A lesson from Gallipoli
“When British and ANZAC troops landed during the Gallipoli Campaign in 1915 they expected weak resistance. Instead they met determined Turkish soldiers who wanted to defend their homeland with ferocity. The planners in London, politically backed by Winston Churchill, had badly underestimated both the logistical complexity and the terrain, but more importantly underestimated the resolve of those defending their own soil. The result was slaughter and failure. Gallipoli’s enduring lesson is simple: people fight fiercely when their country is threatened. When Donald Trump escalated tensions with Iran, his hegemonic rhetoric carried a tiresomely familiar illusion: that US distant wars will be popular, quick and easily controlled. War is not a hedge-fund trade. Gallipoli shows who pays.”
Bill Leigh, West Pennant Hills NSW

Australia's blind spot
“With regard to your article around social cohesion, I believe that the current piecemeal reactive approach is catastrophically flawed. What we desperately need in my opinion is a coherent and comprehensive Bill of Rights that provides for everyone in Australia of all cultural backgrounds, races, religious or political beliefs, sexuality or gender identity etc. We are the only Western democracy without one? Why has it not been part of any major political party’s agenda? Despite it being raised in the past by a number of prominent academics, why has it never really been part of the conversation in Australia?”
Mark Dibblin

Culture comes at a cost
“I'm surprised your article on opera and ballet attendance didn't touch on the cost of living. I can't speak for past trends as I'm only 28, but a major barrier many people face are ticket prices. Many people just don't have the wiggle room to drop $100+ for nosebleed seats on a show they might not know anything about!”
Zahro Muladawilah

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