The
Australian Elections, "Farenheight 9/11" And Heart Philosopy By
Gabrielle Reilly
I really wasn’t planning on writing
an article on the Australian elections, but after some persistent
requests, I will. I didn’t want to write an article
because I didn’t want to gloat on Prime Minister Howard’s
victory. So I will write a much more sincere and meaningful
column that is intended for those who lost in Australia,
but also for political ideals that can be applied throughout
the world. This message is about “unity” after
the hatred that was aroused leading up to Australia re-electing
Prime Minister John Howard over the weekend.
To those Australians who passionately supported
Mark Latham and Latham’s ideals… I can tell
you from my first-hand experience how crushing it is to
have a candidate you really want elected, lose. The ideals
you support that you feel will make for better policy have
to be put on the back burner again… well, at least
for the time being. But I also need to remind you of how
important it is now the results are in and the decision
final, that we come to terms with it and all make an effort
to work together.
It is important at this point for our country’s
economy and security to put politics aside until the next
election and work toward our common future the future safety
and prosperity of our families.
We need to remind ourselves that both sides strive for
what they believe, for one reason or other, to be for the common good
of the people. The only thing that should be in question is the policy,
not the soul of the person. Judging the intent of the heart is just
wrong and permanently divides people more so than any debate over
policy ever could. There are no taking back assaults on a person’s
essence.
How do you know without doubt that you are right to make judgment
at any rate? Many people screamed out about those wanting to stop
Hitler at first. But were those who opposed the gassing of millions
of Jews wrong? Were they bad people? Perhaps their intent was to prevent
the killing of more innocent people and the cost for doing that was
going to war. Does that make them murderers or peacemakers considering
Hitler and the Nazi regime were stopped and potentially millions of
lives saved?
Many people see the war on terror in the same way. A group of terrorists
with extreme ideals are forcing their views on innocent people and
killing those non-believers. Many people believe after terrorism escalated
at the greatest rate in history throughout the ’90s, with a
potential for terrorists to use weapons of mass destruction, that
we are in a similar situation to Hitler’s rise.
No war is good, but there is only one that leaves not a doubt in my
mind that needed to be waged, and that was WWII… until now.
I don’t want to get into a debate about the war on Iraq, but
want you to realize that supporting a war does not automatically make
you a “war monger” as often portrayed, if you believe
the fight is similar to the fight to stop Hitler. Heck, even the Dalai
Lama was not opposed to the war on Iraq.
So even if you vehemently disagree, the hatred in your body will
disseminate if you at least recognize that you cannot possibly judge
the intent in a person’s heart. Or, you can keep your body writhing
with all those damaging negative emotional chemicals, which really
achieves nothing.
In the lead-up to these elections many hate movies sprung up that
portrayed the war in Iraq to be something other than it was. Unfortunately,
that portrayal just caused more bloodshed as it inspired more people
to hate America. Hate of America is a recruiting tool for terrorists.
I watched Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11.”
Wow. After being on the ground in meetings in America for years in
the highest political circles in the lead-up to the events, Moore’s
portrayal of Bush and America is very similar to Crocodile Dundee’s
portrayal of Australia… if you showed up in the country you
wouldn’t recognize the joint. If your fundamental view of America,
President Bush and the war is based on “Farenheight 9/11”
that would be the equivalent of basing your entire view of Australia
on “Crocodile Dundee.” Consider how silly it would be
if an American argued vehemently that Australian’s really do
“throw shrimp on the barbie” because they know…
they saw it on “Crocodile Dundee!”
No, we don’t really “throw shrimp on the barbie”
in Australia, in fact we don’t even call them “shrimp”
we call them “prawns.” That was just a scene for the
movie. “Fahrenheit 9/11” takes a grain of truth and
presents it in the same fashion. It is entertainment (and also happens
to make Moore A LOT of money). It even clearly states it is intended
for entertainment in the introduction, but you probably missed that
because that was the shortest screen in the movie. Some entertainment
though, the sad difference between the two movies was Crocodile Dundee
never had lives depending on it.
So what if the war was wrong, but it is already over? What if the
terrorists are using hatred of America to recruit more terrorists?
Should you persist to spread hatred of America and get more people
killed… or turn it around and actually recognize the terrorists
are not freedom fighters, but religious expansionists who want to
take us back centuries in human rights struggles? Given the escalation
of terrorism over the past decade, if left unchecked, what havoc would
the next decade bring around the world?
So congratulations to all those Australians who supported Prime Minister
Howard and my sincere sympathy to those who were backing Latham. Regardless
of who won, it is essential to put our differences aside and work
toward our future. Far more can be accomplished when we walk together.
Have understanding and compassion for others’ ideals, even if
you disagree with them. Walk a mile in their shoes and you quite possibly
could have had the same ideals. We all come to the table with different
backgrounds and experience. Our country needs to pride itself once
again on our nation’s famous, and much loved, ideal of tolerance
for each other’s beliefs.
