Over two thousands hits on my "blog" today - up from 300 one week ago and an average of 60 per day prior to that. Australians are angry and are beginning to speak out.. see www.schapelle.com for a selection of messages sent by ordinary Australians.
In what appears to be an un-precedented "grass roots" movement of the people of Australia, there is an increasing and rapidly growing voice that is demanding to be heard. I am now convinced that our "leaders" in parliament are missing some very vital "cues" - important signs that the people of Australia will NOT sit back quietly and allow the "terrorist act" which is the incarveration and trial of Schapelle Corby to be played out much longer. John Howard, I respect and admire you immensely as a man and a leader. (And, I know that many of the supporters of Schapelle who come to this site and leave messages will probably hate me for saying that, but it is true - I do not agree with everything you say, do or think or your politics or policies but I do admire you as a human being and a leader). I also acknowledge that you would have far more information on how to get a good outcome for Schapelle and put an end to this tragic spectacle, than any of the ordinary citizens of Australia. I also would imagine that you have a "plan". The problem is that we, the ordinary folk of Australia are HOPING that you have a plan... we do not KNOW that for sure. Very soon, if not right now, the "pay-off" from the propriety that you and your Government are currently showing in respect of the sovereignty of the Indonesian courts wil be "washed away" by the "cost" of the deterioration in Schapelle's health, mental state and mental torture. John, there is growing outrage, frustration and violation that is now being felt by SO MANY ordinary Australians. The traffic on my weblog, this support site, and other support sites is growing at an exponential level every day.
People are getting angry John.
I have heard all the statements that you and your co-leaders have made and I have taken heart by trying to interpret what I want to hear from the "clues" that may be contained in the statements. I understand that you need to walk a very fine line... and if I know you at all, I am certain that you feel just as traumatised and distressed as each of us do. But "clues" and my "imaginings" are one thing - at some point, we must recognise that Schapelle is in an incredibly fragile state, and that the plan that you MAY have might need to change. The plan that you may or may not have might be right for foreign affairs protocol but as time wears on, it is not going to be "right" for Schapelle.
John, it is time for action, a new plan...
John, here is my question to you...
WHAT can AUSTRALIA DO to get Schapelle brought home TOMORROW?
John, the Australian culture has its roots in very strong mythological "soil". If you look at what moves Australians to emotion (and therefore action), it is things like winning the Americas Cup, (Sports) and the Spirit of Anzac "Gallantry" and "Mateship" - the Schapelle Corby drama is touching Australians at a deep mythological level The people of Australia are strongly feeling that their bedrock foundations of "mateship", "gallantry", "fair go" and the Spirit of Anzac are being obliterated.
This will result in a movement of our people the likes of which has probably not been seen .I can not think of anything in the history of Australia that parallels these events in the last 50 years, in terms of the ability of this situation to move the Australian people to unified action.
. Remember how we were moved at the rescue of Stuart Diver, don't your advisors understand that you are playing a game with two balls to balance - the sensibilities of the Indonesians being one but the other is the life of Schapelle Corby and the consequent uprising of the people of Australia who will be unified (regardless of politics, religion, demographic, social standing) the people of Australia ultimately identify as Australians who are driven by "mateship", "fair go", "gallantry" and the spirit of Anzac. Who has the greatest country in the world with the most generous and passionate people - "WE DO CHUCKY,... WE DO!!" (Apologies to Telstra) (Photo by Reuters)
POSTSCRIPT: My prediction of the unification of Australians and people of the world is materialising already - see the post on Muslims for Schapelle - YES!
