Dear O Sung Wu,

All of us living in Australia have a responsibility
to adhere to Australian law. We have one law that
we are all expected to abide by and that's the law
that enacted by the Parliament under the Australian
Constitution. There isn't a separate stream of law
derived from religious sources that competes with or
supplants Australian law in governing our civil
society.

However, having said that,
I'm not sure that standing before a judge is actually
a requirement that has been passed into law. Possibly, it
should be, but I'm not sure that it currently is.

It's a sign of respect and most people do adhere to
it - but technically I'm not sure that it's illegal
not to do so. It's up to the judge, whether these people
are "in contempt," or not.

What happens next we will have to wait and see. Personally
I would have taken their passports and allowed them to leave
the country - instead of supporting them here on taxpayer's money
until
September 22nd, when their day in court is due next.

Dearest Foxy,

If you or I were not to stand as a judge or magistrate entered a court, and to stay standing until he or she had sat, we could be found guilty of contempt of the authority of the Court. We would be sent downstairs until we changed our minds, and for perhaps a bit longer.

In Australia, the rule of law over-rules any 'law of Allah', or Ganesh, or the Spaghetti Monster. With the greatest of respect, I think the magistrate erred on the side of a misplaced respect for multiculturalism in this case. I certainly support multiculturalism, but within the framework of the total dominance, now and forever, of the rule of law, formal respect for our institutions, and the equality of men and women. If these trash refused to recognise these principles, I don't care how long they should have stayed downstairs.

As for the Five Kings, I would have let them sail on through the Barrier Reef and through the shoals of the Torres Strait and, if they had survived, pinged them as they tried to leave Australian waters. If they hadn't survived, gosh, what a shame, never mind.

Love always, dear Foxy,

Joe

Hear all ye people this unholy decree: All of us living in Australia have a responsibility to adhere to Australian law. We have one law that the Spaghetti Monster expects us to abide by and that's the law that enacted by the Parliament under the Australian Constitution.

Don't ask why - Thus saith the Prophet Foxy, the last and final messenger of the Spaghetti Monster, as dictated by Him to Her in the cave through His green-tailed Angel.

Those who fail to agree will have their heads chopped.

Foxy,

As I said in my post, they didn't quite qualify for contempt of court, meaning it is not a legal requirement to stand. Hence, as I said, the NSW Attorney General intends to table laws to make it a legal requirement. I'm beginning to think it's a waste of time saying anything on the General forum. Nobody takes any notice of what other people have to contribute.

Dear Joe (Loudmouth),

We have an institutional framework in this country
that preserves tolerance and protects order so that
we can celebrate and enjoy our diversity. But we could
not do that without that framework.

Unless we have that
framework and an agreement to abide by its laws, none
of us would be able to enjoy our rights and liberties
without being threatened by others. This is not something
Yuyutsu, that I have made up. Its a fact. We have a compact
to live under a democratic legislature and obey the law it
makes. In doing this the rights and liberties of all
are protected.

We ask all of our people to subscribe to a framework
that can protect the rights and liberties of all.

Dear Yuyutsu,

You give me too much credit.

Peter Costello wrote:

"After the London Underground bombing of 2005 I was troubled
by the fact that young people born and raised in a democratic
society could turn to terrorism and kill their fellow citizens
in the name of Islam. I gave a speech at the Sydney Institute
in which I argued that freedom and tolerance can be protected
only within a legal framework that is accepted by all."

Dear ttbn,

I'm sure that many people on this forum (including me) read your
posts. And please continue to post.

I find it strange that these young men did not stand before the
judge. After all I believe that before you enter a mosque you
are required to take off your shoes - out of respect.
If you don't want to do that - don't go into a mosque.
The same applies to our country - of you don't want to obey our
laws - there are other countries to choose from that may be more
suitable.

Hi there FOXY...

I hope you're well, and the recent consultation with your Cardiologists has proven positive?

Now you've got me thinking - I've attended many Court sittings in my time, and at every strata except, the HCofA. I can honestly say I'd not be in a position to quote a specific section in any Act where there's a legal (statute) requirement to stand, pursuant to any circumstance?

As a recruit, your first visit to a working Court, begins with the old Police Court (Court of Petty Sessions) in Liverpool Street, Sydney, where you observe a Stipendiary Magistrate do his work. Next is the District Court presided over by a Judge, aka the Court of Quarter Sessions in criminal proceedings, presided over by the 'Chairman of QS' (a Judge by any other name?).

Finally the Supreme Court presided over by a Justice (usually for capital offences) occasionally the same Court sits as the Banco Court or the Court of Criminal Appeal, presided over by three Justices.

It was thoroughly inculcated into us the importance of showing proper respect for the Court, by giving a slight bow when one is entering or leaving the Court when in session, and standing whenever the judicial officer presiding, enters and egresses the Courtroom.

There is an Act which regulates each strata of the Courts, and how they shall conduct their business. However a section that specifically identifies and then mandates, what one 'must' do in terms of appropriate court etiquette, I really don't know FOXY? After over 32 years in the job, you'd think I would by now ?