Labor vs Greens, Terrorism, Games and Cheese Quest

[tcpip]

The recent attacks by the Labor Party on the Greens is political suicide. As any strategist should know, when you're in a minority you can't fight a war on two fronts. For years now I have been advocating within the ALP for a real coalition between the two parties. Given a recent decision to preference Family First in the Melbourne by-election, the ALP is, once again, frustrating those who are sympathetic towards them whilst trying to appeal to those who will never support them.

On Sunday gave an address to the Unitarians on Terrorism: A Unitarian-Universalist Response, which emphasised a definition of terrorist that included state and non-state actors, distinguishing between revolutionary action and terrorist action, and offering the proposition that understanding what motivates terrorists provides the possibility of resolving the issue. Particularly impressed by a recent article that points out how unlikely progressive change is without the support of liberal religion.

On Saturday had a visitation from ser_pounce and hathhalla. We continued on our quest to complete the Monty Python cheese-shop sketch with several more ticked off, and played a round of Alpha Animals followed by 221B Baker Street, both fairly average games. Sunday afternoon was another session of Pathfinder Planescape where my character (a were-rat monk) continues on his journey to end up like Master Splinter.

Comments

[17catherines]

Oh, you are kidding me. Again? Why on earth would you do the same stupid thing twice?

(I do think this silly decision making comes out of a certain philosophy I have heard from some Labor party members that Labor basically 'owns' some votes - anything from the left is rightfully theirs, and therefore the Greens are stealing Labor's votes...)

I am sorry to hear this - it must be very frustrating being a left-inclined type in the Labor party these days.

[tcpip]

Well, as I suggested on LJ, they probably think the reward (+ c1-2%) is worth the risk of a FF candidate being elected. But it's not necessary. There is no way that FF would put the Greens before Labor even if Labor put FF last.

Which I think they should do. As a colleague put it quite starkly: "These are the people who want to put us in ovens."

[fluffyblanket.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the helpful links !

[fluffyblanket.livejournal.com]

I remember raisng a few eyebrows at the Central Friends' Meeting House in London when we held meetings of our Federation of Anarcho-Pacifists there .

[fluffyblanket.livejournal.com]

I've just tuned in to Press(UK) . What crap ! It's an Iranian channel and it denounces Saudi Arabia for religious persecution - quite right , but complete hypocrisy coming from them ! I find it extremely difficult in protesting against the patriarchal cruelty of Islam in general without appearing to side with the fascist right . Any ideas ?

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

It's an Iranian channel and it denounces Saudi Arabia for religious persecution - quite right , but complete hypocrisy coming from them !

I bet the Saudi channel denounces Iran for the same thing.

I find it extremely difficult in protesting against the patriarchal cruelty of Islam in general without appearing to side with the fascist right .

Well, as the Saudi/Iran example shows that if you take a stand against against a particular example, sure there will be the sectionally partisan who will ignore the mote in their own eye. You might find engaging with Islamic feminists a helpful source for hints and inspiration.

[fluffyblanket.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the valuable link ! I've made an acceso directo as they say in these parts .

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Do let us know how it goes. I would be very interested in hearing their suggestions.

[tau-iota-mu-c.livejournal.com]

Of all the potential first preferences, they strike a deal with FF again? What are they smoking? Must cause severe short term memory loss.

[tau-iota-mu-c.livejournal.com]

(I should have said, of all the extremist organisations, ...)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Win. Right there.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Well... unlike the Senate (which was risky) there is no chance of the FF candidate from winning Melbourne. So they think they can pick up a percent or two from FF preferences. The question is whether they'll lose more than than by the decision.

But in any case FF would have preferenced Labor over the Greens regardless. So the ALP really didn't need to do this. Effectively, they're, once again, pissing off their own constituency.

Oh, I'll be interested in seeing how Rainbow Labor reacts to this.

[fluffyblanket.livejournal.com]

In your neck of the woods -
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/preston-mosque-in-strife-over-telling-wives-to-share-their-husbands-with-other-women/story-e6frf7kx-1226422997012

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Yes, very much so. I don't have a particular problem with polyamoury under egalitarian conditions, but I do find they way that it's phrased (let your husband take another wife, rather than divorce) as a strong example of the sexism that we're discussing.

[aske.livejournal.com]

I should start paying more attention to what's happening at the Unitarian Church! This coming semester I'll be doing a subject called Terror, Law and War mainly focusing on responses (legal initiatives, military action, torture, etc) to terrorism for my Masters. Looking forward to it.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

We should have you do a presentation at the Philosophy Forum on said subject, I think!