Jonestown... Alan Jones and Homosexuality.
October 24th 2006 06:00
Well, it's a big week for books.
This week saw the release of the controversial 'Jonestown', a biography of Alan Jones by journalist Chris Masters (better known for his work on 'Four Corners').
Apparently some time in the making, the book was initially to be published by the ABC but they got cold feet and dropped it altogether, despite having published previous works by Masters.
'Jonestown' is controversial for it's portrayal of Alan Jones as a power-broker... a man so powerful that at one point he allegedly had a counterpart in the Australian government known by some as 'The Minister for Alan Jones'. Somewhat more controversially though is that this book dares to address Jones' homosexuality - something that Jones has gone at great pains to hide in the past.
The book has been selling extremely well since it's release yesterday - despite retailing at around 50 dollars both Dymocks and Angus and Robertson have reported large sales.
Alan Jones has disappeared on holidays just in time for the book's release, something that his radio station, 2GB, denies was planned to coincide with the event.
Jones has long kept his sexuality from the public eye... any attempts by the media to make reference to it have been muffled thanks to Jones' many powerful friends. Masters, as expected, has come under a lot of criticism for discussing it in his book when so many before him have quailed at the might of Jones.
In his defence, Masters says that he found it impossible to ignore the subject in his telling of Jones' story - especially when various events in Jones' early years, such as his dismissal from a school, involve his homosexuality directly.
My opinion? I say sucked in... I've never liked Alan Jones. I've read profiles of him in the past where he's come across as a real arsehole. For someone who acts like he has the right to say and do whatever he likes he certainly has a big cry whenever someone turns the tables on him. I hope his outing as a homosexuality disallusions all his right-wing listeners, or better yet - educates them a little - and I think something like this will do his egomania and pride some good, it might take him down a notch or two and shut up his parroting for a while.
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Comment by Little Angry Doll
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Comment by Anonymous
Bold stuff, this writing and commenting on the powerful big Al. Was going to opt for the anonymous tag then decided "what the heck, sign in as usual" - but Orble wouldn't let me log in so I took it as a sign to go anon anyway.
Comment by Luke
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It's just my opinion, surely I'm entitled to it, no one can stop that, can they? I hope not... I'm under the impression that this country still has free speech. For the moment, anyway.
I've written worse about Jones before, but it wasn't on the internet so I guess it doesn't count hahahaha.
Comment by Damo
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Comment by Luke
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If (and I say 'if' because I haven't read it, I've only read an interview with the author) the author *is* trying to discredit him it's solely through the documentation of his grubby power-broking with various Australian politicians and law enforcement officials and Jones' apparent belief that his word is higher than the mechanisms of Australian law.
see here -
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2006/s1771701.htm
interesting interview, conducted just a day or two ago.
Comment by spain01
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spain again
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Comment by Luke
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Comment by PokerPro
All I can say is that Jones is a manipulative hypocrite.
Comment by Tracy
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Thanks for telling me where I can get a new car sticker, Little Angry Doll
I can't stand these vorbose old farts with their loud, narrow-minded opinions. Get rid of them I say.
Tracy
Comment by Morgan Bell
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