The Australian Flag is the problem

According to George Copeland, Waverley councillor of Australia, the Australian Flag, is the problem, and not the Muslim thugs at the beach. At least he answered my email.

Jeff info@mosquewatch.com.net To <GeorgeC@waverley.nsw.gov.au> 03/01/2006 07:52 cc AM Subject Banning your own flag? Please respond to info@mosquewatch. com

Hello Sir,
Do you believe that The Australian flag is a threat to civil order? May Isuggest that if some people in your Country have a problem with theAustralian flag, the Flag it self is not the problem, the problem is withthe people in your society that refuse to integrate into Australiansociety.

There are 2 things I'd never thought I would see in my life time,jumbo jets flying into buildings, and Australia becoming Dhimmis. This is ashameful act of cowardice. If you have voted to take this action , you haveslandered your own great Country. You are an intelligent person ,I am sureof this, so make the right decision and put the Flag back up. Best ofwishes to you and your family, and best of wishes to the great Australianpeople.
JeffGulfport, Mississippi, USA

His response

Dear Geoff, (It's JEFF It's only 3 letters and he screwed that up)

The most important consideration is that this is a Malcolm Turnbull MPstunt. He(ambitious, hypocritical, and ruthless) wished to generate publicity forhimself byusing the Liberal councillors as pawns and by appealing to jingoism - acommonploy of the right wing to divert attention from the other nasty policiesthey are pushing,such as curtailing personal freedoms, abusing refugees, removing workplacerights,and reducing the taxes of the rich at the expense of the non-rich. (Notice the switch the blame game)

Remember he was the "big" republican who wanted to change the flag, but nowhehas cynically offered the Council the current flag via his lackeys in orderto makehimselfmore attractive to the extreme right and so to pave his way to theleadershipof the Liberal Party.
The progessive Waverley councillors easily saw through his stunt are notgoing tobe bullied by any megalomaniac.

It is interesting to note that a majority of right wing letter and emailwriters closely link the World Wars and the flag. They themselves see the flag as a symbol of racial violence and want to maintain it as such. (WHAT?)
Unlike the false claim by the Telegraph, Council is not ashamed of flyingthe flag.

In fact I told the reporter that Council already flies the national andaboriginal flagsat Council Chambers, but this was conveniently omitted. And also the BondiBeachsurf clubs fly the national flag so there is no shortage of flags there.The flag hasnever been banned. (Then why isn't it up?) The question is why do we need more. Especially when we have therespons ibilityof helping to ensure the safety of all visitors after the flag was used asa symbol atthe Cronulla riots by both sides. I'm sure if you put yourself in our shoesyou would tryto take steps to reduce the chance of provoking racial violence (OK he said it, the flag is the problem) at BondiBeach.I told the reporter the issue could be reconsidered after the heat dieddown, againthis was conveniently omitted.

I'm sure you can see the pattern - it's in the Telegraph's interest togenerate fury over the issue because it sells more papers.
The other issues that came into the decision were the heritage of thePavilion and the cost of installing flagpoles and having someone run the flags up and downeveryday. (You gotta be kidding me)

I'm sure you would be interested to know that, in a recent survey done on cultural diversity by the SMH, Waverley was found to be one of the most tolerant councilareas, but the council area that Malcolm Turnbull comes from is one of the least tolerant.
I hope this gives you another perspective on the situation.
Thanks, George Copeland, Waverley councillor
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Tel/Fax: (02) 9369 5843 Email: GeorgeC@waverley.nsw.gov.au-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Waverley Council Development Control Committee Infoline 9369 8194------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------