Letters

Julian O'Brien
Updated July 30 2020 - 1:58pm, first published 10:46am

ALMOST COMICAL

Doug Steley's 'Blame the Racists' (Illawarra Mercury, July 29) raises additional concern about the attack on our language by the offended, the PC police, and activists. Coon Cheese was named after the creator of its process of manufacture, a white man called Edward William Coon. It was clearly named after him and without any reference to any race and I am extremely surprised that anyone would seriously believe it was, and couldn't be convinced they were mistaken: unless it's just the use of the word "coon" in any situation that offends. So, what's next? Will all those who bear the surname of Coon, Coone, Cooney, or other similar names be now hunted by the Mob until they too change their names? You laugh? Well, explain how this would be different to the offence caused by the name Coon for a type of cheese. If its use as a name or word has been deemed offensive it should deemed be offensive in any instance where it is used. If this incident wasn't part of a much more serious and dangerous push to destroy all forms of cohesiveness within our society, it would be comical.

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Julian O'Brien

Editor of the Illawarra Mercury and former editor of The Advocate (North-West Tasmania). Journalism is simply about telling good stories well and we do so now across a broader platform than ever before. Our role as a regional masthead is to not only share the stories our readers care about but to be a passionate torch bearers for community at every opportunity. We are stronger together.

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