Bronwyn Bishop: How Clean is YOUR Closet of Failures

Much has been said about Bronwyn Bishop over recent weeks. Most of it not flattering.

I personally think it's very sad that after a lifetime of service, her end will result from her error of judgement. Judgement, being a strong point of hers throughout her career, until recent times it appears. All of her good work forgotten and she herself cast to shame pile forever.

We have yet to see the results of the Finance Departments review into her expenses. I hope they find nothing untoward, but there are no guarantees. If she has been found to have broken the law, then she must face the consequences. But even if she has been found to have operated within the current rules, the damage has been done. She has been mortally wounded, the attackers have won.

It would be fair to say some of the vitriol stems from political point scoring. Labor have been after her from the day she stepped into The Speakers chair. Some stems from disappointment in our politicians. And, some simply because people join in the fray; the shark pack mentality that we see all too often today. "Go for the kill."

Mrs Bishop herself has conducted herself with dignity. She has apologised and paid back the money, plus a fine. Not once has she screamed bullying (although she has just grounds). Not once has screamed misogynist (although again, she has just grounds).

But in thinking about this and how we judge others, it begs the question. How many people critising Mrs Bishop have never cheated on their expenses? I'm sure if you checked mine might turn up the odd questionable item. It might have been legitimate under the rules, but applying the fairness test might result in a different response, dependent on whom you ask. Of course the cry will go up 'but in her case it's my money' - well it's always someones money be it tax payers, shareholders, business owners. It issue is about the application of standards not whose money it is.

Which brings me back to my point. What's hidden in my 'closet of failures'.

I'm thinking perhaps there is an element of truth in that.

The Lion and the Child

Like so many around the world, I was heartbroken to learn of the murder of Cecil the Lion. A beautiful, majestic animal, taken by an evil man who gains pleasure from (and pays thousands of dollars for the so called privilege of) killing animals.

The protests were overwhelming. This story was front-page news around the world. If there has been one positive outcome, however, it is the announcement that Zimbabwe is to ban the hunting of lions, elephants and leopards. Let's pray this turns out to be correct.

The global grief over the death of Cecil, also highlighted the indifference there is to the deaths and suffering of children. I was reminded of that yesterday, when someone reposted this photo on Facebook.

When this photo first appeared a couple of years back, people were shocked. However, the global outrage over this poor child was nowhere near the level of outrage that we witnessed over Cecil. To my shame, I'm not blameless either and I'm thankful for the reminder. Lions are very important, but the welfare of our children is more important. I'll try my hardest to do better.

Identities and Culture : Creating a Better World

It's interesting to note how many people label themselves. They define themselves by their careers; I'm a teacher, I'm a Lawyer, I'm a nurse. They define themselves by their personal status; I'm a mother, I'm a father, I'm gay, I'm straight. But we aren't single entities. We are many things. Sons and daughters, sisters and brothers. Christians and Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus. Atheists and Jews. Liberals and conservatives. Socialists and greens. Some good, some bad. We wear many mantles.

So it isn't that hard to understand that this is an age where many fiercely label other people. I have written a number of times about why people do this. For many, they do this in order to attack and criticize. Some do it in order to understand others better on their own terms and within our own cultural boundaries. Sadly, in doing this people often don’t see the essence of a human being. The essence is that we all hold principles, and values and follow some kind of moral and ethical code. Those principles and values may differ from ours, but it doesn't mean they don't exist.

Two current examples spring to mind.

Some, based on their moral code vehemently oppose SSM others are supporters. Each judges on a different set of personal values or from a different academic standpoint.

Another example is a woman who chooses to dress modestly and wear a hijab. This is a very graphic symbol of who the person is but it only goes as far as their religion and their desire for modesty. Hence, many judge that person by their religion and label them as such. A suppressed Muslim controlled by men. They don't see beyond the 'cloak'.

I am proud to count among my friends a number of young women who wear hijab's. They are career women, some are wives and mothers. All are wonderful daughters and sisters and caring friends. I can assure you they certainly are dominated by men. They live as we say 'good lives'. They make a positive contribution to society. They are gentle, caring, beautiful people.

I am a conservative but I have friends who are subscribers to liberal politics and even green politics. They also are wonderful people. Therefore is saddens me to observe the divide that appears to be growing wider in some parts of our society. That even extends to some turning on as they say "their own kind." A number of my Twitter friends (and myself also) have recently been blocked by others for having the temerity to hold an opposing view from the hardliners within our own Liberal Party followers groups. The usual barrage of insults hurled our way. I'm proud to say none of us who were flicked retaliated.

It is such a shame we can not see this inside of each other, far beyond the cultural, religious, political and personal 'garments' and 'mantles' that we adorn ourselves with, and to understand the complete entity. If we could then hopefully we could move closer toward creating a culture of acceptance of others. And most importantly acceptance of ourselves in having the courage to stand up and say "this is who I am and I'm proud of it."

It behoves all of us to move beyond the mantle that others adorn themselves with and to also be honest about who and what we are. It is essential, if we are going to build a better world than the one we are creating now.

This quote sums it up beautifully.

"Sometimes that mantle is hard to adjust to wearing but we are at a stage that we are comfortable with it and we recognize how we are perceived and how the real core individual that each one of us has apart from the facade that the public believes that we are." ~ James Young

Our Reasoning Ability Is Rapidly Diminishing

I’m becoming increasingly fed up with people labelling me in their pathetic attempts to justify their own bias. We see this a lot on social media. It isn’t the domain of one group or another. People from all groups are doing it. Hence my lament that mankind’s ability to reason is rapidly diminishing.

Like many,  I was horrified by the number of attacks carried out in the preceding 24-hours by Islamist extremists. I posted a comment on twitter attaching a clip from the BBC website. Out of the 10 most recent updates 8 related to events, highlighting 5 different attacks.

Number two on the recent update list mentioned Gay Marriage to which someone replied “Gay marriage is more important than 165,000 Christians being murdered every year”. In the context of the BBC updates I replied it’s just detailing the most recent updates, nothing sinister in that. Well from there I was accused of being young (I’m not) and weak (I’m certainly not) and that Jones (assume he meant Alan Jones) and Paul Murray are wrecking a 1000 years of the conservative tradition. WT!!!

As it happens, I don’t listen to Jones or watch Paul Murray, but I digress. Now I did suggest the reply was the dumbest reply of the week. This was followed by an assault (using the latest weapon of choice of the social media crusaders)….. You are a Leftist!!!! Well, actually I’m not. In  fact, I’m a dedicated middle of the road conservative who thankfully was born with a brain and the ability to reason based on good old common sense.

You will recall the recent issues in Asia with thousands of asylum seekers stranded on boats. A number of us were discussing the problem there, as well as the problems in Europe. I had made a number of comments about the size and the potential scale of the problem given there are over 50million displaced persons. And the the fact that many  of those people are escaping on boats heading for Europe. Hundreds had drowned. I also mentioned countries like Italy & Greece can not be expected to keep absorbing thousands of asylum seekers. And voiced my frustration over the fact that groups like the UN are quick to condemn receiving countries, but do little to address the issues in the asylum seekers own countries.

One of our  ‘conservative brethren’ posted  a comment “give them life jackets that way they won’t drown  can just freeze to death”. Now any reasonable person would consider that a dreadful thing to say (unless of course you have an irrational hatred of Muslims). As a reasonable person, I said as much. What followed, once again was bizarre.  Judge for yourself.

Poster: “Maybe we should give them Lifejackets, won’t drown just freeze to death ”

Me: “That’s a dreadful thing to say. Something has to be done to fix problems on their home soil so they don’t leave”

Poster: “Start with smugglers, but living in corrupt countries will never happen. Can’t solve the worlds problems”

Me: “Never say never, never say can’t. There are 50million plus wanting to escape doing nothing isn’t an option”

At this point someone else joined the discussion & asked what I thought needed to happen. My reply.

Me: “Apart from removing despotic leaders, educating people and stop funding terrorists, I have no idea”

My poster chimed in:

Poster:  “What are you doing for them apart from twitter”

Me: “Apart from sponsoring children nothing. What are you doing?”

Poster: Ignored question, but came back with “What leader would you have, you seem to have all the answers”

Me: I don’t have all the answers and I will admit my patience was waning. Hence reply “Don’t be so stupid” By this time I could almost sense where we were heading. I know the poster form.  

Poster: “You’re the one performing either do something or go away. I’m blinking you. I don’t tolerate idiots. I’m blocking you”

How is that for intolerance and a lack of reasoning ability? The person in question hates Muslims and thinks the answer is let asylum seekers freeze in the ocean and she labels me an idiot.

Conservatives, rightly or wrongly have considered themselves to be above liberal progressives. That was always a bit smug in my opinion, even though I’m a conservative and I do consider myself above the rabble. Conservatives are just as capable of being as intolerant and abusive as anyone else. They prove that over and over again and often over the most mundane issues as per my recent exchanges. If you dare to question, regardless of what you have stood up for, condemned and defended previously, you are automatically labelled; you are not one of us, you are one of them. One of the evil lot. Of course, that is merely a bullying  tactic to attack based on the attackers own bias. “If you don’t agree with me, you are a traitor”.

Equally idiotic are statements such as “All Leftist Are Scum”.. Well, they aren’t. “All Conservatives Are Nut Jobs”.. Wrong again. Granted, some people on both sides are indeed scum. We certainly have our fair share of nut jobs of all persuasions but to brand whole groups highlights once again the inability to reason. It saddens me, but all I can do is continue to call out the behaviour for what it is.

Bullying by people based on their prejudices toward opposing or differing views and their inability to reason based on sound judgement.  In its place we have the  “If you don’t agree with me, you are a traitor” mentality and the world is a less tolerant and intelligent place as a result.