Menzies House

As ye sow, so shall ye reap!

How precious are we? Our once endearing trademark of “taking the mickey” and our propensity to laugh at ourselves has been hijacked and bleached to suit the bland, spiritless pests whose only industry is selective finger pointing. The Keating days of thought control, when dissidents were bullied and a compliant PC brigade apportioned scorn are returning like spores of mould on a rotting manifesto of evil.

Just weeks ago footballer Adam Goodes wailed about racism, heard around the world when a 13-year-old girl called him an ape. An ad campaign against perceived racism in which Goodes is an actor appeared on TV just days later. The free publicity was worth millions. In another ad running "Say no to racism" Goodes says “…by the way, I’m indigenous—not that that matters.” Bollocks, it mattered enough for him to make it matter. 

More recently, a bolt from the heavens. The Deity of Affectation granted the PM a miracle; Howard Sattler is sacked for his boorish question to her about the First Bloke’s sexuality. Sattler asked the question to which millions would secretly like to know the answer. And now, the nation is left hanging. Is Tim a poof, how ponderous can a question be?

Is there a place for women in the "Arab Spring?"

Nearly two years after the start of Arab Spring uprisings, Arab women are facing the reality that toppling dictators was only the beginning of their fight for freedom and equality. Barbara Slavin reports from a recent conference, during which a group of young Arab women activists discussed and debated these challenges.

Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2012/al-monitor/arab-women-fight-for-rights-at-feminist-conference-woodrow-wilson-international-center.html#ixzz28GmzIkQH

(Thanks reader Abe)

Saudi Woman Detained for Defying Driving Ban

 

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Authorities detained a Saudi woman on Saturday after she launched a campaign against the driving ban for women in the ultraconservative kingdom and posted a videotape of herself behind the wheel on Facebook and YouTube to encourage others to copy her.

Manal al-Sharif and a group of other women started a Facebook page called “Teach me how to drive so I can protect myself,” which urges authorities to lift the driving ban. She went on a test drive in the eastern city of Khobar and later posted a video of the experience.

Reminder: Women are not allowed to VOTE in Saudi Elections

 

So why aren’t all the feminists here shouting from the roof tops? Where are Germaine Greer, Eva Cox, Anne Summers and the Minister for the Status of Women Kate Ellis? Why don’t they condemn such inequality?

How come the progressive left media in this country doesn’t report on the inequality against Muslim women?

Pathetic.

Women don't need a quota

Introducing a quota for female representation within the Liberal Party would be a step back, not forward, writes Lydia Bevege.

Last week, Victorian Liberal Senator Judith Troeth called for a quota system to be introduced in the Liberal Party to bolster the number of female Liberal MPs. The Op-Ed, published in The Age, advocated requiring 40% of pre-selected Liberal candidates to be female in the first Federal election after 2010/2011.

I disagree with Senator Troeth regarding the need for affirmative action in the Liberal Party. We need only look at the embarrasing results of parliamentary quotas in the Australian Labor Party to see the negative consequences of affirmative action.

What Australian women really want

The Australian feminist lobby speaks on behalf of very few Australian women, writes Nona Florat.

It is a matter for grave concern that politicians of an Emily's List mindset presume to speak for Australian women. As an Australian woman, I take strong exception. It was pointed out by Sen. George Brandis that the Deputy Prime Minister is not a parent. Neither am I. But I warmly congratulate Tony Abbott for having the courage to speak up for the dignity of the human person, and for family values that have been recognised throughout human history.