Every so often, someone comes up with an idea so bizarre, it must have merit.
I have written before about my belief in the importance of grass roots inter-communal dialogue – the sort of interactions that do not take place in formal settings, in which difficult questions can be asked, and even occasionally answered.
So when a [...]
Sep
14
2009
14
2009
An Interfaith Adventure: Evangelicals, Alcohol, and a Very Strange Night
Aug
25
2009
25
2009
Aug
25
2009
25
2009
Part Five – Axis of Honour: Dislocation, Family, and Terror
You probably remember the refrain, during the Bush years, that the Islamists objected to our freedoms and our way of life – that this is why America was attacked on September 11.
This is not exactly in the realms of profound analysis, and belonged with Bush’s ill advised response soon after the attacks, that America was [...]
Aug
20
2009
20
2009
Part Four – The Axis of Honour: Honour, Modernity, and al Qaeda
To read the previous posts in this series, click on the links below:
Part One: Introduction
Part Two: Honour, Communalism, and Islamist Suicide Terrorism
Part Three: Honour and Shame
Part Four: Honour, Modernity, and al Qaeda
The first three instalments of this series asked whether it was possible to find an ultimate cause for suicide terrorism, without falling back on [...]
Jun
25
2009
25
2009
Loewenstein: Why Bother?
Antony Loewenstein has provided fodder for this blog on a number of occasions. Some of our readers have asked whether writing about Loewenstein serves any function, or indeed, whether such posts provide him with oxygen or legitimacy.
Let me state for the record: I have no personal beef with Mr Loewenstein. I met him once, quite [...]
Jun
25
2009
25
2009
Australian Jews, a New Format, and Later Today
This blog began as a forum for for discussion of Australian Jewish issues. Because it began in Melbourne, its has tended to focus on Victorian governance and media shenanigans.
We hope, however, to commission posts soon from writers outside this city. Each community shares a number of challenges and some of these are national in scope.
Jun
15
2009
15
2009
Talking Tachles 2: In Defence of the Right to Responsive Representation and Transparency
In the first post in this series, we asked a number of questions regarding representation, legitimacy and transparency. Some of the responses touched on themes such as apathy and whether there is indeed any “right” to representation at all.
Firstly, a straw man has been created in the suggestion that we are somehow disciples of Joseph [...]
Jun
13
2009
13
2009
Talking Tachles: Models of Representation and Democratising Australian Jewish Leadership
We’ve said in the past that one of the most important functions of this site is to provide a forum for discussion for Australian Jews. We also have made no secret that we believe one of the greatest challenges facing our community is representation. We’ve posted extensively on why and how the current system is [...]
Jun
11
2009
11
2009
John Searle's Speech at the June 9 Yom Ha'atzmaut Celebration
At a function attended by Jewish leaders and non-Jewish luminaries, such as Premier John Brumby, to celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut, JCCV president, John Searle delivered a speech.
We will post the transcript in full (which can also be found at the AJN), with Mr. Searle’s words in italics, and put the key elements in bold face. We [...]
May
22
2009
22
2009
Young Jews, Drugs, and Alcohol
I remember kids with dead eyes and expressionless faces. My words bounced off them – at first – like a tennis ball against a concrete wall.
Even after ten years, I’d panic at every first meeting: how could I ever get through to them?
Not all these kids were regular substance abusers, and they didn’t have appointments [...]