Italian academic Augusto Del Noce argues "the prevailing orthodoxy dominating the West is one of secular humanism inspired by Neo-Marxism, critical theory and scientific rationalism".
Don't, by the way, confuse critical theory with critical thinking. Regretfully Neo-Marxism and critical theory are making headway in Australasia, and especially in the USA, Britain and Canada.
The commentator and author Mehdi Hasan, responding to condemnation of Christchurch wrote, "I am a Muslim and I consider myself to be on the left, but I'm embarrassed to admit that in both Muslim and left circles the issue of Christian persecution has been downplayed and even ignored for far too long". But there's more.
Dr Kevin Donnelly, author of How Political Correctness is Destroying Australia, says "the subservience to multiculturalism and uncritically celebrating diversity and difference … is best exemplified in the national curriculum. Christianity, if present, is considered to be on the same footing as indigenous spirituality. Harmony Day and Sorry Day are on the same level as Christmas and Easter".
Salim Mansur, a name not recognised in New Zealand, but should be, is a Canadian citizen, a professor of political science at the University of Western Ontario. From his book Delectable Lie, a liberal repudiation of multiculturalism, "although multiculturalism once seemed a very good idea … it is increasingly shown to be a lie — a delectable lie nevertheless — that is destructive of the West's liberal democratic heritage, tradition, and values based on individual rights and freedoms. This could have been foretold, as indeed those philosophers and historians of ideas who viewed freedom as immeasurably more important than equality in the development of the West did foretell. They admonished people against the temptation to abridge freedom in pursuit of equality". By the way, Mansur is a Muslim, albeit a dissident one. Delectable Lie is 173 pages of delectable reading and thoroughly recommended for the citizenry of this country.
Simon Kuestenmacher is director of research at the Demographic Group, where Bernard Salt of smashed avocado fame, also resides. "Losing faith in religion leaves young trapped in painful search for meaning", said a column written by Simon last week. Not a religious article per se, Simon deals with demographic trends, consumer insights and cultural change. Nevertheless, the headline is poignant. Douglas Murray's recent headline equally so. "What hope for a world without religion?" Indeed, did Eric Hardy Smith just help delay the inevitable?
Eric Smith joined the Australian Imperial Force on January 28, 1916 in Perth, and was part of the 44th Battalion AIF 1916-1919, aged 18. He was my father's father. Here is all, until very recently, I knew about my grandfather. He returned from the war a wreck. Having suffered from being gassed on more than one occasion, his nerves were shot. He attempted school teaching but couldn't cope, so returned to a family farm north of Perth. After alcohol became a problem, he entered an asylum where he died in 1949. I now have his war records, which were sent to me recently. He was in France and was injured and repaired to hospital in England on three occasions. There is more to discover but this is a small tribute that I write on Anzac morning.
