Violence gets a guernsey this week.

How could I not comment on the goings-on in France and Belgium, the attack on Robert Allenby in Hawaii, the drug related executions in Indonesia ? Whilst violence seems to have become the commonplace answer to just about any problem these days, some extreme acts of violence still leave us (or I hope at least most of us) shaking our heads in disbelief. The hackneyed phrase "What's the world coming to ?" springs to mind.

How many of us were relieved that the mass rally in France didn't end in disaster - it could have been the focus for more violence. What were they rallying for ? One source is quoted as saying "Journalists were killed because they defended freedom. Policemen were killed because they were protecting you. Jews were killed because they were Jewish," he said. "The indignation must be absolute and total — not for three days only, but permanently."

I agree with some parts of that, but not all of it. Journalists certainly have a right to free spech, but surely not to set out to be offensive. Even the moderates were saying it was offensive, not just the radicals looking for an excuse to launch an attack. Equally, those who have been offended have a right to voice their objection, but surely not to kill the journalists. And following on from that, it's surely not a rational act to issue more offensive material a week later. I'm not in a position to comment on the killing of the Jewish people - I simply don't know enough of the facts - but that would seem to be an unwarranted act of violence against innocent people. Just as the police could be seen to be "collateral damage".

I'm not even sure that I can classify these as acts of terrorism - the definition seems to have changed somewhat over the past few years. Once upon a time it was clear that an act of terrorism had some primary purpose - the exchange of political prisoners, ransom to gain money - but these days I'm not sure what the acts of violence are meant to achieve unless they're simply a step towards the long-term goal of world supremacy. And when you come to think of it, that applies to both sides of the conflict.

The taking of human life is, to me, abhorrent. Even in the case of the Indonesians executing people convicted of drug offences, I believe there are other alternatives. I understand completely that Indonesian law/justice says that this punishment is justifiable, and to some extent I have to admit that people who trade in drugs thus making other peoples' lives a misery make me think in terms of the harshest possible penalty. But not death.

And how about the attack on Robert Allenby - could that be anything more than pure robbery ? So why beat him up ? There are easy ways of stealing money from a victim, none of which involve actual violence - the threat of violence is usually enough.

All of this only makes me more determineded to follow Rotary and spread the word about our pursuit of peace and world understanding. Let's light up Rotary and cast some brightness into a world which certainly seems pretty dark at the moment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

You know you're Australian if …

1. You know the meaning of the word "girt".

2. You believe that stubbies can be either drunk or worn.

3. You think it's normal to have a leader called Kevin.

4. You waddle when you walk due to the 53 expired petrol discount vouchers stuffed in your wallet or purse.

5. You've made a bong out of your garden hose rather than use it for something illegal such as watering the garden.

6. You believe it is appropriate to put a rubber in your son's pencil case when he first attends school.

7. When you hear that an American "roots for his team" you wonder how often and with whom.

8. You understand that the phrase "a group of women wearing black thongs" refers to footwear and may be less alluring than it sounds.

9. You pronounce Melbourne as "Mel-bin".

10. You pronounce Penrith as "Pen-riff".

11. You believe the "l" in the word "Australia" is optional.

12. You can translate "Dazza and Shazza played Acca Dacca on the way to Maccas."

13. You believe it makes perfect sense for a nation to decorate its highways with large fibreglass bananas, prawns and sheep.

14. You call your best friend "a total bastard" but someone you really, truly despise is just "a bit of a bastard".

15. You think "Woolloomooloo" is a perfectly reasonable name for a place.

16. You're secretly proud of our killer wildlife.

17. You believe it makes sense for a country to have a $1 coin that's twice as big as its $2 coin.

18. You understand that "Wagga Wagga" can be abbreviated to "Wagga" but "Woy Woy" can't be called "Woy".

19. You believe that cooked-down axlegrease makes a good breakfast spread.

20. You believe all famous Kiwis are actually Australian, until they stuff up, at which point they again become Kiwis.

21. Hamburger. Beetroot. Of course.

22. You know that certain words must, by law, be shouted out during any rendition of the Angels' song Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again.

23. You believe, as an article of faith, that the confectionary known as the Wagon Wheel has become smaller with every passing year.

24. You still don't get why the "Labor" in "Australian Labor Party" is not spelt with a "u".

25. You wear ugh boots outside the house.

26. You believe, as an article of faith, that every important discovery in the world was made by an Australian but then sold off to the Yanks for a pittance.

27. You believe that the more you shorten someone's name the more you like them.

28. Whatever your linguistic skills, you find yourself able to order takeaway fluently in every Asian language.

29. You understand that "excuse me" can sound rude, while "scuse me" is always polite.

30. You know what it's like to swallow a fly, on occasion via your nose.

31. You understand that "you" has a plural and that it's "youse".

32. You know it's not summer until the steering wheel is too hot to handle.

33. Your biggest family argument over the summer concerned the rules for beach cricket.

34. You shake your head in horror when companies try to market what they call "Anzac cookies".

35. You still think of Kylie as "that girl off Neighbours".

36. When returning home from overseas, you expect to be brutally strip-searched by Customs - just in case you're trying to sneak in fruit.

37. You believe the phrase "smart casual" refers to a pair of black tracky-daks, suitably laundered.

38. You understand that all train timetables are works of fiction.

39. When working on a bar, you understand male customers will feel the need to offer an excuse whenever they order low-alcohol beer.

40. You get choked up with emotion by the first verse of the national anthem and then have trouble remembering the second.

41. You find yourself ignorant of nearly all the facts deemed essential in the government's new test for migrants.

42. You know, whatever the tourist books say, that no one says "cobber".

43. And you will immediately forward this list to other Australians, here and overseas, realising that only they will understand.