BE THE CHANGE
Dear editor,
The news brings us so many changes in the world that are beyond our control.
But there is hope on the personal front through changing our mindset, which Margaret Wilkie wrote about in a letter to the editor in a recent edition of the Advertiser.
It is said that our life does not get better by chance; it gets better by change. Ironically, what we do not change, we are choosing.
Do we want to be a bird born to fly, confining ourselves to a self-imposed cage? Change is difficult, but being frank with ourselves can galvanise us into self-improvement, liberating us to grow and make better choices.
Great minds in history tell us we are not alone in facing this challenge. Abraham Lincoln put it this way, “You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by escaping it today.”
Marianne Williamson emphasises, “You must learn a new way to think before you can master a new way to be.”
Thomas Jefferson observes, “If you want something you never had, you must be willing to do something you have never done.”
Essentially, if we want success and growth, we need to step out of our comfort zone, or what we allow is what will continue. By being honest with ourselves, we can avoid the mistake of listening to people who have given up on their dreams, telling us to give up on ours.
It makes sense to surround ourselves with uplifting people rather than those who project their fears onto us.
Poet John Whittier wrote, “Of all the sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest words are these ‘It might have been.’ C.S. Lewis summed it up saying, “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”
Garry Reynolds,
Peregian Springs.
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SPEED BUMPS
Dear editor,
Who thought it was a good idea to put speed bumps at the Woolworths car park? For 20 years, there has been no need for speed bumps, so why now? Has the place been sold recently, and an employee of the new owners need to justify their job? Maybe they thought they could put the speed bumps in, and it would look like they had done something.
I’ve been going there ever since it opened, and I’ve never seen anyone speed in there. I’ve never seen any agro drivers, no accidents, no incidents, and people stop at the pedestrian crossings. All of this without speed bumps! It must have been the only shopping centre in Australia without speed bumps, and for good reason; they’re not necessary. So good on someone for ruining our shopping experience.
Name supplied,
Coolum Beach.
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HAPPINESS AND ECONOMICS
Dear editor,
The RBA is keeping the cash rate on hold, and among its reasons is global economic uncertainty and that all rests on the shoulders of one capricious man, USA President Donald Trump. He is treating the world as a plaything, threatening tariffs and doing deals to suit himself and the oligarchs backing him, not in the best interests of the American people.
Many of his former supporters are hurting and there is more pain to come with the passing of his ‘Big Bill’.
This does not make for a peaceful country as the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP)’s recently released report shows. The USA is now ranked at 128. The peacefulness or otherwise of a country is based on three criteria, that is the level of Societal Safety and Security, the extent of Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict, and the degree of Militarisation.
Australians are fortunate to live in this peaceful country ranked at 18 by the IEP.
Whether the RBA’s reservations are overly cautious, resulting in a lack of mortgage relief, is something many will have to endure for a little longer, time will tell if this is justified.
Robyn Deane,
Nambour.
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JEWISH HISTORY
Dear editor,
“Antisemitism” is deliberate and concerted bullying of a respected, intelligent, hardworking historical race and culture, target of persecution for centuries globally. It is difficult to comprehend what benefit it is, to pick on these religious people, who have contributed to not only our Judeo-Christian values, Laws, Justice System and Constitution, but successful and creative business acumen in Australia.
During the rise of Nazi Germany, Hitler and his entourage constructed their antisemitic policies to eliminate the whole Jewish race in Europe, but were unsuccessful in completion. Post World-War Two, European immigration was at its peak; war-weary people keen to escape war-torn Europe to Australia, was in full force, welcomed to help build our nation with skilled workers and their families.
In 1948, survivors of the Holocaust were finally granted their own piece of paradise called “Israel”, in the Middle-East, amongst the Arabian people. Later, from Europe. Asia and Israel, they proceeded to more democratic nations like Canada, the U.S. and Australia, to make new lives and livelihoods, with the hope of harmonious co-existence with the endemic population. So they contributed to our economy, our values and assimilated.
E. Rowe,
Marcoola.
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HOUSING
Dear editor,
What type of place is Australia? Well, it’s a place where, presently in all major urban areas, if you have a good job and education and work hard, you cannot afford to buy a home for your family. Some might ask how can a country be so rich in minerals, yet its people cannot buy a home.
An entire generation is now locked out of the housing market. This is a social catastrophe in the making. What is the incentive for young people to work hard, behave sociably and raise a family if the result is permanent housing insecurity?
You could balance this out by strengthening rental rights (as Europe does) against profiteering landlords. This is not happening.
Dylan White,
Coolum Beach.
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THE CIRCUS
Dear editor,
Amid all the uproar in the Mad King’s court, Circus USA is full of bizarre animal performances and other amazing acts. Encore after encore for the adoration of the World, as Clown-in-Chief the Mad King trumpets his juggling acts, contortions, backflips, knife throwing and triumphal human cannonball performances.
Fair dinkum!
Margaret Wilkie,
Peregian Beach.
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