Hazel's not dead on spooky Friday 13th...

[tcpip]

I've discovered that with some people if you're terse they listen to you. Thus the APJC have offered me more work and more money. I have convinced them that it is a really good idea to have fully compliant w3c xhtml and css code.

A similar situation has arisen with the journal 'New Politics'. Initially they wanted nothing to do with my Jim Cairns article. Then I tersely explained who the good Dr. Cairns was. Yesterday the board approved my article for publication and they want me to write more.

On another article writing activity, I've finished a draft response to Jared Israel's piece in The Emperor's New Clothes. To say the least, I think Mr. Israel is engaging in act of sublime deception when it comes to land distribution in the holy country. More on that later.

Superannuation is a funny ol' thing isn't it? First
Peter Costello and
Tony Abbot defend the generous politicians scheme. Then Johnnie Ho backs the gospel of St. Mark. Zey has pointed out this marvellous little article about Peter Costello and tax from crikey.com. Well worth a read.

It does raise an interesting question and one which has three extremes. Do you follow (a) the US system where some judges are paid so much that they are supposed to be "above bribery", (b) the Cuban system where politicians get the same as the average worker, or (c) Plato's system where they don't get paid at all, but rather have "the keys to the city".

Various LJ people have alerted me to the worst part of this trade deal. Australia gets lumped with that most protectionist standard of all -
US intellectual property law. Fortunately, the Senate may still be available to scuttle this aspect of it. I'll be bothering Electronic Frontiers Australia and Labor's Stephen Conroy over the next few days over getting a public campaign started.

My love-hate relationship with things French continues. The bill states that "in schools, junior high schools and high schools, signs and dress that conspicuously show the religious affiliation of students are forbidden." To restate my comments from damien_wise..



Which, apart from the oft-cited Muslim hijab, also means Jewish skull-caps, and Christian crucifixes. What it means for goths wearing crucifixes is uncertain, or Celtic pagans wearing knotwork pendants, Sikh turbans, "conspicious beards", hippies wearing t-shirts that say "J'adore la nature" etc etc..

The only result I can see of this is people - or rather parents signing up their children - en masse to religious schools. Great.

Twenty one years ago, at my old Catholic school, I engaged in a class debate where I furiously advocated that people should be able to wear whatever the damn well want to to school. I still hold to that principle.



I've always had a sense of kindness for little animals, be it from adopting stray cats in East Timor, feeding possums as a regular ritual or even providing sweet potato pancakes for rats. But in recent weeks I've gone even a little too anthropomorphic for my own good, watching The Secret of NIMH, Watership Down and enjoying both of them. I mean really, how old am I?

Comments

french fries

[morrigan77.livejournal.com]

To not be allowed to silently associate oneself with a religious or cultural belief is shocking. Where does it stop? This will likely turn public schools in clone domains and the private schools into the melting pot of freedom. What about anhk's which are a cultural symbol not designated to one particular belief - and as long as the Christian crucifix is not large????? I am agahst! After all the fighting that goes on to allow the rights to practise a faith?? Politicians can sit in their happy houses and removes the rights of people to hold belief and then cry out when their is rebellion! The same path as Americans banning prayers in schools and then complaining that children are uncontrollable and wonder how God allows nasty things to happen!

"Watership Down" is a most remarkable story. Hardly a child's entertainment in my view (many of my primary school class needed counselling after watching the movie) but all go for lapine-power! Adams' tales are worth reading if you want further embellishment (and the accompanying Tales of Watership Down are much more edifying) :))

Re: french fries

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I don't mind the idea of not having prayers in schools for the same reason that I think that people should be able to dress or express from themselves "religious symbols" (whatever that is).

Basically, as I see it, the issue is one of body politics - one should not have to recite a particular (or any) prayer and nor should one be enforced not to wear a religious symbol or be prohibited to starting their school day with a prayer (as nutty as such things seem to me). If an individual wants to start their school day with a prayer that's fine, and if they don't, that's fine also. Ditto for what they wear.

Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin were the two main forces in establishing the separation of church and state in the United States and pretty much think they got the balance right.

I don't need to mention what their "religion", but I reckon some will be able to guess.

Re: french fries

[morrigan77.livejournal.com]

The options for prayers (I'm not in favour of forced mass either) is the same as the option to wear (or not) symbols expressing persoanl beliefs. It's the availability of choice which doesn't inhibit anyone else's rights to choose. Separation is fine where separation is beneficial, but for many living and believing are inseparable. Unless France is trying to boost private school numbers? If the prohibition doesn't extend to the private schools then perhaps it is a herding effort. Thus better enabling the cloning of the peasants.