 | Sledge vs. The Labyrinth |
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Let's face it, liberal democracy as we know it is a small, albeit still powerful, player in the world - so much non-democracy out there. If we don't educate our young people to think about freedom of expression, then we as liberal democrats can kiss our free societies goodbye. There are tyrants aplenty out there just waiting to devour our corpses - China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, multifarious Islamic terrorist groups and pseudo-states, and the list goes on. Today's news that the NSW Education Department is removing George Orwell's 1984 from high school reading lists is appalling. However, it's not remotely surprising. The woke/socialist agenda that has infected our Western societies like a cancer is a clever and cunning virus. Whilst the woke brigade uses Orwell as a how-to guidebook for the removal of freedom of expression and thought, and they have learned Orwell's lessons well, they of course cannot tolerate young people being educated in the real lessons Orwell had to offer - the warning, now all-too starkly clear, about how freedom ends. Orwell's 1984 should be compulsory reading for all older high school students in our democracies. We must keep the freedom discussion alive. Cheers, ABP. 
29 September - Australian Police Remembrance Day For those of us who have served out on the front line of policing, we know the risks, the dangers, and the personal costs. We also know all too well how thankless the job often is. Tragically, too many of our colleagues have made the ultimate sacrifice in their dedication to serving and protecting their community. You were brave and you were heroic, and you gave your lives for the community. You deserve honour and remembrance. WE WILL REMEMBER. 
 On this day, ANZAC Day, when we as Australians and New Zealanders commemorate our veterans, it is so important to remember that their sacrifice, in blood and suffering, is what we owe our freedom to. For those who returned from the front lines of conflict, the suffering often endured a lifetime for them, as it does for veterans to this day. The freedom they defended is the vital freedom that so many now take for granted and do not appreciate, but it is the freedom that enables us to live our lives, enjoy our rights, and bathe in freedom of speech and ideas. The same freedom that many would take from us, both adversaries outside our country and self-interested control-centred people and groups within our country. My own tribute is to dedicate a blog, as I have done in recent years, to both my grandfathers, who fought for the Australian Army in the World Wars, defending those freedoms. My paternal grandfather was Gordon Reginald Patterson and he went to the Western Front in 1917. He turned 18 six days before he enlisted. Private Patterson then joined the Australian Army Infantry in the trenches in northern France and Belgium for all the horrors that entailed. He came back to Australia in 1919. He died when my father was only 6 years old. His photo is below, and I can see my father in his face. My maternal grandfather was George Harwood Smith and he went to the second World War in 1941, as a 39 year old. He served with the Australian Army Motor Transport in Indonesia. When the Allied forces in Java surrendered to the Japanese in 1942, Private Smith went into the infamous Japanese POW camp at Changi in Singapore, where he remained a prisoner until the end of the war. Alas, I don't have any photos of Grandfather Smith in uniform (I am making enquiries to try and rectify this). I can't begin to even imagine the horrors both my grandfathers endured. But I can be forever grateful for what we now enjoy, thanks to the sacrifice of them and millions of other Allied service personnel. Rest in peace, my grandfathers, and thank you for your service and your sacrifice. I wish I could thank you both in person. Lest we forget. Cheers, ABP 
 My first author talk post-pandemic. And what a joy it is to be back on the circuit. The Rotary Club of Kenthurst invited me to do a talk for their regular meeting, and it went down very well indeed. Lots of great discussion and a lot of Rotary members bought Harry books to take home.
Cheers, ABP
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