Free Republic

Before Rudd rose to power, the representative aboriginals in my aboriginal-majority town were more interested in football games, hunting activities and big hair bands, to make a point about Canberra’s bubble classes. And, if you don’t think the reconciliation police were wasting your money, then you should have joined me on my walk to one clinic with a shoeless and malnourished aboriginal boy. We were turned away. Millions were wasted on media-approved “reconciliation” walks, however. Australia’s apology fever should frighten us for many reasons. As is so often the case, campaigning journalists have promoted a culture of false guilt. What’s...

Peter Norman, the Australian sprinter who shared the medals podium with Tommie Smith and John Carlos while they gave their black power salutes at the 1968 Olympics, died Tuesday of a heart attack. He was 64. Athletics Australia chief executive Danny Corcoran announced his death. Norman won the silver medal in the 200 meters at the Mexico City Games. Smith set a world record in winning the gold medal and Carlos took the bronze, and their civil rights protest became a flash point of the Olympics. Smith and Carlos stood shoeless, each wearing a black glove on his raised, clenched...

THE Bush administration has indicated it will support Australia developing a uranium enrichment industry, despite the White House's policy to restrict new entrants to the world nuclear club. In response to John Howard's campaign to ensure the existing nuclear powers do not lock Australia out of future nuclear development, a senior US official has said "special rules" apply to Australia and Canada. Dennis Spurgeon, assistant secretary for nuclear power at the US Department of Energy, said Australia and Canada were likely to be given special consideration because they would play a pivotal role in a new nuclear suppliers club the...