The difference between the climate of hope and multicultural friendship of the early Labour era and the venomous racism of the howard period is at its starkest. I am ashamed of being and Australian.

If I understand Mr howard's anti-terror laws correctly, incitement to commit an act of terror against Australian citizens is a terrorist act. Does anybody else feel that Alan Jones should be charged under little johnnie's laws?

For any Moslems reading this, I work with several Islamic women who wear the headscarf. They are great colleagues and workers and their pride in their faith does not deserve anything like this. I welcome Islamic people to this country, I respect their faith and I have nothing but contempt for the racist thugs who are rioting at this time and for George Bush, Tony Blair and puny little john howard who created the climate in which the unthinkable could happen in Australia.

                            Jack Halyard.