![]() |
||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
||
|
Issue No. 189 | 01 August 2003 |
![]() |
||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
The Secret Life of Us
Interview: The New Deal Unions: In the Line of Hire Culture: Too Cool for the Collective? International: The Domino Effect Industrial: A Spanner in the Works National Focus: Gathering of the Tribes History: The Welcome Nazi Tourist Bad Boss: Domm, Domm Turn Around Poetry: Just Move On. Review: Reality Bites
The Soapbox Education The Locker Room Postcard
![]() ![]() ![]()
|
![]() |
![]() |
Letters to the Editor Tom's Purpose
Workers Online Dear Sir, "Our Purpose" The common possession of a rich heritage of memories: also the actual agreement and desire to live together, and the will to preserve worthily the joint inheritance. To share the glories of the past and a common will in the present: to have done great deeds together and to desire to do more - these are the essential conditions of a people's being." As always, I await in anticipation every Friday for the delivery of your publication Workers Online to arrive in my inbox , thereby enabling me to have my weekly fix of Industrial Activism, this enhancement of my otherwise mundane life ( see: Tom in the Manger issue 187), giving me a warm inner glow, something akin to the euphoria and or elation experienced in the initial effects after the excessive consumption of alcohol or other mind altering substances of personal choice. My receipt of your Issue 187 created much more than my usual exhilaration, in fact, it created a myriad - nay a plethora of conflicting emotions, particularly on reading the almost wistful letter from Comrade Assistant National Secretary - ASU Greg Mclean, in his extolment as to the virtues of Sid Einfield and Greg�s own Grandfather, who was President of the Waverley Branch , in what could only be described as an eulogium articulated as a poignant literary presence and almost comparable with the pathos expressed by Oscar Wilde as he (Wilde) physically and spiritually rotted in Reading Gaol for the then heinous crime of Sodomy. I must admit although some time ago I was informed of what could be described as an apparent dementia as to our previous Union business relationships by a Hastings Shire Councillor , Greg and I have had many interactions over quite a period of years, including many unprecedented invitations I obtained for Greg while visiting a TUC Conference in Blackpool , to meet with political party leaders then involved in the Northern Ireland Peace Talks , so with this regard to the past ,this is a facet of Greg that I had never been previously aware of being exposed to , and I must confess I was more than surprised at this revelation of sensitivity and attachment to the past , as I had always seen Comrade McLean as an efficient Contemporary political combatant , always participating within the machinations of ALP , and its inherent political intrigue , so to have such candour of sensitivity and attachment to past memories publicly exposed , this prose to me is as fresh as a spri! ng shower and bring to mind the words of Wilde �With the last shower, sweeter perfume bring �in his poem, The Burden Of Itys , and perhaps even , in my mind , accommodating the context . Greg also accurately asserts �we need more great Labor men and women�, an opinion that even the Liberal Government passionately promulgates at every opportune moment ; the least not being during question time in the House of Representatives as they parry with consummate ease the ill thought out questions hidden amongst the blether of the opposition benches, the intent of which in the words of the famous Jamaican reggae singer , Bob Marley as he paraphrased Proverbs 26:27;�And whosoever diggeth a pit, Lord, Shall fall in it - shall fall in it. Whosoever diggeth a pit? Shall bury in it - shall bury in it.� So I too, not only join in the Amens to Gregs� intense observation: �we need more great Labour men and women� but I also include the ALP in this tribute as they too have fallen prey to their own beast of Political Correctness, a beast which they have embraced of recent years as a weapon of retribution to be savagely sool upon dissenters. Again, the poetic language of Wilde expresses the duplicitous kisses of Caiaphas on this issue, far better that a mere literary philistine such as my self: Yet each man kills the thing he loves from all let this be heard; some does it with a bitter look some with a flattering word; the coward does it with a kiss; the brave man with the sword. Tom Collins
![]()
|
Search All Issues | Latest Issue | Previous Issues | Print Latest Issue |
© 1999-2002 Workers Online ![]() |
|