Enjoy

There is no question of taste!

To be appreciated by all those with digestive issues

An endorsement for more sex education in our schools

And who said hairstyling is a thing of the past?

An endorsement for more days to be spent at school

Anti Smoking ad at its best

And last, but not least ……………

FREE BEER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Usman Khawaja - Australia's latest test batsman

SO here’s the thing.

Australia is noted as being one of the three most multicultural countries in the world (after the US and Israel). It is certainly something that I think almost everybody over here is very proud of. Even for the few crazies that we have ( and doesn’t every country?), I’m sure they could not live without their latte and “spagy bols”

So on Monday, the latest recipient of the famous Baggy Green was a young Moslem lad named Usman Khawaja. And bless him too!

Young Usman came out here with his family from Pakistan when he was 4 yrs old. Now its tough enough a gig to emigrate, let alone to a country with a very different culture to what you are used to. And the wonderful thing, is that we as Australia have welcomed him, his family and millions just like them. All coming here from the four corners of the world. All looking for a better life and to live in peace and (reasonable) harmony with all others around.

So this young Moslem emigrant lad, living in Sydney, has risen from the juniors, AIS, Australia Under 19s, Australia A, NSW and now … that’s tight, EARN, his place among the immortal few to wear the Baggy Green.

And it is a credit to him, his family, Australian cricket and the wider Australian community that a young lad like Usman can reach the heights of greatness based on skill, talent, hard work and honest endeavour.

And let that be a lesson to all peoples, in Australia and throughout the world.

An episode of Australian multiculturalism recently happened in Sydney. A Moslem woman wearing a niqab ( an Islamic veil that covers the entire face except for the eyes… similar to a burka) was pulled up by a member of the NSW constabulary. In this episode, the police officer requested the driver in question to take a breathalyzer. So far, nothing too sinister with that, OK?

Well it seems that the woman protested and in the ensuing liaison, she  alleged that she was treated disrespectfully, was discriminated against and was a victim of racism. Part of her allegation was that the constable touched her veil. Such was the abuse of her human rights that her case was taken up former Guantanamo Bay detainee Mamdouh Habib and a complaint was raised with a number of agencies including the Anti-Discrimination Board and the NSW Police itself.

Well it seems that what happens on this outside of the veil is a bit different to what happens on the inside of the veil.

Investigations into the matter by the NSW included checking the police in-car video of the event and guess what? You got it… no such evidence to show either disrespectful behaviour or the alleged abuse of human rights… the touching of the veil.

Now the story does not end there. Seems that the woman in question has now been charged with make a false statement and is due to face the courts next month.

So what is the lesson to be learned by all this? The lesson is that maybe those that enjoy the fruits and benefits of our western democratic liberal society that provides safety and security to all that share these shores should think again about biting the hands that feeds and protects them.

And one more thing. it seems that there are a number of women from our Moslem community that object strenuously to having to show their faces on their driver’s license photo. Well, to set the record straight, all states and territories require full face photos from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead. But, being a tolerant and thoughtful community, Moslem sensitivities are provided for and there is the ability for Moslem women to have the photos taken after hours, in private and by female members of staff. Now you’d figure that this is being pretty reasonable wouldn’t you?

But here is the real thing. Our female Moslem lady and her advisors are just so quick to run the racism gauntlet when coming to these two issues concerning driving motor vehicles in Australia.

Maybe, they might like to consider that in those countries like Saudi Arabia, where wearing the naqib is the standard form of dress, a woman would be prohibited by law from driving a car.

Go figure!

The shtick goes like this. When voters want a National Daddy, someone to stand next to them who is strong, determined, tough, protective and will stop the local bullies, then they vote Conservative.

When they want the National Mummy, want someone who will comfort them, nurture them, give them jobs, national healthcare and the “policy equivalent of matzah ball soup” (thanks to Josh Leinman for that one), then they vote the equivalent of the ALP.

So I’m not sure we Australia’s quite know which we want… the Mummy or the Daddy? On one hand, the Coalition’s push to “stop the boats” seems to be a jingoistic thrust to advance the Daddy option. On the other hand, tax the rich mining companies to hand more superannuation to the workers is the Labour equivalent of a Mummy cuddle.

Dare I say that we Australians want a little bit of both. Maybe, in that case, we just need a big brother instead? And no, that sure isn’t the Greens. They are just the policy equivalent of a “Shabbos Cholent” A little bit of this, a little bit of that, all warm and sloppy and no real structure.

One week to go… and the catch cry that will be on everybody’s lips….. it’s too close to call!!

The Scots raised their threat level from “Pissed Off” to “Let’s get the Bastards” They don’t have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 300 years.

The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from “Run” to “Hide”. The only two higher levels in France are “Collaborate” and “Surrender.” The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France’s white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country’s military capability.  It’s not only the French who are on a heightened level of alert.

Italy has increased the alert level from “Shout loudly and excitedly” to “Elaborate Military Posturing.” Two more levels remain: “Ineffective Combat Operations” and “Change Sides.”

The Germans also increased their alert state from “Disdainful Arrogance” to “Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs.” They also have two higher levels: “Invade a Neighbor” and “Lose”.

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual, and the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.

The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.

Americans meanwhile and as usual are carrying out pre-emptive strikes, on all of their allies, just in case.

And in the southern hemisphere…
New Zealand has also raised its security levels – from “baaa” to “BAAAA!”  Due to continuing defense cutbacks (the airforce being a squadron of spotty teenagers flying paper aeroplanes and the navy some toy boats in the Prime Minister’s bath), New Zealand only has one more level of escalation, which is “I hope Australia will come and rescue us”.

Australia, meanwhile, has raised its security level from “No worries” to “She’ll be right, mate”. Three more escalation levels remain: “Crikey!’, “I think we’ll need to cancel the barbie this weekend” and “The barbie is cancelled”. So far no situation has ever warranted use of the final escalation level.

Ground Zero

So here’s the thing.

Seems that almost 9 years ago, a bunch of completely radicalised and extremist crazies decided to promote their version of Islam and kill more than 3,000 innocent Americans. You may remember. It Sure took up the headlines in the newspapers for a few days, and more.  We know ubiquitously as 9/11.

So the more recent debate in the US, and some blog pages, is whether or not the local NY Moslemcommunity ought to be able to build a centre called Park51 about 2 blocks for Ground Zero. This centre will have a prayer hall, 500 person performing arts centre, swimming pool and restaurant. Not a small project. You can imagine the footprint in the Manhattan landscape this will leave. Right up front in the eyes for all New Yorkers, and Americans, to see and right next to what would have to be considered holy ground.

The respected Thomas Friedman in his recent column in the NY Times said “Personally, if I had $100 million to build a mosque that promotes interfaith tolerance, I would not build it in Manhattan. I’d build it in Saudi Arabia or Pakistan. That is where 9/11 came from, and those are the countries that espouse the most puritanical version of Sunni Islam — a version that shows little tolerance not only for other religions but for other strands of Islam, particularly Shiite, Sufi and Ahmadiyya Islam. You can study Islam at virtually any American university, but you can’t even build a one-room church in Saudi Arabia. That resistance to diversity, though, is not something we want to emulate, which is why I’m glad the mosque was approved on Tuesday”.

Rendering of proposed mosque

He makes two very valid points. One is that them folk over in the Middle East are not noted for their appreciation of cultural and religious diversity. Really? And the second being that we should not be trying to emulate them by banning the construction of the Moslem centre. No, Thomas, Americans, and dare I say Australian also, don’t ever want to emulate such blatant intolerance and disrespect for the many other diverse cultures and religions that contribute to the broad beauty that is called humanity.

From a different perspective, Marty Petetz in his New Republic article notes that “Most newspaper accounts of Manhattan’s mosque project have lauded its leader, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf. Bloggers are quicker to note that he said after the 2001 attacks that US policies had been “an accessory to the crime”. He also proposes that “it will remind of the cool brutality and fierce passion that animated these ghoulish people of faith to murder on a scale so huge almost to daunt the imagination. Ironically it will backfire because it will (rightly) remind visitors of the religious identity of the perpetrators.”

Now I consider myself to be a pretty liberal and fair-minded individual that says “live and let live”. But I have to say that while recognising that the NY authorities have granted permission for the Moslem centre to be built, I honestly do have a problem with that.

Please understand that its nothing to do with the construction of a mosque per se or the right to freely practise one’s own religion. Hey go for it I say. There are about 8 million Moslems praying in 1209 mosques in the US so I don’t think we have an issue of religious freedom in the USA

What we do have is the issue of sensibility and respect for the USA with regard to the location of the mosque. What would be the problem to build it in another location? What was the motivation to build it right there next to Ground Zero? If it was to generate cultural awareness and inter-faith dialogue, I think they have made a major miscalculation. I tend to agree with the perspective that it will cause more disharmony than mutual respect.

And part of that disharmony will come from people’s realisation that the folk we are trying to befriend (and that is particularly the Arab folk) just don’t see things the way we do. Sorry to offend the trendy chardonnay left wingers, but that’s just plainly the reality. Sitting around the camp fire singing Kumbaya My Lord just isn’t going connect with these guys, If it did, surely we would have these countries, their leaders and the Ahmed on the street enjoying full freedoms for all people living in those countries, respect for equal rights for women and the vibrant defence of democracy and anyone with a political perspective somewhat different from the current ruling despot.

Woman being prepared for stoning to death (IranPressNews, Dec 21, 2004)

So the bottom line is this. If our Moslem neighbours really want to promote inter-faith respect in this world. Really want there to be brotherly love between people of all faith. Really want there to be peace on earth, maybe they should consider the woman in this picture as she is being prepared to be stoned to death. Anyway, isn’t that one of their sisters? I can sort of understand if they hate the Christians and Jews and Bahai, but isn’t she a Moslem also? Doesn’t she also deserve the respect as a human being to have a fair legal system that protects her human rights?

Maybe it is when we hear the Moslems who live in, and enjoy all the benefits of, our liberal democratic societies stand up and shout ENOUGH! to the abuse of their own people, maybe then we can begin the long and windy road towards mutual respect and understanding. Maybe then, we can take them a bit more seriously as equal partners in this world.

Because, by building a monument to the beauty of the Moslem religion, two blocks for the holy ground of Ground Zero just doesn’t cut it for me. It smacks of the two finger salute. It’s insensitive to the US nation and comes across as callous and uncaring.

And as such, they do themselves no favours. And that’s my opinion.

OK, so the 1996 election cost $57 million, including $3,000 in prosecutions

OK so people serving prison sentences get to vote

OK so there are just over  14 million people enrolled to voted – and yes its compulsory…figure that out you folk from outside the borders of the Commonwealth… yep, you gotta vote and if you don’t they spend something like $3,000 hunting you to the ends of the non-democratic Earth… even if you try to hide in Pyongyang, North Korea, the agents of the Australia Electoral Commission will find you and hunt you down like the vote avoiding animal that you are!

Ok so we have a preferential voting system..so if you don’t get your first choice, you might get your second or even third…whatever!!!

OK so we have 150 members of the “Green” House of Representatives to choose from as well as 40 “Red” Senate seats

OK so we have a Conservative ex student priest , fitness mad Catholic candidate battling up against a red hair, far left atheistic litigation lawyer…. wow……… how exciting is this going to be?

And then of course you’ve got the political party that can promise the world and never have to worry about delivering anything, who can appeal to the idealism of sitting around the campfire and singing Umkambaya My Lord completely off-key and yet seem such a viable alternative to a competent manager of a $350 billion a year business… yep, let just call them the Greens… such an original colour scheme for a national group of leaders… but hey that’s OK, because their up against the Pinkies and Blue Bloods.

And so, here we are, sitting in downtown Australian Suburbia and contemplating how to spend our precious vote to determine who is best suited to run our beloved country. Now I have to say that maybe Ross Lyons (St Kilda Football Club coach) is probably as good a candidate as anyone but he’s busy trying to keep 18 players playing through the centre corridor and kicking with the wind to be too busy to worry about global warming, asylum seekers, economic management and of course, the defence of the realm.

Having heard The Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, The Hon Mr Tony Abbott in his campaign launch speech yesterday, I have to say that I’m just not too sure that I could see him leading us out of the social, political, military, environmental and economic abyss we find ourselves in. At the same time, I’m certainly not convinced that our Prime Minister, The Rt Hon Ms Julia Gillard, with political blood on the hands, being at the behest of the Labour Party factional Lords and being responsible for some of the greatest political and economic stuff up since that last load of great stuff ups is the best candidate either.

Now it may well seem that Bananas in Pyjamas B1 and B2 could well be viable candidates and I sure am not about to dismiss their virtues. And please don’t even get me started with the likes of Family First, Steven Fielding. Mind you, the thought of Austen Tayshus of the Australia Sex Party holding the balance of power really is quite a turn on… hey, just think about it for a moment!

So who should you trust your future with? Who should hold the “nob” of power that will have the best influence the type of country that our children will grow up in?

That’s the 14 million vote question, and it will become a lot more clear in the coming 2 weeks………… Man, you just have to love a vibrant democracy.

But wasn’t it Winston Churchill that said that democracy was the worse political system there is…apart from all the others?

When it comes to even handedness and a balanced viewpoint, the UKFO really never quite hit the mark. As with this episode from Yes Prime Minister, national interests can certainly outweigh reality.

Leaving all that aside, my favourite line, which just wonderfully represents the Jewish sense of humour, when asked if the sending of 800 airborne troops on a goodwill visit maybe was a little too much, the comment from the Israeli Ambassador is that “it just a lot of goodwill”.

Enjoy

So how can I just sit back and not share with my avid readers the view from the valley… no not the hill. Although, with my imminent departure to the shores of the great lake, maybe the view in the weeks to come will be from the hill.

Don’t you just love the smell of electioneering in the cold winter air? The first winter election since 1943, a short five week campaign and the first time that the social media will play such an influential role in communication of political ideas, both to and fro them political folk. It sure should be interesting.

So here are a couple of initial thoughts to kick off the campaign.

1.  The new PM’s choice in hat for her recent simcha just doesn’t do it for me

2. Any day not seeing LOO (Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Tony Abbott) in his budgy huggers is a good day.

3. Calling the Greens the far left of the Labour Party is pretty accurate.

4. The Greens ,not having their elections promises fully costed by Treasury, just adds to their lack of economic credentials.

5. Not having the option of voting for Kerry Nettle (Greens) in the Senate brings oh so big a smile to me face.

6. The term “moving forward” is equally as annoying as KRudds “Working Australians”… in fact so much more so annoying because it simple, jingoistic and insulting to my intelligence for not being sucked in by overly priced and crappy advertising.

So please PM and LOO, keep the campaign intelligent, spirited and without the BS that goes with modern Australian politics.

Oh and one last piece of advice – keep on message!