UNITED NATIONS: We Are Not Going To Leave So What Do We Do?

I read far more than I am posting on social media of late. Locally, we are consumed by either attacking or defending the government depending of what side you are on; Conservative, Labor, Greens, exLiberals or pushing a new start-up. Attacking Muslims. Even climate change has lost some focus, albeit people are concerned about the upcoming Paris meeting. Anything associated with Malcolm Turnbull does generate a lot of chatter. The Middle East conflict and ISIS have, to some degree been pushed to the ‘back burner’. It’s all rather mundane and more venting than anything else. It’s one of the reasons why I’ve pulled back on posting. I’m not that interested in small talk. However, I read to gauge what interests and occasionally a gem of information pop up.

However, one of the topics that does get a lot of air play is the belief the #UN is a highly questionable and largely ineffective organisation. Their inability to deal with conflicts, reports of widespread abuse within peacekeeping forces in Central Africa (which was covered up) and the inclusion of countries like Saudi Arabia in positions of power within human rights groups alarms people. Add to that, UN criticism of Australia whilst turning blind eyes to endemic abuse elsewhere, their insidious Agenda 21 & Agenda 2030 and their stance on climate change adds to the concern. I think it would be fair to say that the  is a widespread opinion that the organisation borders on corruption (in some areas) and that it is far too politically motivated is not without good reason. But it seems to me that whining about it gets us nowhere apart from stoking the egos of a few people who like to hear the sound of their own voice on social media. The repetitive chants of the UN must be closed down, we should tell them where to go etc are futile.

Australia was one of the 51 founding members of the UN when it was formed in 1945.  We have been associated with the organisation for the 70-yrs since foundation and we have contributed both money (lots of it) and manpower to UN activities. We are in fact the 12th largest financial contributor. Not all of that investment has been wasted. Millions of lives have improved as a result of our efforts and the efforts of the organisation in general.

We have nominated and been elected a member of the UN Security Council on 5 occasions the latest being 2013 – 2014. That isn't a huge reward for the service we have given; both contribution and manpower. We have also fulfilled the role of President of the UN General Assembly back in 1948. In addition 7 Australians have commanded or led multinational peacekeeping operations.

Approximately 65,000 Australian personnel have been engaged in more than fifty peacekeeping operations, in approximately 25 different conflicts. That engagement has included the such operations as the very important task of clearing landmines, humanitarian aid and repatriation and monitoring cease-fires.

Not everything the UN does is without merit. They help feed well in excess of a 100 million people a year in 80 countries. They feed people in war zones, natural disaster situations, health emergencies, and just plain poor countries. The scale of this is enormous. Today they provide protection and assistance to nearly 55 million refugees, returnees, internally displaced and stateless people. A further 5.1 million registered refugees are being looked after in the Middle East by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. The UN was and still is the leader when it comes to the global battle against HIV/AIDS.

In a world as troubled as ours, I believe there is a need for an organisation like the UN, however changes are needed. This organisation needs to be run by people of the utmost integrity, to help address the many global issues that we face and to work toward the lofty objective of global peace among other things. Despite the social media chorus that we should bail out, it won't happen. Even Tony Abbott didn't go that far and he supported us participating as a member of the security council during his tenure as Prime Minister. Mr Abbott was right to tell the UN we would not be lectured to by them. Like many Australians I am angry about their constant sniping at us over the treatment of refugees when countries like China (a permanent member) and Saudi Arabia the UN’s new ‘best friend’ blithely carry on killing people in their own countries. Furthermore, in the case of Saudi Arabia slaughtering people in the Yemen. I won’t start on western support of terrorist organisations or this would turn into war and peace.

There is a lot of angst being voiced over our declaration that we will nominate for a seat on the Human Rights Council 2018 - 2020. I personally think we should. I can not see us surrendering our membership and despite our last two Conservative Prime Ministers; Howard and Abbott having a tense relationship with the UN they never walked away or surrendered membership. So if as I believe we will continue to be a member of the organisation and we agree it needs to be cleaned up and less politically motivated (and I'll add interfering) then we need a 'louder' voice; a council voice. We need more voices like ours to drive the necessary change.

So rather than complaining, perhaps we should be lobbying as hard as we can to push the government to demand more of a share of voice and perhaps to even push that as far as a permanent member seat along with China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. When you look at the world map there is no permanent member of the Security Council from the Southern Hemisphere, despite the fact that we make up approximately 12% of the world's population. Given our record and our contributions we are in my view the best placed representative below the equator.

As stated, I can't see us walking away despite our desire that we do. So the next best thing is demanding a more permanent role where we can hopefully exert more influence to clean this organisation up and to help control the interference in activities such as ours and to redirect the focus back on the countries with appalling human rights records like so many Middle Eastern and third world countries.

THE BATTLE FOR THE MORAL HIGHGROUND

I watched Bolt (again) this morning, despite my personal commitment never to do so a couple of weeks back. But hey, I’m a female, we are allowed to be fickle. Seriously, if  it wasn't for his guests I wouldn't bother, I find Bolt insufferable but he does have entertaining knowledge guests (usually).

The guest list  today wasn't up to the usual standard. It rarely is when Nicholas Reece is on the panel. We received the usual serving of Labor propaganda from him. Gems like:

"Bill Shorten is announcing 'brave' new initiatives." Fantastic, but even if he could deliver on them, we would be paying for them for the next 100-years. 

"The behaviour of TURC has been outrageous and it's 'politically' inspired mantra."  Not a word about the evidence of endemic Union corruption. 

As usual Mr Reece was left with egg on face over his claims that TURC had been raiding offices. He clearly wasn’t up to speed that a request was made and subsequently withdrawn. His face said it all. 

Of course Bolt was ever keen to push the Malcolm Turnbull is a 'lefty' mantra. I fail to see how showing a willingness to agree to minor compromises to get policy moving is 'tipping to the left'. When this was pointed out to Bolt his rebuttal was hysterical,”But wait until he wins the election, then he is free to do what he likes.” What utter rubbish. If Turnbull wins the election, then it will be on the policies heard the party  tables that the voting public agrees with. Turnbull will not be free to then turf all the policies out and bring in his own. Turnbull has committed to a cabinet government not the power of one government, a point that appears to completely escape Bolt. 

Of course Bolt made not one mention of the following: 

The Governments announcement of it's responses to the Financial Systems Inquiry (the Murray review) which was received positively by the public and with a notable lack of serious criticism of from either Opposition or business groups. Big tick and hardly tipping the dark side. 

After months and months of stand offs agreement was reached with Labor on the China Free Trade Agreement and although very, very minor concessions were made the essence of the agreement is untouched. This agreement will now swiftly pass through parliament and will be in effect by December. Big tick to Trade Minister Andrew Robb and the Government and once again hardly tipping to the dark side.

After a minor revamp treasurer Morrison, and social services minister, Christian Porter, have presented a revamped family benefits package forsakes many controversial measures first proposed in the 2014 budget, but still cuts around $3.5bn in government benefits (mostly from single-income and single-parent families) in order to pay for the $3.5bn childcare package promised in the 2015 budget. Despite what Bolt thinks & the posturing by Labor there is a strong held view the senate will pass the package in return for various sweeteners. Treasurer Morrison isn't one to walk away from change. Certainly not tipping to the dark side merely playing smart politics.

We had the usual firm stance on the asylum seeker issue with Peter Dutton's stance on the so called asylum seeker rape claim and subsequent pregnancy and abortion farce. Same on climate. 

We can only judge on what happens not what we think will happen based on the attitudes of the past as Bolt does and whether Bolt likes it or not Malcolm Turnbull has not lurched to the left and I doubt that will he. He isn't that stupid. 

One point struck me today about Bolt when he was discussing left leaning media and their attacks on Christians in the media segment with Gerard Henderson. Gerald mentioned that most of the left leaning Christian attackers were people raised and educated as Christians who are now atheists. As we see time and again, those who express the most intolerance are very often converts. Ex Christians now Atheists attack other Christians. Ex Christians now Muslim jihadists attack Christians. Bolt who spends the majority of his time attacking the left and middle of the road small L Liberals like Malcolm Turnbull is the same man who campaigned twice for the Labor Party. Perhaps just another case of the converted attacking what he once supported? I wonder.

Gerard Henderson summed it beautifully with this comment during the media segment. I will preface this in stating Gerard was referring to the left; media and supporters. But I think it applies equally to those who tilt a bit further to the right as well; the ultra conservatives. He said, "When you believe your morality is higher than everyone else's, when people disagree with you they are liars and lack morality."  We’ve witnessed ample evidence of that over recent weeks. If you disagree with the likes of Bolt and his supporters you are immediately accused of lacking morals, selling out your principles, you are deluded or simply dumb. The moral high ground is very crowded and it certainly isn’t the sole domain of the left. 

ENOUGH POLITICAL BULLYING

It has been a while since I put pen to paper, but I feel compelled to raise the issue of political bullying and intimidation. What has prompted this, is the number of people who have contacted me privately to voice their concern over the level of intimidation and the hate speech they are being subjected to on social media. To the point that an alarming number of people are at the point of considering closing their accounts. I sympathise with them, because I’ve felt the same over recent weeks, but my resolve never to bow to intimidation kicks in and the kind words from others gives me heart. 

The responses to the recent change in Liberal leadership has shaken a few of us to the core. The level of vitriol and accusations levelled at (for the want of a better term) Liberal loyalists has been challenging and deeply distressing to say the least. It’s been vicious and nasty and frankly there is absolutely no excuse for it. 

A few weeks prior to the leadership change, I was contacted by a number of followers on social media, who like me were frustrated with the Government and Liberal leadership. Whilst we all acknowledge the Abbott led government chalked up a number of successes, we were being roundly flogged by the media, by polls and by the constant leaks coming from the PMO. The call for a spill back in February was a stark warning that all was not well and that something needed to change. Those of us who had the temerity to say it were attacked for doing so. More than one person told me in private they were too scared to even speak up because they had seen the treatment handed out to others like me who had. So I guess the alarm bells should have rung at that point because it was an indicator of how some people would respond if in fact the inevitable did happen.

I sincerely hope Liberal loyalists don’t bail out and leave social media because it’s a very important part of the political landscape today.  I sincerely hope the many who are out there will have the courage to speak up and to band together and to support each other. We don’t have to accept the criticism being hurled our way for merely saying we are prepared to give the change a chance. That doesn’t mean we hate (the favourite word of the anti/brigade) the previous leader. In fact, to the contrary, he did a good job, but he simply wasn’t able to marshall the necessary support to be a great leader. To his credit and to Joe Hockey’s credit they have both publicly asked supporters to do exactly what I and many others are doing; giving the government a chance. So far, things are going OK, that gives me hope. Furthermore, it’s a refreshing change not to wake to another day of gaffes, infighting and senate standoffs. 

Australia: Are We Becoming An Increasingly Intolerant Society

Australia the country of tolerance and of a fair go, where people are respected for who they are, not what they are. Where diversity is embraced and where the richness of the culture of the people who make up this great nation blend together to form a uniqueness that is found nowhere else. Perhaps it's just the world of social media, but post after post that pops up in my timeline presents a very different face to the world. It speaks of intolerance and bullying. Of fear and over reaction. Of divisiveness and hatred. In fact, in many posts of late the most used words appears to be the words hate and hatred. 

I have a personal dislike of the word hate and I rarely use it. I think it is such a destructive word. Martin Luther King Jr. Once said, “Hate destroys the hater…” I believe that. 

However, if you go back in our history, we have usually found someone or something to turn against, sometimes with good reason but most often not. Just ask the first Italians, Greeks, English and Asians (as an example) how they were treated in the early years.  People were often abused in the streets, but mainly the hate discussion was restricted to the dinner table, the pub and around the water cooler and overt discrimination. The fear and suspicion stemmed from any number of biases, but as time moved on people were accepted into society and, many have made significant contributions in all walks of life. As a country we have benefited from that and as individuals, our lives have been greatly enriched. 

In more recent years, the attention has turned to Africans and Muslims. A couple of years back an African friend of mine and her two children were accosted in a shopping centre car park and spat on by a woman who should have known better. My friend just walked away comforting her two crying and frightened children. When I asked her why she didn’t retaliate, she said, “I have witnessed first hand what hatred of others does to a nation, that’s why I came here. To escape that and to live in peace. In retaliating, I would have only inflamed the situation.” My friend and her family are Australian citizens. Her husband is a university professor and she works as an accountant. Her two children are doing very well academically and will probably follow their father into a future career in science. Model citizens in every way, but that still didn’t prevent a hateful woman from making a snap judgement and showing that in the most graphic way to humiliate. 

The biggest game changer for the ‘hate industry’ is the Internet. The haters now have the ability to garner support from not just a few friends and working buddies, they can now rope in dozens of people. They gather on social media like the clans of old gathered at their favourite watering holes and they share their rage and they plan their attacks on the perceived enemy for the slightest indiscretions. Just voicing an opinion can result in a tirade of abuse. Others jump on board and RT and so it goes. Even blocking people doesn’t end it some continue to try and blacken the names of others. It’s bullying at it’s worst. 

This is a piece from — “Loving Your Enemies,” It was delivered by Martin Luther King Jr on the 17th November 1957. It reads: 

“There’s another reason why you should love your enemies, and that is because hate distorts the personality of the hater. We usually think of what hate does for the individual hated or the individuals hated or the groups hated. But it is even more tragic, it is even more ruinous and injurious to the individual who hates. You just begin hating somebody, and you will begin to do irrational things. You can’t see straight when you hate. You can’t walk straight when you hate. You can’t stand upright. Your vision is distorted. There is nothing more tragic than to see an individual whose heart is filled with hate. He comes to the point that he becomes a pathological case. […] Hate destroys the very structure of the personality of the hater. […] When you start hating anybody, it destroys the very center of your creative response to life and the universe; so love everybody. Hate at any point is a cancer that gnaws away at the very vital center of your life and your existence. It is like eroding acid that eats away the best and the objective center of your life.”

We only have to look at other parts of the world to see that demonstrated most graphically and on a much lesser scale we see that same illogical behaviour manifested on social media.  

Of course now we have multifaceted twitter hate. It’s hate based on supporting any cause the haters hate. It’s hate based on politics. It’s hate based on immigration. It’s hate based on religion. It’s hate based on the colour of your skin. It’s hate based on someone taking a dislike to you. Simply anything thing that takes their fancy. For exercising my right to remain a member of the Liberal Party (regardless of the change of leadership) I am now a target.

The following is a great example of how things are twisted to enable the attacker to turn the tables and to weave into their assault their current vendetta. I have whited out the names of the people involved in these exchanges with me yesterday, for obvious reasons. 

Yesterday our ex Minister of Defence, Kevin Andrews took to Twitter with multi-tweets following the announcement of a defence contract. Mr Andrews was extremely unhappy to have lost his portfolio following the recent leadership change. Many viewed Mr Andrews twitter blitz as a negative attack on the new minister who happens to be a woman. I sent this response to Mr Andrews. Which resulted in the following. 

The responses: 

This exchange ensued because I voiced my dismay that the Prime Minister was being attacked by exLiberals for the crime of taking public transport to the Grand Final. Now remember one of our biggest beefs during ex PM Abbott’s tenure, was the puerile attacks on him by the opposition. Conservatives were extremely critical of those attacks and now we have conservatives doing the same.

This continued despite blocking the poster. 

As a conservative Australian, the country and the people I know and love have in the main shown only love and acceptance. Whilst we may not have always agreed, we respected a broad spectrum of ideas and the rights of others to hold and express a different opinion. We try to sell our ideas and hopefully get others on side but if they choose not to, we don’t turn on them. But, if someone does turn on me, I will fight back but I will do my level best to do that in a constructive way. 

I am the wife of an immigrant and my husband holds a different opinion, having been on the receiving end of overt discrimination himself. That said he is the most loyal Aussie you will ever meet. Many friends from overseas who have visited here have expressed their opinion that we are just as intolerant as any other nation. I’ve always leapt to our defence. Whilst it saddens me to say it, I think our detractors might have a point and recent events have sheeted home to me just how intolerant we have become as a nation. Of course the champions of hatred will no doubt rip into me for saying this. I've been on the receiving end of an ample share of their vitriol over recent months. I expect it will continue because I will continue to express my opinion. I’m not telling anyone else how to live their life although a few of my detractors have levelled that accusation at me. I will however try to persuade conservative voters to give the leadership change a chance and to judge on the results. I will try to convince people that wrecking and splitting the conservative vote based on a vendetta isn’t in the best interests of the country. But, if they decide that is their path, fine but don’t attack others who have chosen a different path. 

So on reflection, perhaps we always were an intolerant nation and having not been on the receiving end of the intolerance and to my shame, I simply didn’t see it. 

I'll Listen To The Experts

A good friend of mine who knows more about intelligence operations than most people in Australia (and globally for that matter), sent me a note two days ago, which simply read, "Surprisingly, the Muslim community has also pledged to work and cooperate with the MT government on national security & social unrest matters. Excellent job." 

Tony Abbott and his relevant Ministers did a superb job reducing our security risks due to the influx of boat people. Those with first hand knowledge understood very clearly the profiles of many whom flooded in under Labor, and the ongoing risks uncontrolled boats posed. Add to this, the profile of the thousands amassing on Indonesian shores waiting to infiltrate Australia and the alarm bells were ringing loud and clear. Thank heavens the government changed when it did. And we saw good policy,  exceedingly well executed and boats stopped. Big tick.

Once the flood was stopped the focus on our possible domestic risks gained in importance. Not to say they weren't important before. Whilst many arm chair experts (mostly far-right conservatives) mock anyone who raises concerns about lone-wolves, as we saw yesterday in Parramatta, that they can be a significant threat.  This is where the co-operation of the Muslim community comes into play in a big way. 

It would be fair to say, that some of the language used over the past year has driven a wedge more so than engendering close cooperation. If people won't cooperate with you then you can't expect the best outcome.

As we discovered this morning, the perpetrator of yesterday's attack in Parramatta, was a 15-year old boy (who was reportedly radicalised via the Internet). How this child got hold of a gun is yet to be determined. Same applies to what the motivation was for a 15-year to take to the streets, gun in hand and murder an innocent man on his way home from work. This isn't the first lone-wolf attack in this country. A close working relationship with the Muslim community may not have prevented this, but no working relationship most definitely won't. 

Of course a large percentage of our community simply don’t trust any Muslim. They believe Muslims are lying low and waiting for 'someone' to flick the switch and then all the Muslims will rise up and murder us in our beds. An overly dramatic description, but not totally out of alignment with what I've observed some have said.

These are largely the same group who label anyone who supports Labor or Greens as scum and filth and who are viciously attacking the so called conservative traitors. So I guess, the level headed in our community shouldn't be surprised over the vitriolic lambasting doled out to anyone who doesn't share in the paranoia. 

King’s College London Institute of Middle Eastern Studies researcher Jacob Michelson told The Australian the radicalisation of young people is more complicated than it might first appear, echoing the sentiments of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Jacob Michelson, a researcher from King's College London Institute Eastern Studies focusing on issues of identity among young Australian Muslims, made these comments in an interview with The Australian.

“What do we say about a 15-year-old who clearly possesses a rudimentary understanding of Islam as a theology,” 

“When we start suggesting that 15-year-olds are smarter than they really are, we have a serious problem.

“In many ways this isn’t dissimilar to those youths who have perpetrated mass shootings at schools in the United States. Certainly, religion can be used as a way to justify one’s actions.

“But at the end of the day they all share a common desire for fame and notoriety.”

Wise words from someone who works in the field. As are the words of the wonderful Sara Khan from the We Will Inspire organisation, who has dedicated her life to fighting extremism and radicalisation of youth in the UK. And the UK group from Imams on Line. 

http://www.wewillinspire.com/why-im-recruiting-british-muslim-women-to-fight-extremism/

http://imamsonline.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Haqiqah-What-is-the-Truth-Behind-ISIS.pdf

I find it useful to listen to the real experts, rather than the armchair experts. This includes Muslims who understand the problems they face and who are dedicating their lives in an effort to fix those problems. Likewise, the security experts who are involved day in day out in dealing with extremism of all sorts. 

As for our Muslim youth challenge, I think Sara Khan made a very relevant point in her condemnation of what many Islamist say. "The picture painted is that the West is at war with Islam, but equally Islam is at war with the West and Muslims having no choice but to pick a side." This is a demand made not only by radical Muslims but many in the west. Choose us or choose them. With a narrative like that, no wonder we have conflicts and many mixed up 15-year olds. 

So far, I'm comfortable with the message sent by our Prime Minister and the commitment from Muslim leaders to engage. I'm trying extremely hard to ignore the idiotic comments made by the knockers who attack Turnbull for saying exactly what the experts and police have been saying for months. But then, the knockers are driven by a different agenda. 

Desert The Party But DON'T Blow-up The Base-Camp On The Way Out

The Headline Reads: 100's resigning from the Liberal Party. Fine, let them go. 

When you join a political party, it means you agree with and aspire to the principles of the party, not the character of the leader. Well, at least smart people do that. Leaders can and do change for all sorts of reasons. 

From the Liberal Party Homepage 

OUR BELIEFS 

We Believe:

In the inalienable rights and freedoms of all peoples; and we work towards a lean government that minimises interference in our daily lives; and maximises individual and private sector initiative.

In government that nurtures and encourages its citizens through incentive, rather than putting limits on people through the punishing disincentives of burdensome taxes and the stifling structures of Labor's corporate state and bureaucratic red tape.

In those most basic freedoms of parliamentary democracy - the freedom of thought, worship, speech and association.

In a just and humane society in which the importance of the family and the role of law and justice is maintained.

In equal opportunity for all Australians; and the encouragement and facilitation of wealth so that all may enjoy the highest possible standards of living, health, education and social justice.

That, wherever possible, government should not compete with an efficient private sector; and that businesses and individuals - not government - are the true creators of wealth and employment.

In preserving Australia's natural beauty and the environment for future generations.That our nation has a constructive role to play in maintaining world peace and democracy through alliance with other free nations.

I subscribe to those principles. I’ve yet to see ANY evidence that under our new party leadership that we’ve walked away from those principles. If and when that were to happen which is highly unlikely, I will review my position based on what the revised principles are. 

I've read a number of comments from exLibs stating they only joined the party because of Tony Abbott. Similarly many joined the Labor Party during Kevin Rudd's ascension. That is one of the problems political parties face today. Personality politics versus substance politics. We’ve seen how well that’s working for our American friends haven’t we. Give me party over personality every time thanks. 

Those still stomping their feet and sulking in my humble opinion are extremely selfish. Their cries of 'I want my Tony back' and 'I'm not voting for the Liberals until they bring Tony back' are fanciful. It won't happen. They are simply acting like spoilt children and they are certainly NOT thinking about the party or the hundreds of thousands of others who like me still support the party. They're entitled, of course, to their dummy spit. But they are not entitled to attack others and then cry wolf when people strike back and they’re certainly not entitled to go on a wrecking ball mission and ruin it for everyone else. 

So continue with your little protests and your threats to form other parties and all you'll succeed in doing is further divide the party and bolster the micro parties (particularly in the senate). Further more then our worse nightmares will be achieved; you’ll hand the government back to a CFMEU backed Labor government under Bill Shorten along with their friends the Greens. Is that what you really want? 

So desert by all means, but please stop blowing up the base camp on the way out.