Gentlemen,

As I've stated time and time again on this forum -
people in different walks of life may interpret the
same phenomenon - whether it is a "riot,"
a PM's policies, a religious doctrine, or a
governmental budget - in very different ways. In other
words, people tend to see the world from a viewpoint
of subjectivity - an interpretation based on personal
values and experiences and of course political inclinations.

If the world consisted simply of some self-evident
reality that everyone perceived in exactly the same way,
there might be no disagreement among observers. But
the truth of the matter is that what we see is not
determined by what exists "out there."

It is shaped by what our past experience has prepared us to
see and by what we consciously or unconsciously want
to see. Knowledge and belief don't exist in a vacuum:
they are social products whose content depends on the
context in which they are produced. Inevitably therefore
we're all guilty of some measure of bias - and we all
have the tendency, often unconscious, to interpret facts
according to our own values.

This problem becomes particularly acute when the subject
matter involves issues of deep human and moral concern.

I have nothing more to say on this subject

Lexi,

As your greenie links indicated, the majority of the tent embassy protest went ahead without violence, but the mob that surrounded the PM looked anything but peaceful, and with that idiot trying to throw herself on the car, it certainly looked more than just noisy.

For the Police to feel they need to drag the PM along the path and thrust her into the car indicates that they thought so too. So while there are always 2 sides of a story, there certainly was an ugly side of the tent embassy mob.

the hatred being instilled in the young kids who spit on our flag is similar to the hatred the Arabs have for the Jews. The hatred is taught at a young age. In my part of the world young aboriginal kids think its an entitlement to break into other people's house. Their parents are even known to encourage it in some instances. What on earth does DCS do? Mr Rudd's tearful sorry was suppose to change all this.

Dear SM,

I wasn't aware that I cited any "Greenie links," but never
mind.

There's always two sides to every story and as I
pointed out earlier - the media will focus and present
to the public what they consider "newsworthy."

As for the police. As we know from various past events -
young inexperienced police officers
often over react. Their training needs to be
re-examined in certain situations. I wonder how much
training these officers had in crowd control?

Dear runner,

It is sad that children are taught to hate no matter
who they are. Hopefully, through education -
the heavy burden they are currently forced to carry
i.e. - the baggage of their parents, will become
lighter.

Lexi you write

' It is sad that children are taught to hate no matter
who they are.Hopefully, through education -
the heavy burden they are currently forced to carry
i.e. - the baggage of their parents, will become
lighter.'

It is very sad that children are taught hatred. However education does not necassarily deliver one of it. Some of the most hateful are often very educated. Many of those the Americans opened their hearts to and educated as doctors, engineers etc then turn on them as seen by 9/11. Envy, jealousy and unforgiveness is not overcome by education.

I've never liked adoration of flags.George Carlin would say,"they are symbols for the symbol minded." Flags are used by the war mongerers to rev people up for violence.It is just stirring up old tribal primal urges and we have to progress beyond this.