One man’s moral righteousness is another man’s certainty the sky won’t fall down

‘We’re under assault’: Australian Conservatives Senator Cory Bernardi. Photo: AAP

Leader of the Australian Conservatives Cory Bernardi says free speech is under attack from those seeking to redefine marriage, The Australian’s website yesterday:

“We’re under assault because we’re on the right side of legal and moral history.”

The ABC reports on Rory O’Neill, “probably Ireland’s best-known drag queen”, September 2:

He tours the world under the stage name Panti Bliss and wants to see same-sex marriage introduced by any means possible. But he claims Australia’s method is one of the silliest ideas he’s heard of. “With all the love in my heart for Australia, I think you’re ­absolute idiots. Surveys, plebiscites or referendums are a bad way to go about it — they’re stressful, they’re hurtful, people say a lot of horrible, homophobic things and your one isn’t even binding, so what’s the point?”

The Guardian website reports independent NSW MP and co-chair of the Equality Campaign, Alex Greenwich, yesterday:

“Millions of envelopes have already been sent out by the ABS, with millions more set to arrive in mailboxes this week. In those envelopes are the hopes, dreams and aspirations of everyday Aussies who simply want to marry the person they love in the country we all cherish.”

The Sun-Herald reports Irish politician Jerry Buttimer reflecting on the Irish referendum, yesterday:

“The world hasn’t ended, the sky didn’t fall down, the sun still shines, the moon is still in the sky and the world continues. It’s only been a positive, in terms of equality and opportunity for all people.”

There is a valuable lesson for Australia, Buttimer says:

“Referendums are notorious for going down tangential routes, side ­alleys and ending up in a cul-de-sac where you are debating nothing that’s of importance.”

John Howard ramped up his criticism of the government, accusing it of “washing its hands” of responsibility to protect parental rights, free speech and religious freedoms, The Australian, September 15:

“It is important for the government to spell out, in advance of the vote, what steps it will take to protect parental rights, freedom of speech and ­religious freedom in the event of same-sex marriage becoming law. The case for these protections is compelling ... It is disingenuous to assert that a change of this magnitude to a fundamental social institution does not have consequences. This issue must be addressed before the survey is completed.”

It's really hard to find specific and detailed information on menstrual cycles on the internet. I blame the patriarchy? pic.twitter.com/kYaPUyqOqX

— Yassmin Abdel-Magied (@yassmin_a) September 16, 2017

What has new London resident Yassmin Abdel-Magied been up to since she left Australia? Yesterday she sent an unusual tweet:

“It’s really hard to find specific and ­detailed information on menstrual cycles on the internet. I blame the patriarchy?”

A friendship has developed between a former PM and a Barbadian pop singer, The Weekend Australian reports on Saturday:

Julia Gillard has traded Labor luminaries for celebrities as her unlikely friendship with pop star Rihanna continues to grow.

Rihanna’s album Good Girl Gone Bad (2008) has a track that begins:

Bum-Bum-Be-Dum, Bum-Bum, Be-Dum-Dum/ What’s wrong with me?/Bum-Bum-Be-Dum, Bum-Bum, Be-Dum-Dum)/’ Why do I feel like this?/Bum-Bum-Be-Dum, Bum-Bum, Be-Dum-Dum I’m going crazy now/Bum-Bum-Be-Dum, Bum-Bum, Be-Dum-Dum.