Rudd does a "me too, me too, me too" song and dance

And I must say I am really disappointed that he has decided to tow this certain bigoted party line:

Cheney ups rhetoric on nuclear Iran

Opposition leader Kevin Rudd says he would still love his three children if they were homosexual, but as prime minister he would not change the law to allow gays to marry.

Speaking on the Austereo network, Mr Rudd remained committed to his party line that marriage is between a man and woman, but admitted it was not a popular view in some circles.

*snip*

Asked if he would change his mind if one of his three children were gay and wanted to marry, Mr Rudd said, "I would love them equally and that's not the issue here, it's just not.

Link: The Age: Gay kids wouldn't worry me, Rudd says

I am sorry, but if you won't at least try to change a law which currently forbids one of your children enjoying the same rights the other children have, then you really don't love your children equally. I don't care who you are.

And that is why come election day, I will be holding my nose as I place my vote now. Kevin Rudd just managed to lose me. I will still vote for him, because I want a change in government, but all I will be doing is voting for the lesser of two evils.

Who is a Threat to Peace in the Middle East?

I must say, I had to laugh at this when I read it this morning:

Cheney ups rhetoric on nuclear Iran

US VICE-PRESIDENT Dick Cheney has issued his strongest warning yet to Iran over its nuclear program, branding the country a threat to peace in the Middle East and warning that the international community was prepared to impose "serious consequences" if it continued to pursue its nuclear ambitions.

In a speech to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy on Sunday, Mr Cheney stoked up the rhetoric just days after President George Bush warned that a nuclear-armed Iran could lead to "World War Three".

"Our country and the entire international community cannot stand by as a terror-supporting state fulfils its most aggressive ambitions," Mr Cheney said.

Link: The Age: Cheney ups rhetoric on nuclear Iran

Now, exactly who has been a threat to peace in the Middle East? I certainly wouldn't say Iran has been. After all, it wasn't Iran that invaded a sovereign nation on lies now was it?

It is just amazing to me how right wingers simple won't take any blame for things they do themselves.

So now the Liberal Party believes it has a right to censor what Australian's think!

The live worm feed from last nights debate was cut at the request of the Liberal Party, and channel nine, and Ray Martin (the host of last nights broadcast) are not happy about it. From The Age this morning:

Libs cut worm: Nine

The Nine Network has accused the Liberal Party of cutting its broadcast of the leaders' debate last night.

Nine used the controversial worm to track the reaction of 90 swinging voters in its Sydney studios to the comments of both Prime Minister John Howard and Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd.

*snip*

The Nine Network managed to secure a feed of the debate from co-broadcaster Sky News.

*snip*

"The deal was that we would take the coverage and we would have the worm, we didn't say when we'd run the worm," Martin told ABC Radio.

*snip*

The ABC technicians had bowed to pressure from the press club who had already bowed to pressure from the Liberal Party, he said.

Prime Minister John Howard said before the debate he did not want the worm, which charts reactions from 90 swinging voters in Nine's studio audience, while Mr Rudd was in favour of it.

*snip*

"Pulling feeds and threatening all sorts of dire consequences if we didn't do what the Liberal Party required, this is an outrageous act, the most outrageous act of censorship I've seen in some time,'' he said.

Link: The Age: Libs cut worm: Nine

And I have to agree with the last paragraph quoted above; it is censorship, and it is outrages that the Liberal Party thinks it has the power and authority to censor what people of Australia think.

Just like the last three years of their government have been, this is a blatant misuse of power, and the Australian people should not tolerate a government doing things like this.

As yet, I haven't read anything about what Kevin Rudd has said about this election controversy but when I do find it, I will blog about it.

The Great Australian Debate!

So last night proved to be a win for Rudd when John Howard and Kevin Rudd faced off in this year federal election debate. And what a debate it was.

I will be blogging about the debate more, later today, but figured I would share with my readers what I consider to be the highs and lows of the great Aussie debate.

Who Won: Without a shadow of doubt, Kevin Rudd. I must have stayed mesmerized to the debate worm the entire time. And for Rudd, through out the debate the worm stayed well above the central line.

Funniest Moment: When Kevin Rudd made a memorable faux pas by calling Howard "Mr Coward" in the opening moments of the debate.

Mr Rudd's Highest Moment: Talking about his Taxation Plan. Whilst most of it might be similar to the one the Howard government is offering, Rudd's has one very big difference, and that is with the high income earner. It is something every battling Aussie has wanted to hear since Australia first became, that the rich simply wouldn't be getting any richer this time around.

Mr Howard's Highest Moment: In all honesty, for me, he never had one. He failed to impress me with anything he spoke about. Simply because he tried to sell the exact same thing he has tried in every election. It has become old news because he has had 11 years to implement every one of them, and the only things he gave us have been a pack of lies, an immoral war, legislation sending gay people to the status of second class citizen (i.e: marriage legislation which didn't include our right to marry), and work choice legislation.

Mr Rudd's Lowest Moment: Getting all screwed up when trying to answer the question regarding climate change. Whilst he has a plan which I feel is a beginning for an Australian stance on climate change, he failed to get the message across properly.

Mr Howard's Lowest Moment: At one point, I thought he was seriously going to collapse on stage. I had noticed he was slurring his words a bit, and then all of a sudden he started blinking his eyes a lot, and looked to me like he went white as a ghost.

Over all: It was a good debate. The questions were spot on from the five journalists taking part. Mr Howard as usual skirted over questions regarding his past history with broken promises etc.

If Mr Howard wants to win this year, then he truly needs to begin listening to the average Australian, and stop trying to tell us his work choices plan is what is right for Australia. It isn't him who is affected by work choices, it is us.

Mr Rudd, while a great public speaker, doesn't do enough to sell his ideas to the people. He needs to really begin pushing them so the people can see that he has good plans for the country we all love.

I found this article...

...this morning on my usual hunt for news, and admit, I had a slight chuckle about this, and thought I would share it with my readers. :)

Military inadvertently recruits gays

The Army, Navy and Air Force unwittingly advertised for recruits on a website for gays, who are barred from military service if they are open about their sexual orientation.
When informed Tuesday by USA TODAY that they were advertising on GLEE.com, a networking website for gay professionals, recruiters expressed surprise and said they would remove the job listings.

"This is the first I've heard about it," said Maj. Michael Baptista, advertising branch chief for the Army National Guard, which will spend $6.5 million on Internet recruiting this year. "We didn't knowingly advertise on that particular website," which he said does not "meet the moral standards" of the military.

Link: USA Today: Military inadvertently recruits gays

Now, the story in itself is quite amusing if you think about it. Seriously, the U.S. military has been so serious about not having queers amongst their ranks (even though the U.S. military is full of queers)even going as far as to fire much needed interpreters in recent years. SO for them to advertise on gay Web sites is indeed hilarious. But not what got me to laugh out loud this morning.

What made me laugh so hard was the five little words I have highlighted for you above. So the military claims to have moral standards huh? Can someone please explain to me how any killing machine can seriously claim to have moral standards because I really don't get it.

You go out and kill people for a living, and consider that to be moral standards? Guys, help me understand this.

What a bloody week I have had!

And to think today is Friday, and the week still isn't quite over yet.

It has just been a shit of a week, from dealing with the family crisis, to dealing with some other stuff, as well as my job, and I admit, I will be happy when this week is over and done with

This morning, I woke to find out that one of my favorite all time actresses Deborah Kerr has passed away, and I found myself thinking, how much worse will this week be?

Anyway, I am sorry I haven't been posting much this week. All I can say is hopefully things will settle down enough so that next week I can get back to my usual daily posting.

Regardless though, I have been working on an article about The Exclusive Brethren, I intend to finish and post next week, and I do have an article I am going to be posting after this. So just bare with me, while I finish sorting things out, and get some sort of normalcy back into my life.

FC

A different perspective on the Death Penalty!

I found this while reading The Age and thought I would post it here. All I ask is that you read the article in full.

Listen to the executioners before you opt for executions

A FEW weeks ago, I talked to a man called Ron McAndrew. He spoke about the death penalty, but from quite a different perspective than either Kevin Rudd or John Howard.

You see, McAndrew had served as the warden of Florida State Prison. He'd actually executed people - and it had changed his life forever.

*snip*

"When we turned on the electricity to kill this guy," he said, "flames shot out from under the helmet. We burned his head - badly. There was steam going down the side of his face, coming out of his eyes and his nose burned as well. It was horrifying. The chamber filled up with smoke. We could hardly see each other . . . but you could still smell the burning flesh."

*snip*

Let's put it like this: if the execution of even the wickedest man still traumatises the people who carry it out, what about the society that condones it?

Link: The Age: Listen to the executioners before you opt for executions

Now as you all know I am against the death penalty in any form. There won't be any changing that for me. As you also know it took a lot of work from someone once close to me to make me see the light. But what you don't know is, I have heard many times the horror stories from with in the execution chamber, and out of everything told to me, it was those horror stories I had read on the Internet and elsewhere that truly persuaded me to change my opinion.

And like the Author of this Op Ed says, before you opt for the DP perhaps you too should talk to those who will be carrying out the states orders.

I reckon it would be worse, with a PM who doesn't know the current interest rate for Australia!

Now the PM flunks the numbers test — on rates

A DAY after the Coalition launched television ads warning that Labor "on L-plates" could not be trusted to run the economy, Prime Minister John Howard has failed a basic test on his knowledge of interest rates.

During an interview on Channel Nine last night, Mr Howard was asked what the official Reserve Bank interest rate was. "Well, it's 6.25 (per cent)," Mr Howard said. The actual rate is 6.5 per cent.

The blunder is particularly embarrassing for Mr Howard because the Coalition is campaigning hard on its economic credentials compared to what it says is Labor's lack of economic credibility.

Link: The Age: Now the PM flunks the numbers test — on rates

I think this is a riot. The Coalition is attacking Labor on the economy, and the bloody PM cannot even get the current interest rates right. Why do you think that is? Could it be because he lied during his last campaign about interest rates, and knows he won only by the fact he managed to scare the Australian populace into believing under Labor their would be higher interest rates. Even though he knew there had to be a rise soon after the election anyway?

Regardless though, this just shows how out of touch with reality the current PM actually is.

Back, but for how long, who knows?

I thought I would post a bit today. I don't know if I will be able to continue posting this week, because the crisis in my family is set to get worse in the coming days with things we have to attend and stuff. But right now, I am here and I will be posting some rather interesting things I have found today.

FC

I won't be blogging for a day or two!

There has been a personal family crisis in my family this past weekend. Something which will force me to leave the computer and rally around my entire family. So needless to say, I won't be blogging for a day or two, maybe longer if needed.

I don't wish to talk about what has happened. Maybe I will at a later date, but right now, I need my family and they need me.

FC

Australian Election 2007

John Howard called the election in Australia for the 24th of November.

PM names poll date

Prime Minister John Howard has announced the election will be fought on the economy and his experience as leader as he prepares Australians for polling day on November 24.

The six-week campaign will be used by the Coalition to exploit its experience over the Labor Party.

*snip*

"It does not need new leadership. It does not need old leadership. It needs the right leaderhsip."

*snip*

"Love me or loathe me the Australian people know where I stand on all the major issues of importance," Mr Howard said, urging voters to look to his eleven years in the top job as they considered him for another term.

Link: The Age: PM names poll date

So now the official battle is on to see what direction Australia should go in. Should we continue to go down the same tired old road of being a sock puppet for the Bush* administration? Or should we go down a road where Australia's respect is returned?

John Howard has said the Australian people know where he stands on all the major issues, so for those who aren't quite sure, I shall give you a list to help you along, right here:

Taxation: Basically the rich get off easy, while the not as wealthy pay the highest.

Gay Rights: He hasn't done anything positive for us in the years he has lead, so don't think he would do anything positive for us if he were to win this one.

Aboriginal Rights: He has done absolutely nothing to help the Australian Natives in his years as PM. He has been too weak to actually apologize for the atrocities white Australia have done against these people, so do not think he really intends to do anything if he wins. It is just a ploy to win votes.

Industrial Relations: Do I really need to spell this out? Company owners get richer, while us mere workers continue to be slaves, losing more money in our pay packets, and holidays to boot.

Lower Income Earners: Do you feel any richer than you were when he first took power? I know I don't. In fact I feel worse off. Money doesn't last near as long as it used to. We are paying a lot higher for food, petrol, health care, dental care, household bills, mortgages, and the list could go on. He is no friend of the actual Aussie battlers.

War: Under Howard we will continue to follow the U.S. into any ridiculous wars they create.

Australian Image: Let's see, do you like being considered a war monger, racist, xenophobic, homophobic, none welcoming drop kick to others around the world? I know I don't. But under Howard, this is the image we are receiving.

And I know there is a lot more I should address right now, but today I don't have the time. I do promise though I will be addressing all the important issues right up until the 24th of November.

Quite frankly, I am tired of living in the 1950's when it is 2007. I think it is high time Australia caught up to the present, rather than the past.

John Howard thinks he speaks for me, huh?

Australians expect executions, says PM

AUSTRALIANS would feel "let down" if the Bali bombers on death row were not executed, Prime Minister John Howard said yesterday.

He said a shift from capital punishment had "been festering" for some time in Indonesia, where a legal challenge to the death penalty was under way. "I think there would be a sense of letdown if that was the sentence delivered, but not carried out," Mr Howard said on the anniversary of the 2002 bombings, in which 88 Australians were killed.

He expressed "outrage" that two of the Bali bombers were allowed out of jail to attend a function for rehabilitated radicals hosted by Indonesia's anti-terrorism chief last month.

Link: The Age: Australians expect executions, says PM

Well I have a few words for the man who hasn't represented this Aussie since he first took office... He doesn't represent me at all. He doesn't speak for me. And I sure there will be others who will agree with me.

I don't expect there to be any executions at all. Australia is an execution free country, so why would I expect it?

I was always torn between the death penalty until a few years ago. Someone very dear to me worked very closely and patiently with me in order to bring me to the right way of thinking regarding the death penalty.

I felt like the DP should not stand. Especially after knowing that innocent people have been killed at the hand of the government. But I also always felt that if anyone dare kill any loved one of mine, I would want to see that person pay the ultimate price for what they had robbed me of.

But then I realized (after working with this very dear person), they wouldn't be paying the ultimate price now would they? They are dead, and what sort of punishment is that? They aren't paying for any crimes they had committed, because they are dead. Their death isn't bringing back the person/people they killed is it? But perhaps the biggest reason for my shift in beliefs of the DP is simple; I am not a Bible believer, and knowing that, how can I follow the eye for an eye crap?

What I want of the Bali Bombers is simple; I want them to serve a proper punishment for their crimes. If that means life in jail then so be it, give them life in jail. Rob them of their life that way, like they have robbed the people they blew up of their lives, because killing them, isn't punishment at all. Punishment is a life spent in jail doing hard labor, it isn't being placed in a coffin and thrown in a hole and buried.

So Mr Howard, do not plural that when you say Australians because you would be lying (nothing new there I guess.) Because you do not speak for me. Come sit at my table and ask me before you include me in anything that comes out of your mouth again.

There are no words for this!

US air raid kills scores of Iraqis

A US air strike in Iraq that killed 15 women and children represents one of the largest losses of civilian life in a single military raid and a bloody start to the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr.

"Nineteen suspected insurgents and 15 women and children were killed in an operation Thursday in the Lake Tharthar region," a US military spokesman said.

Intelligence reports had indicated members of al-Qaeda were meeting near the lake, a large body of water about 100 kilometres north-west of Baghdad and a redoubt of the insurgency.

Link: The Age: US air raid kills scores of Iraqis

Congratulations to Al Gore on his 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Win

Gore shares Nobel Peace Prize with climate champion

THE Nobel Peace Prize committee last night turned its sights to the battle against climate change by giving the 2007 award to former US vice-president Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Mr Gore has reinvented himself as a climate warrior since failing in his bid to become US president in 2000.

The IPCC is a UN body of about 3000 experts which has cautiously stepped up pressure on governments by pointing to the human role in steadily mounting global temperatures.

Link: The Age: Gore shares Nobel Peace Prize with climate champion

Al really deserved this prize for the work he has put into saving the planet.

I hope it is true!!!

Just home from work, and gonna post a few quick ones before I head up to bed.

PM expected to call election tomorrow

Prime Minister John Howard is expected to call a November 24 election tomorrow, ending the phoney election campaign today with a 33-page manifesto on his vision for the future.

The government spent today clearing the decks for an election, appointing public servants, ambassadors and expert panels, plus announcing a long-awaited review of awards for soldiers involved in the Vietnam War's Battle of Long Tan more than 40 years ago.

Mr Howard held a short press conference in Sydney at lunchtime to launch "Australia - strong, prosperous and secure" - a wrap-up of the coalition's policies and its five-point plan for the future.

Labor immediately accused Mr Howard of plagiarism, circulating examples of similarities between his document and those of Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and even Mark Latham, Mr Howard's opponent at the last election.

Link: The Age: PM expected to call election tomorrow

We can only hope this is true.

I am praying that tomorrow, when I sit down at the computer with my morning cuppa, I will find the election has finally been called.

Enough with the emails already!

Ok I feel it time I say what I am about to say, for the sake of my own sanity. Quit sending me the emails.

I appreciate emails from people who are genuine with me, and just wanting to make sure I am doing ok, but I am getting fed up with receiving emails from people just wanting to shit stir. It is childish, and nothing more than the old school yard games, so grow the fuck up people.

Have some respect for me. I am still grieving the loss of my relationship. Some of us take a hell of a lot longer to heal than others, so I will likely be grieving for some time to come.

I do not want to know about what is happening with my ex and her new partner. I do not want to hear your speculation as to what happened. I do not want to hear the rumors. I just want to try and move on with my life as best I can. And while you people continue to harrass me as you have been, I can't, because I am forced to face this every single day.

If I receive anymore harrassing emails then I will be forced to change my email address, and I won't be giving it out to anyone, other than my family and very close friends.

FC

A must read

I simply cannot say it near as good as what J. Olaf Kleist has, so I will simply tell you to click the link and read the entire article yourself:

Demonising the weakest

To win power, the Liberal Party may again be willing to attack a group of refugees, writes J. Olaf Kleist.

KEVIN Andrews' discrimination against African refugees for apparently not integrating into Australian society is reminiscent of the rhetoric and actions against boat people during the 2001 election campaign. Yet, it seems only few remember the sad consequences of such opportunistic slander against the weakest.

Largely forgotten by many Australians, the greatest maritime catastrophe off Australian shores since World War II occurred six years ago, leaving 353 people dead on their way to Australia.

Link: The Age: Demonising the weakest

Here he goes, making all the promises he doesn't intend to keep

I knew it was coming. I knew he would try something in order to win the election. And after he "wins" these promises he is making now, won't be kept, just like the GST election promise, and all the rest of the ones he never kept. I just hope this time, the gay community and the aboriginal community don't fall for either of these:

Coalition set to move on gay rights — but not marriage

PRIME Minister John Howard could announce within days a new policy to eliminate discrimination against same-sex couples in legislation.

Speculation is mounting that Mr Howard is set to announce changes to give same-sex couples the same rights of access to a partner's superannuation as are enjoyed by married and de facto couples.

A broader policy would also include equal rights to pensions, tax and other benefits such as Medicare safety net thresholds.

Link: The Age: Coalition set to move on gay rights — but not marriage

Howard's 11th-hour rethink on reconciliation

A HISTORIC referendum to recognise indigenous Australians in the constitution will be put within 18 months if the Coalition is re-elected, Prime Minister John Howard pledged last night.

In a dramatic gesture to indigenous Australia before the federal election, Mr Howard did a partial mea culpa, admitting he had failed to deliver his undertaking for reconciliation and promising a fresh start.

Speaking last night to the Sydney Institute, he indicated he now accepted that the symbolic side of reconciliation — which he previously rejected — was important, along with the practical side of reconciliation.

Link: The Age: Howard's 11th-hour rethink on reconciliation

John Howard hasn't done anything for either community that has been positive in the years he has held Australia's top job. If you think he has had a change of heart, then seriously, think again. For John Howard, all he is doing right now is trying to win votes. Trying to turn the fact that the Coalition is set to lose this years election, around. But it really is too little, too late.

If John Howard was serious about making either community, equal in the eyes of the country and the law, then he would have done it years ago. Not now, when he knows his government, and his political party are in serious trouble.

People, do NOT fall for this and begin thinking he is a friend to you, because this man, doesn't know what the word friend really means.

What utter bullshit!

Found this this morning:

Church leaders give Abbott moral lessons

TONY Abbott, Australia's most prominent Catholic politician, is at war with the churches over their criticisms of the Coalition's industrial relations policy.

Church leaders have hit out at the Health Minister after he essentially told them to butt out of politics and stick to encouraging morality among their flocks.

Catholic social justice groups have expressed fears that the Government's WorkChoices legislation unfairly affects the vulnerable and cuts the time families can spend together.

The Age: Church leaders give Abbott moral lessons

Now I hear you asking yourself, why would this worry me? Well really it didn't, and I wasn't going to blog about it until I read the following from the same article:

But Mr Abbott this week denied there were moral problems with the IR laws saying, "a political argument is not transformed into a moral argument simply because it's delivered with an enormous dollop of sanctimony".

And you guessed it, I saw red, when I read that.

All this from the man who uses his "church going morality" to deny rights to gay citizens of this country. After all, isn't Tony Abbott the man who got on his sanctimonious, moral, high horse, and cried foul when the ACT managed to pass their civil union laws? Has Abbott not used his own version of morality to turn the political argument of female abortion rights into a moral one?

Bring on the bloody election, I so want to see the backs of these "moral" idiots.

More on Liep Gony (Sudanese man fatally bashed)

As usual after dinner I will check the paper to see what has happened during the afternoon, and I stumbled across this article:

Murder 'shame on entire community'

The mother of murdered teenager Liep Gony told hundreds of mourners at his funeral today she was upset her son had been labelled a refugee.

In a moving eulogy, Martha Ojulo told the packed church in Dandenong, in Melbourne's outer south-east, media coverage of Liep's murder had disturbed her.

"I was disturbed by the television because I was not happy for the media to call Liep a refugee or Sudanese, because Liep is an Australian.

*snip*

Before the service, Mr Kuot and other Sudanese community leaders called on Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews to apologise for comments he made last week about African refugees.

When Mr Andrews was questioned last week about the fatal bashing and whether better settlement services were needed, he said African refugees were having trouble integrating, which he said had contributed to his decision to halve Australia's refugee intake from Africa.

Link: The Age: Murder 'shame on entire community'

After reading that and realizing I actually knew Liep and I am at a total loss for words. Perhaps the best thing I can do is apologize to his family, friends and the entire Sudanese community. This is a tragic loss, and mark my words I will continue reporting in my blog the xenophobic attitudes of the Australian government.

As I mentioned I realized I actually knew Liep during the second security job I ever had. I was working at a shopping centre (Mall) very close to where Liep lived with his family. I remember him as a sweet teenager who was full of respect for the people of authority around the shopping centre.

He never caused us any trouble. We did have trouble from others (mostly white and Asian boys) but never from Liep and his friends.

I agree with the cries from the Sundanese community right around Australia that Kevin Andrews should apologize. If he isn't man enough to eat his words, then he needs to step down immediately. And if he is too self centred to step down, then John Howard should act like a fucking leader for once and fire his ass on the spot for discrimination against a minority group.

Let's talk about Angelina Jolie. Yep! It's rant time.

So my mum and my sister are women's magazine fanatics. Usually I pay no attention to these mags until Ange is on the cover. Let's face it, she is one hot woman, and has left this lesbian swooning. But really, can you blame me? Just look at her.

Anyway, enough of my ogling this gorgeous woman for a moment and let's talk technical.

I have been a fan of hers for a number of years now. I never paid much attention to her up until I saw her in the move The Bone Collector. The moment when she stands in front of the train won me. So much so, I have now begun an Ange collection which includes two autographed pictures.

So as I mentioned above, I will read these mags when Ange is on the front cover. I don't think I read them for the gossip bullshit that will appear, but more for the pictures. I sit and just study those pictures for a while.

Anyway in recent months I have seen reports that Ange and Brad's relationship is in trouble, only to pick up the next one to read their relationship is going very strong. What bullshit is that?

They might be in the public eye, but to spread crap like that just to make a quick buck from the sale of a magazine is simply ridiculous. Hence why I don't much attention to them.

Today however is a different story. I read in one of these magazines that Ange is writing her autobiography. This prompted me to read the entire article, and all I can say is I hope it is bloody well true. If it is, I will be in line the first day of release here in Australia to grab a copy. And why not read words from the woman herself? We read enough from others and have to read between the lines to try and get some sort of idea of what is happening.

This woman, who is sadly misunderstood by a lot of people out there, should really be an inspiration to us all. She is what I would call a true progressive.

Seriously, just take a look at this woman's humanitarian side to understand what I mean by my above mentioned statement. But yet, the public wish to chastise this woman for falling in love with a bloke, or sleeping with women, or drug use, without ever taking into consideration the work this woman does for the greater good. And that simply annoys the crap out of me.

Angelina reminds me a lot of the only other movie star I have ever felt so strongly for and that is Judy Garland. All Judy ever wanted in life was to be genuinely loved, and to me, that is exactly what Ange wants in life too.

These people who write such ridiculous diatribe about her, need to take a walk in her shoes to see exactly what it is like being Angelina Jolie in today's climate. I am sure if Ange was writing a blog or had an official Website we would soon learn just how hurt she is by how the media portrays her.

Anyone who would go out and adopt children who otherwise would be forced to face their formative years in an orphanage should be treated with a lot more respect than what Ange has received over the years.

Ange is a genuine woman, with a genuine heart, and the sooner people begin to realize that, the better off this world would be. We all have a skeleton in our closet, and should be looking in the mirror before judging anyone else.

Hmmm! What's going on here?

There are two lines I wish to pursue with this post, so read on...

ALP in 'me-too' policy mess over death penalty

FEDERAL Labor is in disarray over its opposition to the death penalty for terrorists, with Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd publicly humiliating his foreign affairs spokesman, Robert McClelland, for stating the party's official policy.

A day after Mr McClelland declared that a Labor government would campaign internationally to stop executions — even in extreme cases like the Bali bombers — a furious Mr Rudd described the comments as "insensitive in the extreme".

And after declaring he had "counselled" his frontbencher, Mr Rudd last night refused to guarantee that Mr McClelland would serve as foreign minister in a Labor government.

Mr Rudd said his attitude to terrorism had always been hardline and that he would never use diplomacy to try to persuade a foreign government to spare a terrorist's life.

Link: The Age: ALP in 'me-too' policy mess over death penalty

Which leads me to this:

Downer backs Labor's McClelland

Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd's treatment of his foreign affairs spokesman Robert McClelland over a speech on capital punishment has been "disgraceful", Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer says.

Mr Rudd chastised Mr McClelland for delivering a speech this week in which he attacked the coalition for opposing the death penalty for Australians but failing to speak out about it in other countries.

Link: The Age: Downer backs Labor's McClelland

My first thought was, now why would a right winger be backing a left winger at all? And the only answer I could find is, that either McClelland is on the right wing payroll or Downer actually has a heart. The latter I find impossible.

My theory is, that just maybe the right wing is so shit scared of losing this years election that they are willing to go to any lengths to secure it. And what better way to try to secure it, than to make the opposition look like total idiots. And with John Howard and his bunch of cronies, I wouldn't put anything past them.

But I also have a bone to pick with Howard, because I can see the size of the tent in his pants over this regardless. And can see this wanker is going to use this as a political tool. What makes me say that? Simple, this:

Prime Minister John Howard and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Mr McClelland was simply articulating Labor policy and Mr Rudd was now backing away from it in the face of a hostile public reaction.

Mr Howard condemned as "extraordinary" Labor's view that the Bali bombers' lives should be spared. "The idea that we would plead for the deferral of executions of people who murdered 88 Australians is distasteful to the entire community," Mr Howard said.

"I find it impossible myself, as an Australian, as Prime Minister, as an individual, to argue that those executions should not take place when they have murdered my fellow countrymen and women," he said.

Link already given above.

Now the PM should talk shouldn't he? After all the bombings did take place on his watch. But also the following has taken place on his watch:

Australians left grieving after the 2002 Bali bombings have reacted with anger to the freeing of an Islamic militant convicted over the attacks, and reduced sentences for 11 more accomplices.

"I want people to know that this is ridiculous, these short sentences," said a "sickened" David Stewart, whose son Anthony was one of 88 Australians killed in the bombings that claimed 202 lives.

Freed from a jail in East Kalimantan's capital Balikpapan was Puryanto, a militant jailed for five years for helping shelter one of the key players in the attacks. He walked free after his sentence was cut by three months.

Two other militants in Balikpapan, and nine more in Bali's Kerobokan jail, each had their sentences cut by four months, officials said.

A total of 33 people were jailed for the 2002 Bali blasts and those receiving remissions played relatively minor roles in the suicide bombings - from carrying out robberies to finance the attacks to helping shelter the main suspects.

Link: The Age: Anger over Bali bombers' sentence cuts

AND THIS:

(AP) Militant cleric Abu Bakar Bashir accused the United States of terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan on Wednesday, hours after being released from prison to cheers of "God is great!" One of his first stops was an Islamic school notorious for producing some of Indonesia's deadliest militants.

Bashir, 68, walked out of Jakarta's Cipinang prison after serving 26 months for conspiracy in the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people and thrust the world's most populous Muslim nation onto the front line of the war on terror.

Link: CBS News: Accused Bali Bomber Walks Free

Remember this happened on Howard's watch. He has allowed for this to happen, and yet wants to claim to be a dinky die Aussie when a blunder with in the Labor party happens? Sorry Mr Howard, you cannot turn back time and change history. Some of us are actually watching you and know your glee right now will be short lived.

And this is exactly why I am saying he is going to use it as a political tool. He will try and milk it for every drop, but when one takes a look back in history we can see exactly what has taken place during Howard's reign.

Government creates hate

I have always said, when a minority person/group is bashed by other groups/people because of who that person happens to be, that if you dig deep enough you will find that the government has actually caused the hatred which has lead to the bashing. And I have two articles from this mornings paper which back me up on my assertions.

Sudanese teenager bashed

A YOUNG Sudanese youth was in hospital last night following an apparently racially-based attack in Melton.

The attack, which left the teenager unconscious, has been blamed on remarks last week by Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews.

*snip*

Police confirmed that a teenager was hit in the head by a bottle and his wallet and mobile phone stolen. The phone was then used to send "racial remarks" to the man's brother, police said.

Link: Sudanese teenager bashed

Minister's claims an 'injustice'

THE African community in Wagga Wagga in NSW will hold a public meeting on Saturday to respond to claims by Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews that Sudanese migrants and refugees are struggling to integrate.

Sudanese community leader John Moi said some of the town's 300 African residents had been abused on the street since the comments, which he said had sparked racial vilification. Mr Moi said he had invited local politicians and police to the meeting.

Link: Minister's claims an 'injustice'

The government needs to change its tune and fast, or we are going to continue seeing this kind of behaviour from the public. Leaders have to set the example on how to treat others.

If we constantly see on the TV that the government hates these kinds of people, then we are going to be witness to this kind of hatred in the streets. The U.S. is a good example of this.

The LGTBIQQ population in the U.S. have no real rights at all. They might have state delivered rights, and maybe a few federally delivered rights, but nothing to make them equal in the eyes of the law.

In the U.S. we see such laws as Don't Ask Don't Tell, the militaries answer to gay people serving. In other words no one should ask if you are gay, but if you do tell, you open yourself up to being kicked out.

But these laws have lead to some rather homophobic attitudes from with in the ranks as well. We see anti gay rhetoric written on the sides of bombs to be dropped over Iraq and Afghanistan during the early days of both those wars.

The governments stance on marriage has lead to several states getting the people to vote for anti marriage equality laws in their home states.

We simply cannot let Australia get to the state we see the U.S. in today. I do not want to be a witness to a Matthew Shepard or Brandon Teena style murders here in Australia, simply because of who someone happens to be.

Interesting email I thought I would share

Subject: A shout out from an admirer from DU
Date: Tues, 9 Oct 2007 11:49:14
From: Sharon XXXXXXX
To: XXXXXXXX.net.au

Dear foreigncorrespondent,

I am sorry to see that you have left DU. DU will be all the worse for
not having you there any longer. You were one of the constant
international gay voices standing up for gay rights in the USA.

I won't try and talk you into returning to DU, I understand after reading your blog why you felt it necessary to leave. Very honourable decision you made. Your x-partner and her new girlfriend should feel very lucky that you made the decision to leave, saving all three of you from being banned, had things become messy.

The link to your blog is slowly making its way around DU, as well as the news as to who your x-partner is now seeing. They both are now on my ignore list. Your x-partner should be ashamed of herself for how she has treated you through all of this. And then not even waiting an honourable year after relationship break up to begin again. Your x-partner disgusts me the most. As for BTFS, she should have kept her distance, until that years grace was over.

I feel very sorry for you though. You have been run through the mill, with the loss of your relationship and subsequent anonymous emails. People can be very cruel, but you are doing all us Australians proud by being strong and truthful.

Your x-partner must be blind to have let you get away like she has. All the better for the lucky Australian girl who will one day win your heart.

I am not a lesbian, but if I was, I would now be chasing you to win your heart, because your heart is golden and true.

After reading the most recent of emails you receive I can just say, if it is true that she is still in love with you, that under no circumstances do you take her back. You would only be leaving yourself open to more hurt. People like her do not know what the word love means, or what the word commitment means, so you would never have a full life with her anyway.

I have added your blog to my bookmarks, and hope you continue blogging, and continue blogging about Australia like you have. The state of our country needs to be aired as well.

Take care of yourself, fc.
Your fellow Australian,
Sharon

I haven't responded to Sharon personally. It is very rare I do personally respond to emails nowadays. There are only a select handful of people I do respond directly to. So, Sharon, I hope you don't mind but I will respond to you here.

I have received several emails from people telling me DU is worse off now without my being there, why? I don't know. But it is nice to know there are some people out there who miss me, and conisder me a strong voice.

I have already broken the hearts of several DUers who have constantly asked me to return to DU, by telling them fc won't be returning at all. I just wish Skinner would abide by my requests and finally put the tombstone next to my name, so it stops causing confusion for others.

I know my leaving DU was for the right reasons. I didn't want to see things get out of hand like they did with another three DUers who have since been TS'd. And with my still having feelings for my ex, it is best I stay away. I just hope she appreciates the sacrifice I have made.

I am surprised the news of their relationship and my link haven't made it around DU much faster. After all, it is a genuine DU scandal involving three very strong voices of DU, which people over there thrive on. On top of that, my blog has direct information about the scandal in it.

You must be in the ear of my mother, Sharon. LOL She asked me just last week if I would take J back given the opportunity. I told her then and there, I cannot answer that question because I really don't know. Now a week later, I still don't know. But this time I am conflicted between what my heart tells me and what my brain tells me.

I know I would look like a total fool if I did, but I also know love makes fools out of us all. So that is a question that will have to remain answered as it is, probably for the rest of my life.

As for how she has treated me. The funny thing is, only my family know everything. I have never made everything completely public and I won't, out of the respect I still have for her. But I will say, my mum is hugely disappointed in her. She feels J could have handled the entire situation from first dumping me, right through to how she announced it to me of her new relationship a lot differently. As mum says, emails are just too cold. She should have dealt with everything through the phone. But as I say to mum, the phone adds intimacy and J wouldn't have been able to go through with it any other way apart from email. And that is why she has refused to have direct contact with me since my birthday this year.

I do believe she is running away from the problems we had. And that she has done it all for the wrong reasons. But I can't change her mind, not now that there is another person involved.

I won't talk about the other person at all, but having J on ignore will only prove to be your own loss. Where do you think I got my voice from? She was the one person who inspired me the most in this world. Hell I am stuggling to build my Web site, because the inspiration is lacking. Talking about Australia in my blog is one thing, but talking about the U.S. or even gay rights is another thing all together. And I am noticing I don't have the voice for either I used to have.

As for anyone who will be lucky enough to win my heart... well I am so popular my mum and sister have to beat them off with brooms, NOT. Relationships for me are just not happening. I live in the scrub now, where every woman looks like a butch bulldyke. The lesbians I do come across are either too young or tourists, or moving away.

And on top of that, I don't know if I want to give my heart out again. I gave it out and had it crushed. I don't want to go through that again.

And don't worry, so long as I am capable, my blog will be here.

Thanks for the email, and all emails I receive.

FC

Bush* can't be happy with this news

Iraq leaders pull back from US surge

SEVERAL Iraqi leaders say they have lost faith in the US military strategy that has sought to reduce violence so politicians could realise national reconciliation.

Iraqi leaders believe sectarian animosity is entrenched in the structure of their Government, and instead of reconciliation, they now stress alternative goals: streamlining bureaucracy, putting seasoned technocrats in positions of authority and improving the dismal record of providing basic services.

"I don't think there is something called reconciliation, and there will be no reconciliation as such," said Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih, a Kurd. "To me, it is a very inaccurate term. This is a struggle about power."

Link: The Age: Iraq leaders pull back from US surge

Now, if any one out there believed at all that a war in Iraq would lead to a newly formed democratic nation, you are both blind and stupid.

In an area ravaged by wars and hatred, you simply cannot bring people together. The on going struggle to bring peace between Israel and Palestine should serve as a good example of this.

This war was simply to secure oil, nothing more, nothing less. Bush* and his band of cronies new all along that they would never be able to bring peace to this region, let alone reconciliation between the different factions that live there. All they have managed to create is another Vietnam.

Isn't this nice?

You work for us, come to Australia. It's about the only way you will get in nowadays.

Now don't get me wrong here guys, I think it is wonderful for anyone to be able to come here. Australia really is a diverse nation, I just find the article I am about to quote you as being typical for the xenophobic government we currently have.

THE Government is considering offering sanctuary to dozens of Iraqis working as interpreters and support staff for Australian troops and diplomats in Iraq if the Australians are brought home.

Thousands of Iraqis working for the coalition in a wide range of non-combat roles have been warned by insurgent groups that they will be killed if they are captured or if the US-led forces leave.

Link: The Age: Persecuted Iraqis may be granted sanctuary

And so this article inspired me to do the following picture this morning:



I hope you like. I simply call it Uncle Howard!

What is the government afraid of? The truth getting out?

Academics' access to AWAs cut

WHILE the Federal Government has attacked academics whose study of WorkChoices it disagrees with, it has also stopped researchers from getting crucial information to study the effects of the industrial relations system.

Workplace Authority chief Barbara Bennett has written to two researchers in recent months denying access to samples of people's individual contracts — Australian Workplace Agreements — citing privacy.

*snip*

Ms Bennett's predecessor, Peter McIlwain, gave evidence to a Senate committee last year that 40 per cent of WorkChoices' AWAs stripped entitlements to public holidays; 52 per cent reduced shift loadings and 63 per cent cut penalty rates.

Link: The Age: Academics' access to AWAs cut

Well I would hate to break it to them, but the truth is out. Most sensible, Aussies, with a brain understand the AWAs hurt ordinary Aussie workers.

As you know I work in the security industry. An industry that really is tight when it comes to giving out money. I don't earn all that much, and I hate signing an AWA, but most security firms require you to sign them today. And most companies will give you four hour shifts so they don't have to give you meal or rest breaks.

When I work later this week, I will be standing on my feet for four hours without a break. I have a drink with me, and if I am hungry I will get a piece of fruit or two and eat that, while standing on my feet.

In four years of doing this job, I have never enjoyed a Christmas holiday, or any holiday. I work for flat rate, and usually work on public holidays with no bonus. Last year I had to take Australia Day off, just because it also happens to be my mothers birthday, just so I could spend it with her.

I also blame this on the downfall of my relationship. I was hardly home during waking hours, so I could chat with my now ex, so our contact began really cutting off. Then when I lost my last job I entered into a really deep depression, and she ultimately couldn't handle it. Life is sad, and government makes it worse.

Uh-oh! More bad news for Howard with an up and coming election

Troops in explosion

A soldier from an unidentified country has been killed by a roadside bomb which hit a convoy of NATO forces in southern Afghanistan.

Reuters news agency reported this evening that the bomb had killed one soldier and wounded another, but did not identify the casualties.

A group of Australian troops was patrolling part of Oruzgan province when they were caught up in an incident involving an improvised explosive device (IED), the Defence Department said tonight.

Defence was unable to confirm reports several Australians had been injured in the blast, and was seeking further information about the incident.
The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Brussels confirmed there had been at least one casualty stemming from the explosion.

Link: The Age: Troops in explosion

It seems some in the left wing need lessons...

...so yours truly will deliver them. Mind you, I have been delivering these kinds of messages since first joining DemocraticUnderground.com years ago, and I don't think anyone these lessons were delivered to ever learned anything. But then in order to learn something, one must first have brains, right?

For years I have been witness to (not just on DU, but other places all over the Internet) the same old tired, lame, shit that so and so (add your name of choice here... Bush*, etc, must be anyone from the right wing who left wingers hate) is gay. What makes them gay? Simple. Because someone in the left wing hates this person, they must be gay, because gay is to be hated, right?

Let me be the first to break to anyone who agrees with the statement above, hate doesn't create a gay person. What can create is homophobia, racism, misogyny, etc, etc, etc. And the above statement of accusing someone of being gay because you happen to hate that person is nothing more than blatant homophobia.

When people say these kinds of things it does nothing more than make the left wing look bad, lowers us to the level of right wingers, and manages to piss me off to no end.

It is the same with the left wing attacks on Ann Coulter. Now I am no fan of anyone in the right wing in any country, but to call someone a male because they happen to be of masculine appearance is simply transphobic. It insults the transsexual community as much as the anti gay shit insults the gay community.

So I am going to tell you right now, if you are stupid enough to be a part of these kinds of attacks on people, simply because you happen to dislike that person, then it is YOU who has the problem, not the other way around.

Being gay, transsexual, bisexual, etc, isn't a lifestyle that you can simply use as a negative anytime you like. They are how people are born. Some are born to love people of the opposite sex, some are born to love people of the same sex, some are born to love people of both sexes, and some are born in the wrong bodies completely. It isn't any ones fault things like this happen. But it is someone fault when they begin using them as a weapon against another person.

So just get over yourselves and fucking move on. Stop making the genuine left look like idiots, because you happen to be stuck in the middle and cannot decide which side of the political fence you want to fall to.

So what is Howard going to do?

Well the latest Age/Nielsen poll is out, and it isn't good news for the Howard Government.

Over all it shows Labor ahead with a 56-44 split on the two party preferred. And on John Howard's performance it shows 44% disapprove. So this means his latest ploy to bring racism back into Federal politics isn't working at this stage.

More bad news for Howard is, the poll shows 43% think it really doesn't matter which party is in when it comes to the economy. Which means, they have just lost their other big card to deal during this election.

So what is Howard going to do? He is running out of time. Later this week he will either have to call the election, or call parliament back for another week. If he does that, it won't look too good to the public.

This week is going to be very interesting indeed!

The Age has the poll results up. If you want to see them, just click the link. It will open directly onto the poll page: Age/Nielsen October Poll Results

Like I said, they are making us all look bad!

Found this in The Age this morning:

World takes cynical view of Africa ban

WHEN race raises its head just before an election in Australia, the international media pays attention.

News that the Federal Government has frozen the intake of African refugees has gone around the world — and despite government denials that the decision is based on race, that's how the international media is reporting it.

Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews' justification of the freeze, on the grounds that Sudanese refugees where having problems integrating into Australian society, was reported by major international news agencies, including Reuters and the French agency, AFP.

Their reports were reproduced in newspapers and on websites in Africa, Asia and Europe.

Link: The Age: World takes cynical view of Africa ban

I was just reading the other day that is expected that Nicole Kidman's new movie Australia will bring tourists back to Australia that hasn't been seen since the Croc Dundee movies. Now I can see this boost in tourism dropping right off, especially if Howard manages to pull off an election win.

The area I live in? Relies on tourism. Right now, I am only getting 12 hours work a week, I am expecting that work to pick right up in the coming months (as is everyone else) because the tourist season is upon us.

As I have mentioned in previous posts, this area in the past year has dealt with bad bushfires, and terrible floods (what we call the 10 year flood.) Last Christmas, there wasn't any real tourist around, because that was when the fires were around. This past Easter, we had no tourists again, because no one could get through with the floods. I just hope this tourist season, we don't see a drop in those tourist from all over the world because of what the Howard government has been saying. This area is already stuggling.

I feel like I real lost soul tonight!

So much is happening (nothing good) that I just can't keep up with all this bad luck crap. I just can't wait for this bloody, rotten, miserable year to be over and done with.

Where do I begin? With the interesting email I received this evening? Or the admirer I don't want? Or the woman I could have developed something with until tonight?

I will start with the admirer I don't want, first. I have a male who is very interested in me. I have been honest with him and told him I am a lesbian, but still he continues to pursue. I enjoy his friendship, but I just don't know how to explain it to him, that I just want his friendship and nothing more. And something happening tonight with him, and all I want is to be able to talk to my ex about it. And you know what? I can't. She is in the arms of another now, and I am just trying to let her be, to live her life the way she has chosen to.

And so, there is a woman, who I could have developed a relationship with. She is a caring soul, beautiful to look at, someone I get along quite well with. But tonight, I learned she is moving away, so any chance of a relationship developing has just hit a brick wall.

Which brings me to the email I found in my in box just before I left for work tonight. And quite frankly it has left me stunned and bewildered. I do not know at this stage if I will respond to it, I will just have to wait and see.

The email is from someone my ex has allegedly confided in. I say say allegedly because at this stage I am unsure if I believe it or not.

It has been a long time since I have had contact with this person, so it has been out of the blue and totally unexpected. And this person is claiming that my ex is still in love with me. Go figure!!!

This person (I don't want to let on if this person is male or female) says that the entire situation on the forum my ex and I set up just fell as the perfect excuse for my ex partner to let me go.

That it was something she didn't want to do, and has really torn her heart out to do it. But she felt it was better for me, with the emotions the distance was causing me.

That because my ex couldn't guarantee when our life together would actually begin properly, and the hurt she knew this was causing me, that it was better if she let me go to find happiness some place else.

Apparently it is tearing my ex apart watching me tear myself apart, because she knows how much I love her, but because of the time that has gone past since this first all went down, that she has no choice but to keep her feelings about me to herself.

That while I was still a member of DU she was forever watching what I was saying, and there had been a few times she wanted to come to my defence but felt it best not to. And now she feels lost completely because I am not there. That I will always be her only true love.

This email said other stuff as well. Nothing cruel, which I was grateful for, but this email has left me with a real mixed bag of emotions for sure.

I just don't know whether to believe it or not. Yes I would love to think this were all true, but because it is coming from someone else, and there is no proof that this has ever happened, I just don't know whether to believe it or not.

I feel if it is true, then my ex needs to begin being open and honest with, not just me, but herself and her new lady love.

That if this is true, then she should have given me the choice to walk away or not. I am the only person who can decide if I was willing to wait or not. No one else can make that decision for me.

And I can't even confront my ex about this. I cannot write her and say "listen, are you still in love with me" because she will most likely deny it, if she believes she is doing the right thing for me.

The saddest thing with all this is though, if true, that there are two people in this world, who truly one another, and belong together, but are being totally robbed of that, because of the cruel, and harsh U.S. immigration laws.

And the reason this person has told me all this? Because he/she knows my ex has done the wrong thing, and wanted for me to try and reach my ex, because this person knows just how happy we really were when we were together.

Well, I am not about to drag up emotions and contact my ex. I can't. Because if this isn't true, then I am the one who will be hurt all over again. And considering I am still crying myself to sleep at night, I think it best I let it be.

A little science news now!

I found the following article this morning and thought it was really interesting and wanted to share it with my readers.

Scientists obtain rock from quake zone

Scientists have sampled rock from an active fault zone 3.7 km below the earth's surface for the first time, providing new clues about earthquakes and how they begin.

The samples are from the San Andreas Fault, which stretches 1,287 km along the coast of California, forming one of the world's most seismically active regions. The fault was responsible for the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, the deadliest in US history.

"It's sort of like a Neil Armstrong moment to actually hold the San Andreas Fault in our hands," said Mark Zoback, a professor of earth sciences at Stanford University who is a principal investigator of the project, referring to the first man to step on the moon.

The samples, drilled from a site near Parkfield in central California, weigh nearly a ton and are the first where scientists have been able to preserve the internal structure and mineralogy of rock from deep within an active fault.

Link: The Age: Scientists obtain rock from quake zone

More on Australia's Xenophobia-gate!

Yes, I have given it a name. You can blame the DemocraticUnderground side of me for adding the "gate" to it.

The reason for me doing it is simple; this is big news happening when an election is about to be called here in Australia. Which means this is something that just might bring the Howard government to its knees. As in Watergate is what brought Nixon down.

The latest round in the latest Australian immigration political storm is Kevin Andrews letting us know he is bemused by it all. And of course he has Pauline Hanson applauding him. But I would like to remind Kevin about what happened to the last immigration minister. Only this time, in stead of the immigration minister being given a cushy job as Ambassador to Italy, he will be given the boot by the Australian populace, along with the rest of this government.

More on Iran... Iraq says no! Say what???

I must admit I laughed bloody hard when I read the following article this morning:

Attack Iran? That's a big fat no

Iraq's national security adviser said today he strongly opposed any military attack on Iran and, in contrast to the Bush administration's policy, said the option should not even be considered.

"Attacking Iran? I say a big fat no. It's a fatal mistake," Mowaffak al-Rubaie said. "It should never be an option at all."

The United States accuses Iran of using its nuclear program to develop atomic weapons and of funding, training and equipping militia groups that attack US troops in Iraq. Tehran denies both charges.

Link: The Age: Attack Iran? That's a big fat no

What made me laugh so hard this morning reading this, you ask? Simple. I just love it when Bush* ends up with egg on his face after helping to create a "democracy" (read installing a government) in a country, and that country goes in direct opposition to what Bush* really wants.

Bush* must have spat his coffee out when he heard about this today. So this means all Bush has for a war with Iran so far are his usual band of deputy sheriffs.

Well for someone who claims God speaks through him he sure isn't getting any of God's help to continue with his axis of evil slaughter now is he?

More xenophobia from the Australian government

The Australain government is at it again, and then crying victim, because they are being caught out. Their latest antic:

IMMIGRATION Minister Kevin Andrews has inflamed tensions with the African community by releasing a dossier claiming African refugees were involved in gangs, nightclub fights and drinking alcohol in parks at night.

Prime Minister John Howard yesterday said it was "contemptible" to suggest the Government was playing the race card, after this week's furore over Mr Andrews linking the drastic cut in African refugees to the failure of the Sudanese to integrate.

The Justice Minister, David Johnston, yesterday visited Noble Park to talk to Sudanese community leaders and police, while Mr Andrews visited Dandenong's Migration Resource Centre on Wednesday.

But African groups claimed the Government further ignited the race debate yesterday by releasing unsubstantiated claims in the dossier.

Link: Minister's African dossier renews racial tensions

So now the government puts together a dossier on the African community of Australia accussing them of crimes without any proof. The goes on and claims that those who call the governemnt racist because of their stand that we have no argument, yet the proof for us is in the very actions the government is doing, and has done for the last ten years they have held power.

Well perhaps the best way to retaliate this kind of government is exactly what ex Prime Minister Bob Hawke when at a dinner for the Korean community in Bennelong (John Howard's own seat) on Wednesday night said that every person of Asian origin in the seat of Bennelong should vote against the local member, Prime Minister John Howard.

For me though, it is quite apparent that the Australian government just doesn't have any understanding of different cultures. Perhaps all members of the current Australian government need to go back to school to learn about different cultures, in stead of making every Australain look like a total dweeb when it comes to other parts of the world.

Someone very dear to me once said that Americans are so into themselves that not even half the country could point on a map where Canada is (she is an American, just for the record.) I think to that now and just see how this government is trying to turn us all into something very similar. Like we are the centre of the universe and the world spins around us.

I read earlier today that the punters are backing a November 24th election. Being as how that is the last Saturday in of that month, I think they mgiht be right. Now I can only hope that every person of a different culture (I say that only because of how racism and xenophobia still run amok in the Australian community) here in Australia get out and vote the xenophobic government out, so together we can turn Australia back into the proud land she once was.

Why do people have to be so damn mean?

The Internet really is a vicious place, full of people who seem to get off on the misery of others. I am victim of people just like this, in more ways than one. And now, I am going to speak out about these people, once and for all.

For years, my ex and I were seen as a fairly strong couple, because it seemed nothing could break us. Not an 8,000 mile distance, not bureaucratic bullshit, nothing. Yet I have always held a fear that one day, she would change her glasses and see me in a totally different light. That day came on February 22nd of this year when she ended our almost 7 year relationship (our 7th anniversary fell on March 19th of this year.)

She told me that she felt she was doing it for all the right reasons, and to this day I will stand by my ground and tell her she has done it for all the wrong reasons.

My ex and I started running a forum for LGBTIQQ people a few years back. Ultimately this forum would be hacked, and we ended up closing down that project completely. But last year my ex began making rumblings about beginning a new forum. After months of her and I going back and forth about it, and my warning her several times that this forum would lead to our destruction, I, during a terrible moment of weakness, caved in and gave her the go ahead to do it.

With in the first month of this new forum, I was already being pushed away by other people. People under the protection of anonymity began emailing me saying some pretty nasty stuff about me. For the sake of the newly created forum, I left, thinking it would be a better place without me. Little did I know that my ex would see this as my abandoning her and would take it to heart. This is what I see as the beginning of our downfall.

My then partner talked me around and I returned to the forum. Things seemed to settle down for a while. Perhaps these people hiding behind a door of anonymity thought there was nothing that could break us. But then, my partner and I began showing weakness. For me, it was because we were facing the longest time we had ever been apart, and it was really getting to me. I didn't know how to deal with the emotions that were building up in me, and when I don't know how to deal with something I tend to lash out. I don't mean to do it, I think it is just a way of me protecting myself. As for my partner, she had been doubting my feelings about her (distance will play some nasty tricks on you) for quite some time, and I guess this was beginning to show through.

During the final week of my relationship with this woman these people began really preying on me. I was showing real weakness on my part, my partner and I had had a fight and she was not talking to me, so I was alone.

These vultures began complaining about another person (member of the forum.) They knew I had ill feelings for this other person and figured if they could make it look like a situation with this other person might cause trouble for the forum my partner and I had created they would be able to get me to act. Well stupid me did act. I ended up on a whim, banning this other person from the forums. Two days later, my partner broke up with me. Make of that what you will, but I will always believe that these people caused such a distrusting rip between my partner and me, that it caused us to split.

As soon as it was announced to what were our mutual friends that we had split up I began receiving some very cold and calculating emails, once again under the protection of anonymity. Some of what has been said to me has been total fabricated lies, but other things have been dead set true. The most recent truth has been that my partner was seeing someone I knew, and that I would be devastated when I found out. They were of course right.

And so after a little time of silence the anonymous emails are beginning to come back in. This time I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Some are just down right disgusting and make me want to vomit, but others I fear, might have some truth to them.

Something that is begin said now is, my ex is now engaged to this other woman, and they intend to get married next year. This news pains me to the absolute. It took my partner over a year before she ever asked me to marry her. That was six years ago, and we never tied the knot. But then I think to myself, oh it has to be a bunch of lies, because my ex isn't known for rushing into things like that. But then I think to myself, well she is getting on in years, and might be thinking on just settling and being done with it. If it is indeed true, my ex should have known I would find out sooner or later.

Some of the other stuff being said, I won't go into, but I am told that my ex and her latest is going around spreading some pretty nasty rumors about me, and if I find out any of that is true, then I will manage to be really pissed. And things I have been asked to keep quiet with, won't be kept quiet any longer.

You know, all I want to do is be able to push this nightmare behind me. I know I will probably never enter into another relationship again, but I am tired of living with the pain the last one has really caused me. And yet there are those out there, who just won't let me be. And I am getting bloody tired of that.

Because this needs to be shared!

I thought I would delve deep into the emotions of the people who read my blog, in the hopes that some day this will reach someone who is homophobic, and change their view of gay people.





I know the person who created this. She probably thinks I haven't been paying attention, but I have, and feel this is simply the best video she has ever made.

I have watched it time and time again now, and still to this day I cry.

If you would like to leave the author of the video a message, you can find the video on YouTube.

And don't forget to pass this video around. These people died because of homophobia, and it is about damn time we stopped being hateful of other people, and began liking one another for what we all are, and that is human beings.

More on the Howard Governments Xenophobic Attitude Towards Refugees

If you read my blog post from yesterday titled Another typical anti immigrant stand by the Australian Federal Government you would already have a rough idea how I feel on the situation.

Well this has become huge news in Australia, so today, I am going to blog a lot more about it, starting with what really has been the start of this entire situation.

Last week Liep Gony, a Sudanese refugee was fatally bashed out side a train station, in an outer suburb of Melbourne.

The Australian Government response to this has been racist at best, xenophobic at worst. The governments mentality has been to blame the victim rather than the monsters who committed the crime:

IMMIGRATION Minister Kevin Andrews is at the centre of a race row amid claims he "whipped up" a reason for cutting African refugee numbers on the cusp of a federal election campaign.

Days after Mr Andrews cited the failure of Sudanese people to integrate as a reason for cutting the African intake, the Government has been accused of playing "ugly race politics" and launching a Tampa-style scare campaign to win votes.

The row was sparked this week when Mr Andrews was asked about the fatal bashing of 18-year-old Sudanese refugee Liep Gony in the outer Melbourne suburb of Noble Park.

Mr Andrews said the refugee intake from countries such as Sudan had been cut amid fears that some groups "don't seem to be settling and adjusting into the Australian life as quickly as we would hope".

Link: Coalition Accused of Race Politics

Now going by the last paragraph I quoted above, I take that statement to mean, that because in the eyes of the government people from Sudan aren't settling into the Australian way of life, that it is their fault if they are bashed. After all it was the fatal bashing of Liep Gony that has sparked this; yet another xenophobic controversy from with in the Howard government.

Yet the crime rate from with in the Sudanese community of Victoria is a mere 1 per cent of the bigger Victorian population. And still, our government would blame the victim rather than the monsters who did this. Now, why would the government do this? My take is simple... it appears that the monsters allegedly responsible for this crime, may have been Caucasian. One of possible Italian decent, the other of possible Irish or Scottish decent. And with our federal government being as racist as they are won't dare admit any wrong doing by white Australia now, will they?

Now this leads me to my personal experience with people from Sudan, and other parts of Africa. As you already know, I work in the security industry, so I came across a lot of people from all parts of the world. The most arrests I have made during my years as working as a covert loss prevention officer have been people of Greek, Australian, and Asian decent. Not once have I ever arrested a person from Africa.

The man who I thought was going to shoot me down in cold blood last week was white. In fact it isn't people from Africa who scare me the most, it is the white gangs that haunt the area I live that scare the crap out of me.

The people from Sudan and entering Australia on humanitarian grounds, and the Australian government forgets that.

I worked with a bloke from Sierra Leon and the stories he told me about his country, it is no wonder these people seek a happier life elsewhere.

Bring on the election, I cannot wait to see the back of the miserable, xenophobic Howard Government.

Nuclear ban? Say what!!!!

Quite frankly I think all countries which house nuclear weapons, should be made to disarm immediately, simply because weapons kills, they don't solve problems.

From The Age:

Obama seeks world nuclear ban

PRESIDENTIAL hopeful Barack Obama overnight proposed eliminating all nuclear weapons, saying the US should greatly reduce its stockpiles to lower the threat of nuclear terrorism.

In a speech in Chicago that was due to have been delivered early today, Senator Obama was to add his voice to a plan endorsed this year by a bipartisan group of former government officials from the Cold War era, who say the US must begin building a world consensus to reverse a reliance on nuclear weapons.

Senator Obama, according to details provided by his campaign, was to call for vigorous diplomatic efforts aimed at a world ban on the development, production and deployment of intermediate-range missiles.

Link: Obama seeks world nuclear ban

Yet another Princess Di probe into her death

Honestly, I wish they would just leave the woman to rest in peace, but, if they can actually charge people for the murder of Di and Dodi, then I am all for continuing iinvestigation into the tragic loss of these fine people.

Found this in The Age:

Diana probe to view Australian video

THE inquest into the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales, and her boyfriend, Dodi al-Fayed, began yesterday as it emerged that a holiday video shot by two Australian tourists 10 years ago will be used as evidence.

Among the first pieces of evidence to be presented at the inquest will be a video shot by an Australian couple, Vlad Borovac and Chloe Papazahariakis, of the paparazzi as they waited for Diana outside the Ritz Hotel in Paris, hours before the crash in which she died.

It is believed the tape shows a car similar to the white Fiat Uno that French police believe may have clipped the Mercedes before the crash in the Paris tunnel. Ms Papazahariakis may also be called to give evidence about what she filmed.

Link: The Age: Diana probe to view Australian video

Another typical anti immigrant stand by the Australian Federal Government

The anti immigrant approach the Howard Government has been displaying, is one which simply disgusts me to the absolute core.

Found this in The Age this morning:

UN hits out at minister over Africans

THE United Nations has criticised Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews' argument that Sudanese refugees are having trouble adapting to Australian life.

Mr Andrews said on Monday that Sudanese refugees appeared to have greater challenges than other migrants, as he defended the Government's move to slash the intake of African refugees.

*snip*

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees said refugees should be accepted based on their need for protection, not their ability to integrate.

Link: UN hits out at minister over Africans

The Howard Governments stand has been a shameful reminder to ALL Australians that there are indeed those still here who hold racist views.

I am glad the UN is standing up and speaking out about the latest Australian Government attack, because this is after all the 21st century and racist and bigoted views should not enter into a governments plan for any country.

Which brings us to another article I was reading in The Age this morning.

It was about a survey conducted by a parental group in Australia who surveyed parents of children in the private school system (so the Howard voting block) who have split with the federal governments values for kids ideas.

These values which the Howard government wants taught in schools are: care and compassion, doing your best, fair go, freedom, honesty and trustworthiness, integrity, respect, responsibility, and understanding, tolerance and inclusion.

Now parents think they are all wonderful values to have, except would like tolerance changed to acceptance, but do not understand why the federal government wants these taught, when they (the government) are teaching the kids of today intolerance, racism, bigotry, and so forth. The government approach to asylum seekers and refugees only proves that.

War with Iran? Say what!!!

If you don't believe this is going to happen, then you haven't been paying any attention.

I found the following article in The Age, and thought this is a good kick start for my posting about the tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

Australian 'support' for Iran strike

AUSTRALIA, Britain and Israel have "expressed interest" in a US campaign to launch "surgical" bombing raids on Iran targeting Revolutionary Guard Corps facilities, according to one of America's leading investigative reporters.

In an article in the latest issue of The New Yorker, Seymour Hersh details how the US is making plans for a strike on Iran, beefing up intelligence resources within the CIA and shifting its rhetorical campaign in a bid to win support from the American people should the strikes proceed.

Hersh says the Bush Administration has stopped trying to justify the campaign on the basis of curtailing Iran's nuclear ambitions, redefining the war in Iraq as a strategic battle between the US and Iran. This is because there is a consensus within the intelligence community that Iran is at least five years away from obtaining a bomb, Hersh said in an interview on CNN on Sunday.

Link: The Age: Australian 'support' for Iran strike

So yet again Howard is going to give Bush* a blank cheque when it comes to the lives of Australian soldiers, by backing the Bush* administrations hell bent attitude of control for the ME, just to retain the oil for his own country.

As I said earlier, if you don't believe there will be a war with Iran BEFORE next years U.S. election, then you haven't been paying attention.

In 2002 when Bush* delivered his "Axis of Evil" SOTU he made it quite clear then, that his presidency would be one served as a war president.

Since that SOTU address we have seen him go to war with Iraq by using forged documents, a whole bunch of lies, and played of the fear factor of the world by saying that Iraq had WMDs and planned to use them, even though those WMDs have never been found.

Now we face Bush having a hard-on for blowing the fuck out of yet another country. A country which he happened to mention in his list of "axis of evil" countries, during his 2002 SOTU.

He has a hard-on so painful he has his finger on the trigger and is ready to let lose, so much so there is a large U.S. naval build up off the coast of Iran, just waiting for orders.

But why would he want to do things like this? Quite simply PNAC and their greedy little ambitions. (If you got a lot of time on your hands, I suggest you plow through the pages of this old blog. The person is no longer writing the blog, but the articles that are there on PNAC are well worth reading.

And to think little Johnnie Coward sits in his office, listening to the wank fest Bush* is delivering to him, and then agreeing to send Australian troops, but why? What has he got to gain from this? Enquiring minds really want to know.

He needs to be stopped

Any low to middle class earner who votes for Howard in this years up and coming election are only going to be voting against their own self worth.

I found an Op Ed in today's Age I want to share with my readers. Of course this is nothing I didn't already know, but there are people out there who just don't get it, and don't read the newspapers.

PM of ulterior motives

John Howard is a brilliant politician and part of his skill has been to ruthlessly use economic policy to wrong-foot his opponents. Howard has taken credit for Australia's prosperity, but the truth is that many of his economic policies have been more about entrenching conservative power than about improving the economy.

Take industrial relations as an example. You won't hear Howard admit this, but one of his key motivations for the WorkChoices reforms is the tangible prospect that the new rules will hurt his Labor opponents by crippling their financial backers in the union movement.

It is no secret that the electoral strength of the Labor Party is dependent on the financial strength of the unions. Unions make a massive contribution to the ALP, bankrolling the party's operations through donations, loans and affiliation fees totalling about $7 million every year. And that doesn't include the considerable support in kind regularly provided to Labor candidates, including paid staff and materials for campaign offices.

*snip*

From his first days in government, Howard wanted to reshape Australian universities. His first budget contained dramatic cuts to higher education, and he has since gradually starved universities of public funds. The effect has been to force universities to rely on the foreign and full-fee paying students, who have filled up economics and business faculties. In doing so, Howard has tilted the balance away from the progressive intellectual side of the university sector towards the prosaic conservative side. By gutting the nation's arts faculties, Howard will successfully stunt the development of the next generation of Australian intellectuals.

*snip*

Howard knows that the more people rely on public health care, the more likely they are to support the political party that they associate with strong public services. That is why the growth of private health care is good news for conservative politicians. By weakening public health, Howard weakens the ALP.

Link: The Age: PM of ulterior motives

And I strongly suggest any Aussie reading my blog read the article in full. If we don't want to see Australia turn into something worse than what we have already become, then we need to make sure the conservatives of Australia don't hold government power for a long time to come.

Of course I realize that the ALP hasn't been all that different from the right wing of this country, especially since they helped Howard right discrimination into our constitution which went against the right of every citizen of Australia being able to enter into a marriage. And I will be holding my nose on election day as I vote for Labor. But the only reason I am voting for Labor is because I realize it is either that or face another Howard election win. One in which part way through he will hand over the top job to someone even more right wing than he is.