Overwhelmed?

I wrote recently, urging the need to maintain outrage against the misdeeds of those we vest with delegated power, those who ‘rule’ on our behalf. I also bemoaned the apparent loss of ‘the silly season’, a traditional break from harsh reality.
This is a year when revelations continue to roll, without regard to season. For goodness sake, we even have an election campaign in Canada.
However, it was not a primary event which has swamped me in this past week. It is the fallout, the collateral damage, the madness inspired by the reckless behaviour of national and world leaders.
I was, and I am still stunned at the mindless violence across parts of Sydney and flowing at least verbally, across the ‘wide brown land’. There has always been an undercurrent of violence in the otherwise easy going Australian makeup. Before the ‘wogs’, the ‘slopes’ or the ‘Lebs’ to focus hate on, there were always those simply from another part of the city, from another state.
There were always minor, stupid eruptions between ‘tribes’ of youths. There were the predicable clashes between rival biker gangs, or territorial (down to the wave) clashes between surfers.
It is in recognising the past patters that we can fairly safely posit that the recent disgusting behaviour in Sydney was not race hate, but a sort of continuum, of historic ‘culture clashes. I know it sounds pedantic, but there are fundamental differences.
But thee is another frightening element in these events, one which goes to the heart of how our community leaders behave, the leads they give, the not so subtle messages behind their actions.
Financial corruption sends a clear message that in some strange way it is okay to steal. But it is very wrong to get caught. But the real danger, the trigger for these recent events, is the use and misuse of power.
Australia’s Prime minister has deftly ducked and weaved through the fallout from the riots, denying everything and waiting for calm to return. Yet he, John Howard, is the one who said (of boat people) ‘we will decide who comes here and who doesn’t,) which allows an easy step in the small minds, from country to beach.
Howard is the one who, while pushing through needless anti-terrorist legislation, managed to convey (quite correctly) that the target groups were Muslim immigrants in the main. The target groups, created by that governments stirring up sentiments, are a few people of Muslim background (and some who have adopted a twisted version of that faith) who do not practice the faith or attend the mosque particularly.
So Howard managed to turn the soft minds in one group against all people of ‘middle eastern appearance’ even people who are the result of generations here. He managed to ignite the anger and frustration of young ‘Lebs’ who already feel as though they have nothing to lose. What a legacy John Howard.
But Howard is just following the lead of his good buddy, George W.  Now isn’t that some message to send the world, it is justifiable to spy on your friends and family, by extension, if you feel threatened. Like most intelligent bloggers, I steered way clear of a reported quote from Bush on his feelings toward the constitution. The story sounded too good to be true and had no verifiable source. But it didn’t really matter, because his attitude to the US constitution was later revealed by the NYTs in his actions rather than his words. Not only can you justify spying on your own, you are allowed to lie about it.
How about some real leadership! How about a bit of decency, probity, and an effort to build our societies rather than this focus on destruction.
Yes, it did get me down a little. When I was asked to write a murder mystery play for our New Years Eve party I jumped at it. A bit of useless trivia is great medicine. Even better, it is creative. No need to verify or be rational or even kind. I’ve taken out my frustrations by creating a charming little tableau of greed, envy, and death. I might style my next little effort – Murder in the white House (Lodge - Australia).
Happy Christmas all. Spread some peace and joy.