International Women’s Day prompted me to reflect on Dale Spender’s observations in her 1980 book Man Made Language.
“Feminism has fought no wars. It has killed no opponents. It has set up no concentration camps, starved no enemies, practiced no cruelties. Its battles have been for education, for the vote, for better working conditions, for safety in the streets, for child care, for social welfare, for rape crisis centres, women’s refuges, reforms in the law. If someone says, ‘Oh, I’m not a feminist’, I ask, ‘Why? What's your problem?’,” Spender said.
Now we hear Anthony Albanese’s lazy regurgitation of United States’ lies that it acted to “prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon” to justify Australia’s support for Israel and the US’ illegal war against Iran.
Albanese’s subservience to empire is a total sell out. Such is the hubris of white patriarchal supremacy that he acts as if he is above all law and pretends that attacking a sovereign nation and assassinating its leader will somehow bring freedom and democracy to its people.
Warfare is a foremost polluter of this planet and rampant misogyny is built into it. Surely the PM and Foreign Minister Penny Wong recognise this to be true, given the now unliveable Gaza strip is gruesome proof.
Albanese’s alignment with the two countries responsible for the single most monstrous state terror in recent times not only makes Australia complicit, it also funnels its dangerous escalation.
The PM could have followed in Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez’ footsteps and put his words into action by stopping airbase access to the war machine. Or he could have pondered on Belgian opposition Socialist Party leader Paul Magnette: “Not one of our soldiers, not one of our weapons should go for Trump’s war in Iran. We must say no to Trump, like Pedro Sánchez did.”
Magnette’s words could have nudged the PM to become a leader of sorts and build a coalition of refuseniks who say racism, misogyny and perpetual wars are taking humanity to the brink.
But Albanese has not stood up for the truth about the US-Israel attacks on Iran. Nor has he demanded accountability for Israel’s illegal occupation and apartheid, let alone the genocide in Gaza.
At the same time our voices are being silenced and our democratic rights gutted by a dangerous censorship creeping into our public life and institutions. We are being threatened when we criticise the proponents of war and greed.
Those who criticise Israel and Zionism risk losing our jobs. Exceptionalising the rights of one group to the detriment of others suits their divide and rule agenda.
As a Jewish person, it worries me that Albanese and Minns do not understand that democracy must not be shred in the name of Jewish safety, as it is the perfect way to make Australians hate Jews.
Censorship is a regressive development.
We must challenge Albanese and Wong’s support for the costly AUKUS deal, their reaffirmation of friendly ties with warmongering Israel and sending military gear and personnel to the UAE.
The frightening reality of rising fascism should be a clarion call to resist the injustice of 21st century colonialism and the feeding of the patriarchal war machine.
Today, feminists declare that the wealth and resources of the earth belong to her people and should be invested in the preservation of the environment and the implementation of equality for all.
If we transform patriarchal divisive societies into equitable ones, there will be plenty to nourish everyone and guarantee a healthy, happier planet for our children.