The SMH reports the following today:
"Former prime minister John Howard could be in line to join one of Britain's most prestigious orders.
Speculation is mounting that Mr Howard has been personally selected by Queen Elizabeth to receive the Order of the Garter, the most senior and oldest British Order of Chivalry"
The idea of awarding Howard anything should give rise to concern that such an undeserving person - who led the Government he did - should be even considered for any sort of honor let alone be invited as a speaker as an ex-PM [no doubt against payment of some outlandish fee!] anywhere in the world.
The inhumane and racist policies of the Howard Government - as reflected in its policy in relation to the so-called "Pacific Solution" and the treatment of refugees, generally, and the absolute refusal to deal with the "Stolen Generation" let alone offer any sort of apology to Australia's indiginous people - only highlights that Howard and his Ministers were, and remain, disgraceful inhumane people.
Only yesterday The Age published a feature article on the devastating effect the Pacific Solution and the treatment of refugees in Australia has had on those caught up in the terrible policies. Read the sad piece here.
With the Rudd Government about to offer an apology to the "Stolen Generation" in Canberra next Wednesday, the only former PM not attending the event is, you guessed it, John Winston Howard.
And he deserves to be honored?
"Former prime minister John Howard could be in line to join one of Britain's most prestigious orders.
Speculation is mounting that Mr Howard has been personally selected by Queen Elizabeth to receive the Order of the Garter, the most senior and oldest British Order of Chivalry"
The idea of awarding Howard anything should give rise to concern that such an undeserving person - who led the Government he did - should be even considered for any sort of honor let alone be invited as a speaker as an ex-PM [no doubt against payment of some outlandish fee!] anywhere in the world.
The inhumane and racist policies of the Howard Government - as reflected in its policy in relation to the so-called "Pacific Solution" and the treatment of refugees, generally, and the absolute refusal to deal with the "Stolen Generation" let alone offer any sort of apology to Australia's indiginous people - only highlights that Howard and his Ministers were, and remain, disgraceful inhumane people.
Only yesterday The Age published a feature article on the devastating effect the Pacific Solution and the treatment of refugees in Australia has had on those caught up in the terrible policies. Read the sad piece here.
With the Rudd Government about to offer an apology to the "Stolen Generation" in Canberra next Wednesday, the only former PM not attending the event is, you guessed it, John Winston Howard.
And he deserves to be honored?
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