The Aussie Bastard

One thing that intrigues me about our Australian culture is this - we can call someone a bastard and they'll turn around and buy us a beer. In most, if not the rest of the world a broken nose is probably a good outcome - many places we'd have our throat cut. Why?

While I have never been able to find anything to confirm my theory, I suspect it goes back to the First Fleet. If my memory is correct, there were 11 ships, one carried women. The women were there for one reason, and one reason only - the authorites in England believed there would be riots if there was no female company.

Unlike the Americans, whose first white settlers gave thanks to God for their new land when they first embarked, our forbears rolled out the keg and had a good old fashioned drunken orgy. The first white bastard concieved on our shores was probably conceived that night. And perhaps that's why we are so relaxed about the term. In our early days we may well have been a pack of bastards.

Now one would think that given the differences in our orgins - Australian and American - that America had the more enlightened origin and we would therefore expect that they would have developed a more enlightened society. Yet, from where I sit, I see us as having developed a more cohesive, fairer place to live and it concerns me now that we seem to be going down a different road.

If someone can correct my understanding of our history, please feel free to do so.

Is marriage equality irrational

There is something I see as irrational in the debate over so-called marriage equality. Now if I were gay, Christian, and believed that gay marriage were consistent with my faith, then seeking to have a relationship recognised as a marriage makes sense.

But what if I reject religion, and specifically the Christian version of such? What, if in that rejection I see Chrisianity as inhibiting and repressive, putting silly, stupid restrictions on human freedom?
What then is my rationale basis for a monagomous relationship? 

When I look at both the world of humans and the larger world of living things, monagomy seems a rare, unusual sort of thing. There are few animal species that mate for life. And in the human sphere, monagomy seems to be something that largely evolved in the Christian world. Polygamy was allowed, and in one place even commanded, in the Old Testament and seems to be the norm in other cultures.

So, if the only basis for monagomous marriage is Christianity, then why would those who reject Christianity clamour for the right to relationship that appears only to have any basis in that which they reject?

Iraq - a 'well-rooted country'

Iraq means 'well-rooted country'. It came into being as a result of a decision by Winston Churchill in 1921.

Arabs are not one homogeneous bunch - they hate each other with a vengeance. But the Ottomans had held their empire together for a few centuries by recognising the different groups and organising them into some form of autonomous regions.

The Ottoman Empire crumbled with the end of WW1, leaving the area to some extent under the influence of the Britts - but there was not support in England for a continuation of the Empire. Against all advice from his advisors Churchill drew lines on a map and divided the area into different countries without regard for ethnic tensions. He then handed power over to local strong-men who he believed would look after England's interests - forget democracy.

And part of that legacy is modern Iraq, a mix of Sunnis, Shites and Kurds - a 'well-rooted country'.

(History's worst decisions and the people who made them, Steven Weir, p.p. 134, 135)

There is no free education

There never has been, nor never will be, free education in this country. Whether your education has been private or public I and every other tax payer have paid for it. And if you have accrued a HECS debt at uni - your education has still been subsidised by the tax payer.

As someone who has contributed to your education I expect you to give something back to the community. That means, if you are able to, get a job. It also means if that education has given you opportunites that others haven't had and you now find yourself earning an income that may be the envy of others you recognise that not everyone has had your opportunity, or that they have made their equally, if not more, valuble contribution to the welfare of our community in ways that have not brought them the same financial reward. So don't complain if you are asked to make a contribution above what you may or may not give through your employment.

Random Stuff

If we support and endorse a predatory economic model should we then complain when it chews us up and spits us out?

What if we valued work according to what it contributed to the betterment of the community? 

The power of an idea, philosophy or belief is seen in the willingness of people to embrace and hold onto it freely without inducement, fear or force. 
 

The first role of government and our elected representatives should always be to maintain the social cohesivenss of the nation.

It should be to this purpose that they frame their policies and their debates.

To the extent that they fail on this point they fail the people and on this point they should be judged first and foremost.

Frustration

One thing I have learned from Karate is this. Frustration, if understood and managed the right way, is good.

When I try to learn something new after a while I get frustrated with my efforts. Frustration tells me that my brain now knows that I could be doing it better but my abiity does not match my ideal. It is a natural part of learning, necessary if I am to improve.

And right now I find this world and this country frustrating. Ideals, like perfect karate technique are something to be pursued, but will always remain unattainable. But to stop trying is to accept mediocracy.

The Wisdom of the Ages

There was once an Emperor who wanted to leave something for posterity. So he called his sages together and said; 'Gentlemen, I want you to write down the wisdom of the ages.'

Away they went and applied themselves diligently to the task. The weeks and months passed and finally they returned with the sense of satisfaction that can only come from a job well done.

'Your majesty', they said, 'it is with great pleasure that we present you with the wisdom of the ages'. And with that they handed him ten beautifully bound volumes.

The Emperor took one look at their finished work and exclaimed 'Gentlemen, this will never do. No one will ever take the time to read all that. You need to do better.'

So away they went. Again the weeks turned into months and finally the sages returned. 'Here it is you majesty', they said. And with that they handed over one beautifully bound volume.

'Gentlemen', the Emperor returned. 'Your work is still too long for no one will take the time to read it. Go away and make it shorter.'

So off they went again. They worked and worked, long into the nights. Finally, they felt they had achieved what the Emperor wanted so they approached him again.

This time the Emperor was satisfied with their efforts. 'Gentlemen, you have excelled yourselves. Surely, you have discovered the wisdom of the ages.'

And with that he took from them a single sheet of paper on which were the words 'There ain't no free lunch.'

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