It's raining steadily but gently, as it did most of last night. I had a burn off yesterday afternoon. I'd accumulated a mountain (or three) of dried out prunings. I try to use as much garden refuse as I can as mulch, that is the tops or smaller bits. The larger wood is kept for next winter's firewood, but there's still a lot of in between rubbish and weed that I burn in fire season tidy up. The rain started on cue to damp my fire so it didn't sear foliage on a nearby copper beech tree and a mock orange shrub, which I'll pick for blossom next week. The fantastic rain we've had this year has the garden luxuriating with blossom and new growth. The grass everwhere is lush and thick and trees that have struggled in the dry of the last several years are celebrating in the way of it, growing spectacularly.
The Afghanistan War Debate came and went, without me hearing much of it. I'm no more convinced our involvement is justified than before. The anti-terrorism line makes no sense to me. Too vague. History suggests that military invasion and oppression fuels fanatical resistance and terrorism. Why pour fuel on a fire? They say mastermind Bin Laden is in Pakistan now. Do we now invade there? I hear the Yanks are sending in drone bombers. What if he moves somewhere else? Iran?
What is known, is that Australia is to continue (indefinitely) its involvement in the occupation. The leaders of of our two major parties support it in the interests of global security and the fight against terrorism. I'll continue to feel shame and disappointment, as an Australian opposed to our involvement. I feel little sympathy for our soldiers killed. They are paid professionals employed by the Australian Government. They're well paid while overseas and happy to take the money as a matter of their own choice, aware there's a risk they could be killed or injured. I'm weary of this ultimate sacrifice crap. They take the odds and some lose.
This opinion may be distasteful to some. I feel a moral obligation to voice it nevertheless.
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I didn't hear much about the Afghanistan War Debate either Carey. And I suspect that there are very, very few outside of the parliamentary sittings who did. And I further suspect that the great majority of those within parliament are as ignorant about the nature of the war and its effects on the Afghan people as those in the general community who are fed the party line through the tabloids and occasional "news" grabs.
And yes, there is a peculiar and extreme ceremonialising of those unfortunate Australian soldiers who are killed in battle in Afghanistan, with an equally peculiar and extreme disregard for the unfortunate Afghani women and children who are killed in their homes and while attending wedding ceremonies.
The one thing that is certain is that violence begets more violence, and we will not see the end of this through more drone strikes, targeted killings and night raids. So sad.
Lovely to hear that Chamomile Farm now flourishes as the awaited waters begin to soak through. Great work Carey.
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