Rebuttal to A. Nock

A. Nock (Letters ,12/12) questions whether the social security system will be overhauled to fix anomalies that allow same-sex couples to be treated as individuals.

Unfortunately, our Federal Government is comprised of the most conservative minds Australia has today -- yes, even more closed-minded than our own State Liberal cronies. As such, there is no chance of reforms on a Federal level, even though the Democrats and the Greens have initiated or supported numerous proposals in the past.

Until the day when we do get similar Federal reforms, I will remain one of the "fortunate" homosexuals who is eligible for social security or Austudy while my same-sex partner works full-time.

Sorry, but until we can enjoy the same rights and freedoms as other couples, I'll gladly accept the small compensation that is available.

Parenting - Freedom, privilege or right?

EMAIL RESPONSE TO A DISCUSSION FORUM REGARDING A LETTER TO THE EDITOR

As much as this may rile a few people, M. Mathewson is correct in that parenting is NOT a right and is most certainly a privilege. I'll add that his/her argument seems to be unfairly aimed towards lesbians and should be aimed at all parents instead.

No one in Australia has the right to tertiary education, to work, to have adequate housing, to walk across a road, or to drive a car, but we tend to think of these things as irrefutable. They are but privileges and we must earn them and continue to prove ourselves worthy lest they be revoked. If you abuse your position as a parent then you will lose that privilege also - that is undeniable.

However we should all have the freedom to be parents. Freedom and rights are often confused in these debates and we need to be aware that Australians have very few rights (I can count them on one hand) but we have many freedoms and privileges.

Same-sex "lifestyle choice"

Letter to the West, as it was published. Two sentences removed.

Yet again The West Australian (Care needed with gay reforms, 16/11) shows its inability to understand the subject matter. Being attracted to the same sex is no more a lifestyle or preference than being male or female.

As for the concern about a lower age of consent giving rise to predation of teenage boys, where is your concern about the currently legal act of predation of teenage girls by older men and women? Reducing the age of consent for homosexual boys to 18 is not equality unless you raise the bar for everyone to 18.

Human rights should never be left to the popular vote. The tyranny of the majority has, in the past, condoned slavery, genocide and discrimination against women.

Today we are a more humane society. Tomorrow we will take another step in that long road of inclusion and respect. I hope that The West Australian will soon follow that lead.

Same-sex "lifestyle choice"

Letter to the Editor (The West Australian), as it was written:

Yet again The West (Editorial, November 16, 2001) shows its inability to understand the subject matter. Being same-sex attracted is no more a lifestyle or preference than being male or female.

As for the concern about lowering the age of consent giving rise to predation of teenage boys, where is your concern about the currently legal act of predation of teenage girls by older men and women? Such an omission continues the vile promotion of women as sexual objects and of older men revered for their virility!

Reducing the age of consent for homosexual boys to 18 is not equality unless you raise the bar for everyone else to 18. While this is something that a large proportion of the conservative community may agree with it is regressive and inevitably unworkable.

Although I would like to see parliamentarians have the freedom to vote according to their conscience on all legislation, it is important to remember that human rights should never be left to the popular vote. The tyranny of the majority has, in the past, condoned slavery, genocide and discrimination against women.

Today we are a more human society. Tomorrow we will take another step in that long road of inclusion and respect. I hope that the West will soon follow that lead.

Bigotry

A MESSAGE POSTED TO AN EMAIL FORUM, OF WHICH I AM A MEMBER

I have just read some of the most bigoted comments I have ever seen and I'm disappointed that they have appeared on this forum.

The Qur'an, the Torah, and the Bible could all be read and interpreted to mean anything under the guidance of the right person. You just need to read Leviticus to understand where the Christian fundamentalists gain their stance on homosexuality, where the Catholics get their views on sex, or where some other groups get their ideas about the foods they eat, or the clothes they wear.

Isolating Islam as a hateful religion is unnecessarily harsh and insulting to Muslims (and to anyone else with a respect for a person's religious beliefs, like myself).

Remember it is the PERSON that causes the terrorism not the religion. Do we blame Catholicism for Northern Ireland? How about blaming the Baptist denomination for the bigotry in the south of good 'ol USA?

Respect and understanding is what is needed, not blame and hate! And it is not a matter of political correctness. The Muslims I know are kind, loving and generous people.

To define Islam on the actions and words of Osama bin laden is as gross an indecency as defining Christianity on the actions and words of Hitler.

World Crisis

An email to a relative in New Zealnd

So pleased that you share the same views as I do. I wish my parents could see it the same way. It is horrifying to see the anger and calls for revenge especially when the US is governed by the son of a cowboy. Who knows what junior is about to do? The USA has never won a war, except against the Japanese - and we know how that ended.

I feel immense sorrow for those people trying to flee Afghanistan and other oppressive regimes and am therefore also saddened by the way our Australian government is (mis)handling the refugee "crisis".

Australia, amongst many nations in the world, is rapidly losing its humanity. Almost 75% of Australians currently support our conservative government in ignoring the needs of genuine refugees.

Meanwhile, Muslim women are being harassed on our streets and a Muslim mosque was fire bombed in the last week. This is a sickening reaction to a dreadful and delicate situation.

It pains me to see my Muslim friends in fear while at the same time joining with 99.9% of other citizens of Earth in condemning the events that shattered New York and Washington.

Two weeks ago I arrived home from a night at the movies and caught an announcement on the radio about the attacks. For the next few hours I watched the events unfurl "live" on the television, thinking to myself that I was watching some bizarre "reality TV" show and that the credits would roll any minute.

I didn't sleep that night or the next day, instead staying glued to the TV and switching emotions as often as the channels. Anger, shock, sadness, fear, panic, and even joy when the few survivors were rescued.

I've spent a lot of time since that day contemplating, writing and talking with other people. One of the most helpful exercises for me was to put pen to paper and I'd like to share some of that effort with you.

Take care of yourself and each other. Give my love to everyone. It is moments like this that I really notice how isolated we are from the rest of the family.

[+/-] show/hide this post

Let Peace Prevail

Background


I wrote the following around the same time as Two Of A Kind in the wake of September 11. I ended up submitting it to several newspapers in the hope of getting it published as a letter. Unfortunately it didn't succeed. More background here and here.

Empathise with the unspeakable pain and loss,

    but refrain from words and acts of bigoted anger

Acknowledge the need for swift and certain justice,

    but quell the voice of revenge and retribution

Honour the victims and provide solace to their beloved,

    but protect all from wrongful blame or judgement

And above all, no matter what the future holds,

    gain strength from hope (or faith) and let peace prevail.

In The Wake of September 11

An Email to a friend who is also a writer.

Like most people around the world I've been trying to deal with the events of last Tuesday and writing has been a good outlet in the last few days.

I don't usually sit down and write, especially not poetry, but I got around to putting a few verses together and I thought that I would like to share my dark, apocalyptic thoughts with someone who can see more than just words on paper (or a screen).

Anyway, be warned that I haven't written anything flowery and optimistic - I've just been venting some dark bottled up emotion and this is what has evolved. I'm not really looking for a critique, just someone that can understand the need to use words and paper rather than bombs and bullets.

TWO OF A KIND


Two cards dealt by fate,

paired devices in a chanceful game.

Why do they gamble with innocent lives?

The diamond, still rough, and the club, absent of shame.

A lover of money and a trader of souls,

juxtaposed; enemies competing for similar goals



Two freedoms voiced under the banners of faith

a binary of ideals converged at the tangent

Are these the symbols of a world still forming?

The Cross and the Crescent,

the phrenetic and the fanatical,

contiguity; believers in the same ancient idol.



Two energies forged by the gods

a polarity of latent direction

Will the immovable object meet the irresistible force?

Eastern resurrection faces western insurrection

A phoenix rising to glory, an eagle in the twilight of power,

osculation; barbarians of the same hour.



Two battles fought by sentient beings (in theory!)

coupled semaphores of distress.

Can any be the victor of such bloody battles?

Both commit to justice, neither will confess.

Blood on the stars, blood on the half moon,

analogous; all humanity facing the same impending doom.




September 2001

Words of Support and Caution

As much as I can't make sense of what has happened in New York and Washington, even more so I can't make sense of what is happening across the world in reaction to those events.

The unity shown around ground zero at both sites has been inspiring, and yet that same sense of comradery has been set aside by others as they seek to enact harsh judgements upon innocent people due to their race, skin colour, accent or religious beliefs.

Only now after these terrible events have occurred are some people starting to realise why the refugees are trying so desperately to escape from Afghanistan and other oppressive regimes. They don't need our condemnation and fear, they need our empathy and friendship.

Now is not a time to be turning against each other, but for turning to each other for support and solace. That is why I have sent the following letter to the editors of Australia's major newspapers hoping for it to be published to remind people to think before acting.

To the Editor,

As we come to terms with the horrific acts of violence in the USA I want to share with all citizens of our small Earth the following words of support and caution:

  Empathise with the unspeakable pain and loss,
    but refrain from words and acts of bigoted anger
  Acknowledge the need for swift and certain justice,
    but quell the voice of revenge and retribution
  Honour the victims and provide solace to those they loved,
    but protect all from wrongful blame or premature judgement
  And above all, no matter what the future holds,
    gain strength from hope (or faith) and let peace prevail.

Two of a Kind (a war on terror)

I wrote this poem about a week after the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington. It describes the never-ending battle between two forces, neither good nor evil. They are opposites but they are also the same.

Two cards dealt by fate,

Paired devices in a chanceful game.

Why do they gamble with innocent lives?

The diamond, still rough, and the club, absent of shame.

A lover of money and a trader of souls,

Juxtaposed;

enemies competing for similar goals



Two freedoms voiced under the banners of faith

A binary of ideals converged at the tangent

Are these the symbols of a world still forming?

The cross of gold and the black crescent moon,

The phrenetic and the fanatical,

Contiguity;

believers in the same ancient idol.



Two energies forged by the gods

A polarity of latent direction

Will the immovable object meet the irresistible force?

Eastern resurrection faces western insurrection

The phoenix and the eagle in the twilight of power,

Osculation;

barbarians of the same hour.



Two battles fought by sentient beings (in theory!)

Coupled semaphores of distress.

Can any be the victor of such bloody battles?

Both commit to justice, neither will confess.

Blood on the stars and stripes, blood on the half moon,

Analogous;

all humanity facing the same impending doom.



Collin Mullane

In Memory of all those who died

11 September 2001

Tolerance vs Respect

COPY OF EMAIL SENT TO A FRIEND

Well done, M------- ;-)

As an aside, I immensely dislike the term "tolerance" when talking about basic human rights.

I tolerate the heat in summer and I tolerate the flies when I don't have any Aeroguard handy! These things I "tolerate" only because I cannot overcome or dispose of them easily, but tolerance is not the only motivation.

I think respect is what we are really asking for ... an acknowledgement that we are all a part of life, together, and that we need to put aside any differences to work for the common good.

Respect is a much more powerful and inclusive word than tolerance.

Tolerance just sits there and says "I hate you but I'll allow you to live if you don't annoy me". Respect says "I don't agree with you, but you have a right to live in peace"

Sexuality Law Reform

To the Editor (The West Australian)

It is heartening to see such vigorous debate on sexuality issues. It is disheartening, however, to see so much misinformation.

Debate about age of consent is secondary to the real issue, that being whether all our citizens should be treated equally. Raise the age of consent to 21 for all, or lower it to 16 for all.

Equality cannot be compromised.

If I lay dying in a hospital my gay partner does not have a right to be by my side. I do not have the right to name him as beneficiary to my superannuation and if I die intestate he is not acknowledged under probate law.

However, discrimination works both ways. A WA business can legitimately refuse employment to straight people and a property owner could refuse tenancy to heterosexuals.

A member of a same-sex couple can legitimately claim welfare benefits whilst their partner is employed while straight couples are not entitled to that privilege.

Oh, there is another benefit to being gay. I know what unconditional love really means ... the rest of society takes it for granted!