Making a house a home
GROWING up as a first nations person in a country that didn’t feel like home was isolating. It was conflicting growing up between two different identities, one I didn’t feel was me and another I was told didn’t exist. As I grew up I started to find a sense of self and identity, I connected with my bloodline and for the first time, I felt my life had a meaning and I had a sense of belonging. As I grew into an adult I faced the realities of racism. I felt disgust at the cruelty, being told my ancestors died out long ago, that we are a myth and therefore, I was a liar. Although it hurt, I kept my com-
Cut Barnaby some slack
PEOPLE need to cut Barnaby Joyce some slack. He isn’t the first person to undergo a period of emotional turmoil and he won’t be the last. The fact he had an affair with a member of staff, while being perhaps a lapse in judgment, nevertheless is no one’s business outside of his family, which he’s lost, along with his job as deputy prime minister. I haven’t seen reports suggesting he’s performed badly as leader of the National Party, and his experience at the helm will be missed. Of course he’ll stand for re-election, why shouldn’t he, and for that matter why shouldn’t he remain deputy prime minister. Let he among you who is without sin cast the first stone.
Tale of two teams
WHEN is Mike Leppard (Letters, June 6) going to realise that the real reason behind the crowd numbers in Launceston is which teams are playing. Hawthorn has a huge following in Tasmania as they have been coming here long before North Mel-
Trying this at home
DEAR Alan, Thank you for your performance art of communication Letters, June 6) and your unspoken invitation for my response. Give me traditional anytime too: I think I know what I’m doing with that, yes? Mike Parr’s performance art challenges me on a ‘How might you try this at home?’ level and my thoughts rush to sitting under the table then into the bathroom for a three day stint, or even sitting in any room with blinds closed, light on/ off? Just wondering … Thanks again, Alan.
Bed for the night
AS a youth, I lived at the old Melbourne YMCA. When gymnasium activities ceased, homeless men could sleep there. Even the police sent men of all ages there for the night. By midnight there would be a sea of bodies covered by military style blankets lying on gym mats. What a pity today this probably would be prohibited because of modern rules, regulations, public liability and political correctness.