WITH FREEDOM OF SPEECH COMES RESPONSIBILITY

‘For those who’ve come across the seas, we’ve boundless plains to share’ – these words in the Australian National Anthem – Advance Australia Fair – indicate that we, as a nation, embrace multiculturalism.

But it is a nicety that bestows an appropriate burden of responsibility.

Australian society is one built on respect for one another – regardless of race, wealth, gender or otherwise. It is through our country’s shared values that mutual respect is earned.

The freedom of speech we enjoy comes with a duty of care for our community.

Whilst the use of profanity has been sadly more widely accepted in modern society – the most recent display of commentary on the Middle East conflict in a Wagga Wagga Fitzmaurice Street shop front is a flagrant disregard of even modern standards.

Regardless of which side of the Hamas-Israel conflict you may support – or even whether you do not have an opinion on this matter – to be genuinely Australian is to strongly advocate for what you think is right but to do so within this society’s expectations.

To use such provocative language to push an agenda; right, wrong or indifferent; takes away from the actual issue and ultimately serves to provide nothing more than blatant self-promotion in an egotistical endeavour to seek notoriety.

It is disgracefully un-Australian and un-Wagga-like and this kind of morally repugnant language does not belong in a publicly facing shop front where children can read it … or anyone else anywhere for that matter.

Everyone bears a responsibility to hold our society to a high level to maintain the lifestyle that, evidently, some in our community take for granted.

People come from across the seas to share our boundless plains and lifestyle – not to be confronted by the very troubles that may have initially forced them to leave their country.

Protest and vouch for what you think is right – it is a fundamental right – but please do so in a respectful way that does not cause further rifts in what is a predominantly peaceful community.