I can’t believe some of the criticism directed at High court judge Michael Kirby. Kirby accused America as being obsessed with September 11, stating that more people die of AIDS each day than died in the September 11 attack.

There was a scathing editorial in the Australian responding to Kirby’s comments. The editor claims Kirby is out of touch, “Justice Kirby’s view is that of the pampered elite, shielded from global reality by the freedoms bestowed on them.” So, is freedom a good thing or a bad thing? Anyway the editor continues, “The irony is it is Justice Kirby and his ilk who would no doubt fare worst should the enemies of democracy whom they defend ever get their way.” Goodness me “his ilk” the poofters I would assume, what a bigot. Yeah, it is people like Justice Kirby that would go first – those willing to stand up for their beliefs. People like the editor who obviously love sucking the arse of John Howard and his ilk would live just fine under an Islamic dictatorship. After all one arse is much the same as another.

I personally think it is about time someone brought up America’s September 11 obsession. The real question is how many innocent Americans have died from terrorist attacks? Ok, it is time for some arithmetic. 2,973 in September 11, plus the other world trade center bombing 6, plus 1983 Beirut embassy bombing 63, plus 1998 east African embassy bombings 257, plus Khobar towers bombing Saudi Arabia 19 and to make those on the right wing happy USS Cole 17 and Americans killed in Iraq 3156 equals 6491. Oops those September 11 statistics included the 19 highjackers. 6491 minus 19 equals 6472.

Now compare this to the number of people in America who died of AIDS in the single year of 2005 – 17,011 or the American road toll in 2003 – 42,643 or the number of people murdered in the USA in 2004 – 16,137.

Judging by the way George Bush talks about terrorism you would think a hell of a lot more people die at the hands of terrorists. If you live in the USA you have got an incredibly small chance of being killed by terrorists.

Calling this terrorist problem a war is frankly giving the terrorists to much credit. They are nothing more than criminals and we should treat them as such.

Two unshaven males in dresses going to bed together? What a delightful image. Well it’s the first image that came into my head when I heard a few churches in Sydney have put “Jesus loves Osama” on their message boards.

The cynical side of me says that this is simply another effort to get Jesus on the front of the paper again, and hopefully get some more people back into church. Although, maybe it’s an effort to get back to the teachings of Jesus. Love thy enemy. I’m not a Christian by any means, but what I think the religion means is love, tolerance and forgiveness. But I think that a lot of Christians have forgotten that. For example many Christians loath homosexuals, have they forgotten, “Judge not, lest ye be judged” and treat others the way that you wish to be treated? No, unfortunately many Christians believe that thinking Jesus Christ is the savior is enough and that many of Jesus’ other teachings can be safely ignored. This is one of the many reasons why I am not a Christian.

This sign is also a dig at those right wing Christians, such as George Bush – so how can it be a bad thing?