The Politicalisation of Australian of the Year

Perhaps I’m wrong, but to me Australia Day should be about uniting our nation and the people who call this wonderful country home. Likewise, the person recognised as the Australian of the Year (AOTY) should be someone who embodies that spirit. Someone who has dedicated their lives to helping others.  Over the last few years the AOTY’s have been people who have achieved the opposite in the eyes of many, myself included. They have created divide and attracted controversy. 

Adam Goddes could have been a beacon to help unite Australia instead he created a divide. Whether that was his intention or not it is what happened. The same with Rosie Batty. Whilst Rosie highlighted the plight of woman subjected to domestic violence, she alienated men in the process. Many questioned her worthiness to take on the role given the circumstances that led to the death of her son. 

So now we have David Morrison on whom the great honour of Australian of the Year 2016 has been bestowed. David was awarded the AOTY for his work on gender equality. As someone pointed out last night for doing his job in supporting our female defence force personnel. 

Well, it hasn’t taken long for Mr Morrison to start to go the same path of dividing the nation. His comments this morning will alienate many. He has also stated he will focus on three areas over the coming twelve months; domestic violence, diversity and the gender pay gap and the republican movement.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-26/david-morrison-religious-discrimination-australian-of-the-year/7114390

So here we go again. I hope if he does focus on domestic violence, he includes everyone who battles with this day in day out. Men, woman and children. The gender pay gap fine, but diversity is a political minefield. Then we have his push for the Republican Movement. You can see where this will head and in the process, we end up with one side against the other. So as I stated in the beginning to me Australia Day is about uniting the nation and the Australian of the Year should embody that spirit. We can do that by focusing on the positive things this nation has to offer like volunteering, giving your mate a hand.  

We don’t do that by engaging in political battles like the Republication debate and fuelling what is already a political football between the left and right, hence providing fodder for Labor/Greens to beat up on the Conservatives. We don’t do that by having the AOTY kick off Australia Day with the Muslim debate, although I agree with what David Morrison said. I just don’t see embroiling himself in this issue is his job. It certainly won’t unite the nation. 

So sadly, whilst I think David Morrison is a good man, he is just another political pawn appointed to a role by people driving political agendas. That isn’t what I think Australia Day or the AOTY should be about.  But perhaps that is just me. 

My New Year Wish

On the eve of a new year, it's a time to reflect on what we leave behind and think about what may lay ahead. At this time last year, I was brimming with optimism about the year ahead. In so many ways 2015 delivered. Best ever holidays, lovely times with our family and sharing with good friends. Good health. Just being together with the one I loved the most, delivered so much joy. But the happiness was tinged with pain. I lost two very special friends during 2015. Then I faced the biggest loss of all in December with the sudden passing of my darling Richard. 

When someone is ill and suffering their passing whilst tragic is understandable. When someone who is healthy and full of life just goes, it’s hard to rationalise and to accept, but I must. Death, unfortunately, is a reality we will all face at some time and for those left behind it is never a good time. How we deal with sudden loss depends on the strength you draw from those who left us, the support we have around us, our personal strength and our deeply held beliefs. 

So, I learnt the harshest lesson of all in 2015 and that is to never take things for granted. From that the true meaning of living each day as if it was your last has more relevance. Telling those you hold most dear, how much you love them, (at every opportunity) is really important.

So on the eve of a new year, this year, I'm full of sadness, but also full optimism for a life that will be different. A life that is full of so many happy memories which never die and from which I draw strength. I'm not the type of person that falls in a heap and I know Richard would expect me to get on with life. That is exactly what I plan to do. To live each day's as if it was my last and to have no regrets. 

I wish you and your family a wonderful 2016 and I will leave you with this blessing. I hope you like it. 

“Let this year be filled with the things that are truly meaningful; a guardian angel to keep us safe and watch over us, good health, peace, happiness and prosperity. May we have an abundance of warmth in our relationships. The humility and openness to accept help from others. The strength to help those who need our help and the courage to stand-up for those who cannot defend themselves.

As we make our resolutions for the year ahead, let us go forward with great hope that all things can be possible if we maintain belief in ourselves and most importantly, belief in others.”

Media Agendas or Reader Biased Preconceptions

Like so many I have been extremely critical of the media. I don’t shy away from that. It's often deserved. However, to label all journalists as biased and therefore lacking objectivity is drawing a long bow. 

Reading comments to various journalists columns is an enlightening experience. It is obvious given the response some people don’t even bother to read the article. They kick-off based on the headline. Given the mendacious replies of others, it is obvious what their agenda is. Then we have the ‘follow the leader' bunch. They’ll scan the comments, find one that fits and merrily keep the lie alive. 

An extremely good example of what I am referring to is graphically highlighted as a result of an article written by Ahmed Kilanith and published in the Australian last week. It was titled ‘There should be a charter for local Muslims’. Mr Kilanith spoke of what needed to be done (for the want of a better word) to modernise Islam and to start to address radicalisation. He spoke eloquently on the issue of dysfunctional leadership in the Australian Muslim community and the importance of Australian Muslim leaders and imams, not imports. He shared his very valid opinion that all organisations should implement quotas for female representation on their boards. Mr Kilanith suggested that all boards should comprise 50 percent of suitably, qualified Australian-born or raised female Muslims under the age of 45. Well out they came in force attacking him for wanting female representation on boards. Of course the idiots (sorry, but it needs to be said) completely ignored the fact or simply didn’t read what he wrote, that Mr Kilanith was referring to Muslim boards and Muslim associations NOT all boards. The agenda of the knockers ‘beat up on Muslims’ and simply ignore what they are really saying. 

Likewise, there was an article published in The Telegraph about teaching the history of the Middle East and Islam in schools as part of a program to help to combat radicalisation. The idea was tabled by security expert Peter Jennings and is being considered by theeducation board for inclusion in religious studies. Given the success that people like Sarah Khan and her organisation has achieved in the UK with education programs, I personally think the idea has merit. But, the headline caused an eruption within some of the ‘beat up Turnbull’, team. It was all the fault of Malcolm Turnbull. They completely ignored what was being proposed and by whom in their eagerness to take a stab at the Prime Minister. 

We see these types of reactions repeated ad nauseam. It simply points to the fact that for far too many, the perception of the facts is shaped and altered by their biased preconceptions. In short, people believe what they want to believe, and the facts be damned.