Time to take stock and appreciate what we have

The beauty of living in a country like ours is you can literally hate it loudly and proudly and it will make absolutely no difference to the privileged and blessed existence you lead, writes Erin Molan.

There will come a time, in the not too distant future, when this country will need to decide who it is and what it stands for.

Right now it doesn’t matter so much, does it?

I mean you can stop selling Aussie flags, fight for division, openly share your disdain for Australia and then carry on with your day.

You see, the beauty of living in a country like ours is that you can literally hate it loudly and proudly and it will make absolutely no difference to the privileged and blessed existence you lead.

The problem, though — and I hate to be the bearer of bad news — is that things may change much sooner than you think.

Rewind six months and experts were waxing lyrical about being on the brink of World War 3 and, even before then, our Prime Minister warned we are facing the most dangerous strategic circumstances in 80 years.

Has the world settled since then? No. It’s a whole lot worse.

War has broken out in the Middle East off the back of the horrific October 7 attacks by Hamas. It was never going to be contained to Gaza.

A man runs on a road as fire burns after rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip into Ashkelon, Israel, on October 7 last year.

Those who see our way of life as a threat are using this conflict as an excuse to wage broader war on the west.

The Houthi rebels have been salivating at the prospect of attacking Israel and America and attack they have, the impacts of which have reverberated well beyond just those two countries. Another reminder to those who need it that when you heavily rely on other countries for your manufacturing, food and fuel, then you are at the mercy of any disruption to the major shipping passages. Who would have thought?

The war in Europe hasn’t slowed down, despite the often fickle nature of global media coverage. Not only is Russia still killing innocent Ukrainians but, additionally, a plot by Vladimir Putin to directly involve the west allegedly leaked this week.

What about China? We need not worry, according to their ambassador.

All will be well for Australia if we just do as we are told. He was laughing and joking with local reporters at a press conference this week too. All is well, or is it?

Taiwan emerged this week as a country which demonstrably, as a collective whole, cares more about its sovereignty than its safety.

A country, unlike Australia, that has had to grapple with an imminent threat and test whether it should just take the ‘easy way out’.

And yes I use the word ‘easy’ begrudgingly. China’s intentions regarding Taiwan are no secret and every single person who voted last weekend understood what their choice at the ballot box meant.

Against this backdrop, and with great bravery in my opinion, they exercised their judgement and their vote in favour of the incumbent — the Democratic Progressive Party and new President Lai Ching-te, who boldly reject China’s claim to Taiwan.

China asserts it will take Taiwan by force and they will need to under Lai Ching-te’s leadership.

New Taiwanese president Lai Ching-te during the election campaign in Taipei,

How courageous is a nation to value itself with such integrity that it chooses democratic independence over authoritarian subservience.

To do that, you must love and respect your nation and what it stands for. You must care deeply about it, almost more than your individual self. That’s no mean feat.

There are plenty of Australians who feel this way about our country. Every serving member of our Defence Force, for example, and many, many more.

However there is a growing cohort who reject what we stand for and their existence and influence threaten our national cohesion.

It’s not just the young, mind you they do make up a fair share of it.

Plenty of them aren’t even aware they fall into this category, such is the sophistication sometimes of those pushing this ‘trend’.

It’s those who (often only think they) believe that freedom and democracy aren’t necessarily the way forward, who cherry pick their agenda to suit the narrative.

Raging feminist? Tick. Except for Israeli women? Tick.

This is all good and well for a nation that hasn’t recently had to collectively decide who it is and what it stands for but very soon we may not have the luxury of choice.

Very soon the privilege of actively trying to destroy the fundamental things Australia stands for may be taken away and won’t that be the real test of how strongly ‘they’ believe in what they advocate.

Join me at 5pm on Friday for the first episode of Erin for 2024. Guests include former CIA director George Petraeus; Gershon Baskin, who negotiated the release of Gilad Shalit from Hamas; and Hugh Poate, father of deceased soldier Robert, who was killed in Afghanistan.