Opinion Archive

ThealityBites: Harris the Brave

I admire Sam Harris, I really do. I disagree with him on almost every level, by the way, but I do really and truly admire him. This weekend just gone, Harris kicked off the 2012 Sydney Festival of Dangerous Ideas with his …
Jones more than just a tweet

Jones more than just a tweet

Alan Jones has done it again. In his very own Mitt Romney moment, the vitriolic shock jock was caught on tape telling a private function that Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s father “died of shame”. Twitter is abuzz with outrage at a story …
Waiting for Dr Henry

Waiting for Dr Henry

When Ken Henry’s Asian Century White Paper appears, it can be expected to urge more ‘Asia-literacy’ for Australians, more people-to-people exchanges with Asian countries, less impediments to trade and investment, more collaborative research and development, more transparency in government, and less tape …
India and Pakistan playing a dicey game

India and Pakistan playing a dicey game

As the London Olympics 2012 regaled the world with a spectacular opening ceremony this morning that as usual celebrated the power of sport to bring nations together, India and Pakistan prepare to re-build their fragile relationship through cricket. But as Joseph Rana …
Don’t Show, Don’t Tell

Don’t Show, Don’t Tell

There is a passage in Leviticus that states: “You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks upon you: I am the Lord.” While this passage varies from text to text, the message is clear: …
US military presence brings risks to the north

US military presence brings risks to the north

As Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono arrives in Australia for talks with Prime Minister Julia Gillard,  there is speculation that the increased US presence in Australia’s north, announced during President Barack Obama’s visit in November, may be another item up for discussion during the two-day leaders’ …