The Right got it Right: THRICE in a fortnight!!!

from JoeUser Forums
I don't really have time for a full article at the moment, but something astonishing has happened that I have to comment on: In the past 2 weeks I have agreed with 3 of the most Right wing people in the country on politics. Yes this includes my sworn enemies, John Howard, Andrew Bolt (columnist) and Channel Nine's Sunday programme. So inspired was I by their comments I have written to each of them to tell them what a spelndid job they did.

Andrew Bolt's criticisms of Australia's xenophobia could not have been better put than in his article on Schappelle Corby. Send her to the firing squad along with those people who asked for their money back from the Red Cross, I say!Link

John Howard's acknowledgement of the importance of communal ownership in Aboriginal society was heartening. I also strongly agree with his criticisms of the Reconciliation movement. Too many white Australians have thought that their job was finished when they said sorry. But the lazy buggers have done nothing practical about the situations Aborigines face.
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But remember Mr Howard that words are easy, words are cheap, much cheaper than this priceless land, and promises can disappear just like writing in the sand. Bob Hawke inspired Yothu Yindi to say those words. Let's hope your party can show that you are better at reconciliation than your predecessors...and you will gain my vote.

And Channel Nine's story about Macquarie Fields and those working class riots was an excellent piece of journalism. Finally, someone went in and treated these people as ordinary human beings. Finally someone listened to them. But as Sarah Ferguson wrote to me in reply to my letter, someone needs to help this situation, and find solutions. Watching Sunday and then writing a blog in support of the people of Macquarie Fiels is as impractical as aforementioned Reconciliation movement.

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Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
I agree Champas, particularly re. the Schappelle Corby business, which I have found particularly disturbing. Today's 'Australian' featured a number of opinion pieces on this affair:
1. A critical review of the Indonesian and Australian judicial systems - by Ronald Sackville (Federal Court justice and chairman of the Judicial Conference of Australia),
2. A surprisingly unflippant (for the most part) summary of the flimsy nature of Corby's defence - by Emma Tom,
3. An account of how the media-fuelled pro-Corby campaign is actually working against her - by Paul Kelly; and
4. An assessment of the pro-Corby campaign as the triumph of emotion over reason - by Janet Albrechtsen.

And guess what? This may be the increasingly right-wing 'Australian' we're talking about here, but all these contributors had points of significant merit to make. Yes, even the usually frothing-at-the-mouth Albrechtsen. Well, she did put her usual unpleasant 'compassion junkies' spin on it, of course, but she made the indisputably valid point - among several others - that 'an Australian court would very likely have found her guilty just as the Bali court did.' Not quite what the pro-Corby campaign would have us believe.

So, credit where it's due - well done all the above. And perhaps even more pleasing, in my book, was that many of the contributions to the letters page on this subject were similarly sensible and considered, raising alarm at the latent xenophobia inherent in the pro-Corby stance, and only very few failing to appreciate that while Corby may be young, female, photogenic, on trial overseas and prone to crying on camera, none of these necessarily exclude the possibility that she may actually be guilty. I can only conclude that while many Australians have got swept up in this 'outrage', many others haven't. Cause for a degree of optimism, perhaps.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
So we're getting reply from toe-sucking royalty now?......Oh, erm I guess it's probably a different Fergie isn't it...
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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
Like you, I have found myself surprised to be actually agreeing with both John Howard and Alexander Downer. And thanks for the link to Andrew Bolt's piece. Like you, I found myself agreeing with his take as well.

while many Australians have got swept up in this 'outrage', many others haven't. Cause for a degree of optimism, perhaps.


Here is hoping, Canary.

Cheers,

Maso
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
lol, You didn't like Bolt's take on detention? And does this mean that you're agreeing with the right or the right are agreeing with the left? Where's the line? I'm so confused...



Other then that I'm a bit iffy on the whole Corby case. I recognise that she is getting way more attention the she deserves, but i also think her family are weird. That second part really isn't important though. The thing is that i had decided that maybe i'd like to go to Bali only 2 months ago, but aiming for a year or so away and now i'm not so sure, not because i want to boycott but i don't like the idea of being put in jail. So i'll prolly still go but i'll make sure my luggage couldn't even be opened by McGuyver (apologies for the spelling).
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
FishHead, thanks for putting me onto the Bolt article in the first place and for your comment. Furry, an intelligent response. Toblerone, if you follow the link you will have your answer. But yes that was what I thought when the name popped up in my inbox. Maso, although it seems weird after so long, never forget that Downer's dad was responsible for abolishing the White Australia Policy. Bolt has always impressed me with his intellect, but he ignores far too many important points and lets arrogance get in the way of reasoned argument. On this occasion, he stuck to reason. Howard has the potential to be a reasonable man. If you look at his more controversial Reconciliation speech, or his infamous "We will decide who comes to this country" speech, he got very emotive, even furious and it clouded his judgment. He is smart-ish but he has only recently begun to acquire a sense of empathy. This latest speech combined reason with empathy and he stayed calm.

And this is the thing, FishHead, that I keep on going on about these days. The Left-Right divide is a myth perpetuated by people who just want to argue. When people are interesed in working together and achieving results, they can find a lot of common ground. And that is why I am occasionally breaking my promise and going a little bit political. You may notice I have dropped the combattive style of argument. I am not interested in blaming people, just finding ground we can reason on and agree on. Howard is looking like he is just beginning to learn this lesson. It's never too late to teach an old dog new tricks.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
Champas, I had forgotten what Downer senior had done. Thanks for the reminder and I agree, it shouldn't be forgotten.

The Left-Right divide is a myth perpetuated by people who just want to argue. When people are interesed in working together and achieving results, they can find a lot of common ground. And that is why I am occasionally breaking my promise and going a little bit political. You may notice I have dropped the combattive style of argument. I am not interested in blaming people, just finding ground we can reason on and agree on.


This is bloody great, mate, and exactly how I feel. I've been trying to say the same thing for some time now. I don't think I could have put it any better. I don't want to be corny, but this is positively insightful, so here, have some free points.

Cheers,

Maso