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The Land of Free-Speech Denying Tossers

Australians may regard themselves as living in a land of free speech and a good-on-you attitude towards outspoken people, but in reality we live in a narrow-thinking little outpost of free-speech denying tossers.

Normally my scorn is directly aimed at the thought-Nazis leading the Politically Correct sheep who trot around after each other doing their utmost to make everyone as good as everyone else.

Atiitudes like: He's a mass murderer and cannibal but we can't do anything too nasty to him because he came from a broken home. Baaaaa.

They with their you-musn't-make-anyone-feel-different-or-bad-about-themselves attitudes do bugger all except promote their belief that everyone is the same and that the only true path to nirvana is to make sure that everyone follows the same tippy-toe line and never say what really should be said.

Anyone who happens to raise their heads and say "hang on, I don't agree" gets instantly vilified as an '-ist' of some form or other and their ideas are buried under a media tsunami of righteous indignation.

Now, the thought-Nazis are an evil that stops free speech and democracy, no doubt about that, but so is the other let's-silence-opposition-to-our-plans pack of jerks ... the self-interest group.

Now while the PC sheep blithely go about their way baa-ing stock answers to anything outside their tunnel vision, it has to be said they are stupidly well-meaning, if utterly misguided.

A sensational example of the nastier side of squashing free speech comes from Melbourne and, of all places, a golf club. The exclusive Royal Melbourne Golf Club to be precise.

Now the powers within the club are dragging a 77-year-old woman before a star chamber to answer charges that - by objecting to a new clubhouse - she acted in a way prejudicial to the club.

Apparently the good lady had the temerity to officially object to planning authorities about the project and then - ABSOLUTE HORRORS - actually talk to the media about the issue.

Oh my God! Quick, execute her! We can't have free speech in this part of town. Sack her as a member! Humiliate her! Hang, draw and quarter her! Put her handicap up!

But worse follows. Our viper in the nest also ... wait for it ... wrote to the club captain, councillors and office bearers over the matter!

Now the club is out to have our gal - a member for 21 years - expelled from its holy grounds, unless she resigns. She has said "up yours" and will fight the move. And so she should.

Personally, I reckon golf is fun as a bit of a joke-about way to spend a day, but anyone who gets serious about it has to make an effort to get a life.

It seems the powers-that-be at Royal Melbourne have taken one too many doses of megalomania powder and need to have a bit of a short, sharp shock over just how far they can go when telling people what to do or think.

How about you invite me down and we'll have a little chat about bullying and stomping on people's rights. If you can convince me that you are right, I won't shove a pitching wedge up certain tight orifices.

If there is something that has really got up your nose, let Grumpy Old Coot know at grumpy@webwombat.com