ANDREW CHAN & MYURAN SUKUMARAN

Two good men died this morning. Their deaths unnecessary and cruel. I won't forget what they were and in their early life, nor should I. They committed a dreadful crime and they spent 10 years in jail for it. But unlike so many others, they turned their lives around and used their time in jail productively. One becoming a preacher the other a gifted artist.

So I will remember them for what they became, fine men who helped many, many others. Fine men who faced their deaths with dignity. But more importantly fine men who died at the hands of a corrupt Government, pawns in a political power struggle to show the world they weren't weak. And murdered by a weak leader who thinks the way to prove you aren't is to kill the powerless to prove his strength.

As for those who cheered on the death squads with the chant they were drugs dealers who cares, they kill people. I couldn't say it any better than this by Amy Corderoy SMH.

"I didn't realise we were reverting back to the days of eye-for-an-eye punishments - a concept first introduced in Babylonian times - but if we have, let's not be inconsistent about it.

How about introducing the death penalty for drunk drivers, or tobacco industry executives?

After all, in the latter case we have numerous people who knew, for decades, their product was deadly for one in two of the people who use it (making it even more deadly than heroin).

Some companies profited for years while they hid evidence, lied to the public and influenced governments, and now are continuing their deadly behaviour in developing countries.

Of course, it would be barbaric to see the chief executives of these companies taken to an island off the coast somewhere and shot.

But for some reason we don't think the same thing about Chan and Sukumaran.

Finally, the third argument goes, "Chan and Sukumaran knew what they were getting into, so why should we care about them?"

These young Australian men, and what they did seems unimaginably stupid. It's easy to make harsh judgements about a decision we would never have made ourselves - even easier to take the moral high ground from a drug-dealer. (All the while conveniently ignoring the fact that there were other people who knew what they were doing, too, namely the Australian Federal Police who let them go to their deaths.)

Perhaps all this is just a way of safely living out our most primitive revenge fantasies?

After all, this way we get to keep our moral high ground about capital punishment, insisting that we are still not in favour of it. But we can't help it if those brutal Indonesians like giving out cruel punishments, so out of "respect" to their culture we'll support them. Well, how about instead we respect them by treating them as our moral equals, who are just as capable of rejecting the death penalty as us?

We should never support the death penalty, which is not a deterrent and only serves to allow governments to enforce a most brutal, unjust, irrational "justice" - generally against those who have the least resources and ability to defend themselves.

When Chan and Sukumaran die I will feel for them. I will think of their grieving families, of their brutal, bloody deaths and just the sickening waste of it all. And I hope those Australians safely on their moral high-ground will pause for just a moment, and think about just what it is they have been advocating for."

All eight men who faced the firing squad this morning did so without blindfolds. They stared straight ahead. Andrew and Myuran the calming influence who helped others to face the barbarity of what was to befall them.

So like Amy I hope those Australians safely on their moral high-ground will reflect on what they have been advocating. I hope unlike Andrew and Myruan they are never in need of forgiveness, compassion and caring. And I hope their families never have to face what Andrew and Myuran's have been forced to endure. And if they are and they find themselves on the receiving end of the hate and the same lack of humanity they have shown, that they ponder and remember, there is such as thing as karma.

Rest in peace boys. You won't be forgotten.

Andrew Chan & Myuran Sukumaran Don't Deserve To Die

"There but for the grace of God go you or I".

Today, Andrew Chan & Myuran Sukumaran have been moved from their Bali prison to the place of their execution. 

I know the devastation that drugs cause.  And, no one denies that these two young men led a life of crime. No one denies that dealing in drugs should never be condoned and that people who do must be punished. No one denies that in this country of ours we are far too soft on drug dealers.  No one denies that Andrew & Myuran knew the risks they were taking but teenagers & those in their early twenties never think they will get caught. That is not meant to condone their crime merely recognise the reality. But is execution befitting the crime when terrorist murderers are set free after pathetically inadequate sentences? After serving 10-years in jail to murder (yes murder) these two young men now smacks of vengeance particularly when their exemplary behaviour is completely disregarded by a new President out to make a name for himself. 

The case of Myuran and Andrew is made worse given our own AFP delivered them into the hands of the Indonesian authorities knowing their possible fate should they be caught. After all they were not dealing drugs in Indonesia. They were bringing the drugs back here and they should have been arrested charged and jailed here. The irony is, had they been, they probably would simply have continued to offend.  

 

As for those who say Andrew and Myuran were the ringleaders. Rubbish. They were NOT the drug barons. Andrew and Myuran didn't live in multimillion dollar mansions. They didn't drive around in exotic sports cars. They don't hide behind the veils of respectability.  The drug barons do and they are also protected by those who so easily snuff out the lives of expendable people like Andrew and Myuran.

Hundreds and hundreds of people are arrested and jailed. Most just keep offending. But Andrew & Myuran faced with an uncertain future (sentenced to death 10-years ago) made a decision to try and do something positive with their lives. They were encouraged by the prison Governor who had long held the conviction of rehabilitation so that prisoners didn't stay on the spiral of a continual life in jail. 

Myuran turned to art and has become an accomplished artist. He in turn has taught others and helped them to recognise that there is more to life than a life of crime. More importantly, helped others to help prepare them for their release. Andrew turned to religion and is now an ordained Christian minister. He also has helped to rehabilitate his fellow prisoners. Both have gained the admiration of the Governor and their fellow cellmates. 

So it is with heavy heart to learn today that Myuran and Andrew have commenced their final journey. To those who are cheering the Indonesians on, I would ask two questions; how blameless are you. Have you NEVER done anything in your life that you deeply regret? And what have YOU done to improve the lives of others? 

To those like me who believe you should be given a second chance when you prove to society you deserve it, let’s send our prayers to Andrew, Myuran and their families and let's pray their new found faith can sustain them through this dreadful and barbaric ordeal. 

 

And, let's always remember, those who have fallen, picked themselves up and dedicated their lives to helping others (even from a jail cell) have proven themselves much more worthy of our admiration and our compassion, than those who have no forgiveness in their hearts.  

 

Free Speech Comes with Responsibility

I have always been a strong advocate for free speech. As a child, before I even understood what free speech was, I have been often in trouble for saying it, how I saw it. My parents taught their children the importance of expression. As a result, the three of us have always been considered outspoken. What I needed to learn as a child, however, was how to present what I believed in a responsible way. Hopefully I have learned I do that, more often than not.

As the debate over free speech rages following the terrorist attacks in Paris the howls are gaining in intensity. Many of those screaming the loudest (many right wing, Christian conservatives) had never heard of Charlie apart from the odd rumble over a Muslim cartoon. They are probably not even aware that Charlie was an ultra-left publication that despised everything conservatives stood for. In making that comment I am in no way condoning the cold blooded murder of Charlie employee's & other innocent people by Muslim extremists.

But it does in my mind create a question over free speech, standards and our collective desired harmonious society.  The original intent of free speech was to give a voice to the suppressed minority and as I read recently; to keep our governments honest. But free speech is now rapidly declining into the tool of choice by far too many to incite and validate hatred, attack & vilify others based on opposing views on religion, politics, human rights, environment etc. Even other conservatives who express middle of the road views are attacked and vilified by other far right wing conservatives. I find it laughable that 'the pen is mightier than the sword' cartoons are swamping the internet and various publications and yet, it hasn't dawned on those promoting this that is was the (it could be argued) inappropriate use of the pen that has led to the deaths so many people.

I had the temerity to suggest yesterday that "Charlie" were not very nice people. Via their cartoons they attacked Christians, Jews, politicians and Muslims in the most appealing fashion.  I was at pains to point out that in making that statement I in no way condoned the murder of Charlie employees over a religious cartoon. I was immediately attacked and accused of being a hater and an ISIS sympathizer. Yes, by so called conservatives.

So back to free speech. Our right to free speech has to come with a level of responsibility.   I have said this on numerous occasions. It can't be used as a tool to bully and vilify others.  This comment sums it up beautifully. "In a democracy the right to free speech is given by the people through the parliament. However, it is impossible to legislate decency."

So let's continue to fight for the rights to free speech and that includes the repeal of 18c. But as responsible people, let's also fight for common decency, balance, respect, truth, tolerance and civility.