"This is how liberty dies ... to thunderous applause."
Senator Amidala of Naboo
Star Wars - Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.
I don't feel I need to say anymore, but if you want more turn to Dan Froomkin's article at the Washington Post.
Art imitating life
I don't feel I need to say anymore, but if you want more turn to Dan Froomkin's article at the Washington Post.
Galloway sticks it to the US Senate
I continue to admire the British for one enviable characteristic that sets them apart from any other nation - the ability to be so damn polite when insulting someone. :-)
And there is no better example of this than George Galloway's recent statement to the US Senators in answer to allegations that he was involved in the Iraqi oil-for-food bribes.
His statement can be found here or watch it online via the Information Clearing House.
Galloway, an former Labor MP (now an Independant) and outspoken critic of the illegal war, is standing up against the hypocritical and arrogant USA, who, it seems, is having a hard time trying to pin this scandal on anyone and everyone who opposed their invasion of Iraq.
Galloway is clearly a man of conviction and honour, and I support him and his continuing campaign for justice in Iraq. There can be no justice until all USA forces are removed from its borders and Washington relinquishes its control of all Iraqi resources.
As Martin Luther King rightly extolled, "Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice."
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And there is no better example of this than George Galloway's recent statement to the US Senators in answer to allegations that he was involved in the Iraqi oil-for-food bribes.
His statement can be found here or watch it online via the Information Clearing House.
Galloway, an former Labor MP (now an Independant) and outspoken critic of the illegal war, is standing up against the hypocritical and arrogant USA, who, it seems, is having a hard time trying to pin this scandal on anyone and everyone who opposed their invasion of Iraq.
Galloway is clearly a man of conviction and honour, and I support him and his continuing campaign for justice in Iraq. There can be no justice until all USA forces are removed from its borders and Washington relinquishes its control of all Iraqi resources.
As Martin Luther King rightly extolled, "Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice."
[+/-] show/hide this post
More on Virgin
It seems I'm not alone with thinking that the age discrimination case against Virgin Blue is a little bit deserving of a Ma Sheela style "tough titties" retort. (See Ageism is old news)
ShannonSays is clear that the market has an image of Virgin and its staff, and that the company needs to meet those expectations. See Too old to work at Virgin Blue? Get over it.
And they are having some fun with the issue over at Campong Corner.
Personally, I'd like to see a 55 year old woman try claiming discrimination when she is denied an interview for a job as a topless barmaid at a misnamed "gentleman's club" :-)
It is all a bit silly really ... but then, so is this spat from feministing.com. (I'm not going to comment on the name of the site - but I'm laughing along with gay men all around the world!)
ShannonSays is clear that the market has an image of Virgin and its staff, and that the company needs to meet those expectations. See Too old to work at Virgin Blue? Get over it.
And they are having some fun with the issue over at Campong Corner.
Personally, I'd like to see a 55 year old woman try claiming discrimination when she is denied an interview for a job as a topless barmaid at a misnamed "gentleman's club" :-)
It is all a bit silly really ... but then, so is this spat from feministing.com. (I'm not going to comment on the name of the site - but I'm laughing along with gay men all around the world!)
Ageism is old news!
Today, the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Tribunal began hearing a case of alleged age discrimination against Virgin Blue. Eight women believe their applications were rejected because they were over the age of 35.
There's no doubt that they are correct ... but can they prove it?
Circumstantial evidence, such as their claim that only one woman over the age of 35 was employed by Virgin between 2000 and 2002, might be the centre of their argument, but is it strong enough to sway the Tribunal?
I abhor discrimination of any kind, but let's face reality; we all have our prejudices - some we control better than others.
How many 35+ men and women are found waiting on tables at a restaurant or ripping your tickets at the cinema? Next time you go out for an evening of entertainment, or a weekend at a coastal resort, try counting the number of indigenous, old, overweight or aesthetically challenged that are in customer service roles.
The hospitality industry is built upon disrcrimination - they insist on portraying an image of youth and beauty. That is hard to do when you have grey hair or a beer gut!
Is it wrong? Of course it is! Can it be overcome? I doubt it. In fact, I dare say that the majority of Australians and international tourists wouldn't want it any other way - we like to be greeted by beautiful young staff. It is almost as if we feel younger just be their presence.
It is just an unfortunate symptom of our overly-fragile egotistical and commercial existence.
But, good luck to the eight ladies anyway - they'll need alll the help they can get.
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There's no doubt that they are correct ... but can they prove it?
Circumstantial evidence, such as their claim that only one woman over the age of 35 was employed by Virgin between 2000 and 2002, might be the centre of their argument, but is it strong enough to sway the Tribunal?
I abhor discrimination of any kind, but let's face reality; we all have our prejudices - some we control better than others.
How many 35+ men and women are found waiting on tables at a restaurant or ripping your tickets at the cinema? Next time you go out for an evening of entertainment, or a weekend at a coastal resort, try counting the number of indigenous, old, overweight or aesthetically challenged that are in customer service roles.
The hospitality industry is built upon disrcrimination - they insist on portraying an image of youth and beauty. That is hard to do when you have grey hair or a beer gut!
Is it wrong? Of course it is! Can it be overcome? I doubt it. In fact, I dare say that the majority of Australians and international tourists wouldn't want it any other way - we like to be greeted by beautiful young staff. It is almost as if we feel younger just be their presence.
It is just an unfortunate symptom of our overly-fragile egotistical and commercial existence.
But, good luck to the eight ladies anyway - they'll need alll the help they can get.
[+/-] show/hide this post
The unbridled monster
First it was supermarkets replacing local grocery stores; the local milk round disappeared over night, then the local butcher and fruit n veg shop closed its doors.
Newsagents may still be holding their own to a small degree, but independant liquor stores are on the brink of extinction and petrol stations are becoming a mere branch of the supermarket chains.
Now Woolies want a share of the pharmaceuticals industry.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200505/s1363077.htm
If they get their foot in this door (and Coles will rapidly follow), we can be assured that the PBS will be under even greater pressure from our multinational 'friends'.
If this was about deregulation they would be advocating cross pollination of groceries into newsagents, drugs into liquor stores and liquor at your clothing boutique!!
This is quite clearly oligopolistic greed at its most blatant.
Newsagents may still be holding their own to a small degree, but independant liquor stores are on the brink of extinction and petrol stations are becoming a mere branch of the supermarket chains.
Now Woolies want a share of the pharmaceuticals industry.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200505/s1363077.htm
If they get their foot in this door (and Coles will rapidly follow), we can be assured that the PBS will be under even greater pressure from our multinational 'friends'.
If this was about deregulation they would be advocating cross pollination of groceries into newsagents, drugs into liquor stores and liquor at your clothing boutique!!
This is quite clearly oligopolistic greed at its most blatant.
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