What’s with all the swearing?

July 3, 2013
by Rodney Olsen
7 Comments

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There’s been quite a storm this week after a federal politician was sworn into office as part of the government’s new front bench.

Federal Labor MP Ed Husic has been attacked in social media for using a Koran when he was sworn in as parliamentary secretary by the Governor-General.

The Australian-born member for the western Sydney seat of Chifley, the son of Bosnian immigrants, in 2010 became the first Muslim elected to federal parliament and is the first to take on a ministry position.

He was sworn in as parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and parliamentary secretary for broadband in Canberra on Monday. – SBS News

Social media went into overdrive with people attacking Mr Husic’s Facebook page.

Overnight, his Facebook page attracted posts from people angry he had used a Koran instead of a Bible to take his oath.

“You have created history of the worst order, to swear in on a Koran!! This is Australia with Australian Laws,” said one poster calling themselves Dinki Di Sheila.

“Swore to serve Australia using the same book terrorists do to serve Al-Qaeda ….Disgusting,” said another. – SBS News

There are a number of questions that this story raises for me, questions that go beyond knee-jerk reactions from rednecks, but before I get to them I need to say that I’ve met many politicians from a range of political parties and on the whole I have found them to be men and women of integrity who want to make a positive difference. They differ in their ideologies, and some have ideologies with which I vehemently disagree, but most have good intent. (Yes, I know that good intent doesn’t make bad political decisions acceptable, but that’s a discussion for another day.)

So now to the questions this story raises for me. Mr Husic has told media that he is a ‘non-practicing Muslim’. So what value is there in swearing on a book that he does not claim to follow?

That then leads us to the majority of parliamentarians who swear their oath on the Bible. How many of them actually claim to follow the teachings of the Christian Scriptures? So what value is there in swearing on a book that they do not revere or follow?

Furthermore, when our former Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, took her oath, she also swore on a copy of the Bible, yet she claims that she is an atheist. So what value is there in swearing on a book that is based on a God that she doesn’t believe exists?

I’m not wanting to attack Mr Husic’s decision to acknowledge his heritage by swearing on the Koran or other parliamentarians for swearing on the Bible, I’m just interested in your opinions.

I should probably say that I also found it quite odd that when I was called up for jury duty some time ago, most of us swore our oath on the Bible, yet there were probably only a couple of us that would have considered ourselves Christian.

Is it appropriate to continue using the holy books of any faith to swear an oath? Please leave your thoughts in the comments section of this post.

By the way, I’m interested in a range of opinions but I will remove any comments that aren’t respectful. If you want a bit of an insight into what that means here, you can check out my Comments Policy.



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Real men swear

November 25, 2009
by Rodney Olsen
2 Comments

Today, in Australia, it is National Swear Day. I consider it my responsibility to swear today.

Men across Australia are being asked to swear an oath that commits them to never commit or excuse violence against women. The My Oath website has full details on why we should swear and lets men take part in the campaign.

National Swear Day has the support of high profile men such as Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Lt Gen Ken Gillespie, Hazem El Masri, Rove, Keith Urban, Wil Anderson, David Koch, Adam Goodes, Shannon Noll, Jason Culina, Dicko, and many others.

Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has labelled violence against women the most prevalent violation of human rights on the planet. And Australia is far from immune. Currently, one in three Australian women experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. Every single one of us knows a women who has suffered its effects, whether we know it or not. These women are our mothers, daughters, our wives, our girlfriends, colleagues and friends. By supporting this campaign you are helping to ensure that Australia becomes a safer place for all women, and their children.

The day is part of the White Ribbon Campaign. Today is also White Ribbon Day, and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Australian men are urged to visit the My Oath website and follow the links to swear the following:

I swear:
never to commit violence against women,
never to excuse violence against women, and
never to remain silent about violence against women.
This is my oath.

Violence against women is never acceptable. Please swear today.



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KEVIN37

March 11, 2009
by Rodney Olsen
5 Comments

KEVIN37.jpgToday’s the day that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s second economic stimulous package starts getting rolled out to the Australian public.

Kogan Technologies has taken advantage of the stimulous package and created some magnificent marketing. They’ve launched the Kogan Technologies KEVIN37 HD LCD TV. It’s been carefully designed to coincide with the government handout and the TVs will be ready to be shipped to customers next month. The cost of these televisions is only $900, the exact amount that many Australians will be given by the government.

Celebrate the Australian Government’s stimulus package with the Kogan KEVIN37.

The Kogan KEVIN37 in conjunction with the government bonus is a great combination for Australian’s looking for an affordable home entertainment solution.

Bring your living room into the digital age with the Kogan KEVIN37. Featuring a High Definition 37″ LCD Panel, Built in High Definition Tuner and HDMI input, it’s sure to suit every need.

The Kogan KEVIN37 LCD HDTV will also ship with a free promotional t-shirt.

I don’t think we’ll be taking advantage of the offer but I reckon it’s a case of very clever marketing.

Are you getting money from Mr Rudd? Have you decided what you’ll do with your slice of the pie?



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Sorry

February 13, 2008
by Rodney Olsen
2 Comments

Today is an incredibly important day in the history of Australia.

This is the apology that will be made to Australia’s Indigenous community in Federal Parliament, Canberra, today.

Today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.

We reflect on their past mistreatment.

We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were stolen generations – this blemished chapter in our nation’s history.

The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia’s history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.

We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.

We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.

For the pain, suffering and hurt of these stolen generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.

To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.

And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.

We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.

For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.

We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.

A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.

A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.

A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed. A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.

A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia.

You can find out more about the apology and the stolen generations by reading the Wikipedia article, Stolen Generation.



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