If you have anything you would like to raise, which is likely to be of interest to our site's visitors, which is not addressed by other articles, please add your comments here.
(Apologies that year 2009, rather than year 2010, was used in dates previously - JS, 3 Aug 2010)
This is the first of a series of blog entries that will be added from time to time, was set up at the suggestion of a site visitor.
Where are the missing comments?
Some may be wondering why the two comments listed below can't be found on this page, it is because they have flowed over to page 2. The "Recent comments" links are not incorrectly point to this page. I don't know how to easily fix his. I have manually rectified the problem in a limited sense by adding correct links here.
This is Kevin Rudd's idea of "tough" action regarding whaling of 6 Mar 10 by Milly Osborne
No wise governance, just a wise guy of 6 Mar 10 by Sheila.
Announcement: for now I am momentarily turning off the commenting capability on this page in the hope that people will, instead add new comments, unrelated to any already in this page, to "Miscellaneous comments from 1 March 2009", linked to from the page linked to by the "Your say" link on the Primary menu. If you want to respond to a comment on this page, in the meantime, please let me know. - JS 6 Mar 10.
Comments
Gail (not verified)
Sat, 2010-02-20 21:38
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An Afternoon with Australian Icons
RichB
Mon, 2010-02-22 10:58
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Barrow Island WA.
RichB
Mon, 2010-02-22 11:06
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Barrow Island WA.
Sheila Newman
Mon, 2010-02-22 13:25
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Barrow Is indig animal transfer scheme question
Anonymous (not verified)
Mon, 2010-02-22 15:14
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They are supposedly moving
Anonymous (not verified)
Tue, 2010-02-23 01:15
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Anna Bligh gags population debate in parliament
Vivienne (not verified)
Wed, 2010-02-24 17:40
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Japanese minister to question Rudd over whaling threat:
Vivienne (not verified)
Fri, 2010-02-26 09:45
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Victorian govt plans school merger against community wishes
admin
Sat, 2010-02-27 18:05
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Support petition calling for change of National Anthem
The following was sent through our contact form. - JS
Please support our petition to change the national anthem.
The petition is:
Anonymous (not verified)
Sat, 2010-02-27 18:08
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Leave Australia's national anthem alone!
Anonymous (not verified)
Sat, 2010-02-27 23:53
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Advance Australia Where?
James Sinnamon
Sat, 2010-02-27 18:53
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My concerns about "Waltzing Matilda" as our National Anthem
Whilst "Advance Australia Fair" with its reference to us having "boundless plains to share" is ludicrous as a national anthem, I have never been able to understand the enthusiam that others have felt for "Waltzing Matilda".
A recent documentary "The Matilda Myth" in two parts, the first being on Radio National's Background Briefing and the second being on the Hindsight.
It appears that the song, in fact served to cover up the murder of the unionist Samuel "Frenchy" Hoffmeister, by implying that Hoffmeister had killed himself, by implying that it was a suicide.
The transcript of Background Briefing dealing with the inquest follows:
Ian Walker: The inquest into Frenchy Hoffmeister's death was held only days after his body was found, but, the wildly conflicting witness statements paint a muddy picture to say the least. Trevor Monti has been a barrister in Melbourne for more than 30 years and he's taken a keen interest in the Hoffmeister case. He's convinced the official finding of suicide just doesn't stack up.
Trevor Monti: About the only non-contested fact, I think, is the fact that Frenchy Hoffmeister was shot through the roof of the mouth, as a result of which he died. The circumstances by which he came to suffer that wound are quite controversial. There are a number of different versions given by witnesses at the inquest. What I think is significant is that this inquest is conducted three days after the death of Frenchy Hoffmeister, when these events should have been very fresh in the minds of those who were present in the union camp where he was found dead. And for there to be such blatant discrepancies in the accounts given by various witnesses is just amazing.
Ian Walker: Trevor Monti reckons the inquest has the whiff of a classic cover-up, starting with the incredibly, or perhaps deliberately, shoddy work of the investigating officer.
Trevor Monti: There's no doubt that there was a completely inadequate investigation made by Senior Constable Cafferty. And, the more so, after he extracted the bullet from Frenchy's head and then compared the weight of that to the weight of the other bullets that were in the revolver and found that the bullet extracted from Frenchy's head to be heavier than those in the revolver. I mean, that of itself, I would think, would normally call for further inquiry and further thought and further investigation.
Ian Walker: The one thing we do have that's quite solid is the doctor's examination of the bullet wound and the bullet found in Frenchy's head. If this indeed was not a suicide, and was a murder, it's pretty much similar to a gangland assassination, isn't it?
Trevor Monti: Yes, it is, but he could well have been murdered by someone placing a gun in his mouth and pulling the trigger.
Ian Walker: Is this a good old-fashioned cover-up then?
Trevor Monti: The magistrate was called in those days a police magistrate, and they were appointed from anywhere out of public life, oftentimes without much legal training. It's a little harsh to say that he may have been involved with the pastoralists but they were turbulent times. It may be the case that he was quite happy to have the death of Frenchy Hoffmeister put away as quickly as possible, with a finding of suicide that would result in no further inquiry being made.
Ian Walker: Barrister Trevor Monti.
The official finding of the coroner was that Hoffmeister, presumably racked with guilt about the bungled arson, had committed suicide, possibly to save his fellow unionists from going to jail. The more plausible explanation, according to the Magoffins, is that Hoffmeister's comrades shot him, so he could be used as a scapegoat for the arson attack.
(End of transcript).
Yet only a few months later, according to the transcript, "in an extraordinary scene, champagne flows at the Kynuna pub between the local squatters and striking unionists, who only months before had been trying to kill each other. In a way, they may have been toasting the death of Frenchy Hoffmeister, who was found with a bullet in his head the morning after he allegedly lit the match at the Dagworth woolshed."
Yet the program seemed to ignore this unsettling information that it, itself, had unearthed and continued to treat "Waltzing Matilda" as if it were the celebration of Australian unionism and rebelliousness. Of this I wrote on the ABC forum:
John Marlowe
Sun, 2010-02-28 10:43
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Australia's National Anthem ok but let lyrics evolve with times
I agree that while Waltzing Matilda conjures nostalia, its lyrics are odd for a national anthem.
A tale about a jolly swagman camping by a billabong, rustling a jumbuck then escaping into the billabong is bizarre. It is not relevant to messages needing to be conveyed in a national anthem.
Advance Australia Fair was chosen to replace Waltzing Matilda in 1984.
"In 1973 the Whitlam government decided that the country needed an anthem that could represent Australia with "distinction" and started a competition to find one. The Australia Council for the Arts organised the contest, which was dubbed the Australian National Anthem Quest. The contest was held in two stages, the first seeking lyrics and the second music, each having an AUD $5,000 prize for the winning entry. On the recommendation of the Council for the Arts, none of the new entries were felt worthy enough, so the contest ended with the suggestions for Advance Australia Fair, Waltzing Matilda and Song of Australia.
Advance Australia Fair emerged as the most popular choice for the national anthem after an opinion poll in 1974 (the Australian Bureau of Statistics polled 60,000 people nationally). A spokesman for the Prime Minister Gough Whitlam stated that the Government regarded the tune primarily as the national anthem.
At the same time as the 1977 referendum, a national plebiscite was held to choose the National Song. Advance Australia Fair received 43.29% of the vote, defeating the three alternatives: Waltzing Matilda (28.28%), Song of Australia (9.65%), and the existing national anthem God Save the Queen (18.78%).
Advance Australia Fair was adopted as the national anthem (the 1st and 3rd verses, with modified lyrics) on 19 April 1984 by a decision of the Labor government of Bob Hawke and a proclamation by the Governor-General Sir Ninian Stephen."
So the choice was very democratic and is quite current in comparison with many nations.
The song is easy for most people to sing, which is an important consideration. I think the music is fine, but some of the lyrics may need to evolve to reflect social attitudes better.
Certainly if you look at the British National Anthem it is all monarch-centric, not about the people. So in many respects Australia's national anthem is far more relevant and inspiring than Britain's:
"God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen:
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save the Queen.
O Lord, our God, arise,
Scatter her enemies,
And make them fall.
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On Thee our hopes we fix,
God save us all.
Thy choicest gifts in store,
On her be pleased to pour;
Long may she reign:
May she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice
God save the Queen."
As for France's national anthem, 'La Marseillaise', it is the opposite in approach to that of Britain. La Marsellaise is a protest against monarchy and a peoples' call to arms during the French Revolution and about France invading neighbouring countries. This is arguably hardly appropriate or relevant today!
La Marseillaise:
"Allons enfants de la Patrie, Come, children of the Fatherland (Homeland),
Le jour de gloire est arrivé ! The day of glory has arrived!
Contre nous de la tyrannie, Against us, Tyranny!
L'étendard sanglant est levé, (bis) The Bloody banner is raised, (repeat)
Entendez-vous dans les campagnes Do you hear in the countryside
Mugir ces féroces soldats ? Those ferocious soldiers roaring?
Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras They come up to our arms
Égorger nos fils, nos compagnes ! To slit the throats of our sons and wives!
Aux armes, citoyens, To arms, citizens,
Formez vos bataillons, Form your battalions,
Marchons, marchons ! Let's march, let's march!
Qu'un sang impur May an impure blood
Abreuve nos sillons ! Water our furrows!
Que veut cette horde d'esclaves, What does this horde of slaves,
De traîtres, de rois conjurés ? Of traitors and conjured kings want?
Pour qui ces ignobles entraves, For whom are these ignoble trammels,
Ces fers dès longtemps préparés ? (bis) These long-prepared irons? (repeat)
Français, pour nous, ah ! quel outrage Frenchmen, for us, ah! What outrage
Quels transports il doit exciter ! What fury it must arouse!
C'est nous qu'on ose méditer It is we whom they dare plan
De rendre à l'antique esclavage ! To return to ancient slavery!
Aux armes, citoyens... To arms, citizens...
Quoi ! des cohortes étrangères What! Foreign cohorts
Feraient la loi dans nos foyers ! Would make law in our homes!
Quoi ! ces phalanges mercenaires What! These mercenary phalanxes
Terrasseraient nos fiers guerriers ! (bis) Would strike down our proud warriors! (repeat)
Grand Dieu ! par des mains enchaînées Great God ! By chained hands
Nos fronts sous le joug se ploieraient Our heads would bow under the yoke
De vils despotes deviendraient Vile despots would become
Les maîtres de nos destinées ! The masters of our destinies!
Aux armes, citoyens... To arms, citizens...
Tremblez, tyrans et vous perfides Tremble, tyrants and you traitors
L'opprobre de tous les partis, The shame of all parties,
Tremblez ! vos projets parricides Tremble! Your parricidal schemes
Vont enfin recevoir leurs prix ! (bis) Will finally receive their prizes! (repeat)
Tout est soldat pour vous combattre, Everyone is a soldier to combat you
S'ils tombent, nos jeunes héros, If they fall, our young heroes,
La terre en produit de nouveaux, The earth produces new ones,
Contre vous tout prêts à se battre ! Against you, all ready to fight!
Aux armes, citoyens... To arms, citizens...
Français, en guerriers magnanimes, Frenchmen, as magnanimous warriors,
Portez ou retenez vos coups ! Bear or hold back your blows!
Épargnez ces tristes victimes, Spare these sorry victims,
À regret s'armant contre nous. (bis) Arming against us with regrets. (repeat)
Mais ces despotes sanguinaires, But these bloodthirsty despots,
Mais ces complices de Bouillé, But these accomplices of Bouillé,
Tous ces tigres qui, sans pitié, All these tigers who, mercilessly,
Déchirent le sein de leur mère ! Rip their mother's breast!
Aux armes, citoyens... To arms, citizens...
Amour sacré de la Patrie, Sacred love of the Fatherland,
Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs Lead, support our avenging arms
Liberté, Liberté chérie, Liberty, cherished Liberty,
Combats avec tes défenseurs ! (bis) Fight with thy defenders! (repeat)
Sous nos drapeaux que la victoire Under our flags, victory shall
Accoure à tes mâles accents, Hurry to thy manly accents,
Que tes ennemis expirants Thy expiring enemies shall,
Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire ! See thy triumph and our glory!
Aux armes, citoyens... To arms, citizens...
(Couplet des enfants) (Children's Verse)
Nous entrerons dans la carrière[3] We shall enter in the (military) career
Quand nos aînés n'y seront plus, When our elders are no longer there,
Nous y trouverons leur poussière There we shall find their dust
Et la trace de leurs vertus (bis) And the trace of their virtues (repeat)
Bien moins jaloux de leur survivre Much less jealous to survive them
Que de partager leur cercueil, Than to share their coffins,
Nous aurons le sublime orgueil We shall have the sublime pride
De les venger ou de les suivre Of avenging or following them
Aux armes, citoyens... To arms, citizens..."
Now if Australians adopted words like that in our national anthem, our mates across the ditch in New Zealand would have cause for concern. So a reality check shows that we could do a lot worse.
Conclusion: Advance Australia Fair was chosen by plebescite relatively recently and is accepted by most Australians. perhaps some of the lyrics like "In history's page, let every stage Advance Australia fair"and "Brittannia rules the wave!" and "We've boundless plains to share" need to be replaced.
Postscript:
As for New Zealand's national anthem, they are even more culturally confused than we are. New Zealdn is the only country with two natinal anthems. "God Defend New Zealand" is one of the national anthems of New Zealand, together with "God Save the Queen".
God Defend New Zealand runs like this and is quite similar in themes to Advance Australa Fair.
"God of Nations at Thy feet,
In the bonds of love we meet,
Hear our voices, we entreat,
God defend our free land.
Guard Pacific's triple star
From the shafts of strife and war,
Make her praises heard afar,
God defend New Zealand.
Men of every creed and race,
Gather here before Thy face,
Asking Thee to bless this place,
God defend our free land.
From dissension, envy, hate,
And corruption guard our state,
Make our country good and great,
God defend New Zealand.
Peace, not war, shall be our boast,
But, should foes assail our coast,
Make us then a mighty host,
God defend our free land.
Lord of battles in Thy might,
Put our enemies to flight,
Let our cause be just and right,
God defend New Zealand.
Let our love for Thee increase,
May Thy blessings never cease,
Give us plenty, give us peace,
God defend our free land.
From dishonour and from shame,
Guard our country's spotless name,
Crown her with immortal fame,
God defend New Zealand.
May our mountains ever be
Freedom's ramparts on the sea,
Make us faithful unto Thee,
God defend our free land.
Guide her in the nations' van,
Preaching love and truth to man,
Working out Thy glorious plan,
God defend New Zealand."
Notably, none of the above anthems conveys a message respecting the rights and aspirations of indigenous peoples.
Search for Truth (not verified)
Sun, 2010-02-28 11:06
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Australia's broken governance system more important than Anthem
James Sinnamon
Sun, 2010-02-28 13:34
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Replace states with regional governments, make BCIR's the law
Search for Truth (not verified)
Sun, 2010-02-28 16:29
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Two or three tier Government?
Sheila Newman
Mon, 2010-03-01 10:31
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biophysical regions
John Marlowe
Mon, 2010-03-01 23:09
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A Two-Tier Australian Republic
I appreciate the above input from 'Search for Truth', and so I have contributed a new vision for two-tier government in Australia. Go to new article:
'Two-Tier Australian Republic'
Feedback and development of policy ideas welcome - under the article itself.
Search for Truth (not verified)
Tue, 2010-03-02 09:51
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Re governmental tiers and constitutional reform
Vivienne (not verified)
Thu, 2010-03-04 13:38
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Beremboke puppy farm shame
Tigerquoll
Thu, 2010-03-04 15:58
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Cruelty to animals is morally the same as cruelty to humans
Cruelty to animals is morally the same as cruelty to humans
Under the Victorian Crimes Act 1958 - SECT 24 'Negligently causing serious injury':
"A person who by negligently doing or omitting to do an act causes serious
injury to another person is guilty of an indictable offence. Penalty: Level 5
imprisonment (10 years maximum)."
The same penalty should apply in the case of comparable negligence to an animal, be it a companion animal, livestock, wildlife, any animal.
In the above case involving puppies, it would seem that the RSPCA needs to raise the standard of its moral code. Australian national law should then reflect this code.
Tiger Quoll
Snowy River 3885
Australia
Sheila Newman
Thu, 2010-03-04 18:59
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moral equivalence
Tigerquoll
Thu, 2010-03-04 23:18
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Humans acquire pet animals because of their unconditional trust
Personally, I feel animals are entitled to even greater care and respect than how humans treat other humans. Animals have no choice. Animals provide unconditional trust. Yet so often humans breach that trust.
One must keep in mind that clinical psychology research reminds us that a person with a history of animal cruelty typically tends to manifest that cruel behaviour towards humans. This confirms that legal protection of animal welfare is akin to humans and that it is important in our so-called civilised society that we are legally consistent in respect for human rights and animal rights.
The following article by Carol D. Raupp explains:
The “Furry Ceiling:” Clinical Psychology and Human-Animal Studies.
Tiger Quoll
Snowy River 3885
Australia
Quiet Tasmania
Sat, 2010-03-06 11:19
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US festival 'uses roo in boxing show'
Anonymous (not verified)
Sat, 2010-03-06 12:08
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Kraft foods support backward Texans' pleasure in cruelty
Gail (not verified)
Sat, 2010-03-06 13:24
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Kangaroo boxing act in Texas now banned
RichB
Sat, 2010-03-06 21:20
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Apparently all the brain
Vivienne (not verified)
Sat, 2010-03-06 13:06
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AFP search warrant for Sea Shepherd, on Japan's behalf
RichB
Sat, 2010-03-06 15:50
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Iam absolutely convinced
Quiet Tasmania
Sat, 2010-03-06 16:28
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The importance of the bigger picture
Many people are similarly disgusted Vivienne, but I suggest that if you yourself had the heavy responsibilities of wise government on your shoulders, and the welfare of the Australian population at large on your mind, you too would be obliged to deeply consider the overall picture. I believe that Kevin Rudd is doing exactly that.
It is often the case that restraint, even though invisibly backed up by quiet strength, is seen as cowardice.
I suggest that we all withhold condemnatory judgement for the time being.
Peter Bright
www.quietas.net
Where are the missing comments?
(Repeated from the top of this page.)
Some may be wondering why the two comments listed below can't be found on this page, it is because they have flowed over to page 2. The "Recent comments" links are not incorrectly point to this page. I don't know how to easily fix his. I have manually rectified the problem in a limited sense by adding correct links here.
This is Kevin Rudd's idea of "tough" action regarding whaling of 6 Mar 10 by Milly Osborne
No wise governance, just a wise guy of 6 Mar 10 by Sheila.
Announcement: for now I am momentarily turning off the commenting capability on this page in the hope that people will, instead add new comments, unrelated to any already in this page, to "Miscellaneous comments from 1 March 2009", linked to from the page linked to by the "Your say" link on the Primary menu. If you want to respond to a comment on this page, in the meantime, please let me know. - JS 6 Mar 10.
Milly (not verified)
Sat, 2010-03-06 16:53
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This is Kevin Rudd's idea of "tough" action regarding whaling
Sheila Newman
Sat, 2010-03-06 21:40
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No wise governance, just a wise guy
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