So David Hicks has pleaded guilty to providing support for terrorism. Who wouldn't have to just get out of the hell of Guantanamo? For people like John Howard to say this proves what a traitorous bastard he is shows a lack of understanding of what motivates a person to escape horrific conditions. Jail in Australia has got to be a preferable option. The bigger crime is that he had to languish there for 5 years while John and George played political footsies.
I often think how good it would be if we could return to the ancient times where leaders led their armies into battle. The invasion of Iraq with George, Tony and John in the first tank into Baghdad!!! The war would never have got off the ground. They would have said: 'Stuff the oil! Let's get serious about solar power.'
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Aussie Values - Good Value??
I just saw an item on TV showing Fred Nile, under a huge banner with the Australian Flag and the words AUSSIE VALUES, calling for a halt to Muslim migration until it can be established that the existing 300,000 Australian Muslims can be vouched for as worthy Aussies. Stone the bloody crows!!! When jingoism, racism and Christian self
righteousness collide they make for a perverse mix.
Then there was the standard 60 Minutes piece which once again talked of Aussie Values being freedom, mateship, patriotism, resilience, optimism (the kind that begets ‘she’ll be right!’). The usual suspects were interviewed: the ex-convict (freedom); the soldier (mateship); the dynastic grazier (resilience and optimism); the migrant (the lot); the flag draped yobbo (patriotism to excess). Once again it was presented as if these values are the exclusive province of Australians. Somewhere in there I guess Aussie Values do reside but it is the misuse of them by anyone from politicians to ordinary people that really gets me. It’s such a copout to use Aussie Values as a weapon in any holier than thou attack on someone whose difference you can’t handle. When you look at the daily examples of ALL sorts of people behaving contrary to the Aussie Values that we all think identify us a Aussies then you realize they are more an ideal than a real thing. The unprovoked bashings, the corruption, the executive crime, the ridiculous salaries that company CEOs get paid, the preference for vested interests, the rip offs and exploitation, the road rage, the obscene defences lawyers mount for vermin, etc. etc etc. all have nothing to do with fair go and mateship and tolerance and all the rest that we think typically characterize Australians. Values are open to all sorts of interpretation, use and misuse. That's what I'm doing here you may say!
righteousness collide they make for a perverse mix.
Then there was the standard 60 Minutes piece which once again talked of Aussie Values being freedom, mateship, patriotism, resilience, optimism (the kind that begets ‘she’ll be right!’). The usual suspects were interviewed: the ex-convict (freedom); the soldier (mateship); the dynastic grazier (resilience and optimism); the migrant (the lot); the flag draped yobbo (patriotism to excess). Once again it was presented as if these values are the exclusive province of Australians. Somewhere in there I guess Aussie Values do reside but it is the misuse of them by anyone from politicians to ordinary people that really gets me. It’s such a copout to use Aussie Values as a weapon in any holier than thou attack on someone whose difference you can’t handle. When you look at the daily examples of ALL sorts of people behaving contrary to the Aussie Values that we all think identify us a Aussies then you realize they are more an ideal than a real thing. The unprovoked bashings, the corruption, the executive crime, the ridiculous salaries that company CEOs get paid, the preference for vested interests, the rip offs and exploitation, the road rage, the obscene defences lawyers mount for vermin, etc. etc etc. all have nothing to do with fair go and mateship and tolerance and all the rest that we think typically characterize Australians. Values are open to all sorts of interpretation, use and misuse. That's what I'm doing here you may say!
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Aaaaaaaah!! Good old Mateship
Another week that showed that good old aussie value mateship in all its glory. Kevin Rudd really got caught out by including ex crims in his mateship circle. Even our mates can get us into strife!! (Howard's mate George Bush has got him into strife over Iraq). Then one of Howard's ministerial mates had to be cut loose so Howard and his cronies, Costello and Abbott could maintain the onslaught against Rudd.
The whole episode, which I'm sure will surface regularly for months to come, illustrates clearly what I've been on about in this blog. Mateship is not always the great thing it is often cracked up to be. Misguided mateship can see mates lead mates into the jaws of hell. Mateship also knows when it's time to pull the plug.
PS Costello's and Abbott's snarling performances in the Parliament probably did them more harm than good. Imagine them with an attack of road rage.
The whole episode, which I'm sure will surface regularly for months to come, illustrates clearly what I've been on about in this blog. Mateship is not always the great thing it is often cracked up to be. Misguided mateship can see mates lead mates into the jaws of hell. Mateship also knows when it's time to pull the plug.
PS Costello's and Abbott's snarling performances in the Parliament probably did them more harm than good. Imagine them with an attack of road rage.
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