The ‘Art’ of Distraction - International Social/Political

Two senior conservative politicians, Brendan Nelson and Tony Abbott have VERY CLUMSILY attempted to inject Henson’s artistic images into a known pornographic context – the Internet and digital computing! It is hoped that guilt could be established by association, notwithstanding the images have been deliberately taken out of context to facilitate a desired interpretation, but to what end -- that is the question?

A law degree is not required to realise the police have virtually no case against Henson; could it possibly be that authorities wish to test laws relating to the possession of questionable but legally arguable images on personal computers? Pursuing wider more pervasive powers is an obsession of regulatory authorities; police constantly seek to broaden the scope of what defines criminality; wider definitions offer new opportunities for charging citizens and regulating society!

It appears that the introduction of a raft of ‘new sweeping terrorist laws’ by the previous conservative government did not provide police with the powers they required. The possession of legally RE-DEFINED nude imagery would snare a wider range of citizens than attempting to lay charges for ‘sedition’ – a laughable failed strategy of the former Attorney General, Philip Ruddock.

The political aspects of this case are intriguing. It is known that conservatives have little appreciation for the arts; the current conservative Prime Minister views Henson’s Art as “revolting,” which is more an indication of his limited appreciation or perverted mind than anything else! The greater impact for Australian society, however, is the PM’s abandonment of the traditional SUPPORT BASE his party once offered the Arts and Artistic community. Australian Artists have realised they are NOW on their own and have united in support of the besieged, Bill Henson.

The whole sordid affair has become an international embarrassment for Australia. It seems we have taken yet another retrograde step by voting Kevin Rudd into office. The retrogressive, parochial stamp Rudd wishes to place on government/Australian society is now plain to see.

The PM is currently under immense pressure for his many failures to deliver on promises made to the public. The current furore over Henson’s work, which the PM is complicit in creating serves two purposes. Storm-trooping police invading social spaces once free of brutish interference sends threatening signals to amenable minds but the other much sought after effect is DISTRACTION! The PM couldn’t be happier over the furore the Henson affair has created. It distracts the public’s attention away from his MANY POLITICAL FAILURES, not the least being his failure to ease the burdens on average Australian citizens.

Rudd has failed in so many areas it is appalling. After the NSW Coroner determined the identity of the murderers of the ‘Balibo five,’ Rudd failed to demand the surrender of the Indonesian killers to Australian authorities – a truly despicable, cowardly, response.

Rudd has failed to deal adequately with the clearly incompetent AFP chief, ‘drunken dropkick,’ Mick Keelty, for attempting to frame a dark-skinned Indian, Dr. Haneef, on terrorism charges – Keelty wasted $7.5 million of taxpayer’s money in his misguided attempt to assist former PM and war criminal, John Howard! Keelty needs to be stood down in lieu of a REAL inquiry, not the current toothless charade Rudd has arranged to preserve the status quo!

Rudd has also failed to honour his promise to bring the troops home from illegal wars in Iraq and Central Asia.

Rudd has failed to deal with the rapacious mining companies that plunder our nation and pilfer our precious water and other resources while the nation's essential services and infrastructures are left to deteriorate. The relatively tiny population of Australia has been largely excluded from receiving benefits from the current resources boom! The Australian people require equity and leadership not a corporate lackey in office!

Rudd has insulted the Chinese -- our most valued trading partner -- and kowtowed to the Americans, a nation in rapid decline. The foreign Minister, Stephen ‘kneepads’ Smith, who wasn’t able to locate Kosovo on a map, immediately recognised the secession of the province on orders from America – wipe your mouth, ‘kneepads!’

In fact Rudd and his mob of no-hopers are proving to be even more servile, incompetent AND SOCIALLY REPRESSIVE than Howard and his conservatives. What a tragedy the once supportive of the liberal Arts LABOR PARTY has become!

A final question to the hypocritical, conservative Christian, Mr Rudd; exactly what aspect of God’s body -- in whose image we are supposedly created -- do you find “revolting?”

Remove the puerile, incompetent, little coward from office!

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