THE MEANING OF OZ - All you need to know!

You're a better man than I am, Gunga Hinge!

When I think of how behind I am at work, my stomach gets all twisted up and i start to panic, so I won't think about it.

Sigh.

Yes.

Not the best of Australia Days today....

Sigh.

p.s. .... Rodney Hogg is an idiot.

What did he do?

And who is he?

He's an ex-cricketer who's been put out to pasture.
And apparently as thick as two bricks!

Hogg tweets Australia Day slur to Muslims:
http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/hogg-tweets-australia-day-slur-to-muslims-20120126-1qix9.html

Not the best of days for Julia, in Canberra, either.
(Damn the the Mad Monk!)

Sigh.


PM dragged away after being trapped by protesters:
http://www.theage.com.au/national/pm---dragged-away-after-being-trapped-by--protesters-20120126-1qj1c.html

Pity Julia got dragged into that.

Vomit. Pity it's been publicised.

And an insult to real hogs!

... who are lovely!

Yes, it is.

Oh & Julia's day is making world headlines. Check out the BBC, Guardian, etc.
Just what she needed!

What an absolutely shameful display. The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition honoring local folk and this rabble turn up banging and shouting and yelling and putting a damper on the whole proceedings. These are the same people that demand respect, well how about showing some ? What is the bet that the police take no action? What a disgusting episode.

Cricket has been great -I'm really sorry I couldn't get over there. Although the ground looks great - the real win for me is the crowd - half the size of that in Sydney - and only an airfare, etc., away!

Yes - I've been watching a bit of tennis, too. Great match last night - Federer vs Nadal - but I went to sleep half way through. What I did see was brilliant. But...Federer lost

I couldn't make the 4-day weekend, either - double

Have next week off, though - when there's bloody nothing on!

Not that I agree with the monk but I find it hard to lay all the blame on him.

That sort of visceral unthinking reaction to his comments is counterproductive - it reminds me of Geoff Clarke's time at ATSIC's helm - more concerned with their own pride than the benefit of the wider indigenous community. Clarke's actions killed ATSIC.

There was no way the tent embassy was going anywhere, until that reaction - now it's a distinct possibility. Saying '**** the government and **** the courts' is stupid (not to mention hypocritical). All the strides indigenous Australians have made to any sort of equity in our society has been because of their efforts working through the courts and the government.

I liked that Tony gave Kevin credit for the stolen generation apology - but neglected to mention that the government in which he was senior member steadfastly refused to do the same for the best part of a decade.

I see a lot of news papers giving Hogg a fair old serve over his comments about a certain religion. In a free country, he has the right to make those comments as newspapers have the right to criticize them. What irks me is they then call him a racist. These poor excuses for journalist need to buy a dictionary and discover the difference between race and religion.
As they say, don't let the facts get in the way of a good story.

You neglect to take into account the serious problems that comments like Hogg's have caused in the past. Remember Alan Jones, Cronulla ....?
I'm relieved that nothing like that happened on this Australia Day.
His comments were idiotic & yes, racist ... also insensitive & inflammatory.
A huge disappointment from someone in his position.
Blaming journalists for what he actually said is silly.
As silly as his comment that it was just good ol Aussie humour.
He should own his own racist remarks and learn not to be such a fool in the future.

Yes, I see what you're saying.
I think my initial reaction was in response to those terrible photographs of Julia Gillard looking like such a victim, or something ... which were posted all around the planet. As if it was her problem alone.
When it was Abbott's remarks which the protesters were actually responding to.
Possibly over responding to.
Probably overreacting to.
I was so grateful this morning to AM, for putting the whole situation into proper perspective.
I agree with your take on the whole sorry situation now..
But at the time, the news coverage seemed so unfair.

Yes, indeed.
Having it both ways.
Whatever works for him in the circumstances.