For those who don’t know what FAKE NEWS is, it’s when opposing sides of an argument (in our case Islam vs Xenophobia) make claims that contain a mixture of truth and ‘misdirection’. These claims are carefully blended to all sound plausible. Most of us don’t have the time, energy or resources to fully investigate the truth or otherwise of these claims, so we grab the ones that agree with our prejudices or stereotypes and run with them. Into battle if necessary.

Now, any good agnostic will say ‘wait until truth and falsity are sorted out, then act appropriately’. The downside of this is the time it takes to do this sorting, and the 'immediate' need to take a position. Be patient, be of good will to all , watch how the matter evolves and react when necessary (It’s better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak up and remove all doubt). Most of all – don’t stir up trouble until you know (not believe) the merits or otherwise of each side. Check facts, data and considered opinions from both sides.

What makes FAKE NEWS insidious is that our attention span is short. Before you’ve had time to sort out the rubbish a new shiny item appears in the news and we forget that we were reserving our opinion pending better info. So we remember the highlights that satisfied our prejudices, thus reinforcing them.

Our outbreak relates to the meeting held on Friday night that is causing much media angst around town. The claim that a DA for a mosque has been lodged is easily resolved – ask council. Whether the various quotes from the Koran or the Bible are relevant is a bit stickier, these have been argued for centuries. 

Sometimes you have to judge the ‘goodwill’ of the protagonists, and in the case of the xenophobes the use of such easily disproved claims counts against their ‘goodwill’ score. I have no doubt there are some doubtful claims by the Islamists, they may take longer to sort out.

Review your stereotypes, check your prejudices. Consider where they come from and who gave them to you, how much FAKE NEWS went into their formation.

But in the meantime for Christ’s sake, for Mohammed’s sake, and for your own sake, be respectful of one another. In the debate on Friday night both sides were poles apart, but they were respectful.

Chris Stephens

Last Friday I attended a public meeting titled ‘Demystifying Islam’. The meeting was well attended and in the main, people were respectful, curious and attentive. The Muslim group who came to be among us was likewise respectful and willing to share what they believe.

Outside was a small group handing out a brochure titled ‘Islam Exposed’ published by ‘Concerned Citizens.’ The group has every right to do this, and they attended the meeting and asked questions.

After the meeting, after excited chatter and thoughtful conversation among various groups who had attended, my husband and I caught up with friends and this group.

We all went to dinner to continue the conversation. It turned out that they travel from Sydney and Newcastle to ‘expose Islam’ wherever there are such efforts to connect with local communities.

The claims they made were extravagant and mischievous against Islam.

When one of them told us that a DA had been submitted to build a mosque in Mudgee and that one of the local churches was to host the Muslim community while it was being built, I fired up.

There is no DA in to build a mosque and the local church named has not had any communication from an Islamic community. I know, because it is the church I attend and I am on the lay ministry team which would deal with such issues.

I do know that if such a request were to be made, it would be thoughtfully considered. I asked where this information had come from. No answer. I asked for names. No answer. Did they invent the story? They were quiet after I said who I was and that their information was very wrong.

Two of the men are advisors to a member of the Australian Senate. It said so on the card they gave me. The senator belongs to a political party critical of those not fitting the vision of a past Australia most of us have long left behind.

My concern is that these people have come into our community to malign a group who are willing to open up a dialogue for peace and togetherness. To spread false information, and to covertly criticise a church here without factual information is malicious, deceitful and not helpful. 

Mudgee is so much better than this, and I doubt whether such behaviour will get much traction here. As we walked home, my husband and I mused that we felt more threatened by the conversation at dinner than anything we experienced at the meeting. 

Jorie Ryan

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