I’d begin by saying that this is not funny, but unfortunately I often find that I’m funny when I don’t mean to be. But I wish to begin by saying that I understand that there is nothing funny in what happened in Melbourne today.
A man drove a car through the CBD and killed several people, injured dozens and scarred many people for a long, long time into the future.
We could demonise him. We could hate him.
We probably will.
A random thought: Once I wrote that everything, whether we realise it or not, is system problem. I guess that I don’t feel like reflecting much at the moment because this was my city and…
No, I need to focus.
When nobody knew who was driving the car, people speculated about it being a terrorist incident or one of the Apex gang or somebody that they wanted to blame. David Linoleum – or however that senator with the funny sounding name spells it – used the incident to make a cheap point on gun control.
However, it seems from looking at the man in the nightly news that he’s just your typical white, mentally ill, drug addled domestically violent individual so it’s all ok now and we can just go back to sleep and say thank god it wasn’t us.
Except…
Except…
I have these echoes in my brain that tell me that earlier this week we had a terror incident when someone threatened that unless a billboard was taken down people would be hurt.
And I feel that I need to say sorry and condemn these things because they were done by people who share some similarities with me. White, male, Australian.
Ah yeah, it’s just those politically correct people… White men should never have to apologise for anything. It was someone else in a galaxy, far, far away. And even if it were me, it’s past and…
F*ck politics.
We can never make it up to the people who’ve suffered loss today, but we can do better. We can learn to be better. We can stop the stupid way we try to deal with things by anger and big sticks and attacks on political correctness…
Maybe John Donne said it best all those years ago.
“No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend’s were.
Each man’s death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.”
Namaste… (“I bow to the Divine in you”)
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It is heartbreaking,it is alarming in more ways than one.
It appears the police were aware of his violent behaviour and were trying to arrest him.
They unfortunately failed and hence he was able to wreak havoc on an unsuspecting community.
What is even more soul destroying is that without knowing anything about the circumstances or the person, a so called LEADER
of our community was INSANE enough to start shouting “terrorist attack” to the eager MSM around her.
Shame on you Pauline Hanson.
As if that was’t bad enough she was insanely opportunistic enough to start bagging the Muslim community. Claiming that most of the terrorist attacks are committed by Muslim.
Pauline , a person who deliberately starts to stoke the fire of racism for nothing more than political milage I would consider WORSE than any mentally unstable person inflicting harm on a community.
They are INSANE…what is your excuse?
SHAMEFUL…..SHAMEFUL and community destroying.
Anyone who is capable of such behaviour is NOT fit to be a leader of a gaggle of geese let alone a political party.
Rossleigh,
Every time I have been involved in or witnessed a traumatic emergency situations, there have always been spectators who chose to react to their adrenaline impulses by switching to unhelpful emotional participaton, often with pointless aggressive displays.
We can and should choose to be the cooler headsdur ign such times of crisis,to be those who do not contribute to panic or anger, but instead undertake a clear situational assessment before making the rational decision on whether it is appropriate to render our best assistance.
And yes, threatening violence over the display of a photo of 2 little children enthusiastically waving our nation’s flag, or making claims based on false assumptions regarding a recent tragedy in order to promote fear for political means, are both entirely pathetic and despicable acts which shame anyone who allows themselves to be associated with such attitudes.
Namaste….
Leyonhjelm made a joke about it, Roberts says he wished he thought of it.
https://twitter.com/search?q=Leyonhjelm&src=tren
Several right wing acquaintances on Facebook blamed Muslims and stated it was a terrorist attack. When I linked this; http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/bourke-street-mall-driver-identified-as-james-jimmy-gargasoulas-20170120-gtvs2m.html they refused to retract. This is what I really hate about the current right wing ideology. Facts mean absolutely nothing to them all the while they call others liars.
Their posts inevitably ended in the statement that it’s about time leftards faced the facts, yet they refuse to face facts when they’re shoved in front of them.
Rossleigh, I share your frustration and anger about what is happening to our country, the rich keep getting richer and those who need a hand are denied and denigrated. The “fair go” for all has been replaced by the “f*ck you jack I’m alright” . The greatest disappointment for me is the total disregard the government and MSM has for those who need our help the most, the young , the old and the mentally and physically challenged.
So, Pauline Hanson tells us that she lives in fear because the terrorists are coming to get us. Three people are killed in Melbourne. It was not a terrorist attack but am I wrong to think that she wished it was? And not being a terrorist attack a Senator from her own party jokes about it.
I feel sick, not just from the deaths of those poor souls, but from the horror that these low-lifes have a seat in Parliament.
My 22 year old daughter made a linguistic comment!
It WAS a terrorist attack!
Surely a drug addled, domestically violent, mentally ill person driving at high speed through pedestrian zones mowing down innocent victims and terrifying those quick enough or lucky enough to get out of the way IS the absolute definition of “Terrorism”?
Hanson and Leyjonhelm have hijacked this event for their own political benefit as much as the media and politicians alike have hijacked the meaning of “terrorism” to the narrow definition of having been committed by a person of middle eastern background.
The events in Melbourne today are both terrifying and galvanising.
I feel sympathy for the families of, and the victims as much as I feel sympathy for the Victorian Police in their impotence to try to stop further carnage.
No one could have foreseen such an act of wanton cruelty and madness!
Just like no one could have foreseen 911!
We cannot prevent an act that lies in the mind of a person with mental issues regardless of how malevolent or harmless their plans may be!
The Policedid all they could under difficult circumstances. The Melbourne CBD is very crowded on any day. I am astonished there weren’t more deaths.
However, please note, in the video of the guy doing doughnuts at the intersection of Flinders and Swanston, the two guys dressed in black, who tried to impede the car by throwing things at it and whacking the car with what looks like an umbrella? It was very wet today. They appear to be the only ones willing to risk an attempt to stop this guy! I am yet to hear them acknowledged by the media. Please comment if you have heard as much?
Not enough effort being put into the causes of violence in our community – poverty, drug abuse and mental health issues. Terrorism I would venture to suggest accounts for very little of this violence. It would be good if the MSM stopped talking to those inciting hatred and division. Without airtime, they lose their power.
The government has been preaching about doing more to prevent domestic violence – well start by figuring out where this guy went wrong. And start focussing on fixing those problems in others. Maybe that would be a start.
A little more kindness is what we all need.
Yes Islam is to ‘blame’ for this tragic Melbourne incident. That Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, a Tunisian resident of France, a drug user and petty criminal drove a truck down the Promenade des Anglais in Nice killing 84 people and injuring many more is undeniable. That he was also a Muslim is also undeniable. That he provided an example for other nutters to follow suit is also quite probable.
In the days to come we will undoubtedly see a complete analysis of this ‘nutter’s’ background, including his religious connections and so on.
But maybe not.
The possibilities are almost endless.
Namaste.
Namaste…
Every problem is a problem of system failure!
Once we accept that absolutely, we stop seeking to blame one or two people and start trying to fix the system.
For example, how was it possible that he could drive so erratically in one of the busiest intersections and yet we couldn’t shut him down and stop him from driving off?
Sorry but I’m a speculator.
When I saw the car and the manner in which he was driving, I went from terrorism to Ice.
Nonetheless, there was still a terrorism factor. It was copycat of what has been in the news lately – the idea to use that method came from those incidents. As he was doing burnouts he could have had an association with reckless driving such as seen at Summernats and may have played computer games such as Carmageddon* which involves hitting pedestrians. The idea to use this method to go beserk using a car may not have taken hold or been resisted if there were no prior examples acclimatising the mind to such actions such has these.
According to his online stuff, he also has a religious madness – Christian based. Again the idea to use terrorism to express his delusions of grandeur surely got hold in his head due to the frequent examples we see from Muslims. At 26 terrorism has been there for all his teenage and young adult life, probably enhanced by racial conflicts in jail. Without it he may not even have been drawn to the Christian religion and his delusions of grandeur may have not been as extreme.
I am not saying he would not have killed people by other means. If Leyonhjelm and co had their way this event could have been worse in numbers, let alone the other cases of acts of madness that would have occurred.
His surname Gargasoulas, due to its structure “Ga Ga” (mad) “Soul Arse” makes me think there was a good possibly he was teased more than the average at school, even if it was a multicultural school. If so, it might have led him down the path of being a reactive risk taking rebel, leading to drugs, crime, macho displays – particularly should he have been a child who copped domestic violence himself (of which I have not seen anything said).
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_banned_video_games_in_Australia
Grand Theft Auto seems to be approved. I googled to check…here is one comment I n the search results –
“ Whenever I play “GTA” or similar titles, I get a hoot out of killing innocent pedestrians. Especially in San Andreas. I’m such a mean person”
Now if everyone was armed with … And conditioned to fire reactively and instinctively.
The death toll would be so much …
Driving erratically would result in so many more or less deaths? And the answer is …
David Leyonhjelm provides the answer.
“Well I’ve just been informed that there’s been a terrorist attack that’s just happened in Melbourne,” Ms Hanson told the gathered journalists.
“This is a real issue. This is what it’s about. This is why were doing it.”
When asked how Ms Hanson could possibly know the attack was terror-related half an hour after it happened and with no police briefing, she replied it was “what she had been informed”.
http://www.mandurahmail.com.au/story/4416955/pauline-hanson-meeting-descends-into-farce-as-she-confuses-candidates-blames-bourke-street-incident-on-terrorists/
It was James Ashby who informed her in the middle of her interview. Nice work again James.
……. I just clicked on Kaye Lee’s link above and read the following remark attributed to Mrs. Hanson …” I’m not going to have trial by media here, with all of my candidates. If this interview is going to be all about the candidates that represent me, I’m sorry, but this interview is finished,” Ms Hanson said.
What struck me, and I have noticed elsewhere lately ….. her use of the ‘ first person particular ‘ ….. vis a vis … ” MY candidates ” ….. ” that represent ME ” ….. where is the One Nation Party these days ? … Dare I raise the ‘ EGO ‘ word ? … Is it going to be all about ME ? Interesting times ahead with Mr. Trump & ‘our Pauline ‘ ??
…..
I watched the 20 minute interview and even the poor sound quality couldn’t hide the fact that this woman doesn’t have a clue – about anything. The epitome of populism. That so many Australians think she has any answers at all is truly scary. I agree…the EGO is growing but it is not matched by any growth in comprehension.
Could you imagine Pauline in any type of actual decision making role as opposed to serial whinger and fear monger role?
I also viewed the link and found Hanson’s ‘performance’ to be somewhat masterful – not in the ‘rational’ sense I hasten to add – but in the political sense. In that vein – she cops no bullshit – she decides what’s worthy of an answer and what isn’t. She’s not afraid to walk away (even if it’s only for a small distance).
She clearly communicated that – she was driving her (political) bus. The MSM must do better. Having a bunch of journalists asking individual questions – without any underlying strategic rationale – allows Hanson to ‘have a field day’. Hanson and Ashby ought to be congratulated.
The ‘freak’ show won again.
I must admit that the first inclination was to look for a name such as Mohammad. What a bummer. Pauline probably did experience a (suppressed) thrill, anticipating the harangue she could deliver to her enemies. She wouldn’t be alone. Mal would have a few colleagues ready to join in.
MN, Ya think? IMO she showed she doesn’t have a clue who is even running for JAON in WA and they sound like a right bunch of weirdos.
Murray-Wellington candidate Ross Slater wont pass muster with James.
“Redefining marriage will shatter the natural family structure, society’s moral code and affect everybody, because it’s only the beginning,” Mr Slater said in a letter to the Bunbury Mail in July last year.
“Same-sex couples entertain hetero bashing by suing people who refuse assistance with their “wedding” or condone their lifestyle.
“Bible quoting, introducing adultery decoys and continually referring to the shining sun disguises devious attempts to dismantle a sacred institution gay couples are neither eligible for, nor respect.”
But not to her supporters – I suspect.
They ‘believe’ . Hanson is their modern bay Boudica. Why she is: tall, the glance of her eye most fierce; her voice harsh. A great mass of the reddest hair falls down … . Her appearance is terrifying
Or something like that.
I stress we are not talking ‘rationality’ here – just the political appeal. “She played good – done well” as the departed Jack Gibson would have averred.
http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Boudica/
Yep when the first inclination was to look for a name such as Mohammad says much. Now who says the terrorists aren’t winning?
Hanson knows that instinctively. Australian are soo easily scared. So many ‘cheap’ buttons to push. Too easy.
Next the Aboriginal Muslims – now they are really scary.
Pauline’s supporters are going to demand she becomes even more belligerent and they are going to be sorely disappointed when they find out she can’t actually ban Islam – but she can do a shitload of damage trying. A visit to her facebook page shows the disgusting vile filth she has unleashed.
Let’s face it. Islam is a monotheistic religion. It’s not ‘pagan’. It doesn’t entertain the notion that there is more than one God. Allah is It! No debate allowed.
Christianity on the other hand has: God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Ghost.
‘Pagan’ by definition? There must be some religious scholars out there who can explain?
Or maybe not.
Holy Spirit – they dumped ghost along with limbo and the two most useful saints, Christopher and Anthony.
Worldwide, 1 in about 2,050 people will die each year from unclean water, which carries numerous, life-threatening diseases. Each year, more people die from a lack of clean water than from wars.
The chances of being killed in a terrorist attack are about 1 in 20 million. A person is as likely to be killed by his or her own furniture, and more likely to die in a car accident, drown in a bathtub, or in a building fire than from a terrorist attack.
John…it could be so BUT the issue here is, should our community as a whole demand her resignation as the leader of her party.
I get the cold shivers when I mention Pauline Hanson and leader in the one sentence.
She is a disgrace and should be sacked from her TV job ..I don’t know what channel..she sprouts forth her BS on.
Perhaps we should support the petition going around to have her sacked ..on Change org..I think.
She is a virus and we don’t need another virus in our community.
From the ‘rolling coverage’ on RN yesterday, the perpetrator had allegedly been involved in an incident in Windsor earlier in the day in which someone was stabbed. He had allegedly abducted a female, who ‘escaped’ when the vehicle was on the Bolte Bridge. He had, in the preceding week, allegedly been the subject of several incident’s requiring police responses. It will remain for investigation in the fullness of time to reveal another likely instance of someone in need of urgent psychiatric help being ignored by a system in crisis.
That we have ignorant, insensitive gits issuing nonsensical comments in pursuit of their own nonsensical agenda’s whilst ignoring the reality of what has transpired is merely a reflection of the current political malaise. Ignore reality, at all costs.
“We can never make it up to the people who’ve suffered loss today, but we can do better. We can learn to be better. We can stop the stupid way we try to deal with things by anger and big sticks and attacks on political correctness…”
There was a post on the Ambulance Employees Australia – Victoria face book page.
“By all accounts the work performed by Paramedics, Police and Firefighters today was outstanding. However this was only possible due to the assistance provided by members of the public. Rather than fleeing the scene, which would be understandable, bystanders stayed with patients providing comfort and care until emergency crews arrived.
To the members of the public who assisted the victims, thank you for your kindness and bravery.”
For what it’s worth, at a time of horrible consequence, many people were capable of decency, kindness and caring. Whilst words of condolence are likely to be of little comfort to those suffering with the aftermath, it should be of some comfort to know that many people were capable of being decent, kind and caring. To dwell on the mindless drivel of a few miscreants is to demean the good intent of many.
“Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.”
Thank you, Mr Brisbane. Take care
thought turning words rossleigh,
hanson desperately wanted the driver to be mohammed.
Was there any Aust whose mind immediately jumped to the conclusion? Is there any rationalisation not invoving ‘copycat’???
“Matters Not” you are on fire.
Maybe yes, the christianity of the right is far more dangerous the Islam. Although, no matter what religion, the vast majority of sweet little girls do grow up believing men.
As for hanson,
I read a LTTE which extolled the virtues of pauline and finished with a reason to vote for her.
She is Australia’s Margaret Thatcher. When that sinks in, who could not follow her?
” It will remain for investigation in the fullness of time to reveal another likely instance of someone in need of urgent psychiatric help being ignored by a system in crisis.”
Mentally ill people, not getting the treatment they need, are more likely than anyone else to be our “terrorists”… Yet we don’t seem to be doing anything to improve our mental healthcare system.