Forget me not

More pedantry. This time, in an opinion article about the replacement of Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan with Ben Carroll, former Premier Jeff Kennett (1992-1999), gets important details about his own political career wrong. Kennett became Premier in 1992, defeating his predecessor, Joan Kirner, in that year's state election. Kirner became Premier in 1990 after the resignation of John Cain, and not 1991. 

 

Broken shards

Potter's House, a controversial, to put it politely, Christian sect, has made national headlines amidst reports of alleged spiritual abuse of its members. The reader is encouraged to read the full article. I wish to take issue with their teachings on marriage. Ex members report pressure from leaders to get married young.  

One of them reported: 

“If you are single, your pastor will tell you if someone is a good choice to marry. And they firmly believe in marrying them young. If you are not married by 25, something is wrong.”

I once bumped into some Potter's House members in a suburban shopping strip. They asked me how old I was, and if I was married. I told them my age, and that I was single. They tried to tell me that being single was a sin. It appears that this is what they teach their members, and cause a lot of damage to peoples' lives as a consequence. 

At the time, I was too polite to challenge their rebuking of me. I can only speculate that they take the Adamic procreation mandate, initially given to Adam, and later reiterated to Noah, Ishmael, Jacob, and Jacob's sons, as a binding Christian command. (See Genesis 1:28, 9:1, 7, 17:20, 28:3, 35:11, and 48:4). 

This takes some very creative hermeneutics, to say the least. No Christian member of the clergy should teach such nonsense. While the Bible teaches that marriage is a good thing, as the apostle Paul taught in his first letter to the Corinthians, marriage and singleness are choices. Regardless of their situation, faithful obedience to God is commanded.

It would be a good thing if news stories like this cause people to leave Potter's House. It is disheartening to think about all the people whose lives they have negatively influenced. 
 

https://www.news.com.au/national/former-pastor-linked-to-the-potters-house-breaks-silence-they-believe-in-marrying-them-young/news-story/ce85706b7f9e2546a051cf7b4265e819

Flashpoint Melbourne

This is how mainstream media reported on the Sunday, May 19, Never Again is Now, a combined Christian and Jewish rally against antisemitism, held on the steps of Victoria's State Parliament House. Rally organisers made every attempt to keep it peaceful, and attendees safe. The actions of some demonstrators on the other side, who thought it was appropriate to physically attack and verbally abuse their opponents, shows why antisemitism needs to be strongly opposed in the first place. Attacking defenceless people is no way to help the Palestinian cause. It's also hypocritical to claim the moral high ground, while bashing up old age pensioners. 

Get your facts right

In response to the vandalism at Cambridge University of a portrait of Lord Balfour by a pro-Palestinian protestor, Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, posted the following statement on X, formerly known as Twitter. Balfour served as Foreign Secretary in the government of former British Prime Minister, Lloyd George, when in 1917, a declaration was made supporting the establishment of a Jewish homeland in what was then Palestine. 

Contrary to contemporary propaganda, the Balfour Declaration didn’t give Palestine to the Jews. It didn’t give anything to anyone. It favoured the idea of a liberated Ottoman colony which had been held by various foreign empires for 2,000 years, becoming an independent Jewish… https://t.co/6RxylsltpB

— Alex Ryvchin (@AlexRyvchin) March 8, 2024

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-68515368

 

Gullibility?

Former Australian Senator, Corey Bernardi, weighs into the controversy of New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet, wearing a Nazi costume to his 21st birthday party 20 years ago. Bernardi claims that Perrottet's critics are hypocrites for attacking Perrottet, but ignoring the alleged neo-Nazis in the Azov battalion, a unit of the Ukrainian military currently fighting against the Russians in the Russia-Ukraine war. 

Even if we concede that nothing is ever black and white in war, one would hope that Bernardi is not an apologist for Russia's Putin regime, or that he is condoning Putin's unjust attempts to annexe Ukraine. In any case, other sources that have a higher level understanding of the complexities of this situation than Bernardi, such as Monash University scholar, Alasdair McCallum, state that the Azov regiment simply cannot be credibly describe as Nazi or neo-Nazi. It is depoliticised. Nor is there widespread neo-Nazism or anti-Semitism in Ukraine. This disproves Russia's claim, a prominent theme in its propaganda, that its invasion was necessary to "de-Nazify" Ukraine. On the other hand, as Dmitry Kozhurin of Radio Free Europe has proven, there are actual neo-Nazis fighting on the Russian side, such as the paramilitary Rusich group, and other extremist militia groups. 

Social media may give you access to lots of information, but on the downside it creates too many armchair experts commenting on issues that they don't understand properly, but they weigh in on them anyway for reasons known only to themselves. 

https://www.latrobe.edu.au/news/articles/2022/opinion/russias-long-history-of-neo-nazis

https://lens.monash.edu/@politics-society/2022/08/19/1384992/much-azov-about-nothing-how-the-ukrainian-neo-nazis-canard-fooled-the-world

https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-neo-nazis-fighting-ukraine/31871760.html

https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-ukraine-invasion-slows-antisemitism-seeps-into-russian-media-landscape/

Bad news

Senator Kimberley Kitching (ALP, Victoria) has died suddenly from a suspected heart attack. She supported the passing of the Magnitsky Act, which allows sanctions to be imposed on foreign government officials who are involved in human rights abuses. This Australian government is using this legislation to place sanctions on the Putin regime in Russia. This is a fitting legacy. 

It is also noteworthy that unlike others in her party, she sought to build bridges with socially conservative voters, such as those who did not support the redefinition of marriage by the Australian Parliament in 2017. At this time, it is speculated that the stress of having to fight toxic factional battles to retain her position on the Senate ticket in the forthcoming federal election may have contributed to her death. Condolences to her loved ones. 

https://thesydneyinstitute.com.au/blog/todays-media-watch-dog-postponed-until-monday/

Put on your thinking caps

This set of criteria is also applicable to social media postings. 

The cat that got the cream

Geelong Football Club is getting $142 million from the Victorian state government for its stadium redevelopment. I am a Geelong fan, but I don't understand why the government is giving a sporting club taxpayers' money. Is there a compelling business case, or is this pork barreling? 

https://www.afl.com.au/news/663049/40000-here-we-come-gmhba-stadium-upgrade-to-start-at-seasons-end

Warts and all

Within hours of the announcement of the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at 99 years of age, social media trolls thought it appropriate to attack him, or attack public figures offering the royal family and the British public their condolences. It is a sewer, quite frankly. Engaging with these trolls is an unpleasant experience. It is best to let them wallow in their bitterness. They seem to have no appreciation of history, or respect for elders. On the other hand, legitimate media outlets such as Spiked Online have conducted themselves with more dignity. 

https://www.spiked-online.com/2021/04/09/a-very-human-prince/

Irreverence

Andrew Cuomo, and not Andrew Cuomos

Who is Andrew Cuomos? I have only ever heard of New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo. 

https://www.news.com.au/world/north-america/us-politics/covid-map-democrats-claim-trump-administration-hid-reveals-worst-virus-hot-spots-after-biden-publishes-secret-stats/news-story/692584dbd28c7cb8d685fdab3d91c8db

Brain fade

Can you spot the error?

Kicking people when they're down

As reported on Channel 10's irreverent news and current affairs programme, The Project, President Trump and his wife Melania contracted Coronavirus. As has been well documented by media observers such as Gerard Henderson of the Sydney Institute, this programme frequently mocks any political figure who doesn't share the left wing worldview they relentlessly push. Naturally, its viewers join in the pile on on its Facebook page. See the number of laughing and thumbs up emoticons on its Facebook page. That is petty, and reminds me why I don't watch the show. I prefer more intelligent humour that doesn't rely on snarkiness for a cheap laugh, and a more mature analysis of the news. 

 

Small things and large things

The UK election is only days away, and in the final In leaders' debate with Conservative British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Labour Opposition Leader Jeremy Corbyn wore crooked glasses. It doesn't convey a professional image, and raises questions of character and performance.

If he has a problem with attention to detail with his own presentation, then it is questionable that he can master the intricacies of leading a government.To my mind, taken together with his unworkable plans to renationalise whole sectors of the British economy, his failure to deal with anti-Semitism in his own party, his fraternising with terror groups, this clearly indicates that he should not be entrusted with the massive responsibility of being Prime Minister of the fifth largest economy in the world.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-7687753/Fear-hatred-racism-Labour-makes-idea-Corbyn-PM-truly-frightening-writes-JOAN-RYAN.html

https://www.ft.com/content/768f89b8-9be5-11e9-9c06-a4640c9feebb

https://inews.co.uk/opinion/jeremy-corbyn-jeffrey-epstein-anti-semitism-row-pronounciation-1312516

It's a homonym

As Australia prepares for this year's federal election, which will be called in a matter of days, and the depressing prospect of Bill Shorten becoming its next Prime Minister, voters in Indonesia will elect a new president later this month. 

Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto has alleged discrepancies in the electoral roll, with millions of voters not registered with a valid birthdate, or failing to provide correct province identification numbers. Electoral fraud is a significant problem in Indonesia. 

This article from the Sydney Morning Herald begs the question, what is an electoral role? Seriously, though, voting is a democratic right that I hope the people of Indonesia do not take for granted.

https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/prabowo-campaign-alleges-millions-of-dodgy-voters-on-electoral-role-20190401-p519m5.html 

Why the ABC needs more funding

For years, it has been blatantly obvious that political campaign finance in Australia is hopelessly corrupt. Today,  the ABC reported on an ongoing investigation by the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) into alleged illegal donations from a Sydney restaurateur family to the New South Wales Labor Party. 

This is an important story, but that isn't what this post is about. Whoever wrote it made a small typographic error. New South Wales is a proper noun, so it must always be capitalised. 

As Australia's national broadcaster, millions of people rely on it as their main source of trustworthy news and information. Pardon the sarcasm, but it seems that they cannot rely on it for error-free articles on their website. 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-04/chinese-donations-to-nsw-labor-examined-icac/10636610

Mao's legacy

With China rising as a world power, its internal affairs and poor human rights record are coming under media scrutiny from democratic countries. Over the past few years, millions of Chinese citizens have been the victims of arbitrary and secret detentions. Government persecution of Christians has intensified, with Pastor Wang Yi and approximately 100 members of his church also detained.

Photojournalist Lu Guang has also disappeared. His photographs expose social, environmental, and economic issues. Disappearing him will hardly suppress his work. It is readily available online. Is he considered to be a threat because his work challenges the image of itself that China wishes to present to the world?

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-06/the-people-who-china-disappeared-in-2018-and-where-they-are-now/10676016

https://www.google.com/search?q=lu+guang&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwig7qi3p9vfAhWWOnAKHcy0B2EQ_AUIDigB&biw=1366&bih=626

End of an era

Fairfax Media, publisher of The Age, is going to merge with Nine Entertainment, owners of Channel Nine, to create a new company encompassing print, digital, free to air television, and streaming services. While am I not a business analyst, it seems to me that Fairfax had no choice but to take this step, with declining circulation and advertising revenues. As sad it is for the Fairfax name to disappear, the alternative would have been for the company to down altogether.


By Source, Fair use, Link

Market forces

Leader of the opposition, Bill Shorten, has announced that a future Labor government will provide $25 million to establish an AFL team in Tasmania. If this is such a good idea, and it is questionable that it is, it should be the AFL's responsibility to fund it. Since when is it the government's business to finance sports teams?

http://www.sportingnews.com/au/afl/news/jeff-kennett-blasts-bill-shorten-over-crassness-of-tasmanian-afl-team-promise-hawks-hawthorn/bht96y0w5k7813cxjvz4u81i3

A Mobile Library in Kabul Brings the Joy of Learning to Afghan Youth

This is good news:

Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan, has a history of violence. The nation has been marked by unstable governments and other violent groups, many of which plan attacks in the city of Kabul. Parents tend to keep their children behind closed doors to keep them safe.

Afghanistan also has a very low literacy rate, with only 36 percent of the population being able to read, and among women, this figure drops to 17 percent. Between three and five million children in Afghanistan are estimated to miss school this year, 85 percent of whom are young girls.

Freshta Karim, a public policy master’s graduate from Oxford University, saw this as an opportunity to help children in Kabul begin to learn and have fun. Karim grew up as a refugee in Pakistan, then returned to Afghanistan in 2002 after the fall of the Taliban. She says that she missed out on some childhood experiences due to the violence in the region and the inability of many to attend school. She recognized the importance of providing a space where children could be children and learn and grow as individuals.

With the help of a group of young educated volunteers, Karim launched the mobile library in Kabul in February 2018. The library is named Charmaghz, the Dari word for walnut, which in Afghan culture is associated with logic.

Mobile Library in Kabul Receives an Overwhelming Response

The library offers free access to more than 600 books in Dari, Pashto and English. In addition to books on many topics, there is access to board games, poetry, and music that allows children to learn about Afghan culture. Charmaghz stops at parks, schools and orphanages around Kabul for a few hours at a time, making two to three stops per day to provide access to as many children as possible.

In the first three weeks of operation, the library had more than 1,000 visitors. The library now draws approximately 300 people per day and has many regulars. Children come to learn, read and play with their friends, adults bring snacks and tea and volunteers come to lead sessions with children to discuss stories.

“It is beyond our beliefs and expectations how people love our program. We are humbled by their response. They appreciate and support it,” Karim said of the individuals who visit the library. Charmaghz was started to help a younger generation learn to read and broaden their horizons, and it seems the public is responding well to the new addition.

The team operating Charmaghz would like to ultimately expand. Currently, the mobile library in Kabul is financed by donations from Afghan professionals, and small donations from anyone who can afford to give anything. With this support, Karim believes expansion to other areas of Afghanistan, and providing more services, such as documentary screening, would be possible.

What started as a small effort to bring reading and learning opportunities to children in Kabul has become a staple of the community, encouraging children to grow and continue learning despite difficult circumstances.

https://borgenproject.org/mobile-library-in-kabul-youth/

No cause for celebration

Today is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Karl Marx, the founding father of communism. Will those who see fit to celebrate this occasion spare a thought for the millions of people who were killed during the 20th century as a direct result of his ideas being implemented? Communist regimes killed millions of people in the former Soviet Union, China, Cambodia, North Korea, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, East Germany, and Ethiopia? Don't let the facts of history spoil your party, comrades.

http://nationalpost.com/news/world/happy-birthday-karl-marx-we-could-have-done-without-the-millions-dead