culture wars

Broadly, conservatism vs progressives / social liberties vs authoritarianism / social justice vs elitist marginalisation.

Rainbows everywhere

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As I compose this post, the WordPress admin toolbar at the top of the page has a rainbow background. On social media, corporations have reworked their logos in rainbow hues. Over in the USA, rainbow flags are waving all over the place as same-sex couples rock up to courthouses and get married following SCOTUS ruling that state government bans on same-sex marriage violated constitutional guarantees granted by the 14th Amendment for all citizens to equal rights and protections under the law.

Photo of Australian Parliament House (APH) in Canberra

Media Circus: Vegemite Chocolate edition

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The very idea is undoubtedly an Abomination unto Nuggan, and Ed Milliband would probably make a mess of eating any. Bill Shorten will say something graceless, and the teaser for the SBS documentary will be epic.

What’s piqued your media interests lately?

Je Suis Charlie graphic from Charlie Hebdo website

Media Circus: #JeSuisCharlie Edition

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I want to be stalwart in solidarity with the French as they resolutely stand against terrorism aimed at the heart of their multicultural democracy, and by extension, our multicultural democracy as well. How to best do that in this swirl of emotion following these murders while refusing to fall into the polarising trap that the terrorists have set for us? I don’t have any easy answers.

What news story/commentary/analysis has grabbed your attention lately?

When a “no entries were found” search result is a relief

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Pseudonymous author Avicenna Last of the blog “A Million Gods” at FreeThought Blogs (FTB) has been discovered to be a serial plagiarist, and removed from the FTB network as a result. I did a search to check on whether I’d ever referenced one of his posts here on Hoyden, in case I needed to triple-check it for proper source attribution.

Like many others, I am sad and disappointed and angry about this.

Photo of Australian Parliament House (APH) in Canberra

Media Circus: RIP Gough Whitlam Edition

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The giants who strode the political landscape of my youth are toppling one by one, leaving only gnats swarming over the entrails of serious political principles while Big Money shakes shiny things at us all, politicians very much included.

Contrast the government’s war on welfare with the rhetoric surrounding critics of the increasing wealth gap as advocates of “class warfare”. Hmm.

What news story/commentary/analysis has grabbed your attention lately?