![crystal ball](https://quadrant.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/crystal-ball-1.png)
She’ll Be Blight, Mate
In vintage Australia an attitude of mind prevails, encapsulated by the saying “She’ll be right, mate.” It’s a consoling, optimistic epithet. It gives rise to a species of presentism which collapses the future into today’s benign circumstances. For example, China might be building its military assets, swallowing territory in the South China Sea, extending its reach more broadly, banning various Australian exports and expressing considerable annoyance with us for not kow-towing to Beijing. Never mind, clunky submarines are on order. She’ll be right, mate.
Unfortunately, the history of mankind is replete with circumstances one day which turn out very badly the next. What to do? Preparation is prudent. And ‘off-the-shelf’ US nuclear subs might be a better way to go. At the same time, it would be wearing and counterproductive to allow an uncertain future to put an enveloping air of gloom and doom over the present. Perspective combats paranoia.
Perspective is front…
Madam: Archbishop Fisher (July-August 2024) does not resist the attacks on his church by the political, social or scientific atheists and those who insist on not being told what to do.
Aug 29 2024
6 mins
To claim Aborigines have the world's oldest continuous culture is to misunderstand the meaning of culture, which continuously changes over time and location. For a culture not to change over time would be a reproach and certainly not a cause for celebration, for it would indicate that there had been no capacity to adapt. Clearly this has not been the case
Aug 20 2024
23 mins
A friend and longtime supporter of Quadrant, Clive James sent us a poem in 2010, which we published in our December issue. Like the Taronga Park Aquarium he recalls in its 'mocked-up sandstone cave' it's not to be forgotten
Aug 16 2024
2 mins