freedom of speech

Interesting doco on ABC Radio National thismorning in “Background Briefing”. About  Wikileaks and Julian Assange. Hearing his pleasant, intelligent and unaffected Australian voice, I had a rare moment of feeling  proud (rather than just lucky)  to be Australian.

I often cringe at the matey flag-waving, C’mon Aussie, green-and-gold brand of Australian patriotism. And for too many years - the  John Howard years - it was of course just downright embarrassing to be Australian. 

But I cherish the no-bullshit, tell-it-like-it-is aspect of our ‘national identity’. And the cheeky deadpan humour. 

When cyber-activists managed to temporarily close down Paypal, Mastercard, and Visa, after the credit groups blocked payments to Wikileaks, the activists’ spokesman had this to say to the big credit operators: ‘Betcha didn’t see that coming!’

I love it that the whole issue of secrecy is being flung into  the public arena, and that vested interests are so far unable to put out the fire, shut everyone up, sweep it all under the carpet.  And it’s heartening that Assange has so much support. 

But by the end of ‘Background Briefing’ I was depressed again, hearing about an American soldier - I’ll get his name later from the web site (* it's Bradley Manning) - who has been imprisoned for several months, in solitary confinement, in declining physical and mental health, still no charges laid. For, I think, giving 'secret' information to Wikileaks. 

We learn about this appalling violation of human rights from an interview with a decent-sounding bloke, an American lawyer or academic who is campaigning on behalf of  the imprisoned soldier.

Then we’re told that two days after this interview the lawyer/academic went to visit the prisoner with another visitor, a journalist, and that both visitors were then themselves also detained at the prison. God.

                                        

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Meanwhile in the garden, these guys (or gals?) are devouring our grape vine. Yesterday’s vine leaves are today's big fat caterpillars and tomorrow’s moths. D points out something we’ve never noticed - the ‘eye’ design on the caterpillar which will later become markings on the moths’ wings. It’s all so miraculous that we just can’t bring ourselves to kill them. Finally, we decide on relocation to the passion fruit vine down the back.  

I am putting up a fight against the torpor today, and soldiering on, ignoring/surrendering to heat and sweat