Having recently read the very impressive life story of Anne Summers in her Memoir Unfettered and Alive, I had allowed myself to fantasize about the possibility of the labor party making her ambassador to the US, so she could both fulfil a lost opportunity from her past while at the same time living in her partner’s country and contributing to Australia’s best interests in a creative way from there. What a rude shock that another middle-aged white man has been appointed instead, Arthur Sinodinos. It was the final gentle disappointment in the long series of disappointments that a Coalition election victory has delivered for me.
I feel a barely contained simmering anger towards anyone who voted liberal in this election, and in so doing put their own self interest above the wellbeing of our planet. The liberal party ideology represents to me everything that is mean, self-centred, narrow-minded, short-term and greedy in human nature, and it pains me that such a perspective has defeated an alternative offering based on a respect for the science of climate change and humanity for our fellow human beings, be they those living in our country or those seeking a safe and contributing future here.
I had started to hope that Australians would listen to an argument that was well considered and spoke to Australians respectfully, seeking to lead rather than mislead. But it turns out that many people are that shallow and simple. Paul Barry summarized it by noting that Scott Morrison’s campaign involved a lot of footage of him having a go at different sports and looking relaxed, whereas Bill Shorten was predominantly seen talking and looking serious in a suit. Ricky Gervais’s boundary-pushing show Humanity argued that people are stupid and we have allowed social media to put equal weight on opinion and facts, even when the opinion is factually wrong. The implication was that we need to rethink a system that is producing dangerous, planet-strangling outcomes.
This election outcome is all the more disappointing in the context of remembering Bob Hawke’s courage, vision and integrity through such acts as fighting for the Antartic to be a World Heritage Site that couldn’t be mined; championing the end of apartheid through a publically unpopular sports boycott; and supporting Chinese students’ permanent residence in Australia following the Tiananmen Square massacre (which he spoke to the public about just as movingly as Kevin Rudd’s apology to the Stolen Generations). Are we not interested in leadership like that?
It makes me feel sad and worried for Lara and Rhea’s future, and that of their friends and our youth. It makes me question whether their generation will be able to recover from such a handicap that we have given them. And, after I have felt these feelings for a while, it makes me feel that I have to do more as an activist for change. Because if not us, who? If not now, when?
I am inspired by acquaintances such as one heavily involved in the community-based Climate for Change work based in Victoria that increases awareness and empowers people to take steps for climate action, however small; and by the progressive community-based organisation Getup. I am restored by spending time in nature, by quiet time reading, by connecting with others, particularly like-minded people, although I am mindful of the need to have a respectful dialogue with those who aren’t like-minded in order to build a bridge to work together to address the life-threatening challenges of our world.
And I am distracted by music – playing it and listening to it – by running, which also clears my head, and by art, which can surprise and delight me. These things give me energy to fuel my time with the girls and to continue to stand up against ignorance, apathy and greed. Waleed Ali and Scott Stephens have recently done a series of their Minefield podcasts during the month of Ramadan focusing on the needs of the soul of Silence, Conversation, Hardship and Home. I could add to that the complementary needs of Nature, Music, Connection and Art.
I continue to work on finding my own balance, between working and contributing, resting, creating, appreciating, loving and connecting. Maybe the positives that can come out of this re-election are a flourishing of grass-roots, local or state initiatives to address climate change.
After a period of mourning what could have been, I’ll prepare myself to do more through these groups.
