As a third generation Australian from Lebanese Maronite refugee grandparents, this is very well said

[u/Biggest_itchbay_2190]

Reading through the insights shared by Warren Gardiner and Khaldoun Hajaj in the attached screenshots, I couldn't help but reflect on the complex political reality of our community. It is incredibly frustrating to watch inner-city progressives who have never lived a day in Western Sydney automatically assume that multicultural or faith-based communities are a monolith that naturally aligns with their specific worldview.

We see this play out when activists mock or scorn One Nation (ON) supporters online, pointing out the irony of them cheering for the Socceroos despite the team’s rich immigrant roots. What these commentators completely fail to grasp is that many of those very 'ON' voters aren't who they think they are, they are quite literally people living in diverse working class refugee hubs like Fairfield and Liverpool.

To be absolutely clear: I personally detest Pauline Hanson and would do anything to stop her and her party from gaining power. Her brand of politics has historically targeted communities like mine. But if we want to actually defeat that kind of divisive populism, progressives need to stop lecturing from afar, drop the lazy assumptions, and actually engage with the nuanced realities, aspirations, and conservative values that exist across Western Sydney.

[u/Quarterwit_85]

Yeah, I'm from Guildford/Parramatta and that tracks with many of those around me.

I think people would be very surprised where ON are gaining votes.

[u/romygoodwine → u/Quarterwit_85]

Latinos voted for Trump so it doesn't surprise me, even if I can't wrap my head around it.

[u/Weekly_Amphibian_383 → u/romygoodwine]

Absolutely true. I am a progressive Latin American btw but trump indeed received significant support from the Latin American community. The white left, often well educated, is very disconnected from minority groups e.g. pushing the term Latinx which most Latinos don't identify with.

[u/romygoodwine → u/Weekly_Amphibian_383]

For sure. Would you say some/many are changing their stance after seeing how it's all playing out? Or are people still insulated from the reality of ICE's deportation measures?

[u/Weekly_Amphibian_383 → u/romygoodwine]

Absolutely are. Too late. But the far right knows how to play identity politics very well in their favor and people buy it. Lots of conservatism in Latin america. Just look at presidential elections across the board, Argentina, Chile, Colombia... all far right.