Like a true Labor tribesman, Kelty was deeply attached to the traditions of the clan—including the traditions of loyalty to friends and savagery to enemies. I said to him once that all Paul Keating’s worst enemies seemed to be former friends. He reflected for a moment or two and replied that it was much the [...]
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Tags:ALP·Conscription·hatred·Labor·power·Tribalism·Vietnam·war
John Adams once said that he considered the founding of America part of “A divine plan for the liberation of the slavish part of mankind all over the globe.” This faith did not spring from grandiose schemes of empires abroad. It grew instead from confidence that the example set by our nation – the example [...]
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Tags:Freedom·hypocrisy·International Relations·morality·Vietnam
Some statements are too blunt for everyday, consensual discourse. In national ‘debate’, it is the smoother pebbles that are customarily gathered from the stream, and used as projectiles. They leave less of a scar, even when they hit. Occasionally, however, a single hard-edged remark will inflict a deep and jagged wound, a gash so ugly [...]
Tags:Human Rights·International Law·Political debate·political discourse·Politics·Vietnam·war crimes·WW2
