview on 3AW with Tom Elliot, I have a few thoughts.
- I am a staunch defender of the right to free speech, and the right to assemble and protest. So I defend the right of this group to gather and to say whatever they want, no matter how outrageously untrue it might be.
- The right to assemble and protest has to be balanced by the right of the community to enjoy safe and free access to their city.
- Thinking that this kind of action will have any effect on peace in the Middle East is delusional.
- This kind of action, however, does apply pressure on the government, and it does effect how politicians think, particularly those in inner city (greens) or outer northern or western (muslim) electorates.
- This action alienates the majority of everyday Australians who do not want their lives, their city, their cherished traditions attacked because of sectarian Islamist and radical left thugs.
- Appeasement does not work. Just ask Neville Chamberlain. The ability of the radical left/Islamist coalition to bring hate and division into our cities and universities should have been stopped on October 9th 2023.
- The Victorian Government needs to re-instate the "move on" laws, so that the police have the ability to ensure that the city of Melbourne is a safe place for all. Their failure to do has created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation in Australia's second largest city.
- The protesters tried to claim that Jesus was a Palestinian. They are quite happy to lie and distort reality in order to advance their aims.
- The best way to end the war in Gaza is for Hamas to release the hostages and surrender.
- As we approach Christmas, the celebration of the birth of a baby Jew, whose life and death (and Christians believe, resurrection), has transformed the entire world for good, we cannot take our eyes of Kfir and Ariel Bibas, an infant and child, held captives in the terror tunnels of Gaza for over 400 days.
It is vital that all decent Australians, irrespective of religion or political affiliation, stand against the hatred and lies that motivate protests such as these. We all need to stand together to maintain a country united in love and mutual respect, and in our fundamental commitment to the values and traditions of western civilisation.