It is often said that Australia is a cultural clone of the United States, albeit ten years behind. That seems to have been whittled down to a neat two days as we furrow our brows and wring our hands over our historical simulacra as the Americans squabble over theirs.
That’s progress, right there.
In the midst of angry debate in the US about whether statues of confederate generals should stay or go, ABC journalist, Stan Grant, wanted the wording of a plaque below a huge image of Captain James Cook amended. Grant’s argument was almost as pointless and futile as actually standing in front of Cook’s statue and quibbling with it.
Before you knew it there was a hail of angry Op-Eds amid visions of tow ropes attached to utes pulling down statues across the nation.
Full column here.
Here you are, Mr Insider, on todays ABC Insiders, Talking Pictures, looking a picture of health, do trust that is the case.
http://www.abc.net.au/insiders/content/2016/s4724880.htm
Too true, HB both men looking in rude health. Alas, my insight to the sight gag was a fail, and considering it was the abc an obvious one. I thought Bower’s would have been in a burqa, a la Hanson. For mine her act was the funniest thing I’ve seen all year. The try hards like McCaleff et al have nothing on her…
If only she was in the lower house, Milton. I would have loved to refer to her as the Member for the Back of Burqa.
Wayne Swan accuses Tony Abbott of being drunk during the vote on the government stimulus bill, Mr Insider, some years ago (linked). Abbott then denied it but now 8 years later admits he was “stonkered”. How could we ever trust a weak man like Abbott who tells lies like there is no tomorrow on so many fronts. Well we remember his pre Election “promises” all of which he went back on when he became PM. Bugger off Abbott, leave Parliament and get a real job if anyone would be foolish enough to employ you!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkFwcqx7uxs
Don’t like your talk, HB! Nude up and i’ll see you in the cage. 85/15 to me!
Eco friendly unguents and condiment only.
Bless you dear Milton perhaps I was a wee too hard on your Tony! Then again mmmm Cheers. P.S. still no sign of Mr Baptiste looks like Kimmie has him locked away
I’ve got an idea , can all of our Statues whoever they may be of , be given a posthumous pardon if necessary , then everyone would go home happy …
An alternative view on RE Lee from my namesake, the 34th President: http://www.civilwarprofiles.com/dwight-d-eisenhower-in-defense-of-robert-e-lee/
From deep conviction, I simply say this: a nation of men of Lee’s calibre would be unconquerable in spirit and soul. Indeed, to the degree that present-day American youth will strive to emulate his rare qualities, including his devotion to this land as revealed in his painstaking efforts to help heal the Nation’s wounds once the bitter struggle was over, we, in our own time of danger in a divided world, will be strengthened and our love of freedom sustained.
Speaking of statues falling JTI, losing Drew Morphett at a young age of 69 breaks me up. What the fxxx is happening this year?
If ever there was a sporting show made by one presenter, The Winners was it. He made it his own, and If ever I missed a show it could only have been excessive pre show alcohol or a hot girl down the road with a better offer. Of course recording wasn’t an option back then.
Drew was the master of ceremonies regardless of the sport he was covering. We’ve lost a champion damn it.
Agree
Mr Insider, perhaps given the volatility of the World today it may be a good idea for we Australians to have a “Home Guard” type of setup where we older codgers could take a lot of pressure off the main Army Force in the event of an attack or “incident”. Whilst I myself have no Military Training at all I feel that chaps like myself could master the basics of Army type rigours. Of course if Kim Jong un hits us with one of his Nuclear Missiles there would no longer be a necessity for an Aussie Home Guard. Are you with me chaps and chapettes, the ladies can be in it too!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nig2SQk6jx4
Count me in, HB and as a gentleman I always say ladies first!
Brilliant Henry! Dad’s Army Down Under! They wouldn’t need pigeons in DPRK. Kim Jong-un would crap all over his own statues.
Speaking of “those who have the best means to express their opinions” in stone, my favourite quirky Melbourne monument:
http://dulkeith.net.au/2014/03/01/monument-to-john-wood-at-the-exhibition-building-melbourne/
Erected in 1880 “on the insistence of” politician John Wood, right out the front of the Exhibition Building to “express his indignation” at the choice of stone used to construct it, it consists of a rough column of the stone he thought should have been used instead.
I might just install a sculpture made out of optic fibre outside NBN headquarters and see how long it stays there.
Just make sure your worthy Optic Fibre statue is a “FTTN” John O’Hagan and not “FTTP” in keeping with the appalling NBN that “Errol” Turnbull has foisted upon us. Cheers
Our leftists have all the class of the American variety: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/statues-vandalised-in-sydneys-hyde-park/news-story/46d3da3e1fe313201c23b49307cb0f5c
Three statues in Sydney’s Hyde Park — including one of Captain Cook — have been attacked by vandals following days of fierce public debate about whether they should be changed.
Interesting article today- Qantas records bumper profit and is giving every employee $2,500, casuals $2,000. Shareholders no doubt delighted.
Which is very nice. Joyce maybe feeling guilty about the massive bonuses and perks paid to their executives.
I had the most awful flight on Qantas International recently. Food and service appalling. I’ll never fly Qantas again. But that’s my problem. My decision.
However it strikes me that maybe Mr Joyce should be investing some of those handouts into maintaining competitive standards on his aircraft instead of lining his pockets.
I’ve returned as a customer on domestic flights. Better service and cheaper than Virgin, IMO. Joyce has quite a remarkable job in turning the carrier’s fortunes around.
Yeah, agree domestic not bad Jack. can only afford them in FF’S!!The little Qantaslink jet they use for Tassie is a great little plane.
But international – no thanks!
He has turned the profits around – but that’s what I wonder – at the cost of flying planes in need of upgrading? Both outward and inward Melb-S/pore were horrible.
Let’s hope my experience was an exception then!
Oh well there’s the answer. Was reading Qantas’ results today. All sections except International holding their own. International down 36% on previous year – claiming fierce fare slashing from competitors.
Only problem is if you cut costs to the extent that service suffers, the other airlines will win your clients anyway !
Increased profits are great for executive bonuses – not so great for fare paying passengers!! 🙁
How? By sacking hundreds of workers and outsourcing much of the work…Sad Cafe
.Its like those surpluses the Libs like bragging about…it is HOW…you arrive at them-mass sackings, being the heaviest taxers and selling off our most valuable publicly owned assets.
Bassy, I have a friend quite high up in the echelons at Qantas – who tells m that the airline industry is so unionised, it is practically impossible to sack workers as you claim.
No it’s not. QF have laid off lots of workers. Still a great Airline though. Friend of mine is a captain with Qantaslink…..except it isn’t Qantas, it’s Cobham Aviation.
Don’t have much choice on a lot of corporate trips and the uni pays my Qantas Club membership. Lately have been spending a lot of time on JetStar and they mostly deserve their reputation. But, direct flights to Bali with the fiancée; cheap and only 4 1/2 hours.
Well it’s Etihad for me this week Dwight.
I see Jetstar are squeezing another 6 seats ( an extra row) into their planes to keep profits flowing. Not for those with long legs – and if someone reclines their seat there may be a riot.
I declined to pay the $5 to choose my seat last week when I went to Melbourne. I got allocated 25C.
So when I got to the airport I went and asked if they could move me. Got 2A – free!! Yay. Did that both ways and saved myself $20 for upfront seats.
Been buying the exit rows so I don’t have someone in my lap. At about $10/hour, I figure it’s worth it.
If we are erasing history will we knock down Port Arthur and other convict site’s? It’s embarrassing knowing we were once a penal colony!
The Tasmanians regret knocking down the penal colony at MacQuarie Harbour.
At the time it was for the eradication of a violent piece of history. Now it would be an invaluible tourist attraction.
So we were settled initially by convicts who were often treated no better than slaves. It’s not an embarassment – just a fact.
I might add that many of those convicts were a better class of immigrant than some of the post war ones.
Convict ancestors are a status symbol down here nowadays JS.
Not embarrassed, JS. Just a little play on penile colony!
How many PM’s do we have Mr Insider?. Firstly “PM” Turnbull says this about Statues, ” Malcolm Turnbull has labelled the push to change inscriptions on colonial statues as a “Stalinist exercise”, saying such a move would “horrify” most Australians.” Then “PM” Abbott weighs in with his 10 cents worth, “Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has also launched a fresh tirade this morning against how subtle “propaganda” should not be taught to children in the wake of the debate about the teaching of indigenous history in schools.” Goodness me between these two coves they have 48 consecutive negative Newspolls! Strewth.
Anything for a distraction.
But SKY had an interesting slant on the last poll HB, they had the 39% who felt that the MP’s should step down over the citizenship running as headlines at the bottom of the screen but failed to mention the 50% of respondents who felt they should carry on.
Kudelka’s toon today, excellent.