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JOHN SHERIDAN
Greg Sheridan, the Australian’s foreign editor, farewells his father:
What can you say of a man so determined to wage war on the Zeitgeist that he would do the following? When a Greenpeace activist knocked on his front door seeking funds, he replied that he couldn’t spare them any time as he was busy cooking a whale on his woodchip barbecue. I am speaking of my father, John Sheridan, who died last week at the age of 86, nearer actually to 87.
Via Murph. Read the entire beautiful piece.
UPDATE. A hateful response from leftist Melbourne lawyer Jeremy Sear:
I’m not sure why Greg’s late father, John Sheridan, qualified for such a lengthy obituary in the national newspaper (particularly one bestowing on him the title of “best of a generation"). He wasn’t a war hero (never fought). He didn’t invent anything. He didn’t devote his life to charity. He wasn’t well known. He was, by his son’s account, a conservative accountant ...
I don’t know if there’s a history of bad blood between Sear and Sheridan, but even if that was the case it hardly justifies Lefty’s piece. It reads like a fit of random spite.
Posted by SwinishCapitalist on 2007 01 18 at 07:19 PM • permalinkMy father, under the tutelage of the Christian Brothers, read the classics of the English language, mastered Latin, became an expressive pianist, an accomplished artist especially good at portraits, a lover of the pure beauty of mathematics, which led him to his profession of accountancy, a poet who could equally write lyric or nonsense verse, a director of plays for the Catholic Youth Organisation, a composer of sweet melodies, and much much more.
[snip]
My father tried twice to enlist in World War II but was knocked back on medical grounds both times. But he always did the right thing. Except on occasion of grave illness, he never missed Sunday mass in his entire life. One wife, one family, one profession, one religious faith, one house, his sons at the same school as him: a life as unfashionable in its limits and commitments as anything could be today. And yet a life within those self-imposed limits and commitments of vast, imaginative richness.
To me, this sounds like a son’s love for his father, and an expression of grief at his passing.
And, y’know, someone who lives life to the fullest, stays true to their values, and stands up for what is right....hey, sounds like a good man to me.
My condolences to the Sheridan family. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
As for Jeremy Sear.....he needs to get a life. That way, he can stop being a bitter man before he becomes a bitter old man.
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2007 01 18 at 07:28 PM • permalink"He wasn’t well known. He was, by his son’s account, a conservative accountant ...”
Yup a simple man of apparently strong convictions who raised a family, provided for them and died as well as you could want.
I understand it doesnt have the “romance” of dying in a ditch to protect an evil ideology (Che anyone?) or the drama of a drug addiction, prostitution, or phedophillia conviction which Mr Sear might prefer.
Sear actually gave him as nice an eulogy as the bloke could have hoped for with that little snide remark....Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2007 01 18 at 07:29 PM • permalinkGreg Sheridan’s touching tribute his father is also a eulogy to a vanishing generation of true blue Australians. Exactly the type of honest, faithful and hardworking “ordinary people” that the current crop of mandarins and elitists of the The Left despise, even as they squander the inheritance handed down to them by men such as John Sheridan.
As one of their own once said: “Shame, shame, shame”. The left itself has no shame, only sham.I normally don’t swear in mixed company but Wally Sear is a c*nt! A big, fat, hairy, smelly, putrid, festering, cob-web infested c*nt!
The smarmy little shit deserves a damn good smack in the mouth only he’d probably cry.
The only difference between Sear and a sack of shit is the sack.
C*nt!
There… I’ve said it… I feel better now.
The RealJeffS—Bitter old man? Too late. That level of petty meanness is genetic.
Posted by richard mcenroe on 2007 01 18 at 07:41 PM • permalinkMy father came from much the better generation, and was much the better man.
Greg should remember, especially as he can see all that is of merit in his father, and his father’s upbringing, that the nut does not fall far from the tree.
Penguin, I agree wholeheartedly:
RIP John Sheridan, you can go to your maker proud of your son.
And Jeremy is a c*. (Written before I saw Gibbo’s contribution - great minds, Gibbo!)
#7. Tertius.
even as they squander the inheritance handed down to them by men such as John Sheridan.
Mate, you are spot on there. I cannot fathom how the counter culture came from their children.
It’s like their children spat on everything that had delivered them the best society in human history and went out of their way to tear everything down. I struggle to understand what caused it.
Aaargh never mind. Too deep. It did lead to the bikini and the pill!
Maybe its a cultural thing. I understood everything that Sheridan was trying to say, many of our families have or have had people like his father. Sheridan’s story was as much about how the history of the past century has shaped Australians, good and bad as it was about the passing of his father. In many respects its interesting to compare cries about ‘poor immigrants’ that exist today with the reality of how people from a variety of cultures made something of their lives through sheer hard work and determination.It made some interesting and salient points and I thank him for doing so.
As for Sear, a man who denies his own background, a selfish, self-absorbed twat, I echo Gibbo’s sentiments above.
Shear needs to realise that its because of people like Sheridan’s father that he has the good fortune and freedom to be able to make a comfortable living and express his opinions as he does.
This seems as good a place as any to put a link to an interesting article. I should make it clear that it has nothing to do with anonymous Melbourne lawyer, Jeremy Sear.
Posted by Margos Maid on 2007 01 18 at 07:58 PM • permalinkDon’t know Sears from a bar of soap but it strikes me that he is just another prissy little mummy’s boy who was constantly told he was gifted and talented, and so has grown up thinking the universe hangs on his every little fart.
Emasculated babies like that can’t last five minutes in the company of men like John Sheridan. Their balls shrivel. Their pseudo-sophistication falls away. They can sense their own inferiority, and it disarms them.
Small man. Very very small man. Look at him and laugh.
Sear seems to have hijacked what should be a thread about a good bloke with strong morals who left behind familt that could be considered a credit to himself. Which is probably what Jeremy wants to do. “Look at meeee! Look at meeee!” is his shrill cry through the many anonymous pages of his blogs.
Posted by AlburyShifton on 2007 01 18 at 08:10 PM • permalinkJeremy Sear, must have plenty of time on his hands (says alot for his chosen skill) if he has time to rubbish a man who, he probably has never met. What is this ‘professional’ trying to do, become Melbourne’s version of Chris Murphy. Jeez, don’t these leftists propagate like lice on a decent host, in our case, the nation.
mareeS
My old man is goo but,
Lucky you, one grandad is a crackpot (Freemasons, jews etc controlling the world) the other was a violent alcoholic who spent every cent on booze. My mum sat in a highchair till she was 5 because there was no other furniture in the house. He used to smear boot polish on bread , peel off the polish and eat the bread for breakfast. the wood spirit in the polish would get him drunk.
He did enlist in the Air force in WW2 though so Mr Sear might approve…Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2007 01 18 at 08:16 PM • permalinkRe #13, Nic, Sheridan’s tribute resonated with me as well. I saw a lot of my father in that article.
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2007 01 18 at 08:25 PM • permalinkIn response to Ian Deans’ comment at #8, Mr Lefty says:
Obviously families praise their loved ones. That’s not the issue. Obviously many good people are not well-known. Also not the issue.
But “good people” don’t each get a few thousand words in the national newspaper when they die, particularly if instead of a eulogy it’s just their son using their death to bash his political opponents. Sheridan’s piece might have gone down well at his dad’s funeral; but it’s a bizarre thing for the Australian to publish.
Jeremy, even by your standards this is so sad. I am certain that you must have read past the headline on Greg Sheridan’s article. That means your comment is also vile and dishonest. Sheridan’s piece was not just about his father. It wasn’t even mainly about his father. It was of course about his father’s generation.
I cannot imagine someone of that generation doing what you have done this morning. It just would not occur to them to be so spitefully dishonest about a matter like this at a time like this. Somehow it just seems impossible.
I guess that proves Greg Sheridan’s main point. His father was of a generation that is better than yours.
A wonderful tribute by Greg Sheridan to his father.
And he’s right. I’m also a baby boomer and I have worried about what will happen when the last of that generation leaves us. Hard-working, with a majority so very honest and uncomplaining and just plain decent.
I don’t think the next (my) generation has the same spirit or is as courteous and considerate. They are admirable people.
#15 lotocoti
So, by Jeremy’s criteria, his own obit would probably consist of one word. Beginning with a hard C and ending with a sharp T.
Caught?
Posted by flying pigs over mecca on 2007 01 18 at 08:27 PM • permalinkI’m not sure why Greg’s late father, John Sheridan, qualified for such a lengthy obituary in the national newspaper (particularly one bestowing on him the title of “best of a generation").
Maybe because the man was his father, and lived a life exemplary enough to rate a loving obituary? Something that no one is ever likely to write for you, Mr. Sear.
As a so-called “lefty” and someone who thinks that Sheridan is pretty well wrong about everything he writes, and has written just that over at LP let me say that this a very distasteful post on Sears part.
Does Sheridan get a “free pass”? Of course he does. Why? Because there is nothing to Sears argument, Sheridan’s dad was a man of his time, pure and simple, he was involved in the politics of his time...so what? My dad was too and he was not that much different than what Sheridan describes. And I loved him and miss him dearly, as I’m sure Greg will miss his dad too as was obvious in his op-ed.
The op-ed is also important from one other perspective. It gives us some personal insight into what informs Greg’s word view, I think this is a good thing. It humanises Greg, something that is a problem with most of today’s big media op-edders who continue to pontificate like they exist on some mountain above the rest. Those days are gone now.
For Greg to inject the personal into his commentary makes me like him a little bit, and that’s a good thing.
Sear simply needs to grow up and get out a bit more.
A note to Jeremy Smear (sp?):
And just what have you done, specifically, to alter my opinion that you aren’t worthy to even carry Mister John Sheridan’s water?
Posted by Michael Sheehan on 2007 01 18 at 08:30 PM • permalinkOT #31 Phil - it took you almost a year after joining to make your first post? Patient.
Posted by flying pigs over mecca on 2007 01 18 at 08:40 PM • permalinkI’m sure John Sheridan excreted daily things of more worth than that cunt Sears.
Posted by boxofmatches on 2007 01 18 at 08:41 PM • permalinkNothing to do with anonymous Melbourne lawyer, Jeremy Sear, but here is some stuff I found on the internet.
Posted by Margos Maid on 2007 01 18 at 08:53 PM • permalinkDear Jezza,
You’re so right dude. Who the hell is John Sheridan! Lol! As far as I can tell, all the prick did was live his life and raise his family the best he could. Hardly a noble pursuit when he could be taking photos of his cat and posting them on the net! Cats are cool! Although sometimes their tongues are a little rough on your nether regions! ROFL!
Anyway my lefty pal, don’t worry what these philistines say. I’ve seen advance copies of your obit and it rocks. It was printed on two-ply with a really cool pink hibiscus pattern. Flushed easy too.
Anyway Jezza, gotta go pick up a free copy of The Age from a train seat. Have a good one comrade.
Regards
InfidelP.S - SUCK MY NUTS!
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 01 18 at 08:56 PM • permalinkJeremy Sear is simply taking out his frustrations after we examined some of his past blogging in the form of a satirical criminal trial.
He was charged here.
And convicted by his peers here and here.
And now awaits a democratic vote about the most appropriate sentence.
He hasn’t liked the whole joke very much and appeared to sulk silently for most of the week.
We did our best to goad him back into action here and he seems to have responded by unleashing his frustrations upon the memory of an eighty six year old gentleman.
He’s even managed to surprise me this time.
Posted by Andrew Landeryou on 2007 01 18 at 09:01 PM • permalinkOoh, Infidel Tiger, is that the size 6 font? And in bold green, too. You have money to burn.
Posted by flying pigs over mecca on 2007 01 18 at 09:01 PM • permalinkSear is a self-centered prig who has no idea what makes a good person - or a good obituary.
Greg Sheridan’s obituary was a fine example of the craft.
The Telegraph (UK) is generally reckoned to have the finest obituaries written, and Greg’s piece comes close to the Tele’s standard.
The Tele runs two obituaries each day, one of a famous person and one of a simple but worthy complete unknown like Greg’s Dad. It is the latter which are in many ways the most satisfying to read. For example, a couple of days ago we learned of the death of Charles Lemon, aged 92:
He won a scholarship to Selhurst Grammar School, Croydon, where he discovered the novels Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. Because his parents could not afford to send him to university, Charles left at 16 to join the Union-Castle shipping line in London.
The company ran ships between Britain and Africa and Lemon was posted to Mombasa and Durban for a time in the late 1930s. After the Second World War, in which he served in the RAF, Lemon lived at Bognor Regis, studying for further qualifications during his daily commute to London. He was subsequently appointed Union-Castle’s company secretary, a position he held until his retirement in 1970.
This is real class, and it’s in a top-ranking national newspaper. It’s riveting, and lot more interesting and moving than the life of plonkers such as Sear and his small (and doubtless shrinking), group of cretinous acquaintances.
Posted by walterplinge on 2007 01 18 at 09:39 PM • permalinkApologies for all the OT’s but this is one of the biggest knobs I’ve ever seen.
Posted by Margos Maid on 2007 01 18 at 09:44 PM • permalinkI was disappointed with Mr Sear’s response. As several have noted already, the article was not just about Mr Sheridan’s father but an entire generation. In his so-called ordinariness, Mr Sheridan Snr exemplified a way of comportment that - as Mr Sear so obviously demonstrates - is disappearing.
My father is in his early 80s now. He left school at 12, built a farm from nothing and was perhaps the hardest worker I’ve ever known. He has never taken a cent from the government and lives out his retirement in comfort because he took responsibility for his future.
He has never known the lofty heights of blogging fame enjoyed by Mr Sear - and certainly enjoyed none of the privileges - but has gone about his life with determination and humility and I am better for it.
I also wonder what types of opinions are suitable for an opinion piece? The vapid regurgitations of Adele Horin? The blinkered worlds of Carlton or Adams? Or a man talking about his late father?
Maybe its time for us to write Jeremy’s own obituary, seeing as his own life would merit such treatment in a national daily?
What could be said:
Went to Private school, denied it. Likes cats. Is a Lawyer. Infringes copyright. Has a pretentious undergraduate way of looking at the world, rather like Rik from the ‘young ones’. Is a general C.
Not much here either.
#8 Ian Deans
Sear thinks that if you’re not well known, then you couldn’t possibly be a good person and are clearly not deserving of praise.
Of course not. Sear is not doubt waiting to demonstrate his skill as an obit writer when the really important people expire. You know - Matthew Newton, Fitzy from Big Brother, Rove McManus, and those other giants who bestride Australian culture.
Sadly, though, he’s not alone. I’ll bet you far greater numbers of people have clicked on the nail-biting story of how Salma Hayek’s dog saved her than have bothered to click on Sheridan’s article (present company excluded).
Margos Maid, have you been drinking? (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.)
Posted by flying pigs over mecca on 2007 01 18 at 10:55 PM • permalinkSear’s inspiration is Spider Man what do you expect?
Posted by armageddon on 2007 01 18 at 11:04 PM • permalink#49 According to his VicBar profile: “Jeremy’s practice is mainly focused on commercial law and deceased estates, with a strong interest in IT law.”
Translation: He’s written a few wills for the old ladies in his street who have taken pity on him and his lack of paid work. And in his spare time - which is plentiful - he has a strong interest in sending hilarious and legally unsound threats to his blogging foes.
"sending hilarious and legally unsound threats to his blogging foes"
and steeling bandwidthPosted by armageddon on 2007 01 18 at 11:11 PM • permalinkSomething about Wally makes “Royal Flush” and “Atomic Wedgie” pop into my head.
And is it just me or does his cat make you think; Microwave and video camera?
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 01 18 at 11:36 PM • permalink“They were, as I understand it, seeking to increase democracy by promoting Communism”.
Well, Jezza and his friends spent high school attempting to meet girls by playing Dungeons & Dragons.
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 01 18 at 11:56 PM • permalinkI’m not sure why Greg’s late father, John Sheridan, qualified for such a lengthy obituary in the national newspaper (particularly one bestowing on him the title of “best of a generation").
Because he wasn’t a screaming asshole like you,
JerkJeremy.Posted by Barbara Skolaut on 2007 01 19 at 12:31 AM • permalinkI won’t give any time to Jeremy, but I will to Mr. Sheridan’s hymn to his father. Thank you. What a joy to read of the respect your father earned, and of the self-respect he engendered in you.
There was a time when being poor didn’t mean that you were a druggie, or dirty, or uncultured, or ignorant. I can remember when I was told that being poor was no excuse for any of those things, but a cause to make sure that you availed yourself of the opportunities for betterment: free lending-libraries, free classes, the cheap seats at concerts; and personally, a clean body and mind, and the application of a lot of soap and elbow grease to whatever accommodations one could afford. Pride was earned by one’s efforts and integrity, not by the size of one’s bank account, or by one’s ability to sneer at the world.
It is that attitude that made for the greatest generation. They weren’t saints, but most of them were honest and hard working. They didn’t expect the world to accommodate them, nor did they expect their neighbors to pay their way for them. It is hard to feel benevolence towards people when they stand there demanding their cut of your labor’s rewards--as a right. But when most of the world around you works for themselves, and their generosity is voluntary, and recognized as generosity, your view of others is much different than what one finds among the chronically chipped-shouldered whiners and victims grown up among us these days.
Sear will never know, and will always begrudge, that kind of happiness earned by that kind of life.
I don’t read Sheridan very often but this was a superbly written, entirely fitting and moving tribute. Thank you for pointing it out.
One finds themselves thinking they had been denied not to have known his father, but ever more grateful for one’s own and their generation.
My condolences to Greg Sheridan and his family.
Sear’s contribution is too vile to rate a mention.
That cat of Jeremy’s is really in a bad situation; she’s obviously too cute and good natured to have this hand of fate dealt to her. Aren’t there any kind animal rescue people down there in Melbourne who can spirit her away and let her live out her life with someone more deserving?
Posted by AlburyShifton on 2007 01 19 at 03:36 AM • permalinkJeremy Sear (tune Eleanor Rigby)
Jeremy Se-ar, thinks he’s Blackadder but really he’s more Mister Bean
Oh what a queen
Stroking his pussy, threatening to sue anyone who defames his poor cat
Oh what a prat!Pissweak lefty lawyer
What planet is he from ?
Pissweak lefty lawyer
The dump’s where he belongsBrave little blogger posting his words full of bilious envy and spite
He’s full of shite.
Look at this weakling. dancing on graves in his blog so bad, nobody reads
His silly screedsPissweak lefty lawyer
What planet is he from ?
Pissweak lefty lawyer
The dump’s where he belongsPosted by eeniemeenie on 2007 01 19 at 03:37 AM • permalink#69 Srekwah,The Muslim Arabs on the Barbary Coast of Africa enslaved millions of black africans and sold them to western and arabic countries from the 11th to 18th centuries. Despicable white christians in England and America stopped the trade dead in its tracks in the 18th-19th centuries. Makes you wonder why “african americans” convert to islam when islam regards them as dogs.
He deserves a fine obituary because it sounds like he was a good man. Not an extraordinary man, but a good man.
I doubt the lefties would recognise one. I’d rather read an obit about someone like that than say David Williamson or Gough Whitlam.
Posted by mr creosote on 2007 01 19 at 04:34 AM • permalinkmareeS
You are aware the barbary coast mauruders ranged as far North as cornwall in England? Millions of white slaves from Spain, Italy, France and the othe countries ringing the Medditeranian as well.
I read a good book a while back called ‘White gold” and it was quite eye opening. Whole villages depopulated to fill the harems and work camps of the slavers. Brought to a close (largely) by the fledgeling American navy and marines. Thats where the “shores of tripolli” line in the marine song comes from.Link to the book at Amazon
Note the name of the reviewer from the washington post.
Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2007 01 19 at 04:37 AM • permalinkI’m not sure why Jewemy Smear, late of the human race, believes he is qualified to make such a worthless contribution to public discourse (particularly when he has been bestowed almost universally with the title of “screaming fuckwit”). He can’t write, he contributes nothing to society, he hasn’t had an original thought in his life. He isn’t well known. He is, by all accounts, a complete waste of space.
Posted by AlphaMikeFoxtrot on 2007 01 19 at 04:52 AM • permalinkHey, stop calling Sears a c*!
C*’s are extremely popular with the half of the population who do not have one, and inordinately useful to the half of the population who do.
Sears is unpopular with the population that has heard of him, and is useless for anything no matter which way you look at him.
I regard the half of the population who do have c*’s as the marvellous acme of wonder and beauty, so much so that I married one of them.
Seen a photo of Sears? I rest my case!
So please do not insult c*’s by calling Sears one. He is far more akin to that which dogs deposit on public footpaths.
MarkL
CanberraI’ve never even heard of G. Sheridan before but his piece is a moving tribute to the most important man in his life.
Sear can’t compete. If this piece is political, then we should have more politics like this, becasue it reads well and reminds us of the best qualities we should be cultivating in ourselves.
I’m not calling Sear a cunt because I don’t like denigrating my genitals - I’m surprised that men normally so eager to encounter good cunt would use it as an indicator of revulsion and hate.
graphic language off/Why not just call him a turd?
Posted by carpefraise on 2007 01 19 at 05:03 AM • permalink#72, mareeS:
The arabic/muslim trade in black african slaves continues to this day. It never ended.
The buyers changed, its no longer Christian euros or Americans, it’s now muslims themselves that purchase and own infidel africans.
#75, thefrollickingmole:
The Shores of Tripoli is the source for that part of our song, it is also a historical reminder of the fecklessness of our civilian leadership:
The Wild Geese have, what I believe to be, an accurate run down of the whole event. The telling part, and part that is a warning to our present situation:
Unfortunately for O’Bannon and especially Eaton, who had been the mastermind behind the plan to eliminate the Pasha, the politicians did not manage to hold on to gains won by the blood of their soldiers. Jefferson’s government negotiated a treaty that did include the release of all the American sailors imprisoned there, but it still required the United States to pay to ensure no further attacks on its shipping. And worst of all, it left the Pasha in power. Eaton was outraged, and Hamet was forced into exile in Sicily.
Our tradition of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory by adopting the weaknesses of the europeans has long standing.
(It was Jefferson’s desire to be like euros in working out problems with words and signed papers, rather than by actually fixing the problem)Typed my bit before seeing Mark L’s.
Thanks Mark, nice sentiments. :)Posted by carpefraise on 2007 01 19 at 05:04 AM • permalinkI have liv’d long enough: my way of life is fall’n into the sear, the yellow leaf; And that which should accompany old age, As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, I must not look to have; but, in their stead, Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honor, breath, Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not.
It takes the ungenerous lawyer like Sear to transform, verbally, Braveheart into MacBeth.Compare John Sheridan’s education to the one the Greenie activist got, particularly if the Greenie was younger than about 30. I’d bet the Greenie can’t spell or punctuate let alone parse a sentence. I’d bet the Greenie couldn’t differentiate a non-sequitur from an appeal to authority but would be great at deconstructing the Ants Pants commercial from feminist, indigenous, Marxist, gay, lesbian and transgendered perspectives. He or she probably thinks Moliere is a kind of skin cream and has to use a calculator to find what 12 times 8 equals - maybe even what 12 plus 8 equals. Those will be some of the reasons why the Greenie was going door to door collecting money for that bunch of ratbags and failed to understand why Sheridan said what he said.
Years ago I saw a documentary about why British industry went to crap. People inherited wealth from their entrepreneurial industrialist fathers and then they spent it on paying for fabulous lifestyles instead of re-investing in the business. So the businesses became increasingly uncompetitive until they went under. Apparently Keynes called it “vulture capitalism”. Riches to rags in three generations.
Now apply that concept to the contrast between people of John Sheridan’s generation and the latest lot of young things. It’s not just vulture education that has characterised our society for the last 40 odd years or more (saw an article a day or so ago about how we have already lost everything as far as science education goes) it’s also vulture morality.
Atheists keep saying that they are capable of making good moral choices, and of course some - maybe many, particularly the older ones - are, but the fact is that they have no substantial metaphysical basis for their choices. It boils down to personal opinion combined with the influence of their upbringing and the pressure of complying with the mores of their own group.
But guess what? Social mores have become steadily more brutish and corrupt. In this month’s Quadrant even Roger Sandall points out that the “exposed meat” comment is not entirely without foundation. (Think Paris Hilton sex video.) My own younger sons (20 & 22) have difficulty finding a girl they can be bothered trying to pick up, not because all the girls they meet are stupid and ugly but because they are so often so sluttish - and this includes girls in the local church youth group.
I think my own generation was the fortunate one. Didn’t have to suffer much. May die before things get really tough. My children’s generation, I’m afraid, will suffer the effects of the educational, religious and moral bankruptcy of our society. They are the ones who might be forced to decide whether to die on their feet or live on their knees and given the way things are going I think it’s all too likely that most will choose the latter course and make things all the harder for the rest. If I weren’t convinced that God can take evil and turn it to good I’d be very depressed indeed.
Another lefty “Any man who hits a woman is no good. They are cowards and he’s out.’’
While Labor-linked protesters elbowing Debnam wife.Posted by stackja1945 on 2007 01 19 at 07:18 AM • permalinkJanice, you are exposing some extreme pessimism here, or perhaps the wrong churches are influencing you:
My own younger sons (20 & 22) have difficulty finding a girl they can be bothered trying to pick up, not because all the girls they meet are stupid and ugly but because they are so often so sluttish - and this includes girls in the local church youth group.
My son is a similar age and attends a Baptist Church - he has no such problem.#84 Janice.
Don’t be too quick judging the morals/principles of atheists (or agnostics). The entire discipline of philosophy deals with the metaphysical basis of moral codes, and generally doesn’t have anything to do with religion. Personal opinion? Well, that’s what atheists say about the religious!
The best example of non-religious morality I can think of is the Objectivism espoused by Ayn Rand. She takes great pains in books such as The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged to explain where virtue comes from and what makes it virtue. I find her reasoning hard to fault. You may beg to differ, but you cannot say her reasoning or conclusions are arbitrary, based on whim or simple personal opinion.
I really don’t want to get into an argument here, suffice it to say that yes, this generation is less religious than John Sheridan’s and less virtuous. You’re probably right in implying that most atheists wander in a sort of philosophical wasteland, which I’d venture has been created by the (usually atheist)collectivists of this world. Mind you, I’ve met plenty of devout Christians who can be pretty unvirtuous when they want to be (I’m not even sure they realise it some of the time). The sad fact is that most of the human race behaves like a flock of sheep. They lack self-analysis. I believe it was Socrates who practiced self-analysis of everything he did, every day he lived; certainly I believe it takes practice to avoid the all-too-easy trap of self-ignorance (ignorance, or denial of one’s mistakes, misjudgements and motives).
Religion itself does not confer virtue. And atheism does not confer moral bankruptcy. There is a problem with virtue in modern society. It stems from the rise of immoral codes of conduct based on corrupted philosophy (can anyone say “non absolutes?). The decline of Christianity is a byproduct of this, not the cause.
For a leftist, death is just a dark border on a steadily improving picture, somebody wrote.
Sear wants you to pay more attention to the steadily improving. The frame is just superficial ornamentation.
In support of this, a young friend relates his own bbq whale story
Door Knocker : Hello, I’m collecting for Multiple Sclerosis
Friend: I’m sorry, I don’t have it.
#84, #91, I’ll side with Janice here for now, Dminor - I need to go away and think more on what you’ve just said, though, as you make a good point. I’ve not read Rand yet (I know, my bad), but she’s on my mustdo list.
With regards to comments about meeting young girls who do not behave in a sluttish manner, I had an interesting yak with my sister the other day about her oldest daughter.
We were talking about how young girls dress, and my niece is just 16, and likes low-cut tops. As in cut to the navel. I have a problem with this sort of dressing for day to day mucking about, but my sister doesn’t.
She thinks that well, her daughter is comfortable with it, and that’s okay. If anyone thinks the girl looks like a slut, then they are the ones with problems. (I think she meant me, there, but I played dumb on that score).
I’ve tried pointing out to my sister that when you dress, it’s not just for yourself but also the potential audience - my example is really fat girls who wear tight clothes that leave nothing to example.
They think it’s great, and they reckon they’re comfortable, but I still have to look at it, and it doesn’t appeal to me.
I’m a long way from a prude, but I don’t think 16 year old girls should be showing all and sundry what they’re made of.
Of course, my attitude is also an example of how I’ve bought into the ‘patriarchal’ world we live in according to my sister.
There are times I can do nothing except roll my eyes.
But back to Janice, the nicest young lasses I meet these days do all seem to be the ones who go to church. We have a couple of nice ones here, but I think Melbournistan might be a bit far for your boys to come.
Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2007 01 19 at 04:12 PM • permalinkThere have been many postings here, ALL NEGATIVE, about the possibility of nominating that Aussie (the one who is vacationing in that nice Cuban resort that goes by the strange name of Guantánamo) as Australian of the Year. Well I think y’all will agree with me that John Sheridan would have made a very fitting candidate for the Senior Austalian of the Year Award.
Posted by ElectronPower on 2007 01 19 at 06:16 PM • permalink#100, the Australian must have heard you:
Join us in saluting the Aussie Digger
ALL Australians are invited to join us in saluting the Australian Digger - the men and women of the Australian Defence Force who we are proud to collectively name recipients of The Weekend Australian’s 2006 Australian of the Year award.Posted by Art Vandelay on 2007 01 19 at 08:57 PM • permalink#104, in the usual way:
Come Home Soon (20 January at 01:18 AM)
What a cop out!
Doing Bush’s dirty work around the world leaves a deep stain of shame on Aus.
Blind obedience to authority? Get over it.Posted by Art Vandelay on 2007 01 20 at 12:08 AM • permalinkDear Mr lefty,
Thank you for opening my eyes. You are completely correct that an everyday Australian who doesn’t have a media profile is utterly unworthy of a major obituary. Such an outrage!
It is also nice to know that you are waiting in the wings ready to decide who is worthy of such a treatment. Please prepare us an obituary for Fidel. I suspect it will be needed soon.
Please prepare us an obituary for Fidel.
“Fidel R.I.P.
“He lived as a cancerous arsehole; he died of a cancerous arsehole.”
Posted by AlburyShifton on 2007 01 20 at 03:11 AM • permalink#92 murph
Thanks so much for posting that link - it’s a real eye opener
I thought Greg Sheridan’s piece was wonderful - and I’m amazed that some unfortunate people have neither the intelligence or the compassion to understand the words
What a bunch of losers and I’m sorry to say - f*ckwits
I don’t swear a lot but trawling into the depths of blogs like is not a happy experience
Posted by aussiemagpie on 2007 01 20 at 03:23 AM • permalinkAh, Jeremy has finally deigned to join us plebeians, in order to put us in our place.
Nice to know that even in the lefty segment of the blogosphere, the pot still calls the kettle black.
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2007 01 20 at 03:28 AM • permalink#106
Dear Mr Lefty,
Theses nuts aren’t going to suck themselves. Hop to it, pissant.
Regards
InfidelPosted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 01 20 at 04:00 AM • permalinkMr Lefty. I was too caught up to say this before but ... Here we have a striking example of a person who just doesn’t get the value of John Sheridan’s obituary.
Mr Lefty knows all. He judges all. But all he has to work with is his own tiny brain and whatever functionality that has which, as far as I can see, is limited to approving whatever he agrees with and whatever he is capable of. He can’t imagine that the obituary might be an expression of the love and respect a son has for his father and his father’s good accomplishments, nor that other people might find this man’s story inspirational.
Because Mr Lefty is political (I suppose) he assumes that everyone else is too. Because he loves worldly success (I suppose) he can’t imagine why a relative nonentity should have his life celebrated in a national newspaper.
I wish my father could have lived to be nearly 87. If things had happened differently he might be alive today and have a few years still left. But know-all judgementalists like Mr Lefty had their say as far as my father’s life was concerned. They said he wasn’t worth working to save. Not important enough. Not young enough and therefore not potentially productive enough. Not Franco-ish or Castro-ish powerful enough. It’s 16 years since they secretly abandoned my father but I can’t forget what was done to him, how it was hidden and how we, as a society, have come to think that that sort of behaviour is perfectly acceptable.
Mr Lefty knows all.
He certainly does know all: Fuck all!
Posted by AlburyShifton on 2007 01 20 at 06:37 AM • permalinkHe can’t imagine that the obituary might be an expression of the love and respect a son has for his father and his father’s good accomplishments, nor that other people might find this man’s story inspirational.
Because Mr Lefty is political (I suppose) he assumes that everyone else is too. Because he loves worldly success (I suppose) he can’t imagine why a relative nonentity should have his life celebrated in a national newspaper.
Well said, Janice.
And because Mr Lefty is a nobody who will never have this kind of obituary, he’s bitter about an someone he feels is an
‘ordinary man’ receiving this kind of obituary.# 81 that is exactly and absolutely correct. :)
Posted by carpefraise on 2007 01 21 at 03:58 AM • permalink
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Aaaarghh what a pearler! Greg Sheridan is spot on with this bit:
"Today we have… a flood of trivial information and a lack of knowledge of who we are or where we come from”
RIP John Sheridan, you can go to your maker proud of your son.