So,I got an email yesterday from everyones favourite community based political h4×0r5, GetUp, titled “Here’s to hope rising in ‘08″. It’s the latest in a series of oddball moves by these born-again-populists. Here’s a little bit:
“2007 – the year when together as Australians we stood up and aspired to be something more. When we reached out to one another like never before, emboldened to reclaim our political process for the benefit of the many, not just the few. When we participated in the profound transformation of our public life, and also found our internal landscape transformed by hope, renewal and relief.”
At first I was just bumbling through, barely glancing. But as I delved further into the above paragraph, I was begat by sinking a feeling. “…reached out like never before”?? “…profound transformation…of hope, renewal and relief.”??!!? Now that is some overcooked oratory – an awfully big congratulatory slap on their own arses.
Sure, GetUp had some fun moments in the campaign. A national TV spot during the AFL Grand Final, and their work towards indigenous reconciliation is of particular note. But I’m obviously struggling to comprehend the enormity of the past months events…
Kevin Rudd
A boring, conservative, gimpish Laborite. His acceptance speech was horribly one dimensional, as too his speech to the floor of the UNCC talks. And then there’s his delivery. Yikes! “And you know what…?” STFU. He is no Luther-King, JFK or Whitlam – he has no handsome plans for reform, indeed, we have little much to measure him on over the next few years (‘An education revolution’? ‘Broadband’? He won’t retire?). But that’s OK. I’m just kind of wondering where the profound transformation is going to come from…?
Outreach
We’ll start with the simple issues. Staying the course in Afghanistan was probably the first decision Kruddy and co. made. And fair enough. We wouldn’t want to leave them to despair and hopelessness as the Taliban prepares to resurme after a brief winter interlude. That’s some quality “…reaching out”, but it’s certainly no “never before”.
Then of course, there’s Iraq. GetUp ran a particularly vicious anti-Iraq campaign throughout the months leading up to the election. It culminated in a feature email to all its members starring the widowed-by-the-war, Sam McMillan, and the disfigured-by-the-London-bombings, Louise Barry, pleading with us to end the war. And before we go on, this email, too, warrants dissection.
- Iraq and London are not, were not, and likely, never will be linked. Terrorism in the West is an entirely separate issue from both Saddam pre-war, and the sectarian violence post-war. Sorry Louise, I’m have no doubt it was a horrible experience, but you are by no means more qualified to emote to us over Iraq than the 6,300 odd Victorian’s seriously injured annually on our roads.
- Losing a spouse is probably the most traumatic experience humankind can face. And I’m deeply saddened for Sam, as well as entirely appreciative of her husbands efforts in protecting the freedom of the Iraqi people. However, it needs to be pointed out that no-one forced Jacob McMillan into battle, and he entered military service in the knowledge that he faced serious risks (and if he didn’t, well…
nevermind.)
Further to that email, can I really understand the GetUp position – a full and immeadiate withdrawal. Well, it certainly lacks outreach… There is no doubt that a withdrawal of protective services from Iraq now would leave the country political bankrupt, economically destroyed, and socially retarded. A lasting and disastrous civil war is bound to ensue.
Sure, we should never have been Iraq with Bush and co., searching for WMDs and securing oil interests. But for Australian’s to reach out, we ought to have toppled the cruel dictatorship of Saddam. And now we’re there, for whatever reason, we need to protect the Iraqi’s from our own failures. While we can admit and acknowledge the stupidity of our past, and the resulting selfish mistake, we should not abandon the consequences!! We are failing to reach out to the Iraqi people.
Transformation of Public Life
Labor supported the overzealous and frankly, dangerous, tightening of civil liberties in the name of fighting t3h t3rr0z. They refused to admonish Howard nor Andrews for the treatment of Mohammed Haneef.
They supported amendments to citizenship laws, including ‘the test’. They continue to hold women and children in detention, without criminal charges.
They supported, and continue to support, the military intervention in the Northern Territory.
They’re against gay marriage, and probably civil unions.
They signed Kyoto, but forgot to mandate emission cuts.
They’re self confessed “economic conservatives” (i.e.”Just like the last bloke!”)
They withold medicare to gay couples.
Not exactly renewing much…
Hope, renewal and relief.
To be blatantly honest, I see nothing much more than blind hope. We ‘hope’ Kevin cuts emissions, we ‘hope’ he blocks Gunns Mill, we ‘hope’ he gets nasty on the Japanese whalers. We ‘hope’ that all that pandering to Howard’s wedges was ‘just for the campaign’ and that the short and jocular conversation is revisited with a vengeance. But before then, GetUp, there’s no renewal, and little cause for relief….
Declaration: I’m a member of GetUp, and I’ve donated. However, if they keep this crap up, I shan’t be for much longer. And just for the record, 240,000 members is only 1% of the Australian public…
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