Vol 33 No 7

17 April 2023

ARTS AND CULTURE

The magic of Dessaix's Abracadabra
- Gillian Bouras
- 28 April 2023
2 Comments
While our lives plod along in an ordinary groove, the great writers astound us and lift us on to another plane. The state of reading, Dessaix believes, is one of intense attention: in every true reading of literature in adult life, we revert to that early attitude of plasticity and innocence before the text.
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INTERNATIONAL

Scapegoats of war
- Binoy Kampmark
- 27 April 2023
With the prosecution of low-level soldiers like SAS trooper Oliver Schulz for war crimes in Afghanistan, we should consider: what is the scope of accountability for war crimes under international and Australian law, and how does it apply to commanders who should have known about the crimes?
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ARTS AND CULTURE

Family business
- Paul Williamson
- 27 April 2023
The bakery is clean and bright, service cheerful. Mother waits at the counter while her daughter brews coffee. Cooking is done out the back / to fill the cut-back menu / and maintain the family’s dream. The business survives as well as most.
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AUSTRALIA

Remembering Father Bob Maguire
- Michael McVeigh
- 26 April 2023
Some people live large. Their presence fills a room and stays with you for a long time afterwards. Father Bob Maguire, who died last week, was one of those people. Fr Bob’s voice, his presence, left a mark on the lives of so many people, from so many walks of life.
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AUSTRALIA

Gratitude needs ambivalence on the costs of war
- Jim Curtain
- 24 April 2023
4 Comments
Amidst gratitude and remembrance to those who have served, we would do well to look with ambivalence on the toll beyond the battlefield; on families, soldiers' mental health, and questions about government transparency. Anzac day serves as a poignant reminder to acknowledge sacrifices and damages of war.
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AUSTRALIA

Saida Pearlie: A nurse's window to war
- Erica Cervini
- 24 April 2023
1 Comment
A small autograph book from an Australian army nurse in World War II provides a unique glimpse into the lives of those she cared for in Palestine. With sketches and heartfelt inscriptions, the book illuminates the overlooked efforts of nurses whose dedication continued even after the war.
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AUSTRALIA

He walks among them: Remembering Father Bob
- Arnold Zable
- 24 April 2023
11 Comments
I spent memorable hours yarning with Father Bob and I accompanied the Father Bob McGuire Foundation food van on some of its nightly forays to parts of the city to provide sustenance to those in need. Invariably Father Bob would turn up at some point in the evening to lend his inimitable presence to the show.
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AUSTRALIA

Anzac Day stories, old and new
- Andrew Hamilton
- 24 April 2023
3 Comments
With every Anzac Day, the stories told reflect changing attitudes. Past celebrations focused on patriotism and romance of war, but this year's tone is more serious due to global events. Anzac Day now emphasises remembering, compassion, honouring victims of war, and advocating for peace.
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ARTS AND CULTURE

The book corner: A history of Australian women in science
- Andrew Hamilton
- 21 April 2023
Taking to the Field highlights overlooked women who made noteworthy contributions to science in Australia, despite gender-based limitations. This thought-provoking book delves into the complexities of gender and science, revealing a more nuanced and diverse history than previously assumed.
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MEDIA

Two cheers for complaint
- Andrew Hamilton
- 20 April 2023
Defending the rights of individuals and apportioning blame for failure to respect them are an important part of the human story, but they are not the whole story. Is there a path to a more just and compassionate society that goes beyond blame and focuses on solidarity?
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ARTS AND CULTURE

Father Bob, dissident prophet
- Tim Kroenert
- 20 April 2023
2 Comments
For Father Bob, being a priest entails getting his hands dirty, giving everything of himself, and doing what he thinks is right, even if doing so upsets power structures; especially if it upsets power structures, if they have contributed to the plight of the downtrodden. (From 2013)
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INTERNATIONAL

Commemorating the Warsaw ghetto uprising
- Arnold Zable
- 19 April 2023
4 Comments
As Holocaust denial and falsehoods spread on social media, we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw ghetto uprising, a heroic act of resistance against oppression, with a sense of urgency. Let us remember the lessons of the uprising and stand up against racism and authoritarianism in all its forms.
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AUSTRALIA

A voice for the voiceless
- Brian McCoy
- 19 April 2023
13 Comments
Terence Darrell Kelly is not an isolated example of the intergenerational trauma that colonisation has brought to many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. As Australia grapples with the ongoing effects of colonisation, including the dispossession of land and culture, the need to listen to voices of Indigenous communities becomes increasingly urgent.
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AUSTRALIA

How to pay for things we want
- Joe Zabar
- 19 April 2023
2 Comments
The upcoming federal budget in May presents a crucial moment for the Albanese Government to address pressing challenges while restoring trust in political institutions. Transparency, integrity, and meaningful relief for households will be key to defining the government's path forward.
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ARTS AND CULTURE

Near life experiences
- Barry Gittins
- 18 April 2023
Near-death experiences can serve as stark reminders of the fragility of life, prompting us to cherish the moments that transcend routine and monotony. Whether it's the wit of a child, the intimacy with a partner, or the tranquility of nature, these moments awaken us to the gift of life.
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RELIGION

'How Christianity can grow again in the West'
- Andrew Hamilton
- 17 April 2023
14 Comments
Greg Sheridan's Easter article in the Weekend Australian argues that a radical, supernatural version of Christian faith may be more persuasive than an accommodating one. However, Christians must show an attractive way of life, balancing high ideals with the reality of failure and forgiveness.
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INTERNATIONAL

A little more conversation a little less action
- Michele Frankeni
- 17 April 2023
Dutch supermarket chain Jumbo has introduced 'Kletskassa' or 'chat checkouts' for customers who want a little conversation with the cashier. In today's automated world, where human interactions are increasingly impersonal, small moments of human connection can make a big difference in combatting loneliness in our communities.
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ARTS AND CULTURE

Hope springs
- Andrew Hamilton
- 10 April 2023
In a secular society the fast that preceded Easter has disappeared, but Easter remains a time of celebration. Celebrations recognise happy times and happy events, often marking the end of hard times. The message of Easter remains: that hope can spring up and new life can grow in apparently barren places.
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Vol 33 No 7