In the famous song “American Pie” by Don MacLean there is a line in the chorus about the day the music died. This is a reference to the plane crash in which rock legends Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper died.
Last Friday (March 10) could be described as the day the laughter died with the sudden death of cartoonist, artist and satirist Bill Leak at the age of 61. Leak’s cartoons were in the best tradition of editorial cartoonists. He could sum up the issue of the day in a cartoon. Sometimes no words were needed. As the old adage says – a picture is worth a thousand words. Politicians on both sides of the fence, many of whom were satirized at times lined up to pay tribute.
When my daughter was studying history last year, it was part of the course to examine and interpret cartoons dating back as far as World war one. The tradition of cartoons may well date to ancient times.
But in the 21st century we have a problem. People are far more interested in taking offence than having a laugh. And even worse than that – they want to take offence on behalf of others.
The threats to free expression are not inconsiderable. The tragic massacre of cartoonist at Charlie Hebdo in 2015 brought out much hand wringing. Politicians doing selfies holding a “Je Suis Charlie” motif multiplied. Yet back in the real world, Bill Leak had to move to an undisclosed location under protection after Islamic terrorist threats were made against him.
The pen remains mightier than the sword.
But what, when the pen comes up against pen pushers in massive bureaucracies who have no accountability and get massive taxpayer funded salaries.
From reading tributes by those who knew Leak well, it appears that the terror threat did not worry him too much. What had affected him was the appalling harassment by the Human Rights Commission for, wait for it, doing his job and drawing a cartoon, which highlighted a genuine problem in society. One of the highly paid bureaucrats at this Orwellian organization took it upon himself to “tout” for complaints on social media. Naturally he got some.
They were soon withdrawn, but not before legal letters went out calling on Leak to explain his cartoon. Excuse me? Explain a carton to faceless bureaucrats?
Is this Australia, Iran, or The Soviet Union in the 1950’s?
Even after the complaints were withdrawn the head of the Commission pursued the matter. She has been caught out on multiple occasions being (at best) vague with the truth.
Laughter is healthy. It lower blood pressure, slows the heart rate, reduces production of stress hormones and promotes the release of our happy hormones. We feel good when we laugh. We do not feel good when we are outraged.
Some of the Social Justice warrior brigade has been rejoicing online about the death of Bill leak. You can form your own conclusions about what it says about these people. He has been accused of being a racist. His partner was Thai. Again you can draw your own conclusions.
Many did not like his cartoons. Fine. Don’t buy the paper in which they appear or if you do and you disagree write a letter to the editor. As Lewis Beale wrote in Time magazine last year “No one says you have to like the joke. Just don’t silence the jokester”.
Being offended is the new black. It is an excuse to shut down debate, an excuse to ignore topics you don’t want to confront. It is an excuse (as we saw in the QUT case) to seek to extort money.
Many factors contribute to heart attacks and stress is not the only one. Apparently Leak had been a smoker. However that a man who won multiple awards for his work and was at the absolute top of his game, could be hounded relentlessly for no reason by unaccountable highly (taxpayer) paid goons is tragic.
I have written before about the importance of laughter and the importance of free speech. As a society we have become so anal that we cannot laugh at ourselves. We are so precious that we are above being sent up.
When our” feelings are hurt” we go running like a three year old to a parent in the form of a 1984 style government department. We have lost the ability to “suck it up” and show even the tiniest bit of resilience.
The notion that sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me has been forgotten.
Bill Leak was a hero to me. He fought with his pen for freedom for all of us. He fought against the PC brigade at considerable personal cost. His loss is a great one and my heart goes out to his family and countless friends.
Hopefully it will not be in vein if the fight to abolish 18C is won and ultimately the scourge of political correctness is defeated.
Then, once again, we will be able to speak freely and laugh out loud.
Medical Doctor, author, speaker, media presenter and health industry consultant, Dr Joe Kosterich wants you to be healthy and get the most out of life.
Joe writes for numerous medical and mainstream publications, is clinical editor at Medical Forum Magazine, and is also a regular on radio and television.
Joe is Medical Advisor to Medicinal Cannabis Company Little Green Pharma, Chairman of Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association and sits on the board of Arthritis and Osteoporosis WA. He is often called to give opinions in medico legal cases.
He has self-published two books: Dr Joe’s DIY Health and 60 Minutes To Better Health.
In 2024 due to public demand he commenced a podcast, Dr Joe Unplugged, which can be accessed via Spotify, Apple or YouTube.
Through all this he continues to see patients as a GP each week.
