Thank You Victoria – But Enough is Enough

Monday 22 June 2020  5.50am

To start, I will butcher Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Sound of Music Classic, Maria. At least a small part of it. Messrs Rodger and Hammerstein, I apologise.

How do you solve a problem like Victoria

How do they catch a virus and pin it down
How do you find words that mean Victoria
Careless bunch, out to lunch, gather round

Many a thing you know you’d like to tell them

Many a thing they ought to have to hand
Hugs and kisses are not the way
To make this go away
How do you make Victoria understand?

It gave me nausea writing this dribble so I can only imagine how you are feeling now and extend my apology accordingly.

However, how about the good Australian State of Victoria, Australia? *

Victoria, the rest of Australia and perhaps even the rest of the world appreciate what you are trying to do for us but for the most part, it is not necessary.

We already know Covid-19 is a potent and highly infectious virus. We know it can have devasting effects on those who catch it and even death. While we appreciate your efforts this last week to ensure the dangers of Covid-19 remain at the front of our minds, it is really not necessary. Please stop.

Further, I live in one of several States that are reluctant to open its borders to the rest of the country. In recent weeks, many of us believe this is an un-necessary act of over cautious paranoia. We do not need your actions this last week providing other States an excuse to keep borders closed. Besides, I really want to go to Melbourne. We don’t need this. Victoria, please stop.

The rest of the country know you are the head quarters of the dominant, best managed, best attended, most lucrative football code in the country. You tell us all the time.

We also understand Rugby League has taken the initiative and leadership to return football to our fields and TV screens. Quite rightly, Rugby League’s endeavour and brashness has been rewarded by positive media attention and new found respect for doing so. Multiple AFL Covid-19 code breaches may be a way to regain lost media time but it is a big price to pay for doing so. Victoria, you are being laughed at by all non AFL devotees. Please stop.

Also, Victoria, we know you are the intellectual, sporting, arts, horticulture, education, wine, dining, gambling and “every other thing” capital of Australia. Accordingly, we understand your recent acts of stupidity are aimed at making  the rest of us feel better about ourselves. However, as you are prone to do, you are over doing it. We don’t need any more of the bigoted, racist, homophobic, narcissistic displays like we watched on 60 minutes last week. We have enough in Canberra and our own regions. Keep it to yourself Victoria. Just stop it.

*The writer is a born and breed Victorian and proud to be so. He may reside in Queensland however Victoria will always be home.

 

Moving on to other matters Covid – 19.

The number of new cases is growing alarmingly in some parts of the world and in some states in America.

Brazil seems to be breaking records for new case numbers day after day as it continues to pursue a more open strategy. As alarming as it is, only when this is all over or sustainably contained will we able to asses the merits of differing approaches. In the immediate term, it is quite frightening.

In America, new daily record infection numbers roll out for Florida. Again, lets refrain from judging the merits of their strategy. They locked down late (by comparison) and initially granted exemptions for Churches. They then opened early and quickly.

Ideally, they will not have to resort to the latest Presidential Covid- 10 case management strategy. There is little doubt the President is correct when saying slowing the number of tests being conducted will reduce the rate of diagnosed infections.

It is difficult to refrain from wondering about this as a leadership strategy. Perhaps other challenges could be dealt with by adopting a similar methodology. Poverty, unemployment, crime rates? I hope not.

It is far from being confirmed but general commentary and observation including by Pandemic medical experts seems to suggest a few interesting factors evolving.

·         Close proximity indoor contact of 15 or more minutes without a facemask is high risk. For example, the home transmissions in Victoria.

·         Gatherings indoor complying with 1.5 metre separation, no face mask for no more than 2 hours appear to have a low infection risk.

·         Large outdoor gatherings in close proximity while wearing a mask, appear to have a low risk of infection. For example, so far there is no infection spike from the street rally’s held in Australia or overseas where attendees largely wore masks.

The above points are purely my observations and preliminary thoughts based on what I have read, watched and listened too. They are by no means suggested courses of action and are not based on any referenceable scientific evidence or data analysis.

And a few things to finish with.

WIRED Magazine was first published in January 1993. Its founder Kevin Kelly recently turned 68 and offered some lessons on life.

Learn how to learn from those you disagree with, or even offend you. See if you can find truth in what they believe”  

A most valuable lesson in an era where we are losing the ability to disagree and debate in a respectable way. 

He also said: 

“Being able to listen is a superpower. While listening to someone you love keep asking them “is there more?” until there is no more”.

And finally, he wrote about “Habit”:

"The purpose of a habit is to remove that action from self-negotiation. You no longer expend energy deciding whether to do it. You just do it. Good habits can range from telling the truth, to flossing.”

Finally, National Geographic released a video on 15 May 2020 showing some of the major cities in the world during Isolation/Lockdown. It includes Sydney, Delhi, Berlin and New York. It is a fascinating and hopefully unique 7 minute snap shot of a point in world history.

Stay safe, debate with respect, talk and listen and remain inquisitive.

Colin Morley

Kneeling, TV Shows Past and Uncertanty

15 June 2020  1.34pm

Uncertainty abounds, or so it seems.

I felt conflicted today. Will I write a weekly update?

So much is uncertain and I felt I had nothing to add that would positively advance the many debates underway.

Anger and outrage dominate.

Do I discuss AFL and Rugby League players and officials uniting before a game to bend on one knee in support of indigenous and marginalised teammates? If I attempt to do so and take a balanced approach, I would fail. I could not find even a mildly alternative to this being a calm, considered, united and peaceful show of support that inconvenienced no one.

Is the counter argument that the action is “politicising sport”?

If this is credible, we would have to accept that sport no longer receives public funds to develop infrastructure because such funds are provided with a political intent. Be it a new stadium in Townsville, North Queensland or a new Grandstand in Geelong, Victoria, funds are provided with a political benefit in mind.

Surely it is all political or it is not political, we can’t pick and choose, logically at least?

And then there is Fawlty Towers.

My first reaction to withdrawing access to the “Don’t mention the war” Fawlty Tower episode was to question if we are going to far. Maybe I can write about that.

On reflection, my initial response lacked sufficient thought. While I am not yet supporting the episodes withdrawal, I do now see there is a legitimate debate to be had around this and similar matters.

I can jump to a conclusion based purely on my personal circumstances, experience and unconscious bias or I can consider and research if there is another view.

I have a much valued friend and former work colleague born to German Parents. He has German Christian and surnames. I need to talk to him to understand if the “war” episode of Fawlty Towers is offensive or was the reason for teasing, insult and mockery when growing up.

I have other friends and associates born in Germany. It is only fair that I talk to them before deciding a position.

And then there is the statue, building and street name and monument debate, but I am not going there today. Except for one example.

In Brisbane, there are several inner city main streets named Boundary Street. I recently discovered these were actual boundaries past which local indigenous Jagera and Turrbalpeople were unable to pass. The street are reminders of a forgone separist policy and I am reminded of this every time I cross or use Boundary Street in West End or Spring Hill.

 

I am inclined to think the history of these streets should  be taught widely including in tourism literature so we all know of this unfortunate time in our European history. Then again, I need to first discover what the decedent’s of the Jagera and Turrbal people feel about this before determining an informed and balanced view.

I revealed my conflicted state at the start of this post and it is now obvious I decided to write. It was being sent a "tweet" that motivated me in to action.

 

 

It is a most brilliantly written thread in that it literally cannot be argued against or disputed.

Here is the thread and in my opinion is a great reminder of a better way and well worth reading NB you don’t need to be a twitter user to read it.

Click here to access it.

I will conclude today with words from an American tennis icon and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Arthur Ashe writing about “change”

Most people resist change, even when it promises to be for the better. But change will come, and if you acknowledge this simple and indisputable fact of life, and understand that you must adjust to all change, then you will have a head start.

Stay positive, informed, considerate and safe.

Colin Morley

 

Perhaps a Week We Had to Have

Monday 8 June 2020  4.39 am

I write this morning with a sense of confusion.

My weekly observation of these Pandemic times is usually approached with a mildly playful intent and the idea of being at least a little amusing even if the only person amused is me.

At the very least, if raising a so-called issue I seek to provide two sides to an argument or present some form of solution, as fanciful as that solution may at times seem.

It is difficult if not insulting or disrespectful to seek to amuse this morning.

In recent days British Prime Minister Boris Johnson lavished praise on his own Governments handling of the pandemic. If success is having only 597 out of every 1 million of his constituents die, he is correct and a success. Afterall, of countries with populations in excess of 1 million, only Belgium with 828 has a higher fatality rate. (source https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/)

The Twitter President is being equally, if not more effusive about his management of the pandemic. And while he is less inclined these days to discuss matters Covid-19, his actions keep him shining brightly in the spot light as he continues building a legacy that will amaze and enthral the future students of American Contemporary History.

The BlackLivesMatter cause has been advocated by millions of people across the United States, day in day out.

Some and only some public gatherings have resulted in ugly clashes between advocates and others with alternate view or enforcement personnel.

In reality, the majority of gatherings have been calm, peaceful and passed without incident. Some have been quite moving such as this event in Colorado a few days ago.

Sadly, media coverage highlights the violent and the ugly and the message is lost or

confused.

There seems a need to take one side or the opposite side with little room in between.

Both extremes see it in their interest to highlight the ugly and distasteful. If a media outlet is inclined towards supporting the BlackLivesMatter advocates, they want to draw attention to the oppressive behaviour of the Police. If a Media outlet is seeking to support those who are against the event taking place, they will see benefit in highlighting the behaviour of those attending the gathering and shift blame to them.

This event in Colorado received scant coverage, as did other large peaceful gathering in Las Angles and other Cities.

There were large gatherings of Advocates in Australia over the weekend too. All were peaceful. There was a conflict at a Sydney railway station as the crowd dispersed.

We also wake this morning to hear of mass gatherings in cities across Europe, peaceful gatherings.

My feelings about these gatherings are confused.

In a time where we should be mindful mass gatherings are conduits for spreading the Covid-19 virus, I question if these events should be occurring.

In a time where 30% of Australian Prison inmates are of an Indigenous background when only 3% of our population is Indigenous, I question why such gatherings have not occurred more often in larger numbers, pandemic or no pandemic.

I have spoken to people who attended events in Brisbane and Sydney. I asked about the mood and if it felt like it might erupt at any moment. In both cases they reported feeling safe and at no time felt anyone was seeking combative confrontations.

I have deliberately used the words “advocates”, “events” and “gatherings” rather than “protesters” and “protests”. My reason for doing so is the significant number of attendees who do not identify as protesters or people who attend protests. These are people who have publicly joined a cause for the first time ever to demonstrate concern and try to better understand an issue largely confined to a world very foreign to theirs.

What I am not confused about is believing the issue of Indigenous incarceration rates should exist only as a case study now discuss as having been long resolved. We could have been, should be, looking back a decade or so with a sense of collective national pride at having identified, accepted and solved this matter.

Between 1987 and 1991, a Royal Commission was conducted in to Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and concluded by making 339 recommendations.

Other than some basic research, I have not yet looked extensively at the recommendations; my comments are therefore based on recent reading and media commentary.

My understanding is the vast majority of the 339 recommendations remain unactioned.

Both sides of  Australian mainstream politics are largely united when discussing this issue. They extoll the need to “work harder to resolve the issues” or “involve all parties in finding workable solutions” or my favourite “we all agree we need to do more”.

I know the Royal Commission concluded nearly 30 years ago, but I suggest the “hard work involving all parties” has already been done and a good place to start is the 339 recommendations the majority of which remain unactioned.

But hey, the Rugby League has nearly completed its second post shutdown round, the AFL returns on Thursday, a draft international cricket calendar has been announced, club hockey is scheduled to start in July as is cycling and an argument rages between the Melbourne and Victorian Racing Clubs as to when the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups should be held.

One wonders just what our priorities are.

Mind you, the Queen’s Birthday Honours list has just been released. Congratulations to all recipients. It is a diverse group of awardees, isn’t it?

Too conclude with some short comments:

I am not sure what I will read this week.

Maybe we should all read, or re-read To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

The Post Reports Podcast from the Washington Post provides a look in to the goings on in America. While it probably takes an anti Trump lean, it is not necessarily pro Democrat.

For more general political analysis, I again mention Democracy Sausage from the Australian National University as informative an diverse twice weekly podcasting.

For sporting content, during the last week I have enjoyed the interviews with Isa Guha, Chris Scott, Karrie Webb and Daniel Ricciardo from The Howie Games Podcast. Not only is Isa Guha a former test cricketer and a respected broadcaster she also has Neuro Science degree and just happens to be married to a rock star.

Stay strong, seek first to understand and lets all support and look after others while also looking ourselves.

 

Colin Morley

Essentialism, Remembering and a dash of Utopia

Tuesday 2 June 2020  3.50 am

I will start with a question:

Is Blinking the plural of Winking?

I receive much feedback pointing out grammatical and punctuation errors and bluntly, in just about every case the feedback is valid. Therefore, I assume this will be an easily answered question.

Moving on.

The Covid-19 related restrictions of recent months have identified who are the essential workers in our communities.

The butchers, bakes, cleaners, sanitary staff, nurses, Doctors, teachers, child care, delivery and warehouse teams, front and back facing supermarket employees and others have not only proven to be essential but have been officially declared so.

With the odd exception, these are hardly the best paid, most secure or most respected roles in our community.

As we start the slow journey out of isolation, it is essential we act to remember their essentiality and entrench an appropriate reward structure.

It is time they are wrapped together as a group and a minimum pay and reward structure is put in place. After all, being deemed ‘essential’, also meant they were most at risk of infection.

We need to ensure the essential roles are remunerated accordingly and are entrenched as secure, respected professions that are valued and aspired too.

And we need to act quickly as it is all to easy to forget and neglect.

Remember, few of us were looking for a lawyer, an investment banker and dare I say, a financial planner during isolation. We did however want our pasta and toilet paper packed on to a truck at the warehouse, delivered to the supermarket, stacked on shelves and checked out at the counter.

And while we are talking about memory retention…

What else will we remember to do as restrictions progressively lift?

Cooking at home has increased. As well as being economically beneficial, home prepared meals will most likely be a healthier way of eating too. Will we remember this or fall back to a take away, convenience orientated packaged food habit?

There has been an increase in families walking, cycling and even running together.

Everything about this has personal and collective benefits. I hope we remember to maintain the habits of recent weeks.

My last of many similar examples is:

From all reports, the behaviour and courtesy displayed when meeting by Zoom and equivalent media is far better, more respectful, less domineering, less aggressive and more inclusive than many face to face meetings. Profit and people would benefit by remembering and maintaining such an approach and attitude. Then again, maybe it is simply practicing common respect and decency in our dealings.

In line with today’s theme, I provide this quote from Dutch Commentator José Been 

That old cliché is really true. It’s not about travelling to faraway places or having the busiest of jobs to boast your status. It is the small things I already had so close to home that matter most. That is what I came to realise in these past months.

In looking for a book to indulge in this coming week, I reference the following sentence from a writer not known to me:

Every milestone of civilisation – from the end of slavery to the beginning of democracy – was once considered a utopian fantasy.

This has prompted me to read Utopia for Realists by Rutger Bregman.

And to conclude with a thought:

Opportunity generally is somewhere at the intersection of where nobody else is looking and change. (Amy Zelman – Global Futurist)

Colin Morley