Possible gig this Sunday

Hope you guys enjoyed the trivia night (and the pole dancing). Meanwhile, I wrote the following email. Please let me know what you think. And sorry for making some assumptions on your views on this issue:

Hi Angie

Thank you for forwarding this message to us.

Although the Brisbane Samba School is only indirectly affected by this issue (Brazilian music has strong African roots), I do believe that a large number of participants in our samba school share Ian's view below and as such welcome his initiative.

I therefore consider offering the Brisbane Samba School for Sunday's event free of charge. We could do a free workshop, free performance, or both. As we don't need a stage or any amplification there would be no further organisation required. I could also announce this event on our website (http://brisamba.com).

However I do like to check with the organisation if this would be appreciated before I invite some 20-odd loud percussionists to rock up uninvited...

Could you please pass on my offer to the organisers? I'd be happy to discuss this further by phone if required.

Thank you

Remko Wallach

Brisbane Samba School "G.R.E.S. Unidos da Primavera"

0411 646 083

Check out our new website at http://brisamba.com

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From: Angie Spencer
Sent: Tuesday, 16 October 2007 12:50 PM
Subject: Stand Together

Please see e-mail below and attached flyer.

MAQ encourages your support of this event and the African community in Queensland.

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From: Ian Muil
Sent: Tuesday, 16 October 2007 8:46 AM
Subject: Agree with Minister Andrews - Stand Together

Some few days ago Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews made a number of media statements that African refugees, particularly Sudanese refugees, are no longer welcome in Australia.

Interestingly, police in Victoria, NSW and Queensland have issued statements refuting his suggestion. Crime rates attributable to Sudanese, or African, migrant are no higher than for the rest of population.

This was a calculated ‘dog-whistle’ playing the race card.

But his comments have offended many and caused deep personal hurt to many African/Sudanese migrants/refugees now settling here. Ironically, many of them recall that this sort of comment was the first signal they had in their home country to events which resulted in them being rounded up, imprisoned, moved out of their tribal areas, and then hunted down.

To extend the hand of neighbourly friendship and allow ordinary Australians to say welcome ECCQ has initiated a sausage sizzle at Orleigh Park in West End next Sunday. The event is being jointly organised by a number of agencies with ECCQ and we have been promised some financial support from Multicultural Affairs Queensland and have already given some financial support by the Liquor, Hospitality & Miscellaneous Workers Union (LHMU).

I ask that you circulate this flyer and encourage you to attend – the greatest support we can get from anybody is to actually be there on the day to shake the hand of an African person, have a soft drink and hamburger together, and tell them there inclusion in our community is appreciated, respected and wanted.

That’s the only way we’re going to salve some of the deep personal hurt caused by callous politicians.

Ian Muil

Executive Manager

ECCQ