Reference :- A quick postscript to the previous Sky Reply .

Reference :-   The Sky Reply Team was curious about the content of Israel's retracted message of condolence following the death of Pope Francis .  

 Ken junior found the now retracted message on the interweb .  It was brief , and mainly expressed the sentiment  " Rest in Peace " .   Since it has been retracted, one gets the impression that  Israeli government does not wish for him to rest in peace . 

At least they didn't say " May he rot in hell " ...... I guess.   

The team here at the Sky Reply has been discussing the ethical aspects of how one should respond to the death of somebody one does not like . Including somebody one does not like who was also dreadful , a dictator for example .   

The results of this discussion will appear on these pages soon  . 

Meanwhile , folk might find interesting a recent photo of young Douglas Murray sitting in the chair that the wounded " terrorist " Sinwar occupied when he was found and then killed by the IDF.  

Ken junior says it is easily found on the interweb .  He also says he would like to know what brand of sunglasses young Douglas is wearing . He says they look  "wicked " , which I think is the new word for " cool " . 

Your comrade , Ken 

 

Reference:- Pope Francis has died . Condolences have flowed into the Vatican from around the world .

 Reference :-  The representatives of people of all faiths and races have paid tribute to the life of the late Pontiff .   Well , not quite all ......

We had fired up the BBQ  to fry a few fish we caught in the creek over the weekend , when Gabbo spoke . 

"  Have you seen that Pope Francis has died  ? " ,  Gabbo said . 

"  Yes , very sad , but inevitable ." , I said . 

" Condolences are flooding into the Vatican  from around the entire world . ", Gabbo said . 

 Ken junior flipped a fish onto  the BBQ with one hand , while pushing Dog away with the other .

 " Not quite the entire world . " ,  Ken junior said . 

" Who would be unwilling to pay their respects ?  That is terrible . " , I said . 

Gabbo threw some fish guts into the back yard , and Dog took off after them , tail wagging . 

 " Guess who . " , Gabbo said . 

" OK . They must be absolutely awful . Let me see  ..... Hamas ?  ", I said . 

" Nope . They paid their respects . " ,  Gabbo said . 

"  Iran ? " , I said . 

" Nope . They paid their respects ." , Gabbo said . 

 " Well it must be a Muslim country . " , I said . 

" Nope . " , Gabbo said . 

"Putin ? ", I said 

" Nope . His message was quite a strong tribute . ", Gabbo said 

" I give up . Who ? ", I said 

" Israel.  " , Gabbo said . 

 Ken junior started turning the fish on the BBQ , eyes screwed against the smoke . 

" They did initially send condolences , but then changed their mind and withdrew them . " Ken junior said .

"  What !   That is even worse . It amplifies the insult , and removes any doubt that it could have been an administrative oversight   . " , I said . 

 " Mr Netanyahu's mob have just offended  1 billion Catholics and 2 billion Muslims , not to mention millions of Jews who admired the Pope , in one fell swoop .  What a foolish and arrogant thing to do . " Gabbo said . 

I am no international diplomat , but I reckon Gabbo might be right  . 

Your comrade ,  Ken  

 

 

 

Reference :- Neoconservative commentators are losing debates and making fools of themselves everywhere in the media .

Reference :-  Neoconservatives are saying a great deal about so called " expert opinion " of late . 

 Watching the champions of the right as they attempt to reclaim their once cosy positions as bastions of intellectual honesty is very uncomfortable . It is like watching birds bash themselves to death against a glass window , simultaneously shocking and gruesomely fascinating .  

Of late , these erstwhile champions have resorted to suggesting that the right to free speech be taken away from anybody who is not an " expert" on a given subject .  I mentioned this to Ken junior , hoping that a conversation might ensue which would keep him in the kitchen long enough for him to help washing the dishes after we had finished our morning bowls of hot porridge . ( Winter is upon us here in Kooralya ) 

"  The erstwhile champions of neconservatism  are suggesting that the right to free speech be taken away from anybody who is not an 'expert' on a given subject ",  I said . 

" Who determines which commentator is an " expert " ? , Ken junior said . 

" The champions of neoconservatism would do that , like Douglas Murray for example  ", I said . 

"  You mean the Douglas Murray who claims to be an expert on recent geopolitics and world history ?  " , Ken junior said . 

"  I am pleased to see that you have heard of him . " , I said . 

" He has an undergraduate degree in English , how does that qualify him as an expert in world politics ? " , Ken junior said . 

" He obviously reads widely , and his neoconservative comrades have granted him that qualification " , I said . 

" Lots of people from all walks of life read widely ." , Ken junior said . 

" I hope you are not saying that you don't believe in the importance of expert opinion . " , I said . 

" Of course I think expert opinion is important . Especially when experts differ in their opinion . If one neurosurgeon says my brain tumor should be accessed through my skull's occipital bone , and another prefers to access it through the parietal bone instead , I would listen to the advice  of both and make a decision . Experts do not always agree . ",  Ken junior said 

" Pass me the scourer. " , I said . 

" Furthermore , experts are not infallible .  Engineering experts designed the "unsinkable " Titanic . Medical experts promoted Thalidomide .  Religious experts said Galileo was wrong about the sun being the centre of the Solar System . Silencing opinions that differ from those espoused by a preferred cohort of often biased experts would be a big mistake " , Ken junior said . 

I don't know why , but Ken junior always seems to end up changing the topic to astronomy whenever we get into a political discussion .  

" OK .  Let's change the subject . You don't have the slightest  idea what you are talking about .  " , I said . 

"  How is that ?  " , Ken junior said 

" Because you don't . " , I explained . 

I might start doing the dishes by myself from now on . 

Your comrade , Ken .

 

Reference :- Israeli Minister of National Security , young Itamar Ben Gvir, is visiting the USA .

Reference :-  Protests against his visit , including protests by members of the American Jewish community , have taken the glow off his goodwill visit .  He appears not to be concerned . 

Dear Mr Itamar sir , 

                                  I am pleased to see that you won't let those dreadful protestors spoil your goodwill visit . Especially the Jewish ones .  Those self -hating Jews are the most despicable of the protestors ....what traitors they are . 

My son , Ken junior , had never heard of you , which he explained when I first broached the subject of your goodwill visit . 

" Never heard of him . " , Ken junior said . 

" Well look him up on the interweb , you will find photos and everything ." , I said. 

Ken junior scrolled through the screen on his computer . He showed me a photo .

"Why is he pointing a pistol at somebody ? " , Ken junior said . 

It is a sad fact ,  Mr Itavar , that  folk will find the least flattering photo of a chap and then use that , out of context , to criticize him .   I jumped to your defense , naturally . 

" Look , he is threatening to shoot a car park attendant who asked him to move his car which was obstructing traffic . Why make a big deal of it ?  Who among us can honestly say that we have never held a gun at the chest of a car park attendant and threatened to shoot him ? " ,  I said . 

Ken junior showed me another photo . 

" Why is he smiling and giving that man an M5 assault rifle ? " , Ken junior said . 

" Maybe it's a birthday present ?  Perhaps it's a toy M5 assault rifle ? How would I know ? " , I said . 

" The protestors say he is a violent psychopath ." , Ken junior said . 

" Those types are always making claims that they cannot support with hard evidence . " , I said . 

Anyway Mr Itavar , Ken junior lost interest in our little chat , closed his computer , and slouched away in defeat . 

Just as well , because he might have read about your disputes with  the Supreme Court of Israel , your conviction on charges of terrorism , and your threat to " get " former Israeli Prime Minister , Mr Rabin , shortly before he was assassinated .     A young chap like Ken junior is prone to overlooking the context of these chapters in your rich political life , and making unkind judgements . 

Anyway , enjoy your time in the USA . These days the USA is merely a part of Israel , except with the bombs falling thousands of miles away rather than just over the back fence .  You should feel well and truly at home there. 

 Your comrade , Ken . 

Reference :- Here at The Sky Reply we take care to avoid jumping aboard media bandwagons .

 Reference :-   However , sometimes we do run along beside media bandwagons for awhile . 

This will be our last letter to young Douglas Murray .  We promise . 

Dear Douglas , 

                          The once cosy niche that the media provided for far right commentators is rapidly shrinking  .  Jordan Peterson's popularity was among the first to collapse . Mr Peterson was a solitary casualty , wasting away alone on his bizarre diet while pretending to be an expert on more subjects than most Universities offer their first year students . 

But Douglas , unlike Mr Peterson ,  in the short space of a few days you have caused a distressing amount of collateral damage to your comrades .   Sometimes it is unwise for folk to feel empathy , as you and your comrades have often told us .  And while it seems easy enough for your comrades to resist feeling empathy towards .....say children in Gaza for example , it is clearly more difficult for them to turn away when it is you that is suffering . 

Sadly , by trying to limit your fall from grace on the Joe Rogan show , your comrades have not only trashed their own credibility , but become loathsome to many of their own followers . 

I refer of course to Mr Sam Harris , who is old enough to know better , and those young chaps Konstantin Kisin and Lex Fridman who , because they are inexperienced and show poor judgement , may have damaged their careers permanently . 

One day the entire world , rather than just most of it , will declare that the Palestinians have been massively wronged .  An octogenerian  like me will be dead by then , but young chaps like you and your comrades might still be around . How will the world view you then ? 

Anyway , let me say this one last time .  Slip quietly away and stay quiet for now . And don't let others toast their own careers trying to save your reputation . That is a hopeless task .

Yes , you do have a book you wish to promote , with a catchy title (something about Death Cults I believe ) , but let it sell itself and take a sabbatical .   Personally I think it is unwise for a chap to write books calling out supposed Death Cults .  The course of history continuously changes , and to quote the late British actor and author Peter Ustinov 

 "   Terrorism is the war of the poor , and war is the terrorism of the rich " .   In a few years you might find , to your embarrassment , that you backed the wrong neddie in the geopolitical horse race .

The verandah sleep out here in Kooralya is still available if you decide to accept our previous offer . We have a few Muslims living in town, operating  an excellent  kebab shop .  Fortunately they don't seem to be members of that Death Cult you keep banging on about , although Ken junior does reckon one of them has shifty eyebrows . 

Your comrade , Ken .

Reference :- Unfortunately our warning to young Douglas Murray arrived too late .

 Reference :- Douglas Murray has published an article in The New York Post .....oh me oh my .... 

Dear Douglas , 

                          Please cease trying to redeem your credibility while you are still in a state of shock following your recent total humiliation on the Joe Rogan show .  You are only making matters worse .  Dave Smith has already responded to that dreadful article you cobbled hastily together for The New York Post , hoping to retrieve your dignity  , but once again you have become a subject of ridicule on the interweb . 

Before you unzip your lips again , or start tapping your typewriter , please consider accepting from us the following offer . 

We  extend to you , gratis , an invitation to join us here in Kooralya for a few weeks until this sad debacle is forgotten . Folk have short memories these days , and you will be able to slink quietly back into the media spotlight with no need to make awkward excuses .  You will find the " sleep out " on the verandah very comfortable , and as long as you keep a mosquito coil burning the mozzies are not too troublesome , especially considering that we are still recovering from another of those once in a century floods . 

Ken junior has suggested that you join us at the pub for one of our trivia nights . You needn't worry about being filmed without your permission and seeing the video splashed across the social media , replete with insulting commentary . That may be de rigueur when foreign dignitaries visit the Knesset in Israel , but here in the aussie outback we highly respect a chap's privacy . 

Ken junior reckons we could make the questions for the trivia night focus on  Jan Morris's excellent history of the British Empire . This would allow you the opportunity to showcase your expert knowledge  regarding the benefits the West has bestowed upon the fortunate subjects of colonization . 

We might be able to slip our co-editor Gabbo ( himself a first nations individual ) a few quid to take a fall , allowing you to win and confirm your racial superiority . 

Once your neo-conservative pals have seen you win something , you might  find yourself welcomed back into the fold .  (Those bastards only associate with winners .)

Your comrade , Ken . 

PS   You had better swat up on your history , perhaps by re-reading " Farewell the Trumpets " , since Gabbo just declined our offer of a few quid to take a fall.  We had best be sure he is on walkabout while you are here . For some reason he is unimpressed by the cut of your jib .

PPS  You will have to avoid using the profanity " shit " while you are at our trivia night . We will have a few elderly women in attendance who might be offended .   They are not humourless , but perhaps you should substitute " do do " when you are making one of your trademark astute observations .

Reference :- Easter seems like an appropriate time to write a letter to a former Christian .

 Reference:-   Former Christian and hero of the far right , young Douglas Murray has has a few bad days . 

Dear Douglas , 

                           It was with deep sadness that we watched your recent debate with comedian Dave Smith on the Joe Rogan show .  Clearly you made a great mistake when you signed up for that appearance .  To say that you lost the debate would be an understatement of similar magnitude to the one Lawrence Oates made on his last Antarctic expedition , to wit  , "  I am just going outside and may be some time . " 

Anyway , now is not the time to collapse in total despair .  Sure , you did make a total buffoon of yourself , proving for once and for all that a carefully manicured accent , born on the playing fields of Eton and elaborated among the gothic sandstones of Oxford , is no advantage in a debate against a chap with an unsophisticated manner of speech   , but a very sophisticated sense of decency. Not to mention a firm grasp of logic .  

Like poor Lawrence Oates, you might be left outside in the cold for a long time . But at least you won't die physically for many years yet . The far right who adored you are certain to feel that you have let them down badly by losing a debate with a comedian .  And the thing about those ingrates is that they will flick you away like a bug on a picnic rug if you don't live up to their ( often unrealistic ) expectations .   Brace yourself for cruel comments from them , such as  " I always knew he was just a grammar school upstart ". 

Whatever you do , don't panic and make matters worse . You seem to be using the uncouth profanity "shit " a lot these days ,  a bad habit that you should have left behind when you exited  grammar school . 

My advice is , stay silent for the time being . When .... hopefully not"  if " ..... people forget your crushing humiliation , upon your return to the mainstream media , endeavor to hide your trademark gentrified xenophobia and cruelty towards the inferior races .  Also avoid claiming to be a self -educated expert while laughing at the self -education of others .

After awhile you can start sinking in the boot again , but for now , faking humility is your best option . 

Your comrade, Ken .

 

Reference :- The Sky Reply team makes an apology.

 Reference :-  Floods have damaged the facilities at The Sky Reply headquarters . 

During the recent floods here in Kooralya  our state of the art premises were greatly damaged . We have been working tirelessly to restore operations , but since the entire town was inundated we  felt an obligation to help with the restoration of our community's most vital infrastructure first .  Clearly the pub was our top priority , and we are happy to report that it is now fully operational, although the pool table was damaged beyond repair . 

Our office is moldier than a two week old loaf of organic rye bread , and the lads refuse to work here at present , claiming that the mold might infect their bronchial tubes .  Young folk are annoyingly paranoid about their health these days .

 So it looks like I will be cleaning the place by myself .... again . 

This is the third "once in a hundred year " flood we have suffered since that Covid pandemic .

Ken junior says it proves the climate is changing , but I am quick to remind him that " climate " is a long term concept  and one must beware of making hasty judgements on the basis of a few seasons  of clementless weather . 

Anyway , to our millions of readers worldwide , we apologise for this interruption in the delivery of our cutting edge journalism  . What with the state of the world , the imminent federal election here in the colony , and the trade wars and all , there is much to write about .   Yet I sit in a moldy room , sans investigative team , with a soggy ribbon in the Remington . 

Nonetheless ,  I expect work will return to normal by the end of the week , by which time I should have shaken off this annoying cough . 

Your comrade , 

Ken