Team Australia, Terror and Tinderboxes

Discuss the Questions Here are the questions our panel faced this week. Tell us what your answer would be or what you think our panellists need to say. EXTREMISM FEARS Siobhan Lynch-Wells asked: As a member of today’s youth, it concerns me that Australians are leaving Australia to support Islamic extremists in Syria and Iraq and then returning here. After Khaled Sharrouf, from Sydney, photographed his seven-year-old son holding a severed head, does the panel have any suggestions on how we can ensure this extremist Islam doesn’t develop in Australia? WHY AM I SEEN AS BAD Fawaz Ateem asked: As an Australian Muslim who loves this country, why do the media and government continuously tell other Australians that I should not be trusted. Yes - crimes against humanity are committed in the Middle East and elsewhere, and yes - so called Muslim fighters are killing people of different religious background and other Muslims too, but why should I be blamed for their actions? TEAM ABBOTT Almir Colan asked: The Islamic Council of Victoria has withdrawn its attendance from meeting with Tony Abbott due to the PM's careless use of a divisive language. “Team Australia” sounds more like Team Abbott and is clearly at odds with his stated objective to consult with the Muslim community. My question is how should we engage in a dialogue when the language used is so provocative but those who express their right to dissent are labelled as “petty” and “foolish”? Does the PMs language create a divide and encourage bigotry in the community? IS MULTICULTURALISM A TINDERBOX Li Shee Su asked: Is multiculturalism the real deal or just a tinderbox waiting to be lit aflame by the next spark, as evidenced by conflicts everywhere? RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT Ilanna Furfaro asked: In response to the mass atrocities committed by the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, President Obama has spoken of the need to prevent a potential act of genocide against the Yezidi people. Yet America, Australia, and other nations are reluctant to engage militarily. What action is needed to protect the lives of innocent civilians and minority groups from the Islamic State militia? OPPOSITION LEADERSHIP: THEN & NOW Brian Parker asked: When Gough Whitlam was in opposition he mapped out and articulated his vision on reforms and policies. Is it acceptable in these political times, for opposition parties not to be able to articulate what they stand for, and provide alternative solutions that are meaningful to the voters of this country? POLITICS & 24 HOUR MEDIA Liam Arandt asked: Do you believe that with the effects of the 24 hour media cycle that long-term objectives within the government are becoming unsustainable? END OF LIFE Elaine O’Shannessy asked: I enjoy my life currently but I do not want to end up trapped in a nursing home (as my lovely mother was a few years ago) when I can no longer feed or dress myself, go to the toilet unaided. I refuse to be a burden to society, my family and whatever friends are left alive then. I want to be remembered as lively and active, not as bed-ridden and helpless. But neither do I want to bring the law down on someone who takes pity on me and helps me to die sooner rather than later. Why do we, as conscious and rational individuals, still not have the right to choose how and when we die? END OF LIFE Elaine O’Shannessy also asked: It is an issue for an individual. If I want to choose it is nothing to do with anybody else. I don’t think we need rules and laws. It’s a very individual thing.