By Margaret Maccoll
Opinion columnist Rita Panahi fielded questions on far-reaching subjects from the United States President Trump to feminism to the booing of AFL players, at the president’s luncheon on Saturday 27 May.
The guest speaker didn’t hold back during the question-and-answer format at the luncheon attended by about 70 members and guests while the Noosa Tigers AFL played Bond University.
Known for her controversial comments, Rita told the audience she was happy at Trump’s election win which showed how little influence the media really had.
The feminist movement had become “toxic” and the booing of AFL player Adam Goodes, Rita said, had been blown way out of proportion.
“Lots of players get booed. It isn’t racist,” she said.
Rita was born in the United States to Iranian parents who were in the country to study. The family returned to Iran which she remembered as having been a “very modern, European-style place” until an “Islamic revolution” turned it into “a war-torn hell hole” forcing the family to move to Australia.
“You’ve won the lottery of life living in Australia,” she said.
