It just stuns you sometimes...

This piece from erudito, a person not prone to making up stories.

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Bad ideas not yet dead

Recent scene at Morwell RSL. 40 people – men, women & children – from the local aboriginal Co-Op and childcare centre have booked a Christmas Party at Morwell RSL – fax received confirming it and all. They arrive at the door, say they have a booking. Doorman replies No abos are coming in here tonight. In somewhat stunned amazement the point is made they received a fax confirming. The reply: No abos are coming in here tonight. The head of the Co-op keeps things calm and announces they are going to a particular hotel instead. As they are leaving, they can see through the windows the table for 40 with the waiting staff waving to them to come in. They continue to the hotel.

Now, obviously the doorman was being racist, nasty, stupid and illegal. As a result of my housemate Jennifer’s sojourn in the Latrobe Valley, I have become much more aware of the problems of that troubled region. One of which is persistent racism.
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I've written to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Gavin Jennings, to the Attorney General, Rob Hulls, and to the Member of Morwell, Brendan Jennings. Seeming that I know all three people quite well I am expecting a response. But even if you don't know them, I suggest you drop them a (brief, polite) line as well.

gavin.jennings@parliament.vic.gov.au
brendan.jenkins@parliament.vic.gov.au
rob.hulls@parliament.vic.gov.au

Solstice greetings and a year in review

When I sent out the Summer Solstice wishes and review of last year an old friend astutely described it as an "Annual Report". In many ways this is true. The end of year festivities, do invite a peculiar combination of feasting and reflection. This would probably be even more the case in the northern hemisphere where this time of year falls upon midwinter rather than midsummer. In any case, dear readers, rest assured I wish you the very best for your feasting and reflection. Of the latter, being the public person that I am, here's mine...

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