Letters to the Editor

ORWELLIAN
News that rebel Catholic priest John Kennedy has been sacked from his Queensland parish for blessing all those seeking supplication, including gays, is no shock.
Religions foster arrogance, ignorance and prejudice and have no mortgage on morality.
And isn’t all that gauche gear overkill on any Sydney Mardi Gras float? The jewel-encrusted pointy headgear, over-sized Little Bo Peep walking sticks and flowing golden smocks are theme park-type fancy dress, obviously part of some personal pantomime.
Religions are Orwellian thought control. They encourage exclusivity, operating in their incense haze, ancient medieval ritual and Latin chants.
Religions rely on the supernatural to solve natural problems, renounce self-responsibility and induce psychological harm by making people feel sinful and ashamed. Their dippy dogmatic ideas insist bibles are -˜sacred’ with unchangeable meaning.
I don’t do dogma.
And they’re all over your wallet with their pray, obey and pay mantras.
Australians have a proud history of rebelliousness. We burnt the first church to the ground in defiance of a Governor’s decree requiring compulsory attendance.
Unsurprisingly, major surveys find that the most religious societies have the most social dysfunction and crime.
May your god go with you, ’70s Irish TV comic, Dave Allen, said -” and stay well away from me, he could have added.
-” Andrew

BEER OR SWILL
After years of unmitigated swill sold at premium prices at Fair Days past, this year’s effort was the worst.
Who can forget the stale small cans left over from the rugby world cup? The blond that never made it to market? The brands whose names are forgotten, but not their taste?
But this year’s effort and rescue package of the US economy was the low point!
I don’t want to be too critical. Despite the monetary benefits of the deal NMG made with the promoters, I’d prefer to think that the Fair Day Committee just doesn’t like beer.
-” Terry

HEARTFELT THANKS
I visited and played in Sydney last week and would like to thank a few people.
I would like to send a heartfelt thanks to Tim Berry, Clarence, all at the Midnight Shift, Shane Wiles and Murray Hood for bringing me to Australia to spin at the Shift. It was a fantastic night that rocked!
I would also like to thank my mum Shirley, Stephen and Dave for putting me up at theirs while in town.
Special thanks to those who came out and danced and to Wilma, and my beautiful friends who show me their continued love and support.
I still call Australia home.
-” Paul Goodyear

INDIFFERENCE
I’m certain it’s easy to be cynical about the Victorian bushfire overload in our media.
Politicians with carefully trained cracks in their voices, news media like flocks of vultures taking the opportunity to pick over every last survivor and their families, ridiculous amounts of money thrown at a few thousand people, has-beens and never-will-be entertainers wringing every last phony emotion, the blaming of -˜greenies’ who have only been warning of such calamities to come from climate change for decades.
But I guess, in this uniquely Australian way, we do need to acknowledge and come to terms with what is, without doubt, an indescribable tragedy for those in the bushfire areas and for the diverse Australian community.
Though overwrought, I do believe the national grieving is a wonderful and necessary thing, and a mark that despite our differences, we are indeed one great multicultural society.
But when Rudd said, In some countries tragedy exposes the faultlines in a nation. The strong abandoning the weak. One region indifferent to the sufferings of another. One culture uncaring as to the needs of another, I couldn’t help thinking of how the GLBQTI community responds to our own thousands of AIDS dead and those who are in need and misfortune.
Two men and a dog turn up at candlelight vigils these days. Millions of HIV dollars are squandered on everything but the HIV+ while the levels of ignorance about safe sex have never been higher (just don’t exchange blood or semen.)
AIDS becomes an industry for the upwardly mobile. And as those pozzies reliant on welfare because they are too indisposed to earn for themselves stand to lose a huge whack of their income if they are in a relationship, the response from those paid to advocate for them is -˜tough titty.’
-” Shayne

INJURED ANIMALS
Sam, the injured koala who got a drink of water from compassionate volunteer firefighter David Tree, may be the poster animal of the Victoria bushfire, but countless other animals weren’t so lucky.
Reportedly, more than a million native animals may have been killed in the fires. That’s why PETA is calling on authorities to charge the 39-year-old man who is accused of deliberately lighting the fire with cruelty to animals, in addition to the murder charges he already faces.
The defendant in this case has demonstrated a blatant disregard for all life. Not only have the animals’ homes been ruined with little hope that they will re-grow anytime soon, their food sources have also been destroyed, leaving those who survived the fire to face possible starvation. The extent of the devastation may never be known. We need to see justice for all the victims of this horrific crime.
-” Maria

MOSMAN SHOCK
It’s quite a shock to realize that the Mardi Gras parade may be moving to Mosman [Star Spangled Banter, SSO 957], especially when I discovered its actual location.
Mosman will confuse the annual out-of-town and out-of-country travellers who visit Sydney for the parade, not to mention the Sydney south-westerners. The place appears to only take buses, there are no train stations near, and Taronga Park Zoo could have the potential of making complaints about noise pollution (remember what happened to Luna Park?).
At least in Oxford St, noise isn’t a problem, there is better public transport, and south-westerners don’t have to pay more than 10 bucks to get to the parade. Besides Oxford St is the best gay culture area in the Sydney metropolitan area.
-” Chris

MY BODY
I respect the right of other gay people to have children.
However, as a nudist, I find the views of gay parents that my nudity is offensive unacceptable. Just as you choose to bring others into the world, allow me to be myself without imposition of your values. I wasn’t aware your lifestyle choice was greater than mine.
-” Stuart

TIME TO REFLECT
As we prepare to march for the 31st time it is important we remember the theme of this year’s Mardi Gras -” Nations United.
As those of you taking part this year swan about making last-minute costume adjustments, putting on make-up, rehearsing dance moves and screeching in anticipation, stop for a moment and think about your global brothers and sisters.
Think about those gays and lesbians who live in countries where they can be executed for expressing themselves. Think about your brothers and sisters in countries where sleeping with the one you love could lead to a lifetime behind bars. In fact, think of those already behind bars for committing no other crime than expressing their sexuality.
Spare a thought for those people who live such isolated lives they feel unable to express their sexuality openly.
And think about those people who spend their every waking hour pushing for change in their country -” changes we nowadays seem to take for granted.
Australia’s gay and lesbian community has achieved much since 1978. We should celebrate this but at the same time remember those who don’t enjoy the same fortunate life circumstances.
-” Andrew