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Saturday July 31, 2010

What we're talking about

Cross-state live radio debate

Posted by: By Derryn Hinch, 3AW Drive | 15 January, 2009 - 4:59 PM

BEN WISE, 3AW.com.au: The below editorial, written by 3AW's Derryn Hinch, was published moments before he broadcast a different editorial - with the same premise - regarding the furore surrounding 4BC radio host Michael Smith's comments regarding traditional hijab or burqas.

After reading Smith's blog late this afternoon, Hinch removed the term 'red-neck' when he covered the topic on-air.

Smith, having read the below editorial, and Hinch then squared off on live radio as they presented their respective Drive programs in Brisbane and Melbourne.

Watch the editorial Hinch went to air with and then listen to the debate. Who has the better argument? Smith or Hinch? Leave comments below. Click here for Michael Smith's blog on the issue.

DERRYN HINCH, 3AW DRIVE: I must have been mistaken. I thought the full moon was already behind us but it seems that some people are still being affected by it from Brisbane to Manchester.

In Brisbane, an erstwhile colleague on sister station 4BC has come out and demanded that Muslim women who wear the traditional hijab or burqa should be charged with offensive behaviour.

Michael Smith, a former Victorian police officer, now 4BC drive-time announcer said: "Any reasonable person would find this offensive."

I guess he'll be going after nuns next. Or maybe men who wear beards.

4BC general manager David McDonald said Mr Smith's remarks were not intended to be anti-religion or anti-Muslim. Yeah, sure. Actually, I've met Mr Smith. He sat in on this program to see how it's done. What did he learn? Actually, I don't think he was anti-Muslim. Just a moronic red-neck.

Then the full moon touched Manchester.

A British MP has claimed that the learning disorder dyslexia doesn't exist. It  is merely a 'cruel fiction' to cover up poor teaching.

Graham Stringer, MP for Blackley in Manchester, said it was 'wicked' to label children as dyslexic because they were confused by bad teaching methods.

"The education establishment, rather than admit that their eclectic and incomplete methods for instruction are at fault, have invented a brain disorder called dyslexia,". He wrote this in a column for the Manchester Confidential website.

"Dyslexia is a cruel fiction. The sooner it is consigned to the same dustbin of history, the better." Which means that 6 million sufferers in Britain and hundreds of thousands here are victims of a cruel hoax.

But it does raise an issue worth discussing. How many people think that behavioural disorders are a myth. ADD – attention deficit disorder. Post traumatic stress disorder. What do you think?

3AW.com.au note: The 'Last' link below does not work, please click on each individual page link or 'Next' only. The latest comments appear last in this blog.

Blog comments Your Say

  • Michael who?

    Being a shock jock is like shooting fish in a barrel. You have no real talent. I could do your job with my eyes closed

    Andrew Monday 2 February, 2009 - 5:03 PM

  • Derryn you are a fine one to talk your a criticizicer yourself & well known for it. Leave Michael alone look in the mirror work on your own attitude towards ppl before judging other's.....

    Lloyd from Qld Wednesday 21 January, 2009 - 12:00 PM

  • If we go to their country we females have to cover up to comply with their religion & culture. So when in Aus why should they still be allowed to do what they want. Does that mean my partner can have his own religion where he has to wear a balaclava & won't have to take it off in banks etc as they can still see his eyes?

    Darlene Wednesday 21 January, 2009 - 11:51 AM

  • So the do-gooders and the
    civil liberty mobs see no
    security problem with people
    hiding behind a mask.
    No doubt these same people
    are the ones that complain
    about police using sniffer
    dogs to detect drugs.

    I suggest that these people
    take a P & O cruise and see
    just how the ASIAN security
    guards employed by that
    company act. Then they would
    know about discrimination or
    perhaps a better word would
    be humiliation of aged
    Australian citizens.

    This I may add is on a
    British registered ship
    operating at Australian and
    New Zealand ports

    peter Monday 19 January, 2009 - 11:21 PM

  • Derryn, why don't you look in the mirror occasionally, and then leave our Michael Smith alone. I don't agree with all of his comments, but on this occasion he is entirely correct. He has said what most of us only think. If a Moslem woman wearing her national dress wants to enter a bank or place where security is required, then arrangements should be made to allow her to, in private, show her face to maybe another Moslem, or at least a woman, so that she can do her banking business in this country. No I am not racist, she should be able to wear her home country dress, but the same as helmets have to be removed to check identity, and metal items need to be either declared or removed at airports, any item of clothing that hides their identity should be removed so that i.d. can be checked. If this does noy suit the wearer, then I,m sorry, but that person should reside in her original country.

    Jackie Griffin Saturday 17 January, 2009 - 6:38 PM

  • Tsk...You blew it again Mr Hinch. give it away bloke..

    LittleOzzyBloke Saturday 17 January, 2009 - 3:30 PM

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