I think one of the reasons I’m so pleased the apology is that it’s so rare for politicians to admit that they (individually or collectively) were wrong. That alone makes it a historic day.

Furthermore, we’ve got a lot of reasons to be proud of our country, and it seems only right that we should also recognise its failings. Being able to do so is a reason to be proud.

Given I was on the move at Apology Hour (9am), I tried to listen in on the radio, using my mobile phone, which unfortunately only gets FM stations. I thought Triple J was going to be carrying it… instead I found a news bulletin, followed by music. (Their web page said “from 10am” — WTF?) So I flicked around and found I had just missed it on Nova, and their hosts were talking about how moving it had been. Dammit.

In the I settled for TripleM, who played From Little Things, Big Things Grow by Paul Kelly (played later in the day outside Parliament by …was it Kev Carmody with John Butler?), then Treaty by Yothu Yindi. And then Jump by Van Halen. Ummmm… okay. I switched off at that point, and listened and watched later.

But no matter, the important thing was it happened. And it’s great to see so many people getting behind it.

• Download the apology, and Kevin Rudd’s speech
• Paul Keating’s Redfern speech, 10th December, 1992, which helped us get down this road
• Paul Kelly: Special Treatment

PS. Brendan Nelson is a goose.

A few weeks ago an Age Saturday crossword question about Anwar Sadat brought back some memories. While I remember well news of the deaths of John Lennon and Princess Diana, Sadat’s assassination was sitting there in the back of my mind. I recalled footage of chaos at a grandstand, which I suppose I’d seen as an 11 year old when it happened.

This morning I woke to the news that Benazir Bhutto has been assassinated in Pakistan. I’m not sure what to make of it. Obviously they’ll be a big impact on democracy in Pakistan.

Meanwhile it was sad to hear of the death of a woman the other night in Flinders Street, hit by a car doing an illegal U-turn at speed. I don’t know how many times I’ve waited to cross the street at that spot. Reports say that the 26-year-old driver wasn’t affected by alcohol or drugs. One can only assume that it was the result of him being a completely reckless dickhead behind the wheel.

The news from the Bali conference reminded me a lot of the machinations during international negotiations on The West Wing. No doubt things would have progressed further if it was Jed Bartlett, not George W Bush, running the White House.

But you’ve got to hand it to the delegate from Papua New Guinea, Kevin Conrad.

Report in The Australian:

Then the head of the US delegation, Paula Dobriansky, spoke. “We are not prepared to accept this formulation,” she said, setting off loud, long boos in the hall.

This was the cue for delegate after delegate to take aim at the US.

Australia remained silent. But South Africa’s delegate called Ms Dobriansky’s intervention “most unwelcome and without any basis”.

“We would like to beg them” to relent, added the Ugandan delegate.

The delegate from Papua New Guinea leaned into his microphone. “We seek your leadership,” Kevin Conrad told the Americans. “But if for some reason you are not willing to lead, leave it to the rest of us. Please get out of the way.”

The UN climate conference exploded with applause. The US’s isolation was complete. No one spoke in support. And Ms Dobriansky capitulated, withdrawing the US objection.

Anybody know if this exchange is on video anywhere?

Update: Here it is. (Thanks Zzz)

It’s like writing the wrong year in January. I keep hearing the words “The Prime Minister” on the news and thinking they’re still talking about John Howard. Is it just me?

At first glance, I’m impressed with the code of conduct Rudd’s written up.

A few brief snippets:

Okay, so it’s December now. And I’ve sent precisely zero Christmas cards. Really should get into action, shouldn’t I — I’ve already got some from overseas.

Who Do You Think You Are with Stephen Fry on Sunday night was gripping, fascinating, poignant television. Looking forward to the rest of the episodes.

I didn’t know this before: A character in one of my favourite all-time TV series Edge of Darkness was based on Lyndon LaRouche, who is the leader of the Citizen’s Electoral Council.

I’ve written about this before, and the other day Danny Katz wrote a column on the wimpyness of air conditioning.

Booked tickets to Spamalot in a couple of weeks. Cost a small fortune, but hopefully very funny — it seems to be getting good reviews, and given the kids want to see it and I’m the sort of person who spent years quoting bits of the movie (and other Python scripts), I thought I should take a look.

Call me slow, but I didn’t know until I spotted the ribbon-sellers in Collins St this morning that it’s World AIDS Day today.

There are various causes out there with varying degrees of deservedness (is there a better word to use there?). Some of those that put highway collectors out on weekends in particular I’ve never heard of, and won’t give money to. They’re probably doing good work, but how do I know? My charity dollars go to proven “brands”.

And there are various adoptions of ribbons of various colours. There are so many now that I can’t remember what they’re all for. Yellow… white… blue… what are they again?

But the red ribbon of World AIDS Day is the memorable one, and definitely worthy. I’ve got a red ribbon. Have you?

Anybody else spot this long column advert on page 8 of The Age today? I wonder who wrote it, and if things went to plan and Madeleine read it this morning over breakfast?

Intriguing.

What did you do in the war, grandad?

Sunday is Remembrance Day, when we pause to remember the generations of young soldiers who went away to war to fight for the freedoms we enjoy today, many of them paying with their lives.

Those of us young(ish) adults no longer have the threat of world (or even local) war upon us. Soldiers going to war now choose to do so, rather than being compelled to do so.

No, we have another war to fight for the sake of future generations.
(more…)