The Australian newspaper has published an opinion piece declaring that ‘woke’ thinking is a danger to Australia’s way of life, listing “gay, trans, gender, and race” as “the great social trip wires of our time”.

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The use of the word ‘woke’ in recent years has been used to describe being alert to injustice in society, especially racism.

The article from advertising industry creative director Sean Masters argues that the concept of ‘woke’ is one of the most successful brands of all time, and it’s likely to have a negative impact on people’s lives.

“It’s a mistake to think of this dangerous ideology as just a bunch of disorganised radical students virtue signaling wherever the woke wind takes them. It’s better to think of it as a highly sophisticated lifestyle brand,” Masters writes.

In the article and its accompanying artwork lists everything from combatting racism, rainbow murals, Channel Ten’s The Project, The Guardian newspaper, public broadcasters, and social media giants as things which – in the author’s opinion – “threatens to undermine the values of Western civilisation.”

The story has been mocked on social media this morning, with people asking which of hosts of The Project – which are the featured image of the article – best represent the elements of gay, trans, gender and race, while others have pointed out respecting people’s sexuality, gender and race is unlikely to bring down society. None of the people pictured identify as members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

The reference to gay and transgender people being “social trip wires” is a reference to British author Douglas Murray and his book The Madness of Crowds. 

The conservative author’s 2019 publication argues that there is a culture war being fought over issues like social justice and identity politics.

OIP Staff

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