From Suffrage to Donkey Vote

Last Saturday night I found myself glued to the television as I watched Election 2010: The Nations Decides on Channel 9.

I’ve never been overly interested in politics, but I had the feeling that this election was an important one and the banter between our former treasurer, two morning show hosts a political expert and some random wannabe’s was highly entertaining.

But it got me to thinking. We are actually incredibly privileged to live in a country where we can hold a democratic election. We are lucky to have the right to vote.

In the UK Roman Catholics were denied the right to vote until 1829.  As late as the 19th Century only the wealthy were allowed to vote in many Western democracies.

African-Americans fought vehemently during the Civil Rights movement for their right to vote. Australian Aboriginals were not allowed to vote until 1968.   

In the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, women the world over campaigned for suffrage.   3,000 women took to the streets of London in 1907 to advocate their cause.  A cause which some of these women died for. 

And today, in 2010 it astounds me there are people that don’t bother enrolling to vote, that people would cast a donkey vote or informal vote in protest.  That in countries such as the USA and the UK, voting is not compulsory. 

For hundreds of years people of all backgrounds protested the right to vote. And for them, I am proud to have been able to cast my vote in Australia’s Federal Election last Saturday.

An Election Commentary

For those of you not on Australian soil, you may not be aware that we are currently at the peak of election campaigning with this somewhat-great nation of ours to elect a new Prime Minister on Saturday. 

I have never been one for talking about my political opinions.  And I find it interesting, that so many people, particularly in the workplace are so willing to share there adamant political and religious beliefs. I tend to keep my mouth shut during these conversations.

My political views have always been that people vote for two reasons - one because they have voted for that particular party there entire life, or they are voting for the lesser of two evils. 

I care not how much money you are giving to schools, or this broadband network.  My internet works just fine thank you.  As a single person, finally somewhat financially independent and childless, none of these election promises matter to me.   Giving more money to schools? Great, more taxes coming out of my pocket so someone else's offspring can have access to a computer.  Millions of us got a perfectly good education without computers thank you very much.  

Then there is the minor political parties saying that legitimising gay marriage is the equivalent of child abuse.  Statements like this are not likely to swing my vote.  

And don't give me any of that feminist bullshit.  I will not, ever, vote someone into power because they are a woman.  Having breasts is not a legitimate reason to run the country, otherwise Kim Beasley would have been in power long ago.   A legitimate reason to vote for someone is because they are capable of running the country without pissing off other, more powerful world leaders or sending us broke.  

So who will I be voting for in Saturday general election?  That I'm afraid is between me and, well me!  

Lest We Forget

Today is Anzac Day. For those of you who are international readers, Anzac day is the day that Australia and New Zealand commemorates all of our countrymen who have served in our armed forces.

Whilst having lunch at work a while ago, someone from my company came out and said that they didn’t think that Anzac Day should be a holiday.  Something to do about how WWI was all about politics and we shouldn’t celebrate it.

To be honest, whilst I like this person a lot, I was slightly disgusted with this comment.  Anzac Day is not about celebrating the politics of war. It is about taking time to reflect that there are people in life with far more guts than I would ever have, that gave up their youth to go and do their bit for their country.

My Great Grandfather was a Captain in WW1, My Grampy, at the age of 16, was in the first wave of troops that landed on Normandy on D-Day.  My Great Uncle George was captured by the Japanese and died in a POW camp (That one from The Bridge on the River Kwai, its name escapes me).  My Uncle Peter was drafted into Vietnam, and spent his service shovelling dead bodies.

Anzac Day (even though my Father’s family all fought for England) is about saying thank you to them.

in 2008 I walked along the beach at Gallipoli, and the tranquillity, beauty and harshness of the landscape moved me to tears.  What moved me even more was seeing a young Turkish man, painstakingly weeding the grass by hand by a grave of an Australian Soldier, aged 18.   

For whatever fucked up or genuine reason a country goes to war. Politics has no business on ANZAC Day.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.

Lest We Forget.

Australia Day

Australia Day - a day where we commemorate the first settlement of Australia.  Where we celebrate all things Australian.

To be honest, I wish I was more patriotic. Because I’m not. I enjoy a national day of celebration but as I looked at a beer garden full of drunk bogans chanting Ozzie Ozzie Ozzie I thought. BLUGH. 

As I live in a free country I am going to tell you what I don’t love about Australia.

• Australians cockiness when it comes to sporting event. I actually like it when we lose.
• Australians who have never left the country proclaiming that we are the greatest county in the world.  If you have seen some of the world, you are in a valid position to make this claim. If you have not been further away than Hamilton Island that you are not.
• The heat and the hot hot sun. Makes the months from November – March unbearable to go outside.
• Pollen. There is too many evil pollens and grasses that make me sneeze and itch.
• The millions of insects that insist on biting me and then make me itch. 

Happy Australia Day