One rule for the Parrot…
Alan Jones - or The Parrot - as he is affectionately known has gone into hiding.
This is by no means a bad thing, especially those with whom he works who are forced to put up with his foul mouth, impatience and bad temper.
Whilst Jones’ relevance in an age where people are becoming less reliant on the opinions of aging conservatives is on a slippery slope to nowhere, he does hold the ear of a noisy minority who seem to have the ability to drive public debate and shape public opinion.
It may be coincidental that he chose the week in which the unauthorised biography “Jonestown”, written by Chris Masters, was released to disappear, however it is unlikely.
Jones has made a career (and a lot of money) out of making public his (quite conservative) views on many public matters and indeed on persons both public and private yet has traditionally been hyper-sensitive to any kind of analysis or criticism of himself.
The Sydney Morning Herald published an excerpt from the book, a brief, somewhat amusing snippet of which is seen below:
“On the first Saturday of the school year King’s held its Commemoration Day. Parents were invited along to inspect the school, meet the teachers and observe emerging talent. Everyone remembers Commemoration Day 1970, according to one of the minglers: “The whole school was flabbergasted.” Resplendent in flared trousers and orange cravat Alan, unannounced, got to his feet and belted out a number from the West End musical Pickwick, If I Ruled the World. His choice of song still amuses. “His prayer, you might say,” murmured one of those who would later clash with Jones. The aspiring tenor, who takes his singing seriously, was devastated when a few of the staff burst out laughing. The King’s community had not waited long to experience their first Jones moment.”
The above paragraph raised the extreme ire of conservative Melbourne writer John Heard who lashed out with a bitter opinion piece in yesterdays The Australian.
“How else to interpret passages that describe Jones as “resplendent in flared trousers and an orange cravat” singing a song from a “West End musical” (of all things! You can almost hear Masters sneer) before a “flabbergasted” King’s School crowd? The homophobia in such passages veritably oozes. Not only is Jones fair game but he must be outed, humiliated and exposed for the dirty liar he is, the moral degenerate Masters and his mates obviously think Jones to be. It is their duty. It should be their great shame. I don’t care what Jones did or didn’t do in a bathroom in London all those years ago. I don’t even care if he was an overbearing or demanding English teacher or football coach.”
Heard takes the line that the only reason people dislike Jones is because he is:
- a) gay
- b) conservative
His article began with a seemingly tasty premise:
“ALAN Jones is a homosexual. Michael Kirby is a homosexual. Sadly, both men have been targeted for vilification purely because they are attracted to their sex. In Kirby’s case, it was the Left who accused the Right of homophobia following baseless allegations by Liberal senator Bill Heffernan in 2002. In Jones’s case, which has come to light in a new book by the ABC’s Chris Masters, the Right must accuse the Left. “
My interest was certainly piqued - I had never thought that either of these men were targeted only by members of diametrically opposing political persuasions and then only due to their sexual preferences. Whilst I was sure that there may be a minor element of merit in the postulation, I thought that Heard was on pretty shaky ground and looked forward to him proving his assertion with a well reasoned argument.
Sadly I was to be disappointed - though I was somewhat amused.
Heard’s dish was seasoned with a lashings of such bitterness and anger that in the end he one almost felt as if one was being assaulted by the text on the page.
Somehow, in amongst such gold as:
“If operators on the Left had to choose a hero from the homosexuals in Australian public life, other than Kirby, who probably deserves the accolade, he would be of the John Marsden variety: brash, apparently unrepentant and lined up against the narrowness and bitterness of a life lived in the closet.”
and
“By making a mealy-mouthed concession - “it is not, nor should it be, a crime to be homosexual … it is not a sin to have your penis out in a public toilet”, as if Masters were some sort of arbiter of what homosexuals are allowed to do…”
it appears as if Heard forgets the original premise of his argument and his article becomes akin to a child throwing a temper tantrum, picking up its cricket bat and going home.
Jones is not “targeted” by “The Left” because he is a homosexual with right leaning views (though it would be interesting to hear his thoughts on such issues as gay marriage and equal rights). People take aim at Jones for the self same reason that Jones takes aim at others - because they are of differing opinion.
That (and homosexuals no longer having to wear blue hats), is a fundamental principle of democracy - people are allowed to express differing opinions.
Jones has made a very comfortable life for himself based upon his opinions - opinions and a public manner which has contributed to the facade of self he presents to Australia. Nobody forced Jones to become a public figure in the manner in which he has become - he chose that path and as such, people have the right to analyse and question both Jones and that facade.
Suggesting that Jones is flawed because of his homosexuality is not right but to suggest that criticism of Jones stems from homophobia is delusional in the extreme.
Possibly the reason that a minority become obsessed with Jones’ sexuality is his failure to pass comment on matters concerning and affecting homosexuals.
Whilst it isn’t blatant hypocrisy, it could be seen as veiled hypocrisy or even fear - a fear of losing influence with his conservative audience - which is a pity, because, as Heard rightly points out:
“For too long, same-sex-attracted men have lived in ridiculous fear. We have been scared of blackmail. We have had to worry whether our best efforts will be interpreted in the worst possible light. We have been pursued unjustly by police and a legal system that criminalised a love that still dare not speak its name for fear of reprisals and retribution.”
Jones’ influence could go a long way to reforming such attitudes - or it could cost him his career…
Technorati Tags: Alan Jones, Jones, Parrot, John Heard, Chris Masters, Jonestown, Conservative, Orange cravat, homophobia?
