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Dear Foxy,

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You wrote :

« Watching the Para-Olympics is truly an education. »
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It sure is, Foxy. My mind goes back to John and Ilsa Conrads. As you probably know, John suffered from polio as a child and, as we later learned, from bipolar disorder as well. He took up swimming with his little sister, Ilsa, to overcome his handicaps.

Unfortunately, not everyone who does that becomes a multiple Olympic champion as John and Ilsa did. They must have both had exceptional natural talents.

I think that is probably still true today of the athletes currently competing in the 2024 Paris Paralympics – even though only the very best of the best will win a medal.

The fact is that “bad looks” are always a handicap and we have to deal with it. Some manage to overcome it, not by any “natural talent” like the Paralympic athletes, but by what I am tempted to describe as “the beauty of their soul”.

Victor Hugo’s fictional character, Quasimodo (The Hunchback of Notre Dame), and Steven Spielberg’s E.T. (the Extra-Terrestrial) are superb illustrations of the exceptional phenomenon that not all people with “bad looks” are necessarily “bad people”.

As regards Peter Dutton, I can’t say I have ever seen any sign that he might possibly come under this latter category.

Quite the contrary. He seems to be headed in exactly the opposite direction.

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Dear Banjo,

I remember the big impact that the Konrads had on me
way back then. I identified with them growing up. They
were of Baltic ancestry (Latvian) and it made me believe that
anything was possible for me as well.

Dear Banjo,

"Ugly" characters are important in story telling. They challenge
our societal norms regarding beauty. They show the importance of
inner beauty over external appearance. From Beauty and The Beast,
to the Grinch, Frankenstein, Gollum, even - BFG (Big Friendly Giant).
All remind us that beauty is not merely about appearance, it
encompasses character, heart, and the experiences that shape us.

By embracing these characters in literature, film, and in our lives
we can cultivate a deeper understanding of what it means to be
human.

The musical - "Beauty and The Beast" is coming to Melbourne.
I'm thinking of buying theatre tickets for my grandkids. I'd
like them to get a better understanding of the concept of
beauty - - that can evoke a vivid imagery that goes beyond
physical appearance.

Dear Banjo,

I remember watching the film "The Elephant Man," and
learning of the sad history. It was very moving and
equally sad - how his life ended. It made a deep
impression on me.

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Dear Foxy,

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I am pleased and not at all surprised to see that you have a healthy attitude to the problem.

As for Peter Dutton, he has clearly demonstrated his aptitude for the harsh dissuasion and imprisonment in offshore detention centres of unwanted migrants, much to the relief and silent complicity and approval of many of our compatriots.

If that’s what most of us want, that’s what most of us will vote for. But if we don’t, we won’t.

Dutton was not prime minister when he successfully exercised his natural talents as political henchman responsible for preventing and punishing unwanted migrants. He doesn’t need to be prime minister to continue to assume that role with his usual panache.

He is 54 years old and still has a bright future before him.

It’s a lifetime job.

But if we decided to adopt a slightly more lenient attitude to families risking their lives to reach Australia, I guess he could always return to his old job as a policeman.

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if we decided to adopt a slightly more lenient attitude to families risking their lives
Banjo Paterson,
Of course it is the right thing to do for people seeking peace but try to think why Europeans who also tried to do the right thing are now regretting their kindness.
Don't the increasing demonstration even here give you enough to think about who needs help & who is looking for weakness to exploit to further an agenda ?