‘Who hasn’t done something stupid? Judge the man on who he is now’
Welcome to the column where you provide the content. After a tip-off from a senior Liberal minister, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet came clean on his Nazi outfit at a 21st birthday party, sparking a round of mea culpas, recriminations and apologies to the Jewish community and his political supporters. Susan urged sympathy:
“Who hasn’t done something stupid previously? Mercifully, for most of us it never becomes public. This type of witch-hunt is tiresome and pointless. Judge the man on who he is now.”
Gabriel’s wife said:
“I’m around Dom’s age. When I was at senior secondary school, the Uniting Church school I attended took us on an excursion to the Melbourne Holocaust Museum to learn more about the horrors inflicted on the Jewish people by the Nazis. This has stayed with me throughout my life. Dom is an educated man. Of course he should have known better than to wear a Nazi uniform at 21. At least he’s apologised for it now.”
River Red Gum was ropeable:
“I am tired of this historical wowserism. Here we are cancelling good politicians about a fancy dress outfit they work a lifetime ago when we ignore real issues – violence against women, political corruption in some parties, real things that cripple our state. Get over it.”
Mr B’s take:
“21-year-old makes a poor decision. That’s never happened before said no one ever.”
Graham smelled a rat:
“So this is what happens when a principled leader determinedly pushes ahead with introducing a cashless gaming card. Stick it out Dom, powerful vested interests are clearly fighting down and dirty.”
Sympathy from Andrew:
“Let he who did not do something stupid in their teens or 20s cast the first stone.”
TMLC said:
“I’m around the same age as him. I’ve never worn a Nazi uniform to any dress up party. It would never cross my mind to do so. I would have never deliberately gone and rented one.
But having said that I’ve done stupid things as well back in the day.”
Mark reckoned:
“Nazis need to be ridiculed. We fought and defeated the Nazis so that free people could do what the want. Censorship and behavioural control is what the Nazis did.”
Matthew was not amused:
“My Jewish friends disagree completely as do my gay, autistic and disabled friends.”
Mene Mene Tekel Upharsin predicted:
“When NSW falls to Labor in March, Tasmania’s will be the only liberal government left. Not healthy.”
Cancel, said Christopher:
“The Premier of NSW chose to wear a Nazi uniform for his birthday. He can no longer represent the state, let alone lead it. Credibility completely evaporated.”
Richard Colonel considered:
“He was a 20-year-old male having a lark with his friends, he was not glorifying Nazism. Give him a break and let him get on with his job. Oh, and just to piss off people the German officer uniforms were beautifully tailored and stylish. Made by Hugo Boss.”
Gosling disagreed:
“In 2003 that was already clearly disgraceful and not a ‘lark’.”
Christopher said:
“This story reminds me of the utterly woke Canadian PM who used black face as a young man. His apology performance had me in tears – I have never laughed so much.”
Lloyd said:
“It is the pathetic grovelling apology that is even more cringeworthy.”
Oscar Mike wondered:
“Why would anyone with any intelligence, life experience or vision want to enter politics in this state or country? We need leaders with vision and a plan for a better future, not saints that lived their life in a vacuum.”
A blast from Bruce:
“God I’m over this, what have we now become, this cancel culture mob of progressives hunt down people for their indiscretions of things that were done while they were young and having fun. They no longer are just happy enough tearing down the statues of our history, they want to whitewash our past and obliterate it for ever, freedom of speech has now gone.
“Politicians were young once, as kids and young people they had fun went to silly parties and dressed up. I have been a bikie, a bird in a short pink nightie (not a good look), a transvestite and God knows what else. But it was all done in fun.”
Stephen said:
“Basil Fawlty did a Nazi goose step in the same days and we all laughed!”
Rob reckoned:
“And what about Sgt Shultz in Hogans’ Heroes, who was himself Jewish?”
Curtis complained:
“This premier is a buffoon and I personally dislike him, but as far as this article goes I say ‘meh’. It was decades ago. I did some dreadful things when I was around that age myself, but I’m no longer that person.”
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Cardinal George Pell ripped into Pope Francis from the grave, with an explosive secret memo scathing of his “catastrophic” papacy revealed after Pell’s death this week following a routine hip replacement. Alfonso agreed:
“Couldn’t agree more about Francis being a disaster for the Church. Gone are the days of the amazing JPII! What is more concerning is the latest round of cardinal appointments - the next Pope will likely come from this group, the majority of whom are just as left wing as Francis.”
Richard’s take:
“Pell has the courage to stand up for what was right no matter the consequences. As a result he made many enemies. ‘It is better to walk alone than follow the crowd going in the wrong direction’.”
Cathy’s comment:
“Cardinal Pell was the battering ram that the Vatican sorely needed. His brash, direct manner led him deep into the dysfunctional and hidden places of this organisation. It’s ironic that his haters in Australia think he was a protector of the institutional church – in fact many in the institutional church (particularly in the Vatican’s financial area) saw him as the ultimate whistleblower and disrupter.”
James pointed out:
“Pell, in a secret memo published last June, insisting that his own arch enemy must be provided due process. Says something very good about his character.”
Spraydrift saw a conspiracy:
“Oh dear. Is this Roberto Calvi redux? Perhaps St Vincent’s in Sydney may have been a better choice for the op.”
Denis declared:
“The deaths of Pope Benedict and Cardinal Pell have brought to light the immense challenges facing the Catholic Church. Any organisation that loses its core principles will decline quickly. “The ‘immense wealth’ of the church can disappear quickly and it is not only at Vatican level – Australian dioceses are also seeing funds depleting. Pell’s warnings are timely – there is a need for genuine renewal and the key is core Christian principles.”
Arvid said:
“Good on the Oz for publishing all this. I ain’t remotely religious but I’d reckon those calling for his scalp may find out they were wrong and manipulated by others.”
Bozo Bill’s bit:
“Denouncing a leader is not a simple matter. There is “the Personality Cult and its Consequences” to contend with. It is likely that Pell will have sown the seed of reform within the Vatican and, because of the timing of his letter, will be remembered for the reforms to follow. Had he blatantly criticised the Vatican leadership, their institutional weight would have expunged him.”
Hunter said:
“George Pell was the antithesis of wokeness and he was a person who marshalled his arguments to enable him to counter the nonsense that pervades modern society and indeed the papacy. This is precisely why he was despised by the illiberal left.”
Andrew R reckoned:
“Truly bombshell news ... the ultimate whistleblower - turbo-charged due to his untimely death. The man falsely accused but who remained faithful to God and the law of Australia, pleads for justice and integrity for his church, from the grave. This will send shockwaves through the Church around the world.”
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Will Swanton writes that Nick Kyrgios never sounds more absurd than when he slanders his superiors in Australian tennis. The triumphs of Pat Cash, Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt dwarf the achievement that Kyrgios seems most proud of … being in the most disappointing Netflix documentary in the history of Netflix documentaries. Gregory’s gripe:
“Kyrgios has yet to realise, talent does what it can, and with time fades. Class does what it has to and is enduring. He is more akin to Tomic than the others cited in the article IMO.”
Simon said:
“Hewitt, Rafter and Cash have forgotten more about being a successful tennis player than Kygrios will ever know. And they represented their country with dignity and pride. Kygrios is all about Kygrios.”
Under the Red was rapt:
“Thank you Will Swanson for my chuckle of the morning … love the way you write!”
Sue said:
“Kyrgios has turned me off watching the Australian Open – I’m ashamed of him and I’m ashamed of his followers who cheer on his embarrassing antics.”
Chris’s call:
“Kyrgios doesn't come within a bulls roar of Rafter, a great tennis player loved by Australians.”
John Steen was harsh:
“It’s because of him and his ilk that I no longer watch tennis.”
Mark was thoughtful:
“Of all the sports, I reckon tennis throws up the best commentary from ex players. The level of intelligence, personality, insight, articulation, humour etc form ex players is exceptional and really adds to my enjoyment of the sport – think about : McEnroe (the best ex-player commentator ever in sports), Courier, Cash (should commentated more, he is great), Woodbridge, Rafter, Hewitt, Alexander, Jelna (she is great), Pat McEnroe, Roddick etc.”
Trevor’s pitch:
“Can’t wait for the next Netflix documentary, ‘Nick Kyrgios meets Harry and Meghan - The clash of titanic egos’.”
Proud Medindie Man was miffed:
“Always bagging Nick. He is no better or worse than a myriad of AFL or NRL players. This is getting pretty boring.”
Nancy wondered:
“In what country, in what grand slam – would you have Wimbledon suddenly pulling out Centre Court because Andy Murray needed a practice match? They’ve bent over backwards to help Nick get some matches ... It’s obvious, Tennis Australia knows Kygrios sells seats. People will pay to see him behave badly.”
Last word to Daryl:
“When are you and others going to get it. He doesn’t care what people think and say about him. Get over it.”
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