Commonwealth
Britain’s colonial era, now represented by the modern Commonwealth of Nations meeting in Perth, can only be looked back on according to its good bits and its bad bits.
The good bits included rule of law, a public service, democracy, language and cricket.
The bad bits included economic exploitation, cultural genocide, brutal subjugation and cricket.
Continue reading "CHOGM is the sound of a spluttering Commonwealth" »
Striding along Rome’s Piazza Navona in late September, his “Nikon necklace’’ bouncing off his chest as a sign of a duty-free camera indulgence, was Paul Keating.
He was, he told a group of Australians, constantly being stopped by Australian tourists who wanted a chat and to get in a photo with him.
It was suggested to him he was having the same public popularity problems as Kevin Rudd.
Continue reading "Rudd not a Caucus winner, but an expert on talkfests" »
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John A Neve says:
AtM, If I knew why the Howard government was “great”, I not have asked the question. Once again I note you failed to answer it! But you never answer any question do you, you just dribble. Read more »
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Kath says:
Don’t want to rain on the parade, but there’s no “real PM”, you’re either Prime Minister or you’re not. If you use the logic that you can only be Prime Minister by winning an election, then Billy McMahon was not a Prime Minister either. If you use the logic that… Read more »
While you’re watching the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony tonight, take a moment to look at the VIP box.
The first guest of honour in New Delhi is Britain’s Prince Edward, there representing his mother, the Queen, in her capacity of Head of the Commonwealth. Nothing unusual about that. But alongside him in the guest of honour spot will be Mahinda Rajapaksa, the President of Sri Lanka.
The Games are these days the most visible expression of the Commonwealth itself – an organisation which aims to promote democracy, human rights, good governance, the rule of law, individual liberty, egalitarianism, free trade, multilateralism and world peace.
Continue reading "When quiet diplomacy equals silence on human rights" »
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marley says:
So what you’re saying, Marilyn, is that Australia, which detains Tamil asylum seekers temporarily while it processes their claim for refugee status, is a worse human rights offender than Sri Lanka, which commits the persecution from which they are claiming refuge. The logic of your position escapes me. Read more »
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acotrel says:
’ Robert Menzies went so far as to call Hitler a good fellow. ‘ Well Hitler’s ideology wasn’t so much different from Menzies’s - both rabid right wingers? Hitler knew how to deal with communists. Read more »
In writing about public opinion as measured by our Auspoll research, I try only to describe the findings, discuss what they may mean socially and politically, add any insights I can. My own opinions have no business here.
This week I’m making an exception because there’s an elephant in the room, he’s getting on my wick with his noisy trumpeting of confected national pride and he’s wearing a swag of medals round his neck as though they mean something.
I refer of course to the glorified Schools District Gymkhana known as the Commonwealth Games, formerly the Empire Games, before that, even more accurately, the British Empire Games. This one is best because the whole charade ceased being worth organising, watching or taking part in when the old Empire slipped into history – WWII at the most flattering estimate.
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Danut says:
ok umm what!!!!! Gross, dugnistisg, foul, embarassing…..need I say more yuck I feel dirty now hahahaHave a great weekend Ryan!!! Read more »
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Julio says:
India lost a gdolen occasion to shine in the world stageBut just also watch where some comments come from: Pakistan, for instance, the world's head quarters of terrorism, not capable to help one third of it's population still under water! Read more »
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