Tuesday, August 30, 2005

The TMI Files. Chicks dig furniture.

We do. I should know because a) I'm a chick and b) I have a bit of a furniture thing happening.

Today, I rearranged some furniture. The walnut bookcase was moved out of the lounge and into the hallway, the glass side table from my room is now in the lounge (where said bookcase was) with an empty fishtank and a potplant on it. I'm going to get fish in the next couple of weeks.

After all this time, I reckon I should have worked out why I do a shuffle of furniture every six months or so. Whether is the kitchen, the lounge, my room or Magilla's room, things have to be changed. It's always been this way.

I do confess to getting a warm, fuzzy glow out of my achievements in decor rearrangement. I also know I'm not alone. I know a few of the girls out there who like to do an occasional re-org.

Just not as often as I like.

Maybe I'm just a touch obsessive about it. Sort of like my loo paper fetish. I think that 10 rolls are nowhere near enough.

30 is a bit more comforting.

I am amazed at times where writing a blog takes me. I was going to go into the whys and the wherefores of purchase and upkeep of household items, but got a bit distracted with SBS (television for Special People) and tonight's episode of Insight, Extreme Measures, a debate about Islam and muslims in Oz. I'm just waiting for the online debate to start, so if this offering is a bit slapdash, please accept my apologies.

My loungeroom is looking pretty grouse to me, though.

Sunday, August 28, 2005

RWDB logic vs Lefty moonbattery.

One of the best rebuttals I've ever had the pleasure to read, from SFC McElroy of the US Army, to Infoshop.

The initial blog post regards a reply by Steven Vincent's wife Lisa to Professor Juan Cole. I won't go into that here, because plenty of others have been doing that. I'm just perpetuating the words of a member of US armed forces to a dyed-in-the-wool left wing person.

Ms. Vincent is sadly misnformed (or perhaps on the payroll of PNAC and Karl Rove) and her attempt to shut down debate is pathetic.

It is quite remarkable that the unstated purpose of this war brings forth an oil war masquerading as an endless crusade against "terrorism."

It is sick how you warmonger chickenhawks keep sending our children to die. As Norman Mailer pointed out, Americanism as an ideology can be seen in the light of the apparent fabrications which lead to the police state which has come to pass.

The pro-Sharon neoconservative cabal leads our attention to a McCarthyism which threatens everything we hold dear. Our only hope is to stop neo-fascists (such as Ms. Vicent and her Zionist paymasters) by using (to quote Malcome X) "any means possible."

We will do anything we can to shut this site down, so you can stop spreading neocon lies.


Posted by: Infoshop at August 23, 2005 11:37 AM


Infoshop did get several replies before SFC McElroy weighed into the debate, but nothing as succint as this.

Enjoy!

"Infoshop":

You sniveling little twit. I just love the way you liberal moonbats bitch about "censorship" and "shutting down debate" whenever someone counters your agitprop with facts and opinions of their own. Hate to burst your bubble sweetpea, but the 1st Amendment is not exclusive to the leftist fringe.

And as for your views of the war on terrorism:

We all know how difficult it is for you socialist "activists" with your post-election trauma and the weekly trips to your therapist, but the rest of America is getting sick and tired of your pissing, moaning, and imbecilic regurgitations ie: "Bush Lied". If you removed your head from your ass and stopped fawning over bin Laden and repulsive simps like Michael Moore, you might get that clue you so desperately need.

Hell, if all we wanted was "oil" we could have bombed the Middle East back to the Stone Age, which would only set them back about 2 weeks, and simply TAKEN every single oil well in the region. Meanwhile, we're paying about 3 bucks a pop at the pump.

You've conveniently forgotten about the 3000 Americans who were slaughtered on September 11th 2001. That was a Pearl Harbor of the 21st Century, and all you can do is spew Norman Mailer quotes.

Included in the war on terror equation is Afghanistan, the success of which is virtually ignored by the leftist media. We kicked the crap out of the Taliban. That success is reflected in the fact that bin Laden and whatever little band of thugs he still has, are scurrying like cockroaches back and forth across the mountainous region between Pakistan and Afghanistan hiding in caves to avoid detection.

As for Iraq: Saddam Hussein filled hundreds of mass graves with men, women and children, and slaughtered 5000 Kurds with “non-existent” chemical weapons. He thumbed his nose at the pusillanimous UN for 12 years, while he continued to research, develop, and hide the evidence of his WMD program. In addition, Iraqi intelligence met with al Qadea operatives and he provided them with training camps in Northern Iraq.

"About the oil", my ass.

Let me give you first hand experience as to how the war is going: We are kicking the shit out of the terrorists to the extent that they are getting desperate, and it shows. The Iraqis are starting to wake up and realize that the future of their country depends on how much they assist in their own reconstruction and protection. We are getting an increasing number of people who walk up to American troops and literally take them to weapons caches and terrorist hiding places. If you've been paying attention, you'll note the numerous press reports of captures/kills of high ranking Zarqawi Lieutenants.


The Afghan and Iraqi people are constructing fledgling democracies, can vote, run for office, and speak freely for the first time in their existence. Nothing threatens Islamofascists more than a democracy.

Oh, and this little gem of yours is a real side-splitter:
"It is sick how you warmonger chickenhawks keep sending our children to die. As Norman Mailer pointed out, Americanism as an ideology can be seen in the light of the apparent fabrications which lead to the police state which has come to pass."

I'm no "chickenhawk", toots. I've served in 2 wars and a so-called "peace keeping mission"; Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and a stint in Clinton's wag-the-dog tactic in Bosnia.

We're fighting Islamofascist thugs who would gladly subject the entire planet (including you) to their oppressive theocracy. Before you hit the sack tonight you should get down on your knees and give thanks to whatever God you pray that we are out front making sure that doesn't happen.

You can thank Bubba Clinton for giving al Qaida the green light. His total indifference to the terrorist attacks on his watch; the first attack on the World Trade center, Khobar Towers, and the embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania went without retribution. He and algore (one word) were too busy using the Oval Office as their personal conduit for unethical, immoral and illegal activities. His Chinese/Indonesian friends Charlie Trie, John Huang, and James Riady bought the 1996 “election” in exchange for information on, among other items, classified satellite technology, He illegally obtained FBI files on political adversaries, and fired the Travel Office and threatened them with surveillance if they talked.

Oh, wait, he did have a response--he bombed Kosovo and an aspirin factory in Iraq. Abetted by lap-dog Janet Reno’s obstruction of justice, Clinton flushed the integrity of the Office as well as national security down the toilet, and not a peep out of you liberal shitbags.

Dedicated, brave Soldiers of the United States Army are fighting and sacrificing their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan so that ingrates like you won’t have to worry about another 3000 deaths on this soil.

You lefties are comprised of pseudo-anarchists, nihilists, and spineless MoveOn.org sycophants who would never let the facts get in the way of a good Bush bashing. The adults, thank God, are still in charge of the country. You ought to follow the lead, remove the nose rings and grow up.

Sergeant First Class Cheryl McElroy
US ARMY

Posted by: SFC McElroy US ARMY at August 23, 2005 01:51 PM

Friday, August 26, 2005

New Anthem for Aussie Death Beasts the world over

I've not had the opportunity to do a whole lot of self-blogging at the moment, spending far too much time over at Tim's blog and also discovering the amazing time-munching propensity of LGF.

I've also been introduced to the marvel of modern lefty density that is Margo Kingston. I really can't get my head around these people. They profess to be all warm and fuzzy, but they spew out some of the most juvenile crap you will ever see outside of a schoolgirl slapfight.

Try this on for size:
Hicks is an interesting case in this time. I have attended forums when Steve Kenny was still lawyer and the facts are somewhat different to the right wing media's take.

Hicks was captured leaving Afghanistan and didn't know that the US had switched from the alliance with the Taliban to the alliance with the Northern Alliance.

There is no evidence in existence that he ever hurt anyone.

And thinking hate is not a crime. I think hate about this government on a daily basis and one media editor I have spoken to many times has a mantra each day "f..k John Howard" three times before he gets his first coffee.

Should we spend nearly 4 years in prison for our thoughts now?

And let's us not forget the worst hate monger in Australia today. Our own prime rodent who just cannot help himself, he needs some new group of people to vilify every day of the week or he is not happy.

This is our island and not his.

Posted by: Marilyn Shepherd | 24/08/2005 9:03:22 PM


No, Marilyn, hate thought is not a crime, but surely what you are saying is vilification, and if you are in Victoria, you might find yourself in a spot of bother should someone decide to complain about what you are spouting.

Let's have a closer look at this.

Hicks was captured leaving Afghanistan and didn't know that the US had switched from the alliance with the Taliban to the alliance with the Northern Alliance.

As the legal textbook goes, Ignorance Is No Excuse. If you are a lowly footsoldier as some like to purport, then it is irrelevant who the US are aligned with. Especially when you are waging your own private jihad on the West to begin with. If you are higher up the food chain, it is still irrelevant.

You are in a war, and alliances can change at the drop of a hat. Look at WW2 for starters. Italy springs to mind off the top of my head.

In any case, it is all behind the point. He was fighting in a war, and he got caught out. End of story.

Well, it would be if the bleating hadn't started.

David Hicks is not some poor, misguided youth. He is an adult. He is a father. He has well-defined ideas of how he thinks the world should be run. He is ready and willing to use violence to accomplish that ideal. Indeed, he has done so. In Kosovar, in Pakistan and in Afghanistan.


There is no evidence in existence that he ever hurt anyone.

Naivete alert! We are talking about some who fought with the Kosovar Liberation Army, then moved to Pakistan before joining in the party in Afghanistan. Why is there no evidence? He killed the witnesses?

To err on the side of caution, maybe there is no evidence that he ever hurt anyone, but that works the other way, too. There is no evidence that he didn't hurt anyone.

In letters to his father, this young man talked of revolution and spreading a Taliban way of life for everybody. I guess he thinks his mum would look just fine in a black sack and shouldn't have the right to drive, be seen in public unless accompanied by her husband or son, and should no longer work. I have no idea what the lady does, but I'm pretty sure after spending her life in Australia that the Taliban way wouldn't be for her.

Marilyn, if the world does become Talibanised as poor, hard done by David would have it, I can guarantee that you wouldn't have the freedom to be crapping on like this. Quite likely you wouldn't have a pc. You would not be allowed to work where there are males, you would not be able to walk the streets. If your house was on fire, you would most likely have to take time out to ensure you are covered modestly or you might get pushed back into the flames as has already been documented (too lazy to link. Will edit later).

As for hate thought not being a crime, you can think anything you want. You can even say what you like within reason. In the world that Hicks is bucking for, however, you may find yourself hanged for saying the wrong thing.

The minute David Hicks took up arms against our way of life, the one all the lefties are so proud or - tolerant, accepting, inclusive - he gave up his rights to the soft treatment that we so often provide. As bad a Guantanamo Bay apparently is, he is still fed, housed, clothed, provided with a copy of the koran and directions to Mecca so that he can pray 5 times a day facing the right way.

I've never seen any evidence of that coming out of Afghanistan, or Pakistan, or Algeria, or Iran, or Iraq before the Coalition moved in. And what about Sudan? I've never seen anything about their prison system at all, but there are a lot of people starving and dying. Does that count for anything at all?

In my view, David Hicks is a traitor. To his parents, his country, his race and his way of life.

He is an apostate to Western Civilization, and if he gets found guilty in a kangaroo court and sentenced to death, so be it.

There won't be any tears shed in this household.

From TimT over at Tim blair's:

Right-wing Death Beast National Anthem

I love a bloodied country,
Of gore-bestrewn plains
Where fascist zombies wander
And feast on babies brains.

From asylum to asylum,
Hear those wailing refugees!
Yes, this is a land of horror -
The wide brown land for me!

By Marilyn Shepherd

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Why take responsibility when you can whine?

Last night on the 7.30 Report, Red Kerry had in the studio a young lady, Iktimal Hage-Ali, who had participated in the PM's summit with local muslims.

She did not wear a hijab, had a very nice makeup job, and basically looked like any other young, attractive 21 year old girl. No problemo, you say.

I thought it might be interesting to watch see what she had to say, and what I heard was basically this: Terrorism is bad, naughty and we don't support it, but you really should make us feel better about ourselves.

Now I could be wrong, and maybe need batteries for my hearing aid, but it seemed to me to be a lot of the usual whingeing from the yoof of today about how hard done by they are in the scheme of things. They want to be included. Fine, well how about getting up and doing something proactive.

I will say, mind you, that Ms Hage-Ali is quite active in community activities as a quick google on her name will show you, and is an engaging and educated speaker.

I am wondering, though, how she would go under a taliban regime. Goodbye makeup, hello burlap. She wouldn't be allowed out of the house, let alone being in a studio in front of several cameras being interviewed by a man. Would she join the ranks of the professional women over in Afghanstan who committed suicide after having their lives ripped our from beneath them?

Mercy in the Middle East.

I'm a subscriber to, and avid reader of, Australasian Bioethics. I am fascinated by the lack of debate regarding the ethics surrounding so-called 'designer babies' and 'saviour siblings', euthanasia, cloning and other murky issues.

For the record, I'm for euthanasia and against the legislation of it. Once you start legislating things, then the bureaucracy takes over and you find yourself drowning in red tape. (Hello, Mr Bracks!) No doubt the government would find a way to make you pay for the privilege of either topping yourself or helping someone shuffle off this mortal coil.

I'm also against cloning and designer babies. I consider that deciding how your baby will look and be before conception reduces children to commodities, and there is far too much of that in the world as it is. A quick glance at China with their One Child policy will show you some of the problems there. Sure, they've managed to slow the birthrate down, but there are a lot of boys over there who might be better off jumping the fence. There just aren't enough girls to go around.

But, as usual, I digress.

Back on topic, the latest Aust Bioethics newletter had the following snippet included:
Mercy killing in Iraq: An American GI who shot a badly wounded Iraqi insurgent to put him out of his misery has had his sentence reduced from 3 years to 1 year. Veterans have protested that 31-year-old Staff Sgt Johnny Horne Jr should not have been prosecuted at all. It was just a case of mercy killing, they say. The incident happened last year when US troops outside Baghdad fired on a truck. There were two Iraqi survivors, including a dying teenager with severe abdominal injuries. Mr Horne and another solidier decided to put him down. ~ Washington Post, Aug 16


My sense of humour is obviously on the macabre side this morning, because the phrasing of the last line got a snicker out of me. Maybe it's the loaded language, or maybe I just need a bit more of a break.

I still find it funny, though.

Monday, August 15, 2005

While I'm away...

I've got a few printouts to have a study of. No sense in wasting my time.

I've got this theory regarding the rise of (so-called)fundamentalist Islam over the past few decades. Basically, I think that all the touchy-feely-Noo-Age waffle that has so permeated our learning institutions and government has created a power vacuum that the Islamists are more than happy to fill.

Of course, this is only after cursory reading over the past year or so, and being introduced to the Frankfurt School.

It's time to marshal my thoughts and set them out clearly so that other people can see where I'm coming from.

Then, you can agree with me or not. Which is de nature of debate.

It will take a bit of time to get it all together, but please don't despair. We'll get there.

All quiet on the home front


I'm seriously flat out at the moment, and I'll be away for a few days.

My current pressing problem is what to do with the Fat Cat. She is a bit of a psycho cat (in a nice way), but doesn't like being left alone. Rather than putting her in a cattery, she'll be staying in her own space with another family member coming by to feed her each day.

I will no doubt return to a house that reeks. I told you the cat was psycho. When she's not happy, she lets me know it.

Whoever heard of a female cat that had been done spraying? If there is another cat in the house, well, the Fat Cat sprays.

When Magilla was starting to crawl and got into her space (ie anywhere in the house), she sprayed. It got to the stage where the cat got sent away.

She has been on death row and drugs before. I reckon she's got more than nine lives. More like nineteen!

But she is so affectionate. She is the suckiest, smoochiest cat. Especially to strangers. She sleeps with me, camps on me when I'm trying to chill out and sit down with the rugrat.ets under my feet and nearly trips me up when I'm cooking.

Hang on, isn't that all cats?

She's sprawled in front of the heater at the moment, which is a good place to be.

Hope she doesn't miss me too much.

Sunday, August 14, 2005

Islam in the Northern Territory

Hurtling throught the blogosphere is an article of a seminar given in the Northern Territory by a local muslim community leader.


Information Session on

UNDERSTANDING ISLAM

A View from Within

by Dr Hassan Bajhau from the Islamic Council of the NT

Thursday August 11, 2005 10 am – 12 pm

This Information Session is presented by the ‘Faith in Harmony’ Project of the Multicultural Council of the NT and sponsored by the Federal Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.

In today’s context, Islam is one of the most misunderstood and misjudged of the world’s major religions. Over many years, Australia’s Muslim community has made a positive and creative contribution to our multicultural society.

For a fifth of the world's population, Islam is not only a religion but a complete way of life. Muslims lead a disciplined life and follow a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness which abhors violence, yet because of recent tragic events, misconceptions and negative stereotypical views abound.

Dr Hassan Bajhau from the Islamic Council of the NT will provide a detailed insight into the beliefs and traditions of Islam from the perspective of life as a Muslim in contemporary secular Australian society. Various issues will be explored and Dr Bajhau will welcome questions from the audience. Learn about:

The historical relationship between Christianity, Judaism and Islam;

Commonalities and differences between the Islamic and non-Islamic world;

The role of women,

and the diversity of the Islamic community in the NT.

MCNT, Malak Centre – no cost – light lunch provided

Phone Ron at the Multicultural Council of the NT on 8945 9122 or email harmony@mcnt.org.au for more information. RSVP Tuesday August 9

The ‘Faith in Harmony’ Project is proudly supported by the Australian Government’s Living in Harmony initiative, which aims to promote community harmony. For more information about the Living in Harmony initiative, visit: www.harmony.gov.au


And from the pages of The Multicultural Council of the Northern Territory

The Understanding Islam Information Session

As part of the Faith in Harmony Project, the MCNT is presenting an Understanding Islam information session at MCNT from 10 am to 12 pm on Thursday August 11. There is no cost and a light lunch will be provided. The facilitator is Dr Hassan Bajhau from the Darwin Islamic community.

The aims of this session are to increase community understanding and to dispel the misconceptions of Islam, which is without doubt, the most misunderstood and misjudged of the world’s major religions; and to provide an authentic Islamic perspective on living in contemporary secular Australian society.

More information about this information session will be available soon, but download the flyer for this activity can be downloaded now.


Dr Bajhau is not happy with the treatment received by muslims in the Western world, and seems to think that it's our own fault if we get blown up. After all, those that have been committing atrocities have been educated by the West.

I could have sworn that Amrozi hadn't been further than Malaysia, but perhaps he is an undercover Rhodes Scholar.

I guess it's time to get out the tinfoil hats and start blaming the CIA again.

Friday, August 12, 2005

Holy Moonbattery! Not another lefty having their say!

All citizens should be equal.
by George Zangalis.

Proposals to strip migrants of their citizenship in certain cicumstances strike at the heart of the concept of citizenship.

Former NSW Labor premier Bob Carr has joined Liberal federal backbencher Steve Ciobo in seeking to deprive migrants of their citizenship if found guilty of supporting terrorism.

Such proposals would give Australians born overseas fewer rights than people born here. People convicted of terrorist offences, or other serious crimes, deserve to be punished.

Our organisation condemns all terrorist acts, but the punishment should depend on the crime and not upon where an offender was born.

Australia's success as a multicultural society has been based on tolerance of differences, an insistence that all are equal before the law and that all are equally obliged to obey the law.

Multiculturalism does not imply the ability to opt out of the requirement to obey the law, but it does expect all citizens to enjoy the same rights.

George Zangalis is president, National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters Council Inc


This was in today's HeraldSun I've not included a link because I've yet to find out where online they stash their letters to the editor.

A message for Mr Zangalis, if you ever get around to reading this. Taking up the citizenship of a foreign country is a choice you make. Part of that choice is deciding to abide by the laws of your adopted country.

As a conscious decision, surely taking up entitlements and responsibilties that go with your new allegiance should hold at least the same loyalty as your former homeland?

It drove me nuts when I was a kid, knowing lads who were born in Carlton proclaiming they were Italian. Excuse me? When you are speaking the same ocker accent that I am? And when the Yugoslavians came over, they took up all the privileges, and still fought their ethnic battles. And the Greeks and Cypriots. The Macedonians? Let's not go there.

The difference between these groups dividing themselves along country/racial lines and the current problems of muslim/every other religion lines, is that the former groups were not out to change our way of life to suit themselves.

When somebody comes to this country and takes up citizenship - I'm looking in your direction, Abu Bakr - and does not respect our laws or cultural differences, then why do they deserve any consideration back?

When we are talking of terrorist activities, these days we are almost always talking of Islamist violence against either moderate muslims, or infidels (any non-muslim). So much for our fair-go way of life.

When somebody goes on national tv, and from there out into the world media talking about how they do not respect our laws or our culture, the don't deserve our respect. If we want to be christian about it and do unto others, well, I'm happy to do back to Mr Bakr. He wants to live under sharia law? He wants women to be covered up to protect his sensibilities. Put him on the first plane back to Algeria.

It's what he's obviously pining for. After 16 years here, he obviously doesn't value our freedoms. So why not take them back? It wsa his choice to swear allegiance to our culture, and it's now his choice to disrespect and denigrate it. Let him go.

It would also be a hell of a lot cheaper to strip his privileges and send him (and his family) back overseas where he wants to be.

Mind you, he might miss our way of life come tax time, what with the maternity bonuses, the family tax benefit part A (he wouldn't be eligible for part B). Not to mention the immunisation bonuses he would get for each child.

Hell, the thought of those bonuses is making me think it might be time to get knocked up again!

Thursday, August 11, 2005

Forget curious, Mr Galloway could be something else.

The T word was mentioned in an editorial in The Timesonline, over in the UK.

Rod Liddell says at the end of his column:

As you might imagine, most of the attention has focused on Galloway’s description of the suicide bombers, the people killing our troops, as “martyrs” — something that he has since denied. Liam Fox described Galloway as “sad, twisted and irrelevant”. But you wonder how far Galloway’s patent loathing of the British state now extends to all of its subjects as well. He can’t actually wish British soldiers — or crusaders, as he has helpfully called them — to be killed, can he? Or does he see himself heroically holed up in a cave in a pair of flip-flops wearing a green bandanna and clutching a metaphoric Kalashnikov? If that’s the case, George, go to it.

Even for someone who agreed with you about the war in Iraq and the deception perpetrated by our government to prepare us all for it — the latest stuff feels suspiciously close to treason. It is hard to know whether we should laugh at Galloway or hang him.


Now I've just had a look through dictionary.com, and it's pretty basic what treason actually is.



Main Entry: trea·son
Pronunciation: 'trEz-&noun
Function:noun
Etymology: Anglo-French treison crime of violence against a person to whom allegiance is owed, literally, betrayal, from Old French traïson, from traïr to betray, from Latin tradere to hand over, surrender
: the offense of attempting to overthrow the government of one's country or of assisting its enemies in war; specifically : the act of levying war against the United States or adhering to or giving aid and comfort to its enemies by one who owes it allegiance —trea·son·ous /-&s/ adjective


Can we take a closer look there? Did you catch that bit? That's the one:
the offense of attempting to overthrow the government of one's country or of assisting its enemies in war


Okay, I'm not a pom. I'm not a lot of things. I'm also not completely stupid. To become a Member of Parliament in the UK, as over here in Oz, or over in the States, or in most countries, you need to swear allegiance to your ruling body.

The Oath of Allegiance, according to the Explore Parliament website can either be sworn on your religious document of choice (New Testament, Old Testament or Koran) or made as an affirmation if you are not of a religious bent. Either way, you are pledging to uphold your country's rule of law and to live by it.

Last time I looked, the War on Terror has not been undeclared. It is going to be a long and bloody time before that happens.

If George Galloway has pledged allegiance to the United Kingdom, if his job is to look after the rights and requirements of his constituents over in Bethnal and Green, then what is he doing gallivanting around the Middle East declaring openly that:
It's not the Muslims who are the terrorists. The biggest terrorists are Bush, and Blair, and Berlusconi, and Aznar, but it is definitely not a clash of civilizations. George Bush doesn't have any civilization, he doesn't represent any civilization. We believe in the Prophets, peace be upon them.


Those are pretty strong words for a representative of the government of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the 2nd. Those words are also directly contradicting said government.

Now, I am NOT a lawyer, but I do wonder what the people in his constituency - those who voted against him as well as for him - think of all this. I have yet to see anything about that.

The TMI Files. Brought to you by the letter zzzzzzzz

As someone who promotes all those attachment parenting things like co-sleeping, breastfeeding, homeschooling, chocolate. (oops! don't know where that came from!)

Magilla and I often share the bed of a nighttime. It's great snuggling up and reading a few books, singing a few songs, then drifting off to sleep.

When she was first born, I was amazed. Here is this tiny little being, helpless, dependent, and she managed to take up the whole bed! It's a bloody queen size bed! Here am I, squashed onto the edge of the bed by an infant. It's not fair.

Three years down the track, it's still not fair!

She does sleep on her own most of the time, even though she does have a tendency to crawl into bed with me at the most godawful hours of the morning. She sleeps well. I just wish I did, too.

Last week tore it for me. She was asleep by 7.30pm, which is a good time. I got to bed around 11, and she woke me at 12. She ended up in bed with me, then woke me up at 2.30am to play.

Around 3.30, I got up to go to the loo. Magilla was still awake. I was somewhat surly (read as: really pissed off) and promptly slipped in cat chuck.

I'm all for expanding your vocabulary, but I think hers was expanded somewhat prematurely.

By the time she's 5, I'll be sleeping through the night, and Magilla will be compiling a Dictionary of Profanity.

By the time she's 10, I'll be moping about reminiscing. She was so cute when she was a baby/toddler. It was so nice when she would come into bed and snuggle up, I miss it so much.

When I get to that stage, please remind me of this post.

I can't recommend co-sleeping highly enough. It really is the best!

NOOOOOOOO!

More later. No time at the moment. But I will say....


Bugger!

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

Silent Majority hopefully getting rowdy.

I've not been able to find a link, but the Hun has a phone poll on the letters pages every monday to friday. You know the ones - Should our hospitals step up security? (97.9% yes, 2.1% no, 144 calls.) That was last friday's question.

Yesterday's question, very topical these days, asked:
Should immigrants who incite violence against innocent people be deported?

The results? With 3078 calls, 98.5% YES!!! 1.5% no.

Blind Freddy could see that one coming, even though there would be some callers who might call in more than once. It's still quite a remarkable response. Looks like people are starting to wake up to the idea that we might have people in our midst who do not necessarily appreciate all that they have.

And about bloody time, too.

Today's question: Should parental leave be guaranteed in the new workplace legislation? I'm too tight to waste 35c on a phone poll like this (I did vote in yesterday's, I confess), so you will have to guess what I think.

Sunday, August 07, 2005

Beurger King? How halal is that?

I've decided on a bit of a letter writing campaign.

It has begun. I know there is at least one person out there who has me pegged as somebody who doesn't have a life. I may as well provide concrete evidence of it in the blogosphere.

For those of you who do see me regularly in the real world, obviously you are communicating with a figment of your own deranged imagination!

Cheers!

My first is to Burger King in Europe.

Dear Mr Johnston,


I’ve been looking over the Burger King website, and noticed that there is no direct email contact with your corporation. Hence my emailing you.

It has probably been brought to your attention already, but there is an item in the news regarding the opening of “Beurger King” in France. This article is generating a huge amount of interest on sites such as http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/archives/007545.php#comments and http://www.muslimwakeup.com/blog/archives/2005/08/beurger_king_mu.php .

With this in mind, I was wondering about the legality of such a naming for the new fast food restaurant. If it is a genuine partnership agreement with Burger King, does it fit in with your company guidelines on fostering diversity within the community? Surely a restaurant where female staff members must be muslim and dress appropriately is against any Western notion of freedom of religion? The serving of halal food is ultimately irrelevant, but the conditions of employment and the messages of exclusion that they send out to world at large appear incompatible with Burger King’s vision.

If Beurger King is not a venture with your company, then it would appear to be an infringement of your trademarks.

While this situation is ultimately none of my business, it is still a concern when one of the primary faces of family restaurants is seen to be promoting division in the world community.

Thank you for your time and regard,

Nilknarf
Melbourne, Australia.


[note:of course, I did sign the email appropriately. I'm not a complete dingbat!]

Saturday, August 06, 2005

Political Islam in the Heart of Secular Europe

[note from nilknarf. As a rule, I don't usually cut and paste whole articles. I prefer to just paste the bits relevant to the discussion. In this instance, I've lifted the whole article from Butterflies and Wheels because the current issues of Islam and it's relationship to the rest of the world is an important one. If my blog can get a few more people reading articles like this, then I will be happy.]

Political Islam in the heart of secular Europe
By Maryam Namazie


The following speech was given at the International Humanist and Ethical Union Congress on July 6, 2005 in Paris, France, at a parallel session entitled ‘Women’s rights in religious and secular societies’.

Sixteen year old Atefeh Rajabi was publicly hanged in the city centre in Neka in Iran on 15 August 2004 for "acts incompatible with chastity".

In April this year, Amina was publicly stoned to death in Argu district, Afghanistan after being accused of adultery by her husband.

This month, physicians have been beaten for treating female patients and women have been brutally attacked for not being veiled in Basra, Iraq.

The list is endless.

These examples are only some of the most visible and heinous aspects of the situation of women and girls living in Islam-stricken societies and under Islamic laws - burqa-clad and veiled, bound and gagged, and without rights.

It is truly the outrage of the 21st century.

But it is no longer only in places like Neka, Argu, or Basra where political Islam and religious rule are wreaking havoc but also in the very heart of the secular west and Europe albeit in different and more subtle ways but outrageous nonetheless.

Here the Islamists are ‘more civilised’.

They demand the ‘right’ to veil for women and children in France when in the Middle East they impose compulsory veiling by throwing acid in the faces of those who refuse and resist. In Britain, they cry racism and Islamophobia against anyone who speaks out against Islam and its political movement, whilst in Iran and its likes they hang ‘apostates’ and ‘Kafirs’ from trees and cranes. Here, they demand the prosecution of those who ‘incite religious hatred’ when everywhere it is they themselves who incite hatred and violence than can be articulated or imagined. Here in the EU, they call for tolerance and respect of their beliefs, when it is they who have issued fatwas and death threats against anyone who they deem disrespectful and intolerable. Here, they call for ‘equal’ rights demanding a Sharia court for ‘Muslim minorities’ in Canada and Britain whilst it is their very Sharia courts that have legalised Islamic injustice and barbarity in the Middle East.

Steadily, political Islam, using rights language, and cries of racism and Islamophobia - and now of incitement to religious hatred in order to silence any opposition and criticism - is gaining ground and hacking away at secularism in Europe, even though criticism or even 'phobias' of ideologies, religions, cultures or political movements are not racism.

Even in the heart of secular Europe and the west, women who have resisted political Islam, no longer feel fully safe. We can soon be prosecuted and face up to 7 years imprisonment in Britain for being offensive against or going beyond the ‘legitimate’ criticism of Islam. We are already called racists and Islamophobes whenever we speak for women and against Islam and its movement. It is we who are deemed extremists by the Mayor of London when we oppose the visit of Qaradawi, the so-called Islamic scholar whose support for women’s ‘modesty’ and violence against women and his condemnation of sexual acts as ‘perversions’ are no different from the Islamic laws in Iran.

And even here, women’s rights, our rights, are culturally relative and never universal. Even here each and every one of us is forever the ‘Muslim minority’ who must have Sharia courts, faith schools, the ‘right’ to veil… Never ever citizens equal before and under the law, but fragmented minority communities deserving of the same rules and regulations that we resisted and fled in the first place.

Islam and political religion are constantly repackaged in a thousand ways to make this cultural relativism and appeasement more palatable for the western audience. There is now moderate Islam, Islamic reformism, Islamic human rights, Islamic feminism and Islamic democracy (oxymorons in my opinion).

A hundred years ago, the avant-garde humanity would have laughed at the proposition that human liberation could be achieved through priests, moderation of religion and the emergence of new interpretations from within the church. Today, sadly, 'professional scholars' and academics can prescribe that the Iranian woman can for now take secularism to mean the addition of a lighter shade of black to the officially approved colours for the veil”.*

Yesterday’s ridiculed notions are today replacing the human values fought for and taken for granted by modern society.

The rise of religion and the erosion of secularism and universal norms are part and parcel of the New World Order, which has transformed citizenship rights into fragmented communities identified by anything but our common humanity, and human and universal values with cultural, religious and backward ones.

The values of the 18th century enlightenment are slowly being replaced.

Even in France where the ban of conspicuous religious symbols in schools and government offices were important steps, Islamic schools - where child veiling, an abuse of children’s rights, continues unabated – were still deemed permissible.

The urgent question we must all ask ourselves is how can we defend secularism, universalism and values worthy of 21st century humanity? I believe it is only via another transformative enlightenment by this century’s avant-gardes. We must give no more concessions to religion, superstition and cultural relativism; we must no longer respect and tolerate inhuman ideals, values and practices.

An uncompromising and shamelessly aggressive demand for secularism is only a minimum, though, if we are to ensure that women’s rights are safeguarded and that the human being is put first and foremost.

Today, more than ever, we are in need of the de-religionisation of society.

Anyone can have any beliefs, express them, publicise them and organise around them. The question is what regulations society puts in place to protect itself. Today society tries to protect children from the tobacco industry's advertising. The religion industry's advertising could be treated in exactly the same way. Smokers have all their rights and can establish any association and institution to advertise the benefits of tobacco and unite all smokers, but this does not mean giving a green light to the tobacco industry. The machinery of Islam and the other main religions (Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, etc.) are not voluntary societies of believers of specific ideas; they are enormous political and financial institutions, which have never been properly scrutinised, have not been subject to secular laws in society and have never accepted responsibility for their conduct. No one took Mr. Khomeini to court for issuing a death fatwa against Salman Rushdie; notwithstanding that inciting to murder is a crime in all countries of the world. And this is only a small corner of a network of murder, mutilation, intimidation, abduction, torture, and child abuse. I think that the Medellin drug cartels (Escobars), the Chinese triads, and Italian (and American) mafia are nothing in comparison to organised religion. I am speaking of a legitimate and organised struggle by a free and open society against these enterprises and institutions. At the same time, I regard believing in anything, even the most backward and inhuman doctrines, as the undeniable right of any individual.*

This avant-garde battle has already begun in Iran where an unprecedented anti-Islamic backlash and the demand for secularism are being championed by society. We are witnessing the beginning of this era’s enlightenment in a place which has been ruled by a pillar of political Islam over the past two decades. In addition to recognising this reality and the historical juncture we are at, this Congress must pick up the challenge for uncompromising secularism and the call for the de-religionisation of society. This is the only way – today - to mark the centenary of the 1905 French law of separation of church and state.

* Mansoor Hekmat, The Rise and Fall of Political Islam

Thursday, August 04, 2005

Self-service Serial Spammers arise!

I got to watch The 7.30 Report tonight for the first time in ages. I mean watchit as opposed to having it on in the background while I wrestled a recalcitrant infant into bed. It was quite informative. I got to see Abu Bakir whine about how according to Islam, he shouldn't have to tolerate people of other religions, and he shouldn't have to follow the laws of his adopted country. Well, he's only been here 16 years, so maybe he doesn't know what this multiculture and tolerance stuff is.

And I also got to see David and Jeremy talking about their new GetUp.org serial spamming templates. After reading about these guys over at Tim Blair's blog, I just had to check it out for myself.

Yay, me! I've signed up and sent my first group spam to my state coalition senators. Of course, I doubt that my personal message is what D&J intended when they provided this service, but there's nothing wrong with a bit of balance in your life, is ther?

My contribution to the attack mailing is provided for your information. I hope you too are inspired to send messages of encouragement to your senators.


As a coalition voter, I would like to take the time out to let you know I think that the Liberal/National Coalition Government has so far been doing a fine job.

Please keep up the good work, and I hope you don't get too badly spammed by these form emails.

Not all of us out here are lefty moonbats; there are a (surprise!) majority of people out there who think that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

As for the video? I've not watched it - I saw the ads on tv, and I'm sure you have too. Feel free to disregard it at your leisure and save our bandwith.

Cheers and all the best,

deb

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Muslims looking for intelligence?

What's wrong with this picture? Why are local muslims so swamped that they cannot find the time to deal with suspect members of their congregations?

Basically, the above article from the HeraldSun is a lament by muslim leaders. They are too busy to find out if there are any extremists in their midst. How many years ago was 9/11 again? That's right, four. Count them. 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005.

Now, as a result of this obvious ineptitude - considering that the religious leaders are the ones with authority, the leaders, the policy makers, the arbiters in the muslim socety, they need to pump the infidels for intel. As a Mr Yasser Soliman says:

"The Government's got more awareness than many Muslims. We could be much more effective if we were included. It's not an effective partnership if we're not equal partners."


Since when do intelligence agencies share their information with a group who may or may not be harbouring people of ill intent? I don't recall the Catholic Church begging for a round table discussion of paedophilic preists. If there was such a request, it certainly didn't make it into the MSM from what I've seen.

Here is a quick newsflash for Mr Soliman. You are not equal partners. The government regulates our society with the approval of the people, and are to be considered somewhat removed from the people because of this.

Authorities should not be sharing the information with you unless it is a need to know basis. They may be investigating some members of the muslim sector of the population. They may also be looking into witches and cannibals.

As the recent investigations into child porn have shown, it's much more effective not to give the game away until after the fireworks.

And before the moonbats start screeching about my favourite piece of legislation, this is not vilification of muslims. I don't capitalise the word because I'm too lazy to use the shift key. This is purely my personal view, and as such should be acceptable. The most heinous terrorist acts in the past few years have had responsibility for them claimed by muslims. This would lead most reasonable people to expect that future terrorist acts will almost certainly be carried out by muslims.

It's not stereotyping, it's about precedent.

Different deaths.

This is not about terrorism or anything else, so there is not need to stress on that score.

This is more me thinking aloud about the changes we make in our lives at times. Being metaphorical, like.

I can't abide game-playing. If you want to fuck with my mind, okay, but don't expect it to go the way you want it to. Play straight with me, and I'm more than happy to accept everything at face value with any depth implied. If it comes to a place of unhappiness and pain, then it's time to move on. (Omigod! Sounds like a good name for a lefty website. Moonbat alert! Oops, I digress)

Over the past few months I've been doing about the only visualisation I'm capable of, and turning my internal life around like a rubik's cube. It's amazing how many different perspectives you can find within yourself. I've reached the position where it doesn't matter what direction I look from, the pathway is always the same. It's time to close some doors and open new ones.

It's been very difficult to examine my flaws and acknowledge my errors. It's never easy to admit that not only have you been wrong about a few things, you've actually been blind as a fucking bat and should have been sconed with a lump of fourby years ago.

I don't expect any (possible) readers to get anything about this post, but that's cool.

I've also been thinking about my mum alot. She died 4 years ago next week, and for the first time since I was pregnant I visited her tree. She was an atheist, she got cremated, and half her ashes were spread up in NSW in the cemetary her father is buried in. The other half were placed with a memorial tree across the road from her beloved golf course. She was also an internet geek like you wouldn't believe, which is pretty cool.

So I took the rugrat to the tree. It's a gum tree, with a little plaque at the base, in a row with plenty of other gum trees with plaques. But this one is different. It's tall, and straight, and so healthy. It is larger than nearly all the other trees, and that makes me glad. Mum once told me that we were like trees. When you get cut down, when you die, that's it. No more, no less. She was comfortable with that, although my faith is a big bit different.

There are so many goodbyes in our lives. Some are the harsh physical reality of death, some are not so obvious on a first glance. Those less obvious are the more difficult to deal with, I find. Moving on from friendships or relationships that weren't what you thought. Leaving behind immaturity and trying to grow up into who you are, rather than who you want to be.

I'm finding that self-discovery and adulthood are not easy. They are a lifelong journey, and I've only been at it for almost 40 years.

It's not really as depressing as it sounds - adding to your sense of self can be a lot of fun.

Sometimes you just need someone to kick you up the bum and tell you to get over yourself, I guess, and that's what Mum used to do to me.

A lot. :)

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

World War 2.0

I don't know who originated this gem, but when I find out, I'll be happy to let everyone know. In the meantime, it was posted by Ray


Author Comment
RayRay 121773

(7/27/05 9:57 pm)
World War 2.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Hitler[AoE] has joined the game.*
*Eisenhower has joined the game.*
*paTTon has joined the game.*
*Churchill has joined the game.*
*benny-tow has joined the game.*
*T0J0 has joined the game.*
*Roosevelt has joined the game.*
*Stalin has joined the game.*
*deGaulle has joined the game.*
Roosevelt: hey sup
T0J0: y0
Stalin: hi
Churchill: hi
Hitler[AoE]: cool, i start with panzer tanks!
paTTon: lol more like panzy tanks
T0JO: lol
Roosevelt: o this fockin sucks i got a depression!
benny-tow: haha america sux
Stalin: hey hitler you dont fight me i dont fight u, cool?
Hitler[AoE]; sure whatever
Stalin: cool
deGaulle: **** Hitler rushed some1 help
Hitler[AoE]: lol byebye frenchy
Roosevelt: i dont got **** to help, sry
Churchill: wtf the luftwaffle is attacking me
Roosevelt: get antiair guns
Churchill: i cant afford them
benny-tow: u n00bs know what team talk is?
paTTon: stfu
Roosevelt: o yah hit the navajo button guys
deGaulle: eisenhower ur worthless come help me quick
Eisenhower: i cant do **** til rosevelt gives me an army
paTTon: yah hurry the fock up
Churchill: d00d im gettin pounded
deGaulle: this is fockin weak u guys suck
*deGaulle has left the game.*
Roosevelt: im gonna attack the axis k?
benny-tow: with what? ur wheelchair?
benny-tow: lol did u mess up ur legs AND ur head?
Hitler[AoE]: ROFLMAO
T0J0: lol o no america im comin 4 u
Roosevelt: wtf! thats bullsh1t u fags im gunna kick ur asses
T0JO: not without ur harbors u wont! lol
Roosevelt: u little biotch ill get u
Hitler[AoE]: wtf
Hitler[AoE]: america hax, u had depression and now u got a huge fockin army
Hitler[AoE]: thats bullsh1t u hacker
Churchill: lol no more france for u hitler
Hitler[AoE]: tojo help me!
T0J0: wtf u want me to do, im on the other side of the world retard
Hitler[AoE]: fine ill clear you a path
Stalin: WTF u arsshoel! WE HAD A FoCKIN TRUCE
Hitler[AoE]: i changed my mind lol
benny-tow: haha
benny-tow: hey ur losing ur guys in africa im gonna need help in italy soon sum1
T0J0: o **** i cant help u i got my hands full
Hitler[AoE]: im 2 busy 2 help
Roosevelt: yah thats right ***** im comin for ya
Stalin: church help me
Churchill: like u helped me before? sure ill just sit here
Stalin: dont be an arss
Churchill: dont be a commie. oops too late
Eisenhower: LOL
benny-tow: hahahh oh sh1t help
Hitler: o man ur focked
paTTon: oh what now biotch
Roosevelt: whos the cripple now lol
*benny-tow has been eliminated.*
benny-tow: lame
Roosevelt: gj patton
paTTon: thnx
Hitler[AoE]: WTF eisenhower hax hes killing all my sh1t
Hitler[AoE]: quit u hacker so u dont ruin my record
Eisenhower: Nuts!
benny~tow: wtf that mean?
Eisenhower: meant to say nutsack lol finger slipped
paTTon: coming to get u hitler u paper hanging hun *****ocker
Stalin: rofl
T0J0: HAHAHHAA
Hitler[AoE]: u guys are fockin gay
Hitler[AoE]: ur never getting in my city
*Hitler[AoE] has been eliminated.*
benny~tow: OMG u noob you killed yourself
Eisenhower: ROFLOLOLOL
Stalin: OMG LMAO!
Hitler[AoE]: WTF i didnt click there omg this game blows
*Hitler[AoE] has left the game*
paTTon: hahahhah
T0J0: WTF my teammates are n00bs
benny~tow: shut up noob
Roosevelt: haha wut a moron
paTTon: wtf am i gunna do now?
Eisenhower: yah me too
T0J0: why dont u attack me o thats right u dont got no ships lololol
Eisenhower: fock u
paTTon: lemme go thru ur base commie
Stalin: go to hell lol
paTTon: fock this sh1t im goin afk
Eisenhower: yah this is gay
*Roosevelt has left the game.*
Hitler[AoE]: wtf?
Eisenhower: sh1t now we need some1 to join
*tru_m4n has joined the game.*
tru_m4n: hi all
T0J0: hey
Stalin: sup
Churchill: hi
tru_m4n: OMG OMG OMG i got all his stuff!
tru_m4n: NUKES! HOLY **** I GOT NUKES
Stalin: d00d gimmie some plz
tru_m4n: no way i only got like a couple
Stalin: omg dont be gay gimmie nuculer secrets
T0J0: wtf is nukes?
T0J0: holy ****holy****hoyl****!
*T0J0 has been eliminated.*
*The Allied team has won the game!*
Eisenhower: awesome!
Churchill: gg noobs no re
T0J0: thats bull**** u fockin suck
*T0J0 has left the game.*
*Eisenhower has left the game.*
Stalin: next game im not going to be on ur team, u guys didnt help me for ****
Churchill: wutever, we didnt need ur help neway dumbarss
tru_m4n: l8r all
benny~tow: bye
Churchill: l8r
Stalin: fock u all
tru_m4n: shut up commie lol
*tru_m4n has left the game.*
benny~tow: lololol u commie
Churchill: ROFL
Churchill: bye commie
*Churchill has left the game.*
*benny~tow has left the game.*
Stalin: i hate u all fags
*Stalin has left the game.*
paTTon: lol no1 is left
paTTon: weeeee i got a jeep
*paTTon has been eliminated.*
paTTon: o sh1t!
*paTTon has left the game.*

Just what the proctologist ordered.

I've just discovered Tony the Teacher at the AfterGrogBlog and the thread linked to above had me in stitches. If you need a real belly laugh, check it out.

Enjoy!

The TMI Files. Oh, poo.

Let's jump right in here.

Toilet training. A dirty, trying, time for anyone associating with young children in the western world. There are plenty of cultures out there who think you are a complete nufnuf if you can't get your kid trained by 6 months, but here in oz, it doesn't quite work like that. We tend to take a bit longer.

After much despair on my part and blissful ignorance on the part of Miss Magilla, we've got it all pretty much under control. Nappies for nighttime and that's it. The rest of the time, it's the potty or the loo.

The real fun is starting now with concepts such as "privacy", "modesty" and I won't bother with humility, since I'm not well known for an overabundance of that quality myself.

When the little one is in the loo, I have to depart the scene. I get a lecture on leaving her alone to do her business and coming back to see the final result. The kicker for me is that it doesn't go both ways.

I'm all for a scatological sense of humour, but Magilla discovered last weekend that I'm not just ticklish.

I'm very ticklish.

It was bad enough when she would join me in the small room and try to clamber up on my back. That was distraction enough.

When she finds out that poking me just there reduces me to an hysterical pile of giggles, then I'm doomed. Nothing gets accomplished. Nothing.

Well, we did provide amusement for everyone else at the party, so that was something.

The TMI Files. Introduction.

This will be a sort of occasional series. As the brief bio on the side says, I am a Single Mother. gasp! Therefore, there will be postings referring to this and also to the hilarity that often ensues with child-rearing.

If you have children yourself, you'll no doubt relate to this. If you haven't, consider this blog a bit of an object lesson.

Raising children is hard work. It doesn't matter whether you are singe, a couple or a whole bloody city, the responsibility for what this young animal will develop into is something that is never far from your mind. I've been asked if I miss having a partner. Wouldn't know. Parenthood was something I didn't see in my life. I didn't rule it out, as such. Just didn't rule it in, either.


For myself, I consider privacy an illusion that I like to preserve. Some of the readers here know me personally, some don't. For this reason, names and some other stuff will be changed to protect the innocent (and provide a false sense of security for those who should know better!).

My rugrat is now 3. This is a highly interactive age, with toilet training, talking and learning about the impact she has on her world. Namely me. Let's call her Magilla. When she hits about 15 and realises exactly what I've been doing on the blogs all this time, if she's lost her sense of humour, I will be moving to the States.

Monday, August 01, 2005

Decisions, decisions.

Looks like VCAT have got something right for once. The ongoing waste of taxpayer funds that is Fletcher Vs the Salvos and others looks to be finished.

Basically, Robin Fletcher is in jail at the moment, and has been participating in a christian religious program run by the Salvation Army. So far, so good.

BUT...... Mr Fletcher classifies himself as a witch and a wiccan, and apparently a part of the Alpha course run by the Salvos is not very complimentary towards witches. Well, I didn't see that one coming, did you?

Mr Fletcher promptly complained to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal under our infamous Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001 and was taken seriously.

Thankfully, there was an uncommon outbreak of sense, and this complaint was dismissed.

What I really like are the comments by Justice Stuart Morris.

9 Even if the conduct of a person is prima facie in breach section 8 of the Act, any one of the exceptions in section 11 or 12 may apply to the conduct in question. For example, section 11 provides that a person does not contravene section 8 if the person establishes that the person’s conduct was engaged in reasonably and in good faith in the course of any statement or publication made for any genuine religious purpose or for any purpose that is in the public interest. It will not be easy to define what is meant by “a religious purpose” or to recognise a “genuine” religious purpose. As Sir John Latham famously observed in 1943 in the context of section 116 of the Commonwealth Constitution,

It would be difficult, if not impossible, to devise a definition of religion which would satisfy the adherents of all the many and various religions which exist, or have existed, in the world. There are those who regard religion as consisting principally in a system of beliefs or statement of doctrine. So viewed religion may be either true or false. Others are more inclined to regard religion as prescribing a code of conduct. So viewed a religion may be good or bad. There are others who pay greater attention to religion as involving some prescribed form of ritual or religious observance. Many religious conflicts have been concerned with matters of ritual and observance. Section 116 must be regarded as operating in relation to all these aspects of religion, irrespective of varying opinions in the community as to the truth of particular religious doctrines, as to the goodness of conduct prescribed by a particular religion, or as to the propriety of any particular religious observance. What is religion to one is superstition to another. Some religions are regarded as morally evil by adherents of other creeds. At all times there are many who agree with the reflective comment of the Roman poet - "Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum."18
Hence, in my opinion, a genuine religious purpose may include the purpose of asserting that a particular religion (or, indeed, no religion) is the true way; and that any way, but the true way, is false.


Please note that the bold emphasis is mine.

While on the whole this is a good decision, I'd prefer the abomination that is the Racial and Religious (In)Tolerance Act repealed.


Maybe I should go into politics. As they said in the advertising for the Alien movies, be afraid......

(it's a joke Joyce)