Hi Foxy,

I'm glad that you recognise that one of those Australian values is the recognition of great talent and the expectation that it should be amply rewarded. Unfortunately, I'm a bit too old now for that. But then again Adenauer was well over seventy when he was appointed German Chancellor after the War. Then there was de Gaulle ....... And Churchill was pushing seventy when he became Prime Minister in 1940. But then of course, there is Trump, as a cautionary counter-example.

Let me think about it.

Love,

Joe

Dear Joe,

Let me explain.

My earlier post about Australian values was meant
as a satire. My previous last post was facitious.
It was taken from George Bernard Shaw:

"He knows nothing and thinks he knows everything.
That points clearly to a political career."

As for the question of values? I have stated
many times that loyalty, democracy, tolerance, the
rule of law; values worth promoting, values worth
defending. The values of Australia and its citizens.

I trust this clear things up.

Thank you, Foxy, I know a little bit more now.

Is that quote from 'St Joan' ?

Joe

What some may not always do is give the context when quoting from Peter Costello and ors.

Doubtless busy posters have little time for that. But it does assist to put things into the original author's perspective rather than that of the person quoting, who might be tempted to put it to her/his ends instead.

Peter Costello was naturally hugely affected by the London Underground bombing and other atrocities committed in the name of Islam. He made at The Sydney Institute where he made an earnest, heart-felt appeal for all (he was being diplomatic and inclusive, we are mostly migrants etc) to accept and obey Australian law and obviously as in the manner it is intended and by their words and behaviour too.

Now a White Knight for Islam (perish the thought there might be any on OLO) might try to turn that around to where it appears that Costello was actually blaming the Australian community that has always been so generous and accepting to migrants, for the offences of violent Islamists and for their attempts to shaft Australian law in favour of Sharia.

Such rhetorical gymnastics would require a 'White Knight' to lead readers into accepting that offenders who break the law do so because they have no other option or are 'swayed' by alleged poor treatment and 'discrimination' directed at them. That is, that the victims and the innocent, vulnerable community of which they are part are at least complicit and probably totally responsible, for the offences and the harm done against them. That is B.S.!

The most obvious example of that noxious rationalisation is blaming the rape victim for her rape. Interestingly, that is exactly the thinking and defence of those horrid Islamist rapists and molesters in Rotherham, UK, in Sweden, in Germany and in Australia too.

As most would know and read him, Peter Costello would have the full force of the law descend on any offender without fear nor favour and he definitely would not be party to excusing their offending, attempted blame-shifting and their poor choices, freely made.

Sorry,

"He made A SPEECH at The Sydney Institute where he made an earnest, heart-felt appeal for all (he was being diplomatic and inclusive, we are mostly migrants etc) to accept and obey Australian law..."

Peter Costello did make a speech after the London
Underground bombing of 2005 at the Sydney Institute in
which he argued that freedom and tolerance can be
protected only within a legal framework that is
accepted by all.

He also wrote a great deal
on "Australian Citizenship - Worth Promoting, Worth
Defending", in his Memoirs (page 358 onwards) where he
covers that topic in even greater detail and
from which I have cited in many discussions
on this forum.

For anyone interested in this subject I can highly
recommend his book, "The Costello Memoirs" written by
him with his father-in-law - Peter Coleman.
Peter Coleman argues that Costello's story is one of
high achievement. He helped create and managed the
Age of Prosperity in Australia. He should have been Prime
Minister. The book is an interesting read.
Highly recommended.