I Hate You, My Countrymen

I have lived in this, my country, all of my life.

I have cheered its sporting accomplishments. I have had a heart swollen with pride at its scientific achievements. I have loved it for its artistic triumphs. I applauded its “fair-go” attitude.

Yet now I find myself not liking my fellows.

We have become greedy and intolerant and gullible.

We had the best economy in the world, yet we demand more and feel aggrieved that we do not have it. We have become envious of all with a little more worldly wealth and have forgotten the wealth which our our country gives us for free. Its skies and seas and vistas.

We help create impossible conditions in other countries by invading them and when terrified people flee we refuse to help. We choose, instead to treat them as worse than our own criminals.

We have stopped believing the evidence of our own lives and choose believe the lies of those who would deceive us. Those who would take advantage of our gullibility in their lust for power and wealth.

Australia has men and women both good and ill. Yet, once led by people of the highest ability we have chosen to give that leadership to base men who have proven their felonious and corrupt character.

In a country which could have been great, I am, sadly, left with the words of Kahlil Gibran.

You, My Countrymen…your souls
Are like ashes which the winds
Scatter upon the snow, and which
The tempests disperse forever in
The valleys.

Fear not the phantom of Death,
My Countrymen, for his greatness
And mercy will refuse to approach
Your smallness; and dread not the
Dagger, for it will decline to be
Lodged in your shallow hearts.

I hate you, My Countrymen, because
You hate glory and greatness. I
Despise you because you despise
Yourselves. I am your enemy, for
You refuse to realize that you are
The enemies of the goddesses.