(Note that BDS is an attack strategy aimed at crippling a nation. What happened to your book signing was a defensive action against an individual. This increases the reading on the hypocrisy meter.)

They chose terror INSTEAD.

Time and again.

Thank you for your thoughtful comments. I do however take some issue with some of them. The so-called individual who was commenting on the film, and your perception of the events that happened. The audience member who was commenting on the film was never asking a question, he himself noted that he was making a statement. He indeed was offered more time to speak than anybody else and in the respect of time and the right for as many people to be offered a chance to ask a question, we had to move on. There were many others who had different perspective and questions.

Your interpretation that this individual was not offered the opportunity to express his opinion is completely misleading. Also, had anyone wished to carry on the conversation, we mentioned to join us afterwards — and indeed 15 people stayed to ask more questions and carry on the discussion.

There was no so called defensiveness, and I have no problem talking about art and politics, indeed the entire exhibition Subversion aims to look at these very complexities. But Rania’s film isn’t a political statement. It was labour of personal of love to consider the performance and image of an icon through found VHS footage. The appropriation of art as a political statement by writers, curators and audiences for the sake of it is as constricting as any form of imperial colonialism of ideas– and every writer, artist or individual has the right and will to freely express what they believe to be or not to be their intention.

I hope to see you again in the near future — and to have the opportunity to talk some more.
Best

I keep a close watch on Sergio as I appose his actions . He does talk about women’s rights when asked about his actions but there is allot more that he says in some scary sites that are alittle less nuanced and show his true motivations . Below are a selection of his posts on some sites that back his political stance . As to his claims that a minority of newtown residents oppose him it is nonsense , at the last 3 protests ( 2 held outside his factory and one held a marricvile council chambers ) all of his supporters who were in the minority by a factor of 10/1 , none except Sergio live or work in the newtown area. I have had some success with educating people about the danger of his misrepresent ion of his racist attitudes as feminism by using his own words as you see in the links below.

Other sites that are pro Sergio include the wonderfully offencive
http://sheikyermami.com/2012/04/11/sergio-redegalli-attacked-by-muselmaniac/

Or the Tundra tabloid
http://tundratabloids.com/2012/04/aussie-sergio-redegallis-burka-wall-defaced-receives-threatening-letter.html

Or the right wing Gates of Vienna , a veiled attempt to link the ongoing threat to the west of the rising tides of Islam
http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com.au/2011/01/sergio-redegalli-speaks-out.html

Or the Australian protectionist party whose manifesto states “Australia‘s way of life needs protecting from the destructiveness of Multiculturalism and Political Correctness, by teaching our students about the achievements and values of Australian society and of Western Civilisation, by ending government funding for the political ideology of Multiculturalism, and by promoting the traditions of Australia’s national identity and culture within the community”

And Sergio’s contribution is http://www.protectionist.net/2010/12/17/leftwing-extremists-declare-war-on-our-freedom-of-speech/

Having been a resident of Newtown for over 30 years their are many of us who are sick of his racist attacks , He is very confrontational and has been known to make personal citizen arrests , and is very quick to defend what he terms his rights but only on his terms . I personally know 2 people who are land owners in his street who have sold in the last 12 months due to his mural which is quite large and confronting .

Where else do you boycott?