Poem to The Editor

To The Age

SECTION 18C – REPLY TO LEUNIG
No, freedom is the shield of truth, my friend.
Without it, tyranny is round the bend,
When prophets can be stoned or even worse
And only sycophants can publish verse.
To claim that freedom lovers wish to hate
Is stooping to ignoble insult, mate.
It is unworthy of your genius, I say,
And in debate a most ungenerous way.
Opponents of this law are on the ball
If there’s to be a fair go for us all.
In other nations folk are sent to jail
To prop opinions that in fact are frail.
That’s not the Aussie way, old man,
To stifle talk and most unjustly ban.
Nigel Jackson, Belgrave, Vic