There were lots of ‘big’ stories this week, in the wider world and in P&I. The assassination attempt at the White House dinner, the anniversary of the Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, rising debate over our place in the world in our Foreign Policy Rethink series, and constant violations of the Israel/Lebanon ceasefire. The list goes on.
And they are important – lives and livelihoods depend on them.
But it is often the ‘little’ stories that stay with me. The stories of fortitude under pressure, of individuals making a principled stand, often bucking the trend and speaking up.
This week the story that grabbed me was 73-year-old Stephen Heydt, who was arrested in Brisbane last weekend for wearing a t-shirt that read ‘Jews for a free Palestine from the river to the sea’. He came to Australia from apartheid South Africa in 1981 partly because the right to “disagree, loudly, was fundamental to the Australian national character”.
And it is – we stand by our mates and we call out bullshit.
But why does this matter? Why does a single action, in Australia, matter in the bigger picture?
Because, as we look at the wider world, and all that is going wrong, it is tempting to put up the shutters and turn inward. But even if we wanted to do that we can’t. Even if you don’t care about the state of the world, we are citizens of it and not immune to great sweeps of history. Even in Australia, there are creeping signs of authoritarianism, and hate-fuelled policy, and craven politics, and they need to be called out. That is what Mr Heydt was doing.
From a steadfast local to a politically savvy monarch. You know you are in trouble when a calm re-statement of the rules of decent behaviour feels visionary and courageous. In an assured 30-minute address on the floor on the US Congress, that’s what the 77-year-old King did this week. Charles III talked up the importance of NATO, support for Ukraine, warned of isolationism and ignoring checks and balances. He talked about upholding democracy and combating climate change. None of this would be remarkable if it weren’t a virtual shopping list of things the Trump regime has been ignoring or blowing up.
Perhaps it was also the tiny breather his speech made in the ugly incivility. Trump is struck dumb, even simpering, by the UK monarchy. He did not seek to mock or belittle it, even in the face of a comprehensive touch-up. The momentary quiet was delightful.
I am no monarchist but Charles III wins my best bit for the week.
If you missed it you can watch it in full below,
or, read it here.
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Catriona Jackson is the Chief Executive and Editor of Pearls and Irritations.