What has made in 1980 land of the Oz such a delightful light on the hills Down Under to sole survivors of the Iron Curtain like me is that it has appeared strong enough to let its people debate and criticize government policies without suggesting that the critics are somehow less than human.
Every political observer worth his salt realised that the day Paul Keating lost his tolerance for views expressed by Harry, he moved to presidents of banana republic territory. Now our man of steel appears too be loosing a democratic plot on slippery floor of personal attacks.
Speaking of personal attacks a webdiarist, Bruce Blackshaw, wrote this thoughtful gem today:
It is one thing to disagree with someone's politics. I have disagreed strongly with some recent Howard government decisions, particularly those to do with immigration and the Iraq war. And it is my democratic right to do so, and to vote against the government if I wish (well, if expats were allowed to vote!). It is even my right to criticise the government in print.
It is another thing altogether to disparage someone's character.
Anna starts with a ridiculous shifty eyes comment about John Howard, and goes on to call him a hypocrite. Apparently, he expounds virtues and morals yet he has little to none. This are serious personal accusations, and without a long personal knowledge of John Howard the human being, Anna is ill-equipped to levy them.
I don't know John Howard personally. I do, however, have some small knowledge of one of his sons, having worked in the same area with him in an investment bank. As a worker and a person, I could not have a higher regard for him, and I believe that is at least partially a reflection of his parents. At least, let's give John Howard the benefit of the doubt.
Can we lay off the personal attacks, and get back to the politics please?
Make no mistake parliamentary clerks of Harry stature are shunned by their parliamentary colleagues not only for defending the true spirit of the parliametary story, but also for telling tales out of parliamentary (Marco Polo) school. Characters like Harry suffer greatly at the hands of politicians and their capability to deliver with their acid tongues. Most politicians and their spin doctors have quite amazing abilities to turn democratic truths into democratic lies. Haryy is a human being too and he has nothing to gain only lose by standing up to political bullies of all colours. Simple Onya, Harry would sound sweeter to Harry than all the riches in the world.
PS: The House of Representatives Clerk, Ian Harris, and the Senate Clerk, Harry Evans, have traded bitter insults in a row over who can be compelled to appear before the Senate inquiry into the "children overboard" affair.
SMH By Craig Skehan April 13 2002
