I was thinking quite a lot about being a woman today, probably because it's International Women's Day. I've just watched a short video about books, which demonstrates the relative proportions of books that 1) actually feature girls, 2) feature girls who speak and 3) feature girls who aren't princesses, waiting for their prince charming. The … Continue reading Ponderings
Current Affairs
Elections and Other Stuff
Here in Australia, 2016 saw the longest election campaign in history except for one. In 1954, Robert Menzies had a campaign that lasted ninety four days between calling the election and the actual election. Our elections are governed by some rather complex arrangements, but generally, an election occurs each three to four years into the … Continue reading Elections and Other Stuff
Being Busy, Yet Again.
As I write, I'm sitting here in my pyjamas, trying not to fall asleep. It's Sunday evening, and I've spent today and yesterday helping to 'bump in' our local production of The Sound of Music. I still have paint under my fingernails, despite the shower, and I'm rather tired. However, I'm home, and some of … Continue reading Being Busy, Yet Again.
Sadness. Why don’t they learn?
Several mornings ago I awoke, once again, to the news that there had been yet another gun massacre in the US. I'm Australian. As I've previously written in this blog, we have some strong gun control laws here, enacted after we suffered the worst massacre in history in 1996. In April, I listened to our … Continue reading Sadness. Why don’t they learn?
What in the World?
There are many things in this world that I don't understand. On my mind very recently has been the issue of gun control. I live in Australia. We have very strong gun laws. Since the Port Arthur Massacre in 1996, our gun laws have become even more strict. During that massacre, 35 people were killed … Continue reading What in the World?
Hypocrisy Apparently Rules
I'm sitting here in my chair, after just reading a news article entitled Tony Abbott says Australia will accept more Syria refugees but within current intake... The news this week has been full of images and stories about the enormous humanitarian crisis involving refugees fleeing violence in the Middle East - primarily Syria. The stories … Continue reading Hypocrisy Apparently Rules
Injustice
This last week I've seen something I never thought to see, enacted into law in Australia. In the last few years, the two major political parties in Australia have, in subsequent governments, increasingly penalised asylum seekers and refugees who arrive on boats. They've sent them to Nauru, Manus Island, and placed them in long term … Continue reading Injustice
Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly.
"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 This was part of the reading at church this morning, and the basis of the sermon. I'm a Christian, which is not necessarily … Continue reading Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly.
Choices
I've been a bit slack with this blog recently - mainly a matter of life getting in the way of everything else, but I've been thinking quite a bit, which is what I do. There's a lot going on in the world. We've had floods here in Australia, and there's been the devastation of the … Continue reading Choices
ANZAC – 100 years on.
Today marks the 100th anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli in World War I. ANZAC Day is celebrated in Australia and New Zealand every year on the 25th of April. (ANZAC stands for Australian and NewZealand Army Corps). For those of us in Australia, it marks the date that we feel defined us as a … Continue reading ANZAC – 100 years on.
Leonie Rogers 