Wednesday 13 December, 2006

Citizen - not

If the meaning of Gallipolli is a key question in a citizenship test I am led to ask: Are women Australian citizens? Are indigenous Australians? I've studied Australian history and I do know about Gallipoli. But Australian mateship's creation myth is one that posits war as the fire this nation was forged in, and excludes women. This is just one of the myriad ways in which all this talk of citizen ship makes me feel unAustralian. As for being a lesbian who would like the right to marry and have children, well . . . can't think of a citizenship test that would have me coming up trumps. Howard? The 2 new DLP guys holding the balance of power in the Victorian State? Not that interested in gay rights? Well Rudd, how about you? The Age seems to argue you might be. 'Rudd believes that churches have a role in social, economic and security policy, "to give power to the powerless, a voice to those who have none". But he is not necessarily orthodox on hot-button morality issues such as gay marriage or the abortion drug RU486.' Here's hoping.

Update: Actually, make that one DLP guy. And three Greens. smiles