Reference:- Sky News Australia has developed a penchant for hyperbole .

 Reference:-  When hyperbole is overused, the power of language is diluted  . 

Dear fair-minded Sky News broadcasters , 

 Far be it from me to claim expertise in the field of " news you can trust , opinions you can't ignore " , but I must say that your banner headlines and hyperbolic language are damaging your credibility . 

Most folk are not stupid , and can recognise when somebody is " crying wolf " , as they say.  It is disappointing for viewers to click on a banner headline featuring words like  " Crazy lefty wants to destroy Australia " only to find a short video that shows a professor of economics gently suggesting  that multinational companies should pay their fair share of tax . 

Anyway , it's probably easier for you to understand my point if I give an example ......there are many more of course .  Recently you described an unfortunate brawl at a restaurant in Melbourne as an " antisemitic horror attack  " .    We have brawls here at the Kooralya pub from time to time , and even  if somebody gets a black eye or a bloodied nose , we would never describe such a brawl as a " horror  attack "  And if it was an Aboriginal mate of Gabbo's who got a black eye , or Ahmed , who runs the Post Office , we would not call it an " anti-aboriginal or  anti-islamic horror attack " .  We would look to the cause of the brawl for an explanation . 

Gabbo's mate  might have tried to chat up somebody's sheila , for example .  Or Ahmed might have lost somebody's parcel .   

Flinging the word " horror " about  so liberally shrinks your vocabulary . 

Around the same day that people were shoving each other around at a fine dining establishment in Melbourne  , possibly spilling their Chardonnay , dozens of children in Gaza were blown to pieces by a 500 pound bomb that the Israeli military dropped on a 6 year old child's birthday party .  Limbs and other body parts were collected in bags , but it was impossible to identify all the bodies .    Obviously if shouting and shoving and spilling chardonnay are " horrors " , then you need to find another word to describe blowing children to smithereens .  But what word would suffice ?

Clearly if you had described the scuffle at the eatery as " an ugly scene  " , that would leave you the option to use the word " horror " when describing brutal infanticide  .  As it happened , you apparently decided to skip over reporting the massacre of children , since , like the end of a game of Scrabble , you were running out of useful words .  I mean , with the word " horror " already taken , and by inference it's synonyms ,   you could hardly describe bombing a child's birthday party as " an ugly scene " .   Could you ? 

There are around 600,000 words in the English language , and it is important for journalists to use them accurately .    

Anyway , if you have found this helpful , please like and subscribe . 

Your comrade , 

Ken .  

PS.    Arabic contains around 12 million words .  This is why much Sufi poetry, considered by many to be the most sublime poetry ever written , is impossible to accurately translate into English . Sure makes me wonder if we are underestimating the richness of an entire culture .  Just saying . 

 

Reference:- The adjective " antisemitic " has lost it's mojo .

Reference :-  It's time for Mr Netanyahu to introduce a new label with which to demonise those who oppose his Zionist project . 

Dear Mr Netanyahu , Sir , 

That was quite a setback you suffered when Justice Angus Stewart of the Federal Court of Australia  ruled that anti-zionism cannot be conflated with antisemitism .  To make matters worse , Amnesty International has made the same declaration ( those leftist cry-babies ). 

Clearly there is now no point in playing the antisemitism card each time protests against your final solution to the Palestinian question erupt...and those protests are becoming quite a feature in the media these days . 

I see that the British have introduced a new law proscribing Palestine Action as a " terrorist group " .  This is a step in the right direction for your plan . However you must proceed cautiously , as I will explain . 

But first , you appear to have encountered a timely opportunity in Australia , where soon after the Federal Court ruling  distancing anti-zionism from antisemitism was made public  (on about  page 30 of our newspapers ) some mentally unwell chap from Sydney inexplicably flew to Melbourne to scorch the paint on the door of a Synagogue .  You must make the most of this , and label it as a hideous terrorist attack .  Sure , it's not exactly the same as dozens of kids being blown to smithereens in Gaza by a 500 pound bomb , but it does give you something to work with .  You would be surprised at how Sky News and their comrades can beat up a story and create nationwide outrage .   

Anyway ,  here is some advice , if you will pardon my presumption .  In the UK , hugely popular personalities , including Roger Waters of Pink Floyd fame ,  have come forward in support of Palestine Action , defying the draconian  new UK law . It is unhelpful when the lawmakers you lobbied make comments like  "  we accept that (the law)  is draconian , it's meant to be  . "    This angers the great unwashed .  Far better to say " This is a regrettable decision we were forced to make in the interest of law and order " .  Something like that .  As it stands ,  protests against the draconian law are already erupting throughout the UK , with damaging implications for your cause .  

Here down under, the situation is less dramatic . However, you should not have  " demanded " that the Australian Government take similar draconian actions .    Aussies don't appreciate being ordered around by their own authorities , let alone some fat soulless foreigner with warrants out for his arrest . 

In the future , instead of making demands , you should use polite language .  " We earnestly hope " would be better received in the Antipodes than " we demand " .  

I do hope that you take this feedback in the same spirit in which it has been offered .  It's  understandable  that immersed as you are , in a quagmire of war and genocide ,  while facing punishing legal challenges both international and domestic  , you might find little time to research the cultural sensitivities of the lesser nations , and thus commit an unintended faux pas . 

On a happier note , I think you still have a chance to succeed in your plan to replace the now mojoless word "antisemite " with " terrorist " in the media discourse about humanitarian  protest movements .  The Sky News anchors are probably already on board with that .   Just don't go too hard too early .  

Your comrade , 

Ken  

PS   If anybody in authority is monitoring these posts , I would like to state that I categorically do not support the protest group...I mean terrorist group .... Palestine Action at all , despite agreeing with almost everything they say .  I mean , what is anybody going to achieve by spraying paint about in deliberate acts of vandalism ?  How is that going to draw attention to a cause ?   

 

 

Reference:- The UK High Court has made an historic ruling .

Reference :-  Non -violent protest group Palestine Action is now banned after being declared a proscribed terrorist group .   Mr Netanyahu must be pleased . 

 Dear Mr Netanyahu , Sir , 

  It must warm the cockles of your heart to see those Palestine Action group rabble-rousers  declared a terrorist group under UK law .   Palestine Action has a minimum of 750,000 supporters , who risk a 14 year jail sentence if they don't zip their lips about your solution to the " Palestinian question " .  Of course , the outcome of this historic ruling remains to be seen . 

Some folk think that the great unwashed will back down , allowing you to press on with your final solution unhindered  . Others think that even more protests will erupt .  The team at The Sky Reply are too distant from the centre of the controversy to judge the situation .   Although here down under we have thus far eschewed the introduction of sweeping laws criminalising opposition to horrendous war crimes , one never knows when this might change .   Accordingly , the Kooralya chapter of the Free Palestine movement has decided to call itself  "  Palestine Inaction "  .    Obviously this is the grammatic opposite of " Palestine Action " , which means they could not be accused of supporting the newly proscribed terrorist group . 

The manifesto of Palestine Inaction is quite straightforward .  They use their right to peaceful protest to express their disgust at the inaction of governments who fail to support international law , and turn a blind eye to war crimes against Palestinian civilians .   

It's all very complex , Mr Netanyahu , is it not ?  Since you grew up in Philadelphia , and are almost my age , I imagine you would have seen Stanley Kubrick's great sword and sandal epic  " Spartacus " . 

Remember the penultimate scene ?    Spartacus steps forward to identify himself before Crassus , in the hope of sparing his comrades .  " I am Spartacus " , he says . 

But then , one by one , others come forward shouting " I am Spartacus ! " , in a courageous and moving  display of solidarity  . 

What if 750,000 come forward in support of Palestine Action ?   It costs 40,000 sterling each annum to keep one prisoner in jail .  That is 560,000 quid over a 14 year sentence .  Multiply that by 750,000 and  the figure starts to approach half a billion quid . And that is just the flagfall .  Half a billion quid is the equivalent of ten years of military aid to Israel supplied by the UK .  See the problem ? 

It makes no sense to waste 10 years of military aid cha-ching by incarcerating enough folk to seriously deplete the workforce and cripple the GDP of the UK .  Far better to simply tolerate the peaceful protests until they fade away due to the inclement weather occasioned by the inevitable onset of British winter . 

It may be annoying , but as everybody knows , you never hesitate to " turn the other cheek " for the sake of diplomacy and your long term goal of peace . 

Your comrade , 

Ken .  

 PS  Ken junior objected to this dispatch . 

" It was the British Government's decision to criminalise the protests, not Netanyahu  and the Israel lobby " , Ken junior said . 

" Was it ? " , I said .   

( Ken junior is at an awkward age , so I felt it best to humour him . ) 

 

 

 

 

Reference :- When the definition of a set is broadened , the number of members of the set increases .

 Reference :-  Antisemetism is on the increase . 

The repairs on our tele aerial failed to withstand the howling winds . This left us with  few options for entertainment , so we resorted to an outdated diversion known as "  conversation "  . 

What with all the talk of antisemetism these days , Gabbo ( himself occasionally subject to  racial discrimination )  was keen to talk about the definition of antisemetism . 

I won't bore you with the details of our long winded discussion , just the conclusion  . 

" It seems like you can't express concern about Gaza or the plight of the Palestinians in the West Bank or criticise Netanyahu without being accused of antisemitism  . " , Gabbo said . 

" Very true, Gabbo " , I said 

" What about the claim that antisemitism has been weaponised by the government of Israel to crush dissent and conceal war crimes ?  " , Gabbo said . 

" That is antisemitism  too " , I said 

 I enjoy being able to educate  the younger generations , and look forward to the day when I am asked to define " woke " . 

Your comrade , 

Ken.  

 

Reference:- Protest songs and slogans are being banned worldwide .

 Reference :-  Freedom of speech is fast becoming a relic of the past . 

Here in Kooralya we are hunkered down by the fireplace , weathering our annual " once in a hundred years " flood and the howling winter winds .  We get poor reception on the tele out here , but Monte managed to adjust the aerial so we can watch the news on the ABC .  It's a miracle that he didn't get blown off the roof .  I asked  him to clean the gum leaves out of the guttering while he was up there , but apparently the guttering needs to be repaired first . 

" Screw your guttering . " , Monte said .  

 I guess I will have to pick up some screws next time I am at the hardware store . 

Anyway , we saw on the news that there has been a lot of fuss about a band at that Glastonbury music festival thing that they run each year in Old Blighty .  Apparently some chap who calls himself Bob Vylan is in a lot of trouble .  I had never heard of him myself , personally , but Ken junior said he knows all about him , so I asked a few questions . 

" Why is he called Bob Vylan ? " , I said  .

" It's a play on the name Bob Dylan  " , Ken junior said . 

" Never heard of him . " , I said . 

" He is in trouble for chanting "free Palestine and death death to the IDF " , Ken junior said . 

" He sounds like an idiot  " , I said . 

" He's a lot smarter than you think " , Ken junior said . 

" How's that ? " , I said . 

" A smug interviewer told Bob Vylan that he would " soil himself " if he was confronted by the IDF  " ,   Ken junior said . 

" And ? " , I said 

" Bob Vylan replied  ' Why is that ?  Surely the IDF would never harm or kill an unarmed civilian ? ' , Ken junior said . 

" That certainly was a clever riposte ....  makes you think " , I said . 

These days it seems freedom of speech is becoming unfashionable .  Ken junior called Dog away from his box by the fire so he could take him out into the yard for his morning ablutions .  Dog stooped low and looked anxiously at the door , which rattled in the icy wind . 

As he put his gloves on , Ken junior spoke . 

" What do you think the most unfashionable quote in the world is these days ? " , Ken junior said . 

" Tell me . " , I said . 

" I may disagree with what you say , but I will defend to the death your right to say it " ,  Ken junior said . 

" That is not a real quote . They say something like that was said by Voltaire , but nobody knows for sure . "  , I said 

" It's still the most unfashionable quote in the world today " , Ken junior said  

I think the lad might be right . 

Your comrade , 

Ken  

 

 

 

 

Reference :- Some stategies have universal application .

Reference :-   There was trouble at the Kooralya pub last night . 

 Dear Mr Netanyahu , 

                                    You have a lot on your plate at the moment , what with balancing your finger on the hair trigger of nuclear armageddon and all , so I thought you might appreciate hearing from the Sky Reply , as a useful distraction .  Young Gabbo often claims that we are a warlike species , and last night his opinion was validated once more .  

It went like this .  A strange bloke came to town on a Harley Davidson motorbike , parked it outside the pub , went up to the bar , and ordered a beer .  He sat on that beer for a long time , to keep his wits about him . As the other blokes in the bar drank on , he pretended to befriend them .   Once everybody had a skinful , he started a fight , and then quietly slipped out the side door to the bottle shop and informed  the bottle shop attendant that a fight had started in the bar .

"  A fight has started in the bar " , he said . 

Trevor , the bottle shop attendant , rushed to the bar .  The stranger took the opportunity to help himself to the contents of the cash register.  Unfortunately the fight had by then spilled out into the street . The Harley Davidson was knocked over , petrol leaked onto the exhaust , and the bike was consumed in a blazing inferno . 

The local cop , Graham , has slammed the bikie in the lockup , pending the arrival of the circuit judge . 

Graham , investigating the case ,  asked Trevor what the fight had been about in the first instance . 

 " What was the fight about in the first instance ?  " ,  Graham said 

" Somebody accused somebody of carrying a flick knife " , Trevor said . 

" And was there a flick knife ? " , Stanley said . 

" I dunno .  " , Trevor said . 

Anyway Mr Netanyahu , that's the latest from Kooralya .  

 How are you going with the war in Iran ?   I guess that it is a useful distraction from Gaza , where I see you have ramped up the ethnic cleansing while the world is not looking .  

I am sure you know what you are doing , but if I was you I would be careful about where I parked my motorbike .    

Are you with me ? 

Your comrade ,  

Ken .  

 

 

                                        

Reference:- Responding to the war between Israel and Iran , the Australian Government has advised against travel in the Middle East .

 Reference :-  Our cousin , Phineas , can't secure a flight home from Israel .  

Cousin Phineas is currently in Israel ,where he now spends much of his time hiding in an underground  shelter  .  Phineas has always nurtured a keen interest in the history of tax deductible bronze age superstitions , and recently crossed a great ambition off his bucket list by flying to Israel , which is the very heartland of bronze age superstitions . 

I more keenly follow current geopolitics , with a particular interest in avoiding the need to inhabit  bomb shelters during major kinetic conflicts.   It occurred to me that Phineas should avoid travel in the Middle East while the whole region looks like the Kooralya showgrounds on Guy Fawkes night .  I hinted at this  to Phineas . 

" It occurs to me that you should avoid travel in the Middle East while the whole region looks like the Kooralya  showgrounds on Guy Fawkes night . " , I said .  

Anyway , I could have saved my breath  . Wailing at Phineas about the risks of traveling to Jerusalem was like talking to a brick wall .   And now , Phineas tells us he is trapped in Israel because flights from Ben Gurion Airport  have been cancelled .    I told him it is because flights are unsafe , due to the rockets  arriving daily from Iran .   But Phineas has a proclivity for paranoia , and he reckons Mr Netanyahu is deliberately keeping  thousands of folk in Israel to serve as human shields . Phineas  reckons that Mr  Netanyahu  wants westerners to be killed by that Ayatollah chap running Iran so that western countries will be more inclined to help him liberate the Iranian people from their dictatorship . And unlike Iraq,  Libya , Afghanistan and Syria , on this occasion Mr Netanyahu expects regime change will succeed . 

We are all worried about Phineas'  awful plight .   I was going to ask him if he had seen many artifacts produced by bronze age superstitions , but told Ken junior that I felt it was not the right time  . 

"  I don't think we should ask cousin Phineas whether he has seen many bronze age artifacts . " , I said . 

"  He is living in one . " , Ken junior said . 

Whatever that means .....

 Your comrade , Ken .