Yet another apology from the Master.

Sometimes I wonder if I have crossed the line between reality and the world of Dr Who.

Where has the man of steel gone, apologizing for the wrong of stealing the lives of Cornelia Rau and Vivian Solon whilst leaving those of the other Australian stolen from their families and their culture left in a time warp of denial.

One expects consistency from a man of steel, never wrong and never sorry.

Perhaps the miserly nature of the compensation for the victims of recent government incompetence comes from a similar vein though, that of a mean spirit of the 1950s, the form fulfilled without the sincerity.

Held in abeyance whilst Palmer was taken from focusing on his job as Inspector of Transport Security, the wrong done to the individuals plain as a Dalek’s intention, both victims have had to wait for the mumbling of the word sorry, following the Palmer Inquiry.

An offer that will not stand the test of the court, where it will most likely end up, the pain and suffering of these victims further extended by an insensitive government until the evidence settles the matter with the usual measure, millions of taxpayers dollars paid for outstanding maladministration resulting in an extended period of mistreatment of people innocent of any offense.

And what of those to be given the new protection visa. Georgiou and Moylan must be wondering what the negotiations were about now that Howard has taken over DIMIA and is reforming the failed Compliance and Detention section with zeal.

Still Peter Quasim waits. Has the sick beauracracy of the Department of Immigration decided he is to remain in their thrall regardless of the machinations of Canberra or is the Minister actually responsible for this particular delay. No, I am advised that the man held for 6 years because there was a fear he may be a terrorist, is awaiting his ASIO clearance. After 6 years, they still don’t know and now he is a psychiatric case at our cost!.

How many others will wait the full 6 months for the determination of their cases. Such grace, such care, such alacrity. Lock up and forget, is that how we protect our borders?.

The cadaverous Ruddock

And in the meantime the Master backpedals on making side accusations about a possible home grown terrorist incident here. The cadaverous Ruddock, revelling in the security role associated with AG, as he revelled in the security role of the Immigration Minister, where he oversaw the growth of incompetence in that department, denying his leader.

Rightly, the Muslim community takes offence. There is no evidence, as there was none in Britain. But Howard cannot avoid dividing the community whilst we see Blair attempting to strengthen links further in the face of these London terror bombings. The xenophobia of the 1950s still rules the world of Ming’s acolyte.

The best we can hope for is that Palmer will now be able to focus on Transport Security, although it would seem better were he managing homeland security, and the security services will be assisted by that same community the government seems unable to understand and mobilize to prevent the growth of a terror cell.

For example, Howard criticizes the view that Muslims could not have flown the planes into the twin towers because a Muslim would not do that. It is a simple closed loop argument used by some religious scholars. From their point of view slaughtering innocents is unacceptable and therefore those perpetrating such an act are not true believers. There was a time when Christianity used such arguments.

And then there is the address of the victim of a raid. How did that secret leak out?.

The same man who ended the taboo of political correctness by validating the arguments of Hanson is apparently unable to steer the community through these difficult times without creating the grounds for the growth of dissension in the community.

Kamal Ataturk, the figurehead for the founding of modern Turkey, took many years to guide that state from its Muslim focus to a secularity. Many other states with large Muslim populations are struggling with the contradictions between modernity and belief.

The denial of Galileo

Christianity has faced this many times. The denial of Galileo, the struggles with knowledge and the rebellious priests, the changes in worship practices, the ongoing denial of evolution by fundamental believers in the Christian god.

{Interestingly, Tony Jones [Lateline] forced Peter Costello to fall on the side of evolution following an appearance at a home for creationists, the Hillsong mob].

The strength that has taken the west forward in modern times has been the tolerance of diverse views and debate, learning and adapting.

In such a continuum, time will not loop endlessly back on itself, as it will with the promotion of division within a community. It is a challenge for all, Muslims, Jews,  Christians, etal, to keep open the channels of communication whilst isolating the few extremists unable to see the real challenge of surviving a crowded planet with limited resources and a looming climate crisis.

The world cannot be blown back to any dreamtime, such places are past, reached only in the minds of script writers through the medium of a Tardis.

The building of a future where humanity respects itself [including those who hold up more than half the sky], the members of other communities and its own environment, if such a place is to become a reality, it must be built in the hearts and minds of us all.

phill Parsons passed Bastille Day thinking of the traumas of France as it changed its belief systems. He enjoyed the fine weather whilst mildy concerned that power may become a scarcity before April next. Surely it must rain, climate shift could not be so quick and profound, could it?. When will that stupid monkey learn.