Much can depend on just a few words. David Hicks pleaded guilty in front of “an ad-hoc military tribunal designed to try non-US citizens according to an unacceptably low standard of justice.”
He was released today from prison. Here’s how some news sites described him.
The ABC online: “Confessed terrorism supporter” but in photo caption “Convicted terrorism supporter”. A quick search Continue reading ‘Convicted’
They keep getting quoted in the mainstream press, the Australian Family Association that is. So I thinks to myself, I know plenty of families but I’ve never met anyone from the AFA. Erm…
Five minutes on the web reveals that they were founded by the National Civic Council. Wikipedia states: “The Association was founded by B.A. Santamaria, a prominent Melbourne Catholic activist of Italian descent”. Nothing controversial about any of this.
A quick scan of their home page today reveals that they are primarily concerned with abortions, gay marriages, cloning, graphic films and porn. Continue reading ‘Ever met a member of the AFA?’
The night before an election. I feel the butterflies I used to reserve for footy. Sad bastard. All the election boffs (psephologists) are predicting an easy Labour win. I feel nervous. I don’t like Howard. He was worked against the things that are important to me.
Our Internet infrastructure neglected, our educational institutions under-funded, tertiary education becoming the domain of the wealthy, climate change denied, history revised, Africans/Asians allowed to be marginalised, Aboriginals driven to the fringes instead of attempting to integrate their culture with ours, his love of the monarchy, his attack on the wages of the lowest paid, whilst handing the best tax cuts to the wealthy.
But most of all I despise the way he and his mob have come to assume their mantle as a birth right. I still hear him laughing at his victory speech in 2004, the deranged laugh of a man who has won power, but lacks the decency to show any gravitas or humility.
Originally uploaded by lawton_craig
First day in the world (my first niece!). Born 17/11/2007, weighing 8 pound 3, to Jay and Kim
Update: For those who don’t know, Jay is my brother-in-law. I’m his sister’s husband.
A few people have asked me, as a Midnight Oil fan, what I think of Peter Garrett now; now that he has supposedly dropped all his former principles.
He’s made a tough choice that will cost him friends and supporters.
But I believe he’s the same guy with the same beliefs. The ALP has a strategy to win this election and he has played from the script (apart from a couple of slip-ups). Continue reading ‘Peter Garrett’
Last chance to give guys… Here’s a pic of the final ‘tache for you.
The Mo’ City Rollers (our work team) did over $1100 which is a bloody good effort so many thanks to all who gave.
As some people might know, I’ve been growing a moustache for Movember. Here’s my effort so far.
If you haven’t already, please donate as it’s going to some great causes. My Mo Bro number is 13260
(Update: I’m up to $320 in on-line donations plus about $70 in cash. My team at work is up to $710 so thanks to everyone who has given thus far)
…born 14th July (Bastille Day) 2006, weighing 9 pounds 1, to Rohan and Michelle.
Mother and baby doing well. Click on thumbnail to see gallery. Another nephew for me, but the first on my side of the family. It makes an uncle out of my brothers Darren and Andrew and a father out of brother Rohan.
The media hysteria surrounding this current “foiled plot” annoys me. The implication is that we are facing a particularly new threat in the guise of liquid explosives. Not true. Authorities have been aware of this particular type of threat since – at least – 1994 (12 years) (see here). Also not fully reported is that these types of explosives are unstable and hard to manage. See:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4780391.stm?ls
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5633568
So while it is true that there are a committed bunch of nutters trying to cause “carnage”, most of us will never have to deal with the threat first hand, and if our intelligence and security organisations do their jobs, and our politicians start to address the root causes of terrorism politically (instead of milking the mass media generated fear), the future could be a much happier place.
I choose not be afraid. It’s much easier and more reasonable to live that way.
I was unfortunate enough to be listening to Fox FM the other day, yet it provided me unexpectedly with a pearl of wisdom from Ray Parker Junior: “I aint afraid of no ghost!”
(And as I finished writing this a couple of articles appeared on The Age site today which I think restore some balance:
“Terror aims high again” and “Who benefits from new hysteria about security?”)
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