It seems that, by the end of the year, John Howard will be replaced as Australias Prime Minister.
But how will the nation remember him? A few have stated that he’s done nothing and will be remembered as the Prime Minister who did nothing. Or the person who took us to war in Iraq. Or even as that guy with the really big eye brows.
I however disagree. I believe. No I know, he’ll be remembered as the Man who lead Australia into the 20th Century.
Think about all the great things he’s done. Reintroduction of xenophobia, removal of trade unions power, keeping us safe from legalised gay marrige, abortion and stem cell research.
I ask you. Who else since the late 20th century has done so much to prepare and lead the way into the 20th century than John Howard?
Sure a few whiney intellectual types may cry that he’s actually supposed to be leading Australia into the 21st century. However at the end of the day whats a century here or there in a few thousand years time? By then John Howard will be seen as a visionary, for being so far ahead of his time in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Nathan said about 6 hours later:
I’m about to make another achievement in the world tomorrow if my farcical graduation ceremony is anything to go by. I’ve successfully completed my training college studies and have progressed to the on-field portion of my probationary employment.
I am a little excited, but more so for my colleagues than myself… I’ve seen them develop alongside me and can share in their joy and sense of accomplishment. But I don’t particularly feel the customary jubilation for my own achievement.
So I started to wonder why… and here are my thoughts to date:
1. I do have a real distaste for being given acknowledgment by a certain body (especially a self appointed one that I may not personally respect or hold in high regard). I can gauge my capabilities quite accurately in most circumstances (academic primarily) and I love gaining knowledge and expanding my understanding on different matters, but to then have to prove that to a governing agent(cy) and to have them present you with their ‘certification’ does rub me the wrong way. I dislike being expressed as a non-entity and given worth on their designed and quantified scale. Yes, I am aware of the many ironies of judgments and scalings we all use in our daily lives… I still find it irritating (rebelling against authority?).
2. I need a major event to be of importance. I need to care for it myself, and to a very real degree I need the important people in my life to care for my acknowledgment. Does it really matter if a random person or entity congratulates me? I am tediously weary, and irrationally aggravated by ingenuity and social games that people play. I don’t want words or actions which don’t have a truthful meaning behind them.
3. Moments of actual innate joy and appreciation are extremely personal. No one can truly appreciate the many small intricacies in your life and the trials and tribulations you may have undergone to reach a conclusion that invokes these feelings within you. At times like these, perhaps because of my lacking nature, I feel an intense desire to share my happiness with those that have affected my life in a positive way in achieving this fleeting euphoria. Can I give my memories life by sharing them with my loved ones? If I should forget, can I relive it in their eyes? In their re-telling of that moment? In that reminiscent joy that they express for me? Who should I burden with such a heavy responsibility?
So what does that leave me with? Buggered if I know.
Maybe Australia’s just full of griefers.
You know those dudes who kill you repeatedly on your way home from work, so you have to keep walking back from the graveyard to your body, then back home again?
They vote for John Howard!
Goldfarmers? Also, John Howard!