True greatness is timeless. A gentleman forwarded to me excerpts from a speech made by former Australian Prime Minister John Howard in 2005. This speech should have a shelf life of 1000 years.
I met Mr. Howard and his wife several months ago. I still believe he is one of the greatest leaders of any nation at any time in world history.
Neither he nor I wish to live under a Caliphate. As a Jewish person, my religion prohibits eating pork. Yet Orthodox Rabbis I have spoken to unanimously agree that if a Christian chooses to eat pork, there is no violation. The problem is not with religion. The problem is taking one’s own religion and trying to apply it to others that do not wish to practice it.
Whether it be the catholics, the Lutherans, the atheists, or anybody else, we must speak up. Otherwise,a s the parable goes, when they come for us, nobody will be left to speak up.
There is no need for further hyperbole. I will let Mr. Howard’s steel jaw speak for itself.
America Needs A Leader Like This!
Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.
Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation’s mosques.
Quote:
‘IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians, as we have never seen before.’
‘This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom.’
‘We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, then you have no choice but to learn “our” language!’
‘Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.’
‘We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.’
‘This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are finished complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom ….
‘THE RIGHT TO LEAVE.’
‘If you aren’t happy here then LEAVE. We didn’t force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.’
Maybe if we circulate this amongst ourselves, American citizens will find the backbone to start speaking and voicing the same truths.
For this and so many reasons, John Howard will remain forever one of the very best.
eric
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And then right after that speech the morons will line up to question the countrys free speech laws and their commitment to embrace other cultures.
I say , but not at the expense or risk of destroying the country that affords you those rights and qualities.
And that goes for America also.
We are not some joint effort on the part of the world where you can just apply or take away whatever it is you think it needs.
As opposed to the way the Japanese were handled in WW2 after 911, I would of sent anyone of middle eastern background with the exception of American citizens right back home.
No more CAIR, no more states within a state, no more educating our enemy on my dime, no more footbaths, and no more secretive mosques.
No more worrying if the next attack will come from within like the last one.
I’ve said it a thousand times before and I’ll say it again: If you truly believe that ululating hordes of mad Islamist hashassins, riding their Arabian steeds, waving their scimitars in the air, are going to come galloping across the Atlantic ocean and conquer America, then you’re insane.
This is America, the worlds greatest empire. Relax. We’re pretty safe.
As for John Howard, (I notice you didn’t mention what he thinks about guns), he had a long, historically impactful run. He was a divisive figure who in the end lost his own seat and his coalition fell apart after more than a decade in power. So, I’ll give him this – he outlasted our GOP one-party state by 5 years. But in the end, surprise-surprise, his policies produced some rather poor results and Labor is and will be back for a long while to come. I know our good host is a bit of a one-issue man (the “War on Terror”), but Australians, like us, have more issues than just that to worry about.
JMJ
“This is America, the worlds greatest empire. Relax. We’re pretty safe.”
Yea, since we took away their airplanes.
“I’ve said it a thousand times before and I’ll say it again: If you truly believe that ululating hordes of mad Islamist hashassins, riding their Arabian steeds, waving their scimitars in the air, are going to come galloping across the Atlantic ocean and conquer America, then you’re insane.”
And of course a rendition of the problem like we see above is exactly why we are not safe.
Just go to Britain, France and Spain and you’ll se just how blind these dilusional kumbaya freaks are.
Entire neighbohoods, states whithin states that the local police wont even venture into
Of course we can expect this from a group that will minmize any effort this administration applies to any threat only as means to propell their childish hate.
Allow me to add this, for the sake of our good host – Israel IS facing an existential threat from Theocratic Fundamental Islamism. That is NOT a petty matter. If I were Jewish, terrorism might well be the number one issue in my world. So I do sympathize with the Tygrrrr’s concerns. I just want us to put things into a perspective more relevant to the matters at hand – America is relatively safe/Israel is not/these dynamics are not mutually exclusive. I don’t have all (or probably even any) of the answers, but I do believe that the course were set upon now is getting none of us anywhere – not the Jews, Americans, or Muslims.
I just wish we could find some new conversational paradigms. All this “War on Terror” nonsense seems to me to be only exaserbating the problem. We need a War on Hate – or better yet – a War on Intransigent Postions. ;)
JMJ
“Just go to Britain, France and Spain…”
Okay, fine, point taken. But this is AMERICA. You could combine all three of those nations and we’d still be number one. I’m not bragging here, but c’mon man, let’s face it, America is the greatest empire the world’s ever known. I’d like to keep it that way. You conservatives… well… I don’t know.
JMJ
“We need a War on Hate “”
In other words;
We need to legislate what we see as ethical and ,moral to the point of loosing our free speech”
JMJ:
“Okay, fine, point taken. But this is AMERICA. You could combine all three of those nations and we’d still be number one. I’m not bragging here, but c’mon man, let’s face it, America is the greatest empire the world’s ever known. I’d like to keep it that way. You conservatives… well… I don’t know.”
Once again, you miss the point.
The point is that it was complacency and the urge to appease and not offend that got Europe in that position.
The first primary example of this ignorance on the part of the left would be their open border position.
We are headed in the same direction if we dont take Howard as an example.
Allowing anyone, undocumented to move about freely and take advantage of our institutions with out any monitoring.
Well, Micky, they don’t call ’em “cheap labor cons” for nothin’. By the way, Clinton was one of “’em” too. Just as you’ve delluded yourself to believe that somehow ethanol is a “liberal” agenda, you’re delluding yourself to believe that somehow illegal immigration has been foisted upon us from the Left. It’s time you start thinking outside the partisan box. The Right profits just as much, if not much more, from illegal immigration than anybody else. How we deal with that should be the discussion – not just casting about the blame.
(Oh, and the “War on Hate” thing was an inside joke. Look it up. ;) )
JMJ
Nope, you just cant ever address anything truthfully.
I guess that hard to do when you’re always defending the wrong thing and want to look right.
Tell me whay most latino voters are democrats ?
And please tell me who its is that doers not like the minute men?.
Why do republicans always only get about 30 to 40% of the latino vote ?
Democrats just want the votes of the Illegal aliens and their friends so what do they do?
they support giving driver’s licenses to Illegals.
Once they give a Driver’s License to an illegal, they can register them to vote.
They want them to have free medical . unlimited entitlements.
Harry Reid wants them to be called “undocumented Americans”
Yea but you propell the myth that its only cons that take advantage of cheap labor when there are just as many liberal business owners who take advantage of cheap labor.
Dems are into it for every other reason you can think of. Especially votes.
Man, talk about weak generic mainstream argument.
You think only flys for cons ?
And again, you lie by not telling the complete context of the story.
Ethanol I said was the sweetheart of the environmentalist movement in the 60s qnd 70s
Only til they realized it wasnt so earth friendly did they drop it. But it was Carter who marched it up front as being able to clean the air and help us with a gas shortage.
I also said that it was Carter who marched it up front and put it into our market like no other president ever has.
I also said that because of him we still have many corn farmers existing on the subsidy contracts drawn up for corn from Carter today.
I also said that because of that massive introduction the right also began to the right the opportunity to use ethanol for getting votes via subsidies.
Also, you and I have agreed before today , both the left and right use ethanol to its expediant advantage.
So stop lying.
As far as the war on hate thing goes.
Its hard to tell when you’re joking anymore.
Seriously
Eric
Check out HiCaliber’s 2nd track “Mr Conservative” remember the big deal everyone made of Ludacris’s Rappin for Obama. Why are Conservative Black Rappers under represented in the Media? The first track he is rappin for McCain. Use your brain vote for McCain. The 2nd track touches on alot of Howard’s message to Americans. The Message is being recieved but the MSM doesn’t want anyone to know, there are plenty of Patriotic Americans. When was the last time someone accused Obama of being too Patriotic?
http://www.myspace.com/hicaliber
“We don’t don’t need no change – my wife gotta wear a burka…”
Nice song.
Yeah, right. HC, c’mon and talk to me, you racist, anti-Mexican rag. I’m no Democrat. Deal with that. You tune into Hannity – get some sanity – right here, big man. Jersey McJones, baby. MF.
JMJ
Nice song ?
I dont see how that compares to Ludacris and his lyrics.
“Said I handled his biz and I’m one of his favorite rappers”
Yea, right, he already denounced you the day the song came out.
“Hillary hated on you, so that bitch is irrelevant”
( hey look Jersey ! A mysoginist !)
“Jesse talking slick and apologizing for what?”
Gee, do think calling them all ni**ers might have something to do with it ?
“And all you other politicians trying to hate on my man”
Hate ? Thats a pretty strong accusation.
“The threats ain’t fazing us, the nooses or the jokes”
What nooses ? Afew nut job racist say something and you put it out like its all of us ?
“McCain don’t belong in any chair unless he’s paralyzed”
Yea, I can think of a better chair for Ludacris
“Yeah I said it cause Bush is mentally handicapped”
Nice.
It whats really funny is that Obama’s campaign has already denounced the song and lyrics, but Obama’s website hasnt posted any information about this.
Ha ! In the song he says that hes Obamas favorite rapper ?
Obama just threw him under the bus too.
And to think. Obama keeps using that Rosa Parks metaphor about riding in the front seats.
Hell ! With Obama you can even stay on the bus very long if you contradict his campaign.
His “typical white grnandma’, Rev. Wright. and all his America hatin buddies are dragging under the bus.
Rap is crap.
JMJ
Mainstream top 20 is crap.
Unfortunatly some people tend to take everything at a face value that they’re comfortable with. Looking any deeper prevents them from having to break the grip they have on stereotypical images.
Those who think rap is crap are only refering to what they’ve heard on the radio. To actually investige so you you come to the origins would shred all bliss generated by ignorance.
I have rap that comes from tribal music out of Africa that is generated from cultural chants going back 3oo years.
Half the black community that I’ve discussed this with isnt even aware of the roots that this music has.
If you think the cornerstone of rap is *maybe*going back to Scatman Kruthers and some of the 50 s jazz scat routines your only about 5% right.
I grew up with rap – literally. I remember kids standing around on the corner or the courtyard rapping with each other back in the 70’s. Some of it was very funny. Mostly they’d just rag on each other and tell rhyming rhythmic jokes, or rap about their daily lives. It was very entertaining, and rather impressive, the way they could improvise so quickly, fluidly and smartly.
I NEVER imagined it would become mainstream popular music, though! I mean, the early radio stuff was a lot of sort of protest raps that at least had some intrinsic lyrical value. But in the end, it is a very limited art form. Without melody, there’s only so much you can do. And sure enough, rap devolved into vacuus popular styles, with hip-hop being nothing but adolescent lyrics set to friggin’ nursery rhymes.
And remember, music styles do not become popular and mainstream unless they can sell to the biggest block of music consumers – white, suburban teenagers. When I see white suburban teenagers pretending to be ghetto kids, it makes me want to puke. I grew up in very mixed, working class neighborhoods in the NYC area, but you don’t see me wearing a do-rag and speaking in ebonics. Nothing against do-rags and ebonics, but I’m not a black kid from Brooklyn (I’m just a white kid who was born there). I’d feel like a phony.
I don’t like rap because I don’t relate to it. It’s not from my world. And today, it has devolved to the point where I find it just plain useless and annoying. I can relate to Billy Joel. I can relate to the Ramones. I can even realte to Lemmy Kilminster! I can’t relate to Chuck D’s music, even though I find him to be an admirable person today. I am not a black person, I did not grow up in the ghetto. I’ve hung out with black people in the ghetto, and consider many of them my friends. But it would be an insult to them to pretend that I truly understand and completely relate to their world. And funny enough – most of the black people I know don’t even like rap! They tend to prefer r&b, but like everyone else, they all have individual tastes. I have a very close black friend who was a heavy metal singer in the 80’s! I have another one who’s favorite band is Alice in Chains! Another who loves Ozzy (and played minor league hockey – how’s that for breaking stereotypes?)!
All said, the vast majority of popular music is cr@p. No doubt about it. Stupid love songs, stupid sex songs, stupid ego and id songs. Ultra-repetitious cliches set to simplified rhythmic jazz melodies. I like Americana – simple as it may be – blues, jazz, rock, western, bluegrass. Not so much country, but again, I’m not a white guy from Alabama either. Oddly, though, for some reason I have this strange affinity for western and bluegrass which has gotten me out of a lot of jams when I was a young guitarist/singer playing out in the styx to somewhat dubious – and slightly dangerous – audiences. I have no idea where that comes from. Must be something genetic, I guess…
JMJ
ps – as for why hispanics vote Democrat – they were voting almost half for the GOP for a little while their until the rabid, racist, anti-immigration crowd starting frothing at the mouth unrealistically and inhumanely about “illegal aliens.”
Still, the majority has always voted dem due to the minority factor , just as it is with blacks.
Its always been a “convince them they are screwed” so we can “pretend to wanna save them” campaign.
Convince them they are victimized and make that victimization worse than it is, over sell it. And then convince them that the dems will release them from the bonds of the evil white empire.
As far as rap goes, your feelinbgs only re enforce what I was saying.
For lib you sure dont seem to want to credit a culture where it deserves it.
And look past the stereotypical images these people have unwittingly painted of themselves.
Like I said, most of them have no idea of the roots their favorite music holds. Neither does the rest of the population.
Todays rap is an abomonation of what it was 300 years ago. Its actually some pretty cool stuff.
Theres an organization, its not really a band. Its called “Deep Forest” They travel the world and pick up on music indigenous to the country and bring it to the studio. They enhance it a little but the true platform is still there.
I pay about as much attention to the crap on the radio, todays rap as I do a blade of grass.
Well, blacks did a 180 back in the 60’s and went from vast majority GOP to vast majority Dem because of the shift in the party platforms and politics. The now infamous “Southern Strategy,” with the GOP absorbing and replacing the Southern conservative-populist Democrats and Dixiecrats, filled the vacuum left by the Democrats when they abandoned the aforementioned party members and their constituents, mostly pro-segregationists. Modern Republicans are ashamed of this fact and deny it to the point of blantantly lying about it, but it is a historical fact.
Hispanics are more complicated. First, there are many different demographics within the hispanic community. Issues among the demographics overlap with and diverge from issues with non-hispanics constituencies and even among themselves (Cubans, for example, are understandably rather single-issue oriented and feel the GOP is stronger on that issue). But there can be no denying, when you look at the polling data before and after the recent “illegal alien” issue upsurge, that hispanics were very offended by that movement. The GOP really shot themselves in the foot on that one, but then it was a grassroots, bottom-up movement, and so perhaps it’s more arpopos to say that base shot the party in the foot.
As for rap, I’m not sure where you’re crtiquing my opinion here. I do concur with you.
JMJ
“Well, blacks did a 180 back in the 60’s and went from vast majority GOP to vast majority Dem because of the shift in the party platforms and politics. ”
Its not just hispanics holmes. you guys have pulled this crap on all minorities for 50 years now and I dont see them being to happy with you.
But thats the idea right ? Kepp em always wanting just a little bit more. Your party is the party that will never set minorities free. You will always find some way to convince them that its everyone elses fault trhat they are oppresed but theirs and yours
yea, in the 60sthe dems started promising them the world.
The civil rights movement played right onto it.
The rest of your post is just opinionated bla bla bla .
I dont need no steeeniking history lesson on hispanics from you. Kay ?
Ihave been all over the country and my daughter is half Mexican whos grandfather and i have had long discussions about complexities in the latino world that would blow your mind.
If you knew half about black music as you do about latino heritage you wouldnt say the things you say about rap.
I’m surprised that you being such a devout lefty musician would not be more aware of the cultural backgrounds involved in black music which is undoubtedly also responsable for rock which you seem to embrace, but seriously, BILLY JOEL ? BARF !
If you actually are such a great historian one of the first things as a musician you would realize is the roots of what you play.
And as for being a liberal goes, your generic interpretations and understanding of rap seems a bit more like you would be drivin a pickup with a confederate flag on it
Micky,
“Its not just hispanics holmes. you guys have pulled this crap on all minorities for 50 years now and I dont see them being to happy with you.”
You guys? Who’s “you guys?” I’m not a Dem. Personally, I think ALL partisans are fools (or thieves).
This is why blacks and hispanics tend to vote Dem:
“Kepp em always wanting just a little bit more.”
“You will always find some way to convince them that its everyone elses fault trhat they are oppresed”
As long as you cons keep telling minorities that they are stupid suckers with their hands out, don’t expect them to vote your way.
“I’m surprised that you being such a devout lefty musician would not be more aware of the cultural backgrounds involved in black music which is undoubtedly also responsable for rock which you seem to embrace, but seriously, BILLY JOEL ? BARF !”
Jeez, I didn’t know you were so anti-Billy Joel. I happen to think “The Stranger” is among the greatest almbums of all time. I like a lot of different music, though. That was just one example. But I have to say, I still have no clue in the universe about your critique of my opinion about rap music. I’m sorry. It’s just not my thing. I’m not an African American from the inner-city. It’s not like I want it banned and all the records burned and artists sent to Guantanamo!
Look, I used to get a kick out of the real street rap, as I said, but most of the popular stuff out there today sounds like juvenile cr@p to me. I know the general history of the form, and I grew up with the modern form as it grew up. What do you want me to say? I like music that I don’t like? I mean, I do like some of it. Once in a while I’ll hear some really clever rap song and enjoy it. But the form is just not my thing. I like melodies more than repetitive rhythyms without them.
It’s just a matter of personal tastes, Micky. It’s pointless to argue. I like Motorhead. I don’t really care who else does. I like Paul Simon too. I don’t care who else does. It’s just a matter of personal taste.
JMJ
Oh, and I can’t stand the ridiculous low-end bass! It gives me a friggin’ headache!
JMJ
You guys? Who’s “you guys?” I’m not a Dem. Personally, I think ALL partisans are fools (or thieves).”
Yea, thats the luxury of never having to commit to a label.
You dont have to take the blame for anything.
Ots called “avoiding personal responsability”
If yer voting for Obama, you’re one of them, so spare me the games.
nuff said.
I was not critiquing your tatse.
I was going after you’re ignorance.
Libs are supposed to be so worldly and do thrive on the music avenues of entertainment, but really know little about what they’re listening to.
I’m just shocked that you and most of the libs and blacks I’ve talked to about this are clueless when it comes to the backgroung and origins of a music that has been butchered and processed beyond what it really was.
Rap is not low end bass, its a vocal technique
I’m just not a partisan, Micky. I don’t commit to anyone but my wife and family and a few close friends (and my employer – as long as they treat me right). I’m not a nationalist either. I’m not religious. I have no strict diet. I have no preference betweeen cats and dogs. My loyality goes first to my family, then my closest friends, my pets, and then everything else. It’s not a question of not wanting to commit – it’s a question of priorities. For me, being a member of a political party is just not a priority. I’m not interested. If I did belong to a party, though, it would be the Green Party, not the Dems. The Dems are not liberal and progressive enough for me. I find them an endless source of dissapointment. I’ll give the GOP one thing – if you truly are a corporatist, daddy-state, militarist, the GOP will never let you down.
As for rap, I still have no idea what you’re critiquing. I get it. I know what it is and I know where it comes from. It’s just, for the most part, not my thing. I’m not a big fan of tripe either, that doesn’t mean I’m ignorant of cow stomache linings or am anti-cow stomache linings. I just don’t care for most tripe recipes. So sue me.
JMJ
So much for that liberal stroke job about embracing all diversity.
So much for being able to call someone who has preferences a bigot.
And that crap about not commiting to anything, since you expect me to believe that, you should commit yourself to the state hospital.
The green party.
ROTFLMAO !
Nothing but a bunch of robin hood wanna be’s under the guise of environmentlist. Repackaged Marxism.
Thanks for the laugh
JMJ;
“Dems are not liberal and progressive enough for me. I find them an endless source of dissapointment. ”
Thats why you’re voting for Obama.
I’m a realist, Misky. In Jersey, I could be more flexible and vote for third party candidates and even Republicans. Here in Florida, I’m not risking my vote for McKinney or Nader only to see McCain win (although I think he will anyway).
And if you think the Greens are Marxists, then you are truly clueless. That would be like me saying that the GOP is like the Falange (though I’ll tell you that comparison is a lot closer than the ridiculously uninformed comparison you made).
JMJ