Friday, July 23, 2004
Hostage-taking in Iraq
In response to the kidnapping of a Filipino contractor by 'Islamic terrorists' and the threat that he would be executed, the Filipino Government withdrew its troops early and was in consequence referred to as a 'marshmallow' by Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer
Last night I had a dream and now I wipe a manly tear from my eye as I realize that the spirit that built The Empire is not yet dead.
When those Funny Filipinos and Silly-billy Spaniards quailed beneath the threats of the Mad Mullahs, a paragon of Anglo-Celtic manhood stepped up to the crease to take them on — apple-cheeked, tousle-haired, cleared-eyed ‘Wee Sandy’ Downer.
This brave lad took up the White Man’s Burden and, his vulgar colonial tones moderated by years of expensive education at one of Adelaide’s Best Schools, delivered a stern paternal rebuke to the recalcitrant Natives, aiming to guide them, like errant children, back to the Truly Civilized Path.
Properly chastized, the jelly-bellied foreign mercenaries turned around and marched back to Iraq to fight and die like MEN!
AND THEN I WOKE UP!
Last night I had a dream and now I wipe a manly tear from my eye as I realize that the spirit that built The Empire is not yet dead.
When those Funny Filipinos and Silly-billy Spaniards quailed beneath the threats of the Mad Mullahs, a paragon of Anglo-Celtic manhood stepped up to the crease to take them on — apple-cheeked, tousle-haired, cleared-eyed ‘Wee Sandy’ Downer.
This brave lad took up the White Man’s Burden and, his vulgar colonial tones moderated by years of expensive education at one of Adelaide’s Best Schools, delivered a stern paternal rebuke to the recalcitrant Natives, aiming to guide them, like errant children, back to the Truly Civilized Path.
Properly chastized, the jelly-bellied foreign mercenaries turned around and marched back to Iraq to fight and die like MEN!
AND THEN I WOKE UP!
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
Federal Budget
Is anyone else as jaundiced as I am?
Our government is madly flogging off all our assets, either out of devotion to fanatical economic dogma, or for the so-called practical reason of reducing debt. Thus the bean-counters are imperilling our future by depriving us of the means of financing necessary infrastructure such as roads, schools and hospitals.
At the same time the Federal Treasurer of the Party which is doing this is telling us all to get into the bedroom and populate — to ensure our future!
My high-school economics teacher told me that when I was older I would understand why capitalism is a preferable system and why the world is as it is. It is a matter of great sadness and shame to me that at 50, I STILL do not understand why greed and short-term profitability is more ‘natural’ and ‘worthwhile’ than altruism. Or to allude to a recently passed anniversary, why ‘liberté’ is more important than ‘égalité’ and ‘fraternité’.
Our government is madly flogging off all our assets, either out of devotion to fanatical economic dogma, or for the so-called practical reason of reducing debt. Thus the bean-counters are imperilling our future by depriving us of the means of financing necessary infrastructure such as roads, schools and hospitals.
At the same time the Federal Treasurer of the Party which is doing this is telling us all to get into the bedroom and populate — to ensure our future!
My high-school economics teacher told me that when I was older I would understand why capitalism is a preferable system and why the world is as it is. It is a matter of great sadness and shame to me that at 50, I STILL do not understand why greed and short-term profitability is more ‘natural’ and ‘worthwhile’ than altruism. Or to allude to a recently passed anniversary, why ‘liberté’ is more important than ‘égalité’ and ‘fraternité’.
