By Ivana Milojevic
It was a sunny day, as it often is in Queensland. Pauline Hanson was a bit down that day. She had been denied access to a school, also to a meeting, and had recently been harassed by demonstrators and even threatened with violence. She felt that she should accept the invitation of her soul mate from the remote Republika Srpska, who offered his understanding and support. This is how their conversation went:
Radovan: Good day Pauline! I've heard you have been having some problems lately.
Pauline: Well, you know all that stuff: accusing you of being racist or nationalist, while you are only being a patriot.
Radovan: Of course, I understand. I have been trying to convince all the world that our struggle is nothing but the fight for justice, self-determination, sovereignty and a pure act of patriotism.
Pauline: I have the same problem: trying to convince fellow Australians that we should stop importing people who take our jobs without even speaking English!
Radovan: How can so many of them who are unskilled and have no fluency in English take jobs from hard-working, white Australians?
Pauline: I haven't figured that one yet, but at least I have started the debate and let the genie out of the bottle. Unfortunately, there are still quite a lot of people who do not support my views. Some research shows that might be even 52%!
Radovan: Don't worry about that. We were supported by even less, but real truth finds its way to the open. I started as an ordinary MP as well, but have built an empire thanks to my hard work. You just have to be aggressive, and keep on being aggressive. Even a lie told 100 times becomes a truth.
Pauline: How about "we are in danger of being swamped by Asians"?
Radovan: That's a good one. How about that migrants are responsible for high unemployment and crimes?
Pauline: Exactly what I had in mind!
Radovan: It is easy to identify the problem, but have you thought of a solution?
Pauline: Kick them out and stop them from coming!
Radovan: You should develop that concept even further. How about those who refuse to go? Have you ever thought of concentration camps?
Pauline: Well, of course, but some Australians and the international community might object.
Radovan: Don't worry about that. If we could cleanse our motherland from undesirable elements, putting them behind bars, starving them to death, raping women and killing men, all in the heart of Europe and at the end of the 20th century, of course you can do the same in remote Australia. I believe they form ghettos anyway?
Pauline: Yes, they have their own culture and religion, form ghettos and do not assimilate.
Radovan: Nor would you like them to do so. Imagine having an Asian as a son or daughter-in-law! Your blood would be completely polluted!
Pauline: So you believe it is better if they do not assimilate?
Radovan: Then it is much easier to get rid of them, don't you think? Remember our famous predecessors in prewar Germany. They didn't have troubles determining who is who and from what origin or religion, like we do. The more society is mixed, the more difficult is to find them all.
Pauline: Some people say that we are migrants as well!
Radovan: That's the most stupid thing I have ever heard! The migrants are only others, never us!
Pauline: That's true. We know who we are and what our mainstream population is. Our mainstream Australia is based on its Anglo-Celtic-European heritage, Judaeo-Christian beliefs, English law and the Westminster parliamentary system.
Radovan: We started with a firm structure as well. Today we have evolved even more and are based on Slavonic heritage, Christian Orthodox beliefs, the original parliamentary system of self-obstruction, and no law, especially not international ones.
Pauline: I am very concerned with these mainstream Australians. I speak in the name of the people.
Radovan: So do I. We were also sick of being told what to do and treated as if our country was not ours. We simply had to react. What you need to do is mobilise the youth and channel them in the right direction!
Pauline: I was already thinking of giving them some lessons: they are spoiled, irresponsible and don't respect adults. 18-year-olds should serve a year's national service building roads, bridges, wharfs, ports and work in reforestation. That would solve unemployment, and those people would get a work ethic about them, a comradeship, a patriotism.
Radovan: What an excellent idea! It is not new, though; it was very successful in the past. We had what was called "radna akcija", a voluntary mass, physical labour performed by young people. Oh, the sweet times of Communist ideas and methods of recruitment!
Pauline: That might solve some other problems as well.
Radovan: Especially you could stop all funds to deal with suicide among male youth. When people are taught some discipline, put in harsh conditions, and their lives daily threatened, they do not think about all that rubbish — the meaning of life or what will happen in the future. The main problem in most countries these days is that young people dislike hard work and authority.
Pauline: You read my mind.
Radovan: We have so many similarities! You have been painted as a martyr, while I was portrayed by many as a saint.
Pauline: Or as a devil, depending on perspective.
Radovan: Now, don't you become a post-modernist as well! We know what is truth and what is not because things are always black or white.
Pauline: I am off to Australia now. Anything you need?
Radovan: We do not need anything from abroad. We do not need anyone's help or connections. We can do everything on our own — but maybe a little bit of chocolate, because life is somehow bitter these days.
[Ivana Milojevic recently finished a book on violence against women.]