I-orr-r Tu-rn
well-meaningbut misguided somewhatuncertainabout
Vote one freedom
"The Porn Industry's Quest for
the Really Swinging Voter"
(October 28) was great. When
considering the policies at the
past Federal election, I looked
at the GST as a more honest,
upfront tax replacing a
massive,confusing and incon-
sistent pile of different sales
taxes.The most irisidious
aspectof John Hewson's pack-
age was the policy regarding
"explicit" materials.
The habit the Liberals have
of suckingup to the ultra-
repressive loony religious
fringe is quite disturbing.
Liberal philosophy appears to
favour personal freedom,
whether it be the freedom not
to join unions or the freedom
to gamble at casinos.
However, they appearquite
capableof ignoring that basic
tenet with regard to the rights
of individuals to have accessto
erotica,when they think it will
gain them a few votes from
extremist religiousfolk.
I am not on the Eros mailing
list and was not aware of their
campaign until I read your arti-
cle. In light of this, it's worth
pointing out that the signifi-
canceof this matter to voting is
not just limited to those who
buy the materials and may
extend to greater numben than
indicated by the mailing list.
Craig MacBride
craig@rmit.eda.au
Growing pains
It was fitting that the article on
Australian gardens("Beyond
the Lone Hydrangea", October
28) followed the one on the sex
industry. Both relate to the
article took its own advice to
dills steppinginto areasin
whichthey haveno right to;
trying to imposetheir ideals
and controlpeople's
behaviourin their own garden
bed or, asthe casemay be,
doublebed.
Why shouldpeoplehavean
Australiangarden?
Gardening,if doneat all, is
donefor pleasureandlike all
pleasuresit is bestleft to the
choiceof the participant.If the
puristswho saywe musthave
an Australiangardencarrythe
day,what pleasureswill be
next?Must we listenonly to
Australianmusic?Readonly
AuStralianbooks?
The historyof horticultureis
basedaroundgardenerstrying
to bendplantsto their will. If
someonewantsto try to raise
an Englishgardenin Sydney
or raisebananasin
Melbourne,so what?Thisis
part of the fun. Pleasureis
supposedto be fun andthe
soonerthe gum-treegestaPo
learnthisthe better.
LeeKennedy
Burwood, Vic
War in the soul
Storiesof cultural dislocation
are steepedin ambivalent
emotions which are dormant
and repressed,but must
eventuallyescapefrom the
recessesof the heart.
ReadingJamesStephen's
"A
fine and poignant story
Vietnam Odyssey" (October
28), I felt the samesensations
of yearning for the country I
too left in 1975and only revis-
ited two years ago. As Anna's
story progressed I could tell
there would be no resolution. I
felt most despondent when she
could not emotionally prepare
to meet her mother whom she
'never
knew. Not being able to
communicate fluently in the
language that is Part of Your
soul, makes you feel empty. I
could empathise with her as I
am in a similar position.
When I returned to Vietnam
everyone expected me to
speak like a local but I could
not, much to my own and their
chaerin. Anna's story assures
"when in doubt, leave it out"
their past,yet want to know
more aboutit. rather than to perpetuate an
The Vietnam War mytholo- incorrect belief that can make
gy,constructedby the domi- eating out difficult
nant newsand entertainment for vegetarians.
media,conflatesthe political lacqueline Boyle
milieu of that day through Killarney Heigbts, NSW
Westerneyes,usuallywith
that of the gung-hoAmerican
soldier.Anna's storyis one Clearing the air
that is not often publicly artic-
ulatedor evenmythologisedto As a licensed private pilot of
the extentof a whimsicaland 30 years' standing, it was geat
meaningless musicallike Mass to read "Sky Channel"
Saigon.But ultimatelyher (PoRrRnlr, October 21).
storyis an enrichingone for a In the "old" days these
peoplewho experiencedthe wonderful chaps welcomed
consequences of war, showing our female voices over aircraft
the resilienceand ardourof radios, as we trundled out for
the Vietnamesespirit. formation flying practice, just
I hopeshefindsher family bypassing their airspace
andbecomesmore familiar en route from Moorabbin
with what I understandto be a Airport to Bacchus Marsh.
poeticlanguagewhichmight Air traffic controllers are
helpher learnmore about the unsung heroes of aviation.
thoselost beginnings. Their responsibility is enor-
ThangLuong mous and every one I have
Petersham, NSW had ihe pleasure of meeting,
traffic permitting, answers
questions readily.
StocHaking In 1966,as I flew into
Sydney and requestedinfor-
As a vegetarian, I was interest- mation on weather, the con-
ed to read Jenny Sheard's troller advised the wind
"Veging Out" (October 28). direction for landing. I was fly-
ing over Marrickville tip and I
I was also looking forward
to trying the recipe which was observed that smoke from the
so deliciouslypictured with the tip indicated that the wind was
article. My delight turned to from the opposite direction. I
surprise, however, when I read advised the controller of this.
that one of the ingredients (for he hesitated for but a second
a supposedlyvegetariandish) to reply, "Delta Quebec
was chicken stock. Romeo, Madam, you are
As a non-meat, poultry or clearedto land, if you wish, on
fish eater, I consistently come Marrickville tip." What a dry
up against cooks who think senseof humour!
that flesh-basedstocks can be Elua Rush
used in vegetarian cooking. Mansfield, Vic
Unfortunately, Ms Sheard's
article made no mention of the Photographer J ustin Morley's i*.
wide variety of vegetable c redit was inadv ertently {x.l
stocks that are available. I omitted from "Self-portrait of
a Survivor", November 4.
$
.i ir*l n
would have hoped that this
reS.
Write to: YouRTUFN,
CaoWeexaa, Gfu Box 506, NCIKIA
,,r,,
7ffi;,\Y#1 l$
youftJm@gadw@k$d.com.au
IOfl rW-
iil ,
Lettssmustcontainwriter'sfull M o B r F a
name, address and davtime TAL T< :i
..
telqhorgrumb{, and maY be
dited for purposes of claritYor N'IAN
space. Eachmonth the reader whose letter is
sdected by tt,F-Editor as the rnost rnlerestri')g
wiil t&eive a Nokia 10Omobile phone.