Extremism begets more extremism. Have a look at the woman who hopes to emulate Pauline Hansen. Has the Queensland disease spread to NSW? Why must we have religious clowns of any description in any of our parliaments? Let's hope that in Camden and everywhere else the voters show enough commonsense to ignore the antics of people such as Kate McCulloch. Let us work for the day when Australia manages to contain and control the hold all religions have over peoples' lives.
Click on the link:
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/05/30/1211654312801.html

Conflict between christians and moslems over access to space and followers seems inevitable. Christian churches have fought for and obtained a place in society and access to benefits they should never have had in the first place. Their leaders never expected they would face a situation in which moslems would have access to those same benefits. Now it is happening. Wouldn't it be better if none of them had those privileges? Click on the link below:
http://www.smh.com.au/national/churches-oppose-islamic-school-20090421-a...

A nineteen year old woman has been charged with procuring an abortion using the drug RU486 which she smuggled into the state from overseas.
Is there something special about Queensland or could this happen anywhere in Australia?
Read the details onthe following link.
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2008/s2548917.htm

If you are beautiful, clever, hard working and have a desire to help the less fortunate, is that OK?

Of course not.

Our media and the population they serve have different values.

Click on the link to see what really matters, then come back and tell us what you think.
http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2510509.htm

British journalist Polly Toynbee visits Ghana and learns something about the basics of banking. Meanwhile some of those responsible for the financial crisis collect even larger bonuses than before. Is the financial world just as irresponsible as the religious one? What is it about humans? Are we really the most intelligent of the animals?

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/the-poorest-of-the-poor-have-plenty-to-tea...

Have a look at the latest statement from George Pell re condoms and AIDS. If you accept his set of values and beliefs then his position makes perfect sense. That would explain the almost scornful tone with which he presents his case. The problem is that most of us don't accept a substantial part of that package of values and beliefs and there is no reason why we should. The Archbishop may think that sexual activity should be restricted to only married, heterosexual couples practicing it with the ever present prospect of conception, but few agree with that view.

Nelofer Pazira states that Afghan women have more to put up with than sharia law and no one would disagree with that. She points to the daily thuggery practiced by the gang of warlords and their henchmen in that country and then seems to imply acceptance of Karzai's willingness to allow sharia law to placate the thugs. What do you think would enable the unfortunate people of Afghanistan and Pakistan to overcome the current military, political, social, religious mess they are in?

May we Australians never get to the stage where the national leader's choice of church becomes such a matter of deep politics. Watching this spectacle should warn us to ensure that the Australian Christian Lobby and various other fundamentalist groups never get the power and influence their counterparts in the USA have obtained. Truly "the price of freedom is eternal vigilance". Check out the story and post your comments on this:

http://www.smh.com.au/world/presidents-choice-of-church-under-scrutiny-2...

The Council of Europe has rejected calls to condemn the practice of teaching creationism. They have referred the matter to a committee. Why will no important government body anywhere face up to the fundamentalists? Read more on this and let us know what you think.

http://www.iheu.org/node/2730#comment-538

Archbishop Pell believes that people are in more danger from those little rubber tubes than they are from fatal diseases. What do you think?

David Marr discusses Archbishop Pell's seemingly slavish devotion to the pope.