I was browsing the satellite images on Google Local today. I was taking a look at the Gold Coast in Australia, where I lived in my late teens. I was somewhat surprised, therefore, to see a hundred foot long man floating just offshore from the main beach road:
I've heard of people spotting weird things on Google, but this is hilarious. Here's the full image if you want to see for yourself.
Vital lesson in Holocaust memories
Australian High Court justice Michael Kirby is quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald in a speech promoting the launch of Heirloom, a new anthology of Holocaust survivor memories:
Justice Kirby said an early lesson is that "every diminution of freedom takes us in a wrong direction.
"Every act of discrimination by our Parliament and governments dishonours our nation. We honour the memories recorded in this book most worthily when we resolve to respect the freedoms and dignity of all people and to be vigilant for our own."
Understanding the lesson began with appreciating the stealth of the Holocaust, which had not appeared overnight. "It all happened gradually. It crept up insidiously."
There were laws, followed by yellow stars and banishment to the back of the tram. Step by step came exclusion from public transport, closure of businesses, consignment to the ghetto, the beatings and cries of Jews out!, the selective deportations and the "final solution".
He was undoubtedly referring to the conservative Australian government's treatment of religious minorities and unjust incarceration of middle eastern refugees. The lesson here is not lost. Smaller injustices left unchallenged lead inevitiably to larger ones down the line, as society becomes increasingly innoculated to what is going on.
As Kirby points out, the middle classes of Nazi Germany who allowed the holocaust to happen with nary a protest were mostly good people with 'family values'. They "returned to their homes and children at night, attended meticulously to their hygiene and settled down to listen to beloved recordings of Schubert and Beethoven that made them cry."
Tip of the hat to Jeffrey at Mahler's Prodigal Son.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard claims that his government's plan to veto a proposed law in the Australian Capital Territory, that would recognize civil unions, should not be viewed as 'anti-gay'.
Mr Howard and Attorney-General Philip Ruddock view the ACT laws as an attempt to undermine federal legislation introduced in 2004, which defines marriage as a union between a man and woman to the exclusion of all others...
"This is not an anti-homosexual gesture. This is a gesture to support the special and traditional place of marriage as a heterosexual union for life of a man and a woman in Australian society. Why we're against what the ACT is doing is that, in all but name, they are equating same-sex unions with marriage. I don't support that, not because I'm against homosexuals, but I think there should always be a margin for marriage as we understand it in our society ... you don't equate a gay union with a traditional marriage - that's our position."
So he's not anti-gay, just in favor of preserving special civil, political and economic rights for heterosexually married couples (including those married in common law, or de facto) while denying those same rights to same-sex unions.
The short walk back to my hotel from Oxford Street takes me down Darlinghurst Road.
Past historic Sacred Heart Church, recently saved from demolition, with its life-sized statue of Jesus with outstretched arms above the entrance. Nearby is St Vincent's Hospital, known for its HIV palliative care.
On my left is the 20 foot high fortification that formerly enclosed the Darlinghurst Gaol, now known just as 'The Wall' and used as a pick up strip by male hustlers. None to be found tonight slouching against the sandstone brick or leaning into the passenger windows of cars slowly driving past, at least not this early.
Today I arrived in Sydney, back for a week of work (and a little pleasure). I try to get down here once a year, to catch up with old acquaintances and remind myself why Australia is just one of the best places on earth. Although I don't have family here, I lived in Sydney for about 15 years and always think of it as my home.
I never met an American who'd been to Sydney and hadn't fallen in love with the place and the people at first sight. Even in May, which is the middle of autumn here, the days are still warm and the nights refreshingly cool. It's hard to describe the excitement I felt as I got near. Even at the LA airport, I began to hear Aussie accents all around. I never noticed the accent of course before living in America, but now it sounds so fresh and sexy.
The news all over the radio here this morning was about Paula Abdul and some scandal with an American Idol contestant. I had to laugh. At least it wasn't about war or terror or some other disaster. Australians laugh at America and its celebrity culture. We love it of course, but we're just a bit cynical about everything. Americans often mistake this for a lack of seriousness. Which couldn't be further from the truth. We're a serious lot, it's just that we rarely take ourselves that seriously -- so it's easier to enjoy life.
I'm staying at this great little hotel in Darlinghurst, called the Kirketon. Very funky and classy. And close to everything - restaurants, shopping, gay nightlife, the harbour. Highly recommended. Right now I'm sitting in the lobby bar drinking a fabulous Sidecar (one of the better ones I've had) and nibbling on marinated olives and braised pork flank with tomatoes and something or other. As I often say to my partner Aaron, "very Nawth Shaww, dahhling".
