Australian Government Warns That Alternative Rock, Teenage Rebellion Could Lead To Radicalization
from the but-what-of-dubstep? dept
The Australian government is fighting back against the unrelenting terrorist threat that threatens to consume every Western nation. It, too, has noticed that youngsters and their SnapChats are particularly prone to radicalization from outside forces. As Richard Chirgwin of the Register points out, it has chosen to address this threat to Australian society in the way only a government agency can: with a blend of the bizarre and the tone deaf.
Launched this week by justice minister Michael Keenan (who also glories in the title Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Terrorism), the Radicalisation Awareness Kit is supposed to help school teachers identify which of their students is going to enter the adult world with a penchant for bomb-throwing.Cue the cheery faces of unradicalized youth:
The 32-page booklet starts with a long definition of radlicalization, hedged by warnings that not every diversion from the mainstream will result in violence. Then it heads into a series of "case studies" that indicate every deviation from societal norms is a warning sign of impending unlawfulness.
The case studies are the best kind of hilarious: inadvertent.
"Erin" joined a "hate group" and committed crimes against Muslims. After a stay in jail and laying off the booze, "Erin" turned her life around. Not completely, but it's a start.
It is now a number of years since she left the group and Erin has sought treatment for her depression, reconciled with her family, is studying and has made some new friends. However, it was a difficult and slow process. She has moderated her beliefs significantly and makes a point of educating herself on issues rather than just accepting what others tell her. She does not entirely trust the government or police yet – it takes a long time to change some habits of thinking.If nothing else, this fabricated tale shows the government to be overly-concerned about its place in the world. "Erin" is still partly broken because she doesn't "entirely" trust the government or police. What a shame. But it is hoped "Erin" will be made whole in the near future -- full of trust in the government and prone to only tempered beliefs.
But that's not the worst of it. Much like the Homeland Security Advisor's ridiculous claim that teens acting like teens pose a threat to national security, the Australian government's concerns about future radicalization are also tied to the hallmarks of adolescence.
As Richard Chirgwin points out, the radicalization anecdotes reach their nadir with the story of "Karen," starting with setting these ground rules for Normal Existence.
Karen grew up in a loving family who never participated in activism of any sort.This is called foreshadowing. Karen soon deviates from her family's path of loving do-nothingness.
When she moved out of home to attend university Karen became involved in the alternative music scene, student politics and left-wing activism.And there you have it: alternative music is the gateway drug to terrorism. As is politics, oddly enough, considering this narrative has been written by a political agency. And let's not forget the activism -- the kind of thing her normcore family never felt compelled to participate in.
Strangely, the government chalks this up to "normal teenage rebellion" before going on to warn parents about normal teenage rebellion.
One afternoon Karen attended an environmental protest with some of her friends. It was exhilarating, fun and she felt like she was doing the ‘right thing’ for society. She enjoyed spending time with this crowd. Over the next six months Karen progressively dropped out of university in order to live full-time in a forest camp, where she remained for a year. Her family were confused and disappointed and stopped supporting her financially.:(
You can guess what happened next. Logging operations were screwed with, Karen was arrested multiple times and, finally, she became disillusioned with her radical brethren and sistren. She chucked it all for a staid job at a "mainstream environmentalist organization." Happy endings all around, especially for Karen, who now realized the only way to fight the system was to become part of the system.
She now thinks illegal or aggressive direct-action campaigns only produce short-term solutions, and she is much more interested in working towards developing a sustainable solution using the legal system.The warning signs the government says to look for are basically A Day in the Life of a Teen.
Issues that can help push someone onto a path of radicalisation may include:Now, the report does go on to caution that these are normal and don't necessarily signify Early Onset Radicalization. However, the report does make it clear -- especially through its anecdotal evidence -- that these can lead to radicalization when combined with activism, alternative music and an apparently unearned distrust for the government.
• changes in living or employment
• anxiety, depression, paranoia, suicidal thoughts or other mental health issues
• personal issues such as health problems, addiction, anger or social problems
• dropping out of school or university
• negative changes in friendships and/ or personal relationships
• confrontations with family members
• discrimination and social unfairness
• exposure to hateful attitudes and actions, either as victim or perpetrator, and
• overseas events that may harm their community.
Perhaps sensing the sort of response this document might generate, the hefty propaganda leaflet also makes an effort to assure Australians that ASIO (the MI5/FBI of Down Under) is not allowed to crack down on radicalization warning signs -- at least not without going through the pre-lubed proper channels.
There are concerns that ASIO has extraordinary and unaccountable power. A review by the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor has found that ASIO’s powers have been used appropriately and effectively, with no evidence of abuses. As at November 2014, ASIO has not used its powers to detain anyone at all, and has used its questioning powers only 16 times since 9/11.BUT OF WHAT YEAR?
These questionable anecdotes notwithstanding, the document takes a fairly restrained look at radicalization and its causes. But the nuances of its more cautious wording are undercut by stories that equate trusting your government and steering away from activism with normality, not-so-subtly suggesting any deviations from the norm should be viewed with suspicion.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: australia, children, moral panics, radicalism, teenage rebellion
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Yup - her government needs to choke that out of her as quickly as possible.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
More like a habit of NOT thinking.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
...and that's kind of the point. The authors who wrote up the original case study have since pointed out that this is a story of someone not radicalising.
Alternative rock: it works.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
---
That sound about right?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Not the music...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Not the music...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
Probably because AC/DC and their fans 'educated' them.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
Quote
Some actor, from some movie
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re:
https://youtu.be/EgSL3hY5iPE
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re:
https://youtu.be/6haBMbtXSLg
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Devil_Went_Down_to_Georgia
Now there's a bunch of conflicted persons...oh....wait...???
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
And before that...
... and before that, it was those beatniks.
... and before that, it was those flappers.
... all the way back to those kids banging the rocks together...
History keeps repeating itself.
Every generation believes the next is doomed based on the actions of the prior..
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: And before that...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: And before that...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: And before that...
And the do-gooders who try to "help" that tiny segment get all the air time. Squeaky Wheel Syndrome.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
A muslim "love" group
Hypocrates!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Seems legit
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
Their solution
Do more shit to make people not trust them
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Eu vejo na TV o que eles falam sobre o jovem não é sério
O jovem no Brasil nunca é levado a sério
Translation: I watch on TV what they say about teenagers is not serious/Teenagers in Brazil are never taken seriously
Replace Brasil with any country and it applies just as well. Government, the media. How come people that have gone through their teens doing all sorts of stupidly teenage things can be so dislocated from reality?
This campaign is so full of wrongs that I'd take a long post to address them all but a few struck me:
• anxiety, depression, paranoia, suicidal thoughts or other mental health issues
As someone who dealt with close depressive individuals twice now this is very, very, very troubling. It is not a sign of radicalization, it's a sign that the person is ill and needs help.
• personal issues such as health problems, addiction, anger or social problems
Health problems, really? I'm not even commenting. Social problems, really? So everybody society chooses to make an outcast either because we humans are stupid bigots by nature are now radicals?
And the story about the girl that went into activism is simply enraging considering THE GOVERNMENT ITSELF often escalates the violence nowadays.
No, seriously, I hope this is one of these ads of olden we see today and, roll eyes and shake heads while laughing at how pathetic society was.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
Because they don't want to deal with kids like they themselves were, and unlike their parents, they'll actually be able to do something about it!
/s
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I'm not suspicious
I mean the image in this article look like it is a copyright violation of a toothpaste commercial.
But I'm not suspicious of the Australian government.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: I'm not suspicious
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: I'm not suspicious
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: I'm not suspicious
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Im implying it goes back further
Government propaganda, the original extremists....refined
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Ahhhhh, look, their using quote marks to imply something else......
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
This is the politically correct version of a pig with an apple in it's mouth.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
(http://www.standard.net.au/story/2486479/mans-bizarre-50-police-protest-solves-dead-koala-stu nt)
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
What is radicalism or extremism?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: What is radicalism or extremism?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
How I learnt to love Big Brother...
This is nothing but totalitarian propaganda, and Karen would be smart not to fall for it.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: How I learnt to love Big Brother...
"When the government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny."
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: How I learnt to love Big Brother...
Have an insightful anyway. If there are enough of 'us' then their watching 'everybody' makes no difference. Just ask the Stasi.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: How I learnt to love Big Brother...
Australia is really America in the 80's socially, goddamn. I know because I got lots of friends from there, they themselves aren't like that (they don't vote mostly) but yeah, they're nice people. Nice people at the mercy of a crazy government become crazy later...like the US in the 80's under Reagan (who am I kidding), Bush Sr for 12 years.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
But! At least the overseas events in the middle east have a positive effect on the community, because we're totally safe! So, we're cool, right?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
So instead of being supported by the government as the first of your statement implied, its only the need to be supported by family and friends that will lead to negative changes? Government good, family/friends bad. Got it.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
sounds like someone following their own beliefs with conviction in a world actively built to punish such sentiments of individual thought
'Karen', seems very courages, courages then i infact....., more courages then 99% of the worlds `representation` looks like
Doing the right thing in a world actively designed to punish you for doing so.....oh yeah, why WOULDNT, i, want to live in that fake ass hypocritical world
Can i vote for karen!?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Hint at Gov
1. Does it sound like a quote from "1984" ?
2. Can you imagine a leader in a dystopian movie saying it?
And, of course...
3. Could Hitler have said it?
If you answer any of those questions with a "yes" then DO NOT publish it!
Resign, play some golf or do some gardening because you are really scary.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Hint at Gov
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Hint at Gov
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
• changes in living or employment
• anxiety, depression, paranoia, suicidal thoughts or other mental health issues
• personal issues such as health problems, addiction, anger or social problems
• dropping out of school or university
• negative changes in friendships and/ or personal relationships
• confrontations with family members
• discrimination and social unfairness
• exposure to hateful attitudes and actions, either as victim or perpetrator, and
• overseas events that may harm their community."
So, basically, EVERY teen, is a radical.......boy! its a good thing that new invasive laws and tools are'nt being created, and "restricted" by law to apply to....shock,..teens.....uhh, i mean....everyone.....uhhh, i mean....radicals
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
This is how this reads to me
Ive created this very bad thing, in secret, and i am inflicting it upon you without your consent, but be assured, its within the law, and i assure you with no facts to back it up, that its not being abused
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Pot Calling the Kettle Black
The Australian Government is correct in that rock and roll can lead to radicalization although it is not teenagers they should be on the lookout for but rather senile/corrupt US politicians like the singing-senior-senator from Arizona John Sidney McCain III and his disgraceful use of Beach Boys song lyrics from Barbara Ann:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-zoPgv_nYg
Advocating the unprovoked bombing of another nation is that radical or sensible? (It is also a war crime)
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Pot Calling the Kettle Black
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
http://cdn.meme.am/instances/10563822.jpg
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Detecting radicalization of teenagers in Austraila
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Detecting radicalization of teenagers in Austraila
They are not interested in truth, just in their pockets.
Alternative = We won't be filling our pockets.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
old methods are best methods
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
With all the crap these governments have been pulling about secrecy, the right to spy on everyone, and making examples to point to for the populace, no damn wonder no one trusts the government. Here in the US, the very things that led to it's creation of unwarranted spying and searching by the king's men, of locking victims up for long times until they could decide what should be done without charges (how terrorism is dealt with today when someone is arrested with this tag)or legal representation, smacks of the same as what led to a revolt. No wonder governments are scared (and not just Australia).
I can not help but wonder if any of these governments have considered the type of citizen they are producing with these actions?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
Where employment takes over and beats it out of them
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
Oh, yeah. They've considered it: they are producing the best kind of citizen for them.
- A citizen that will believe what they say, that will do what is told to and that will jump when he hears the whistle (that doesn't blow).
- A citizen that won't do anything even if they steal money, accept bribes, commit crimes and a long list of "you're not supposed to do this"'s.
- A citizen that won't ask about their secret deals with corporations, and particularly, that won't ask for things like "environment friendly" or "safe", those things aren't modern anymore.
- A citizen that will trust them even if they are the worst kind of criminals.
Yup, that's the kind of citizen they hope to produce.
For them, the kind of people that reported the Volkswagen scam are the radical extremists (akin to terrorists, I guess), even if they are doing it for their (and ours) health.
Of course, what you want and what you get isn't the same. This isn't the 50's and people are getting some immunity to this kind of propaganda (my parents' generation were more gullible about these things). If they are hoping that people won't laugh at these fake stories, they should do it better.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
You are the 1000000th terrorist that visits this site!
You won a 2x1 permanent stay in a resort in Guantanamo.
Get it by clicking here:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
Now I won't get the Most Funny.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Correction
Australia has a 2 hour time difference between it's eastern and western states. So 9/11 is the time of day depending on where you live.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
So, we are not alone.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Give up your rights because your government tells you, defending your rights equals terrorism. Become a slave because its the patriotic thing to do, etc.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
I guess they'll have to censor Milhouse when he says that word on TV too down there,
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
kinda hard
Never trust them, they are there to justify their own existence
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Tipper Gore Does Australia
If the American joke about Canada being behind new tech was actually true..well, Australia is stuck in the 80's socially...it's not like they even have a band that's considered a threat to the establishment like the Dead Kennedys were when they were the spearheads of the american hardcore punk rev.
And that picture...a black guy? Australia? There should be 4 asians and 3 white people.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Are You on the Drugs!?
Although I wonder what this booklet would sound like if you recorded it and then played it backwards...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Political Correctness run amok
The lame stupid examples like radical extremist alt rockers are there as a cloak for the one relevant example in the middle of the booklet, a fellow who published al Qaeda approved propaganda, so that mentioning it won't be regarded as "profiling" or "racist".
Last I checked, the only really notable example of violent extremism (itself a PC euphemism) on Australian soil was committed by a(n older than teenage) loon who for years had fraudulently passed himself off as a moderate Shi'ite cleric, had a sudden conversion experience to Sunni Islam, declared himself a supporter of IS, and took hostages in a chocolate shop in Sydney. I don't think alt rock was involved at all.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/sep/25/anti-radicalisation-awareness-kit-never-meant- for-use-in-schools-says-key-author
Could it be that he's realised that he has made a laughing stock of himself and is now trying to worm his way out of the hole? Our gubmint here just keeps going from one disaster to another.
Also really looking forward to our trade minister, after he removes the corporate pushbike from his arse cheeks, announcing the "momentous" signing of the TPP. Oh, let the joy bells ring and big business dance in the streets.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]