I am patriotic about Australia, but in a way I hope is not blind. For example, I believe I have never been to a country that would be better to grow up in, but on the other hand think our history education should include less about cricketing greatness and perhaps a tad more about how many massacres of aborigines there were (since I am also in favour of dumping trigonometry in favour of first aid I doubt my revisions to the curriculum will be entertained).
Despite the patriotism I am rarely proud to be an Australian while overseas, and when in large groups of my countrymen have sometimes pretended to be English, or mute. The second is harder for me.
Yet I have recently been very proud of Australia, and while not overtly political, proud of its government. For Australia as a nation has taken Japan to court over its whaling. This is a vote winning move to be sure, but ignores certain economic sensibilities. It also may inflame Japanese nationalism (ever made a joke to Canadians about clubbing baby seals? They don't laugh, and you quickly learn just how uncomfortable an ice hockey stick can be) and may make the Japanese even keener to carry on with their sham 'scientific research'. But it is a statement, and sometimes great things begin just because ground is stood and somebody says, simply, "No more".
One of the reasons Japanese whaling pisses me off so much is the sham behind it - them claiming it is for research is a blatant sidestep of the laws in place, and also an insult. By making the claim, they are saying that they think we are idiots enough to believe their flagrant mistruth.And let's not forget it is not just our feelings they hurt. Whales have as many nerve endings as we do, so share the same physical sensitivity that we have. Emotional sensitivity is something never measured, but probably more important. Whales have social bonds, feel grief, speak, play, and love. Killing one by an exploding harpoon is not quick, not merciful, and never justified.
It is a rare thing to be happy when lawyers are called in, but Australians all, let us rejoice.
0 comments:
Post a Comment