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Monday, 9th February 1998
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Please remember to sign the "I'm so sorry Pauline" book.

At this time of political correctness when all the politically correct groups are lining up for an apology for things perceived to have happened in the past it is now time that we apologised to those who are right now being unfairly ostracised by a biased Australian media.

There is no better example of this unethical behaviour by the Murdoch/Packer press than the way they report on Pauline Hanson.

While "Sorry" books for the so-called "stolen children" do the rounds, those who are being vilified here and now somehow seem to have been overlooked.

It is quite predictable how history distorts the truth to meet the aims of fringe groups who now dominate Australian "morality".

The so-called stolen children is a perfect example.

Cathy Freeman, who Pauline claimed and many agree was selected as Australian of the Year for political reasons, was a so-called "stolen child". Here is an extract from an article in the Australian on the 28th January 1998 by Geoffrey Partington under the heading, "Chance in life came from being a stolen child":

"In Cathy Freeman's account of the Aboriginal groups in crisis, she speaks of 'drunken violence', where everything is a total mess, where nothing is taken care of and nobody respects their possessions'. It was Paul Hasluck's experience of similar conditions among Aboriginal groups, first in Western Australia and then as the Minister for Territories in the Northern Territory, that led him to believe that many of the children growing up amid drunken violence, especially children vulnerable to sexual abuse, would be much better off if they were brought up as much like mainstream Australians as possible.

"Cathy herself and Yvonne Cawley before her, and several leaders of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Commission and other Aboriginal organisations, got their chance in life because they or their parents or grandparents were removed from the conditions she describes.

"Was Hasluck's attempt to give such children a better life really a form of genocide for which non-Aboriginal children Australians should apologise and sign a "sorry" book? I think not and I shall not sign."

Is it any wonder therefore that Freeman refuses to discuss the "stolen children" fiasco - simply because in this politically correct world they would not have anything get in the way of the "reconciliation process" no matter how distorted, how blatantly untrue or twisted the associated claims trotted out by the politically correct may be.

What we do know is that Pauline Hanson is being vilified for speaking her mind, the platform on which she was democratically elected. Yes, if anyone deserves a "sorry" book it is Pauline - and the first signatories should be Packer and Murdoch followed by Beazley and his merry band of thugs.

Australia cowtails to the dance of starfleet commander Bill Clinton

Australia will probably join the US, Britain and Germany in a military strike on Iraq.

Tomorrow the Australian Cabinet will discuss the issue - a mere formality it would appear. Like the money we throw at our Asian neighbours to support their currency when the International Monetary Fund barks the value of the Australian voter appear to matter not one iota in decisions like this.

Here we are talking about engaging in a war with a foreign independent country because of reasons thrown at us by a dishonest press. Who know the truth about Iraq?

Here is a recent press release by Citizens Concerned About Free Trade:

Canada must not join brutal war against Iraq

Citizens Concerned About Free Trade (CCAFT) calls on the Canadian government to immediately state publicly that Canada will not support rapidly building U.S. plans to again attack Iraq.

"Iraq was devastated during the 1991 Gulf War, in a conflict so one-sided —U.S. officials referred to it as a 'turkey shoot' — that it aroused opposition and horror around the world," says David Orchard, national chair of CCAFT. "As part of its arsenal, the U.S. fired shells and missiles containing over 900 tons of depleted uranium into Iraq, leaving deadly, irretrievable radioactive material in its soil and water forever."

Since the war, seven years of sanctions and embargo against Iraq have bled the country white. Over one million Iraqis have died a slow starving death, (two-thirds of them children, making a mockery of the U.N. declaration on the Rights of the Child), and millions more are suffering physical damage and drastically shortened lives. The majority of the population is reduced to "semi-starvation," according to the World Health Organisation. The starvation of a population is clearly prohibited by international law, even in times of war, yet under this embargo a child is dying in Iraq every ten minutes.

"We are witnessing a holocaust against the voiceless people of Iraq," Orchard states. He concurs with the January 20, '98 statement by U.S. Bishops to President Clinton which reads: "Epidemics rage, taking away infants and the sick by the thousands... We call for immediate cessation of sanctions against Iraq."

Iraq is a Third World country, smaller than the province of Saskatchewan, with a population of 22 million and where the average professional today, according to the New York Times, receives roughly $2.00 per month salary. The idea that Iraq is a threat to the U.S., its neighbours or world peace is a deliberate falsehood. As Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General, put it recently: "Iraq is incapable of war. U.S. claims to the contrary are a hoax." Iraq's military weapons have been destroyed in highly publicised events broadcast around the world. Now, stripped of any capacity to defend itself, Iraq faces an attack of massive force by the world's superpower.

"Today's events are the latest in a long, brutal and sordid history of British and U.S. involvement in the Middle East which dates back to Britain's carving Kuwait out of Iraq in 1899 in order to take possession of its oil reserves," Orchard charges.

"The U.S. wants complete control of Iraq's oil, something Saddam Hussein refused to give when the U.S. demanded Iraq privatise the oil industry," he continues. "No matter what Iraq does, the U.S. will not lift its sanctions, a fact recently confirmed by U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Bill Richardson's categorical statement: 'Iraq has no possibility of seeing sanctions lifted.'".

CCAFT is convinced that Iraq is no more a "threat" to the U.S. than Cuba. One U.S. nuclear submarine could obliterate both countries. The crippling of Iraq is to prevent Saddam Hussein from becoming a rallying point for Arab nationalism, in the same way as the 37-year U.S. embargo against Cuba and the repeated attempts to assassinate its leaders are to prevent a rallying point and an alternative model for Latin America.

Two days ago, Art Eggleton, Canada's defence minister, referred to the forthcoming bombardment of Iraq as "a mission to which he is prepared to consider committing Canadian forces."

Orchard concludes: "CCAFT asks all Canadians to raise their voices against any participation in the murderous one-sided assault being prepared by the U.S. against a defenceless country. A voice of reason and fair play from Canada could make a real difference at this moment in history in stopping the coming rain of death over Iraq."

This leaves us asking the obvious question what will the hounds of war do when we upset the US multinationals?

No apology to Pauline Hanson from the Australian Council for the Arts?

Nothing has arrived nearly a week after being personally promised an apology by email by the General Manager of the Australian Council for the Arts , Michael Lynch, for allowing the web site they manage, LOUD, the "youth festival of the arts" to carry a doctored pornographic image of Pauline Hanson.

Anyone with half a brain knows that it takes a minute to compile and send an email.... obviously the Australian Council for the Arts in true bureaucratic fashion are hoping that this ugly incident will just go away.

The full day by day background of this unfolding scandal can be viewed from this page.

Packer's sick Channel 9

The Today Show have just interviewed the Tate family. Young Celeste Tate is dying of a medial disorder that can only be operated on successfully in the US. The family need Au$300,000 to have the operation done and are running out of time.

The Celeste Tate Fund is now being handled by the Lions Club whose address is P.O. Box 280, Carrimbah NSW.

Now here's the rub - this young girl could die, Packer's Today Show are seen to be "doing the right thing" by calling for donations while Kerry Packer would'nt think twice of putting a single bet  of Au$300,000 on at a Casino - yet his pockets obviously don't go deep enough to help this family or save a life.

Personally I would welcome that decision as Mrs Scott has shown that she is not shy of being heard even if she does not know what she is talking about... leaving herself wide open to ridicule.

However, there are six challengers in the field with Bernie Ripoli tipped to be her strongest contender.

The word we have had is that Mrs Scott does not stand a chance after her fracas with the state ALP secretary late last year.

The other contenders are Karen McLeod, Barry Burton, Wayne McDonald (who I have been told will win), John Flynn and John Bell. The decision will be made on March 15th when the Labor Electoral College meets.

You say:

Subject: Comments on Australian News of the Day

Oh dear! Having just been connected to the Net, what do I stumble upon but this site containing the most stereotyped collection of rednecked conservative nonsense that I've seen in a long time. I know that you people must be out there, of course, and I suppose it's useful to be reminded from time to time that such bias and prejudice still exists amongst all the richness and diversity of modern Australian society, but speed the day when this kind of claptrap dies a natural death.

I'm in an optimistic frame of mind for some reason at the moment and am pleased to see such views as these being engulfed by the tide of history. Sorry, Pauline, but there you are - would you like me to sign your sorry book?

Sarah

Subject: Pauline Hanson's Prosper Australia rally

Dear Sir/Madam,
After reading, with disgust the article about Pauline HANSON in the Sunday Mail with regard to the youth organisation Loud or whatever it was called I decided to have a look at it on the net. I thought how typical of government in the 90's to sponsor that sort of rubbish. Anyway the page linked me to Pauline HANSON'S page and I have spent every spare moment reading about her policies, press releases etc. (I was quite excited when I saw a picture of myself at the Prosper Australia, Brisbane on 4th October 1997 leading the protesters. I am the Police motorcyclist on the left in front of the rabble. When I say leading I mean being in front of.)

I have been a member of the Police Service for approximately 25 years and have attended most demonstrations from the street march demonstrations of the 70's to these latest anti freedom of speech marches against Pauline HANSON. The demonstrators or rent a crowd have never changed and although some are younger they still chant the same old "What do we want." It is a shame that the real Australians who attend your meetings have to put up with these idiots but I believe they are the best free advertising One Nation can get. They will do for One Nation what the Liberal Party did for Pauline.

I have been an avid Pauline HANSON supporter since I first heard her speak and saw that she was a person who had the guts to say what she believed. Although I have strongly supported your party vocally I am sorry that I have left it until now to join.

My dear old Dad was born in Liverpool England 75 years ago and emigrated to Australia in 1949. He passed away on the 11th November 1996. He always had nothing but praise for this country but he always said the trouble with Australians is that if you give them a meat pie and a can of beer they don't give a stuff about anything. I always argued that that was the great thing about being Australian but there is no doubt he was right. It is time that Australians woke up to themselves and realise what is happening to this country and be thankful that a fish and chip shop lady has the fortitude to start a Party that has Australia's interest at heart. If Pauline HANSONS One Nation is defeated it will be to the peril of Australians and all the fools who speak and demonstrate against her.

Regards,
Name withheld

Subject: Racist, now populist!

Dear Sir,

Anyone with an alternative point of view on a racial issue is branded a "racist" and denied the chance to speak.

Now, anyone with any alternative view on anything is conveniently branded a "populist" in order to shut him up.

Whatever the history of the word, to me it has the same connotation as the word "popular".

The politically correct are denying the average Australian a chance to voice a popular opinion.

Is their any democracy in Australia?

It seems that Pauline Hanson is the only politician who wants to give us a say. In the next election I will be voting for a chance to speak my own opinions once again.

Best regards,
Kevin Wildash.

Subject: re Clinton

Lucky for Australia that Clinton has asked Howard for military help. If Clinton asked for help in his other area of expertise, we would really be the laughing stock of the world. What advice could Howard give on the subject of sex? He probably gives himself a wedgie trying to get his pants off before he realises that they don't come off "over the head". (or maybe his pants do?)

Jason

Subject: Kerry Packer

Could you please tell me how to contact the polo club owned by Kerry Packer? My friend will be going to Melbourne to play in a tournament sponsored by him.

Thanks.
MIMI,
Malaysia

Unable to help.

Editor.

Personal trivia, from the global office:

Another beautiful day in paradise.

Have a good one.

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