THE old Whacker has been known to make the odd protest or two over the years (very odd, some have suggested).
Such as the times (and this is an ongoing almost-annual outrage) the local agent tells me my selling fees have to go up.
Again.
Then there was the occasion when my prized bull came second in the local show when I knew full well he was far and away the best animal out there and that the winning owner just happened to be going out with the daughter of the best friend of the brother-in-law of the judge’s cousin.
How rigged can it get?
So yes, when my rights are being trampled, I am not opposed to standing up and making my voice – and opinions – heard.
It’s not as if I am the local know-it-all – I doubt anyone would suggest I go around trying to shove my opinions down people’s throats (and if anyone has made such suggestions, I will protest in the strongest possible terms).
In other words, there are ways to make a point and ways to be a complete poltroon when making said point.
If the Whacker has something to say, he doesn’t don a mask to hide his identity; he has the courage of his convictions.
So, you can imagine my thoughts as I recently watched a bunch of city-based simpletons turn a ‘peace protest’ into a complete and utter farce – with physical violence thrown in for good measure.
What is the matter with these people?
Do I support war? Of course I bloody don’t.
Do we need an industrial military complex? Hardly.
But do we need rampant loonies going around belting police – and police horses – to prove their point?
Need I even ask?
What a bunch of morons.
And I knew, you knew, the police knew, everyone knew, this was always going to go pear-shaped.
It’s no different to all these leftwing loonies running around with masks and scarves covering their identity and sprouting more invective and death wishes.
This isn’t Hollywood, this is downtown Victoria.
These clowns would get short shrift if they came my way, I can assure you.
It’s not footy so they wouldn’t be getting an accidental elbow in the back of the noggin’, but I would be explaining some of the basic facts of life.
Such as the world has enough problems without these idiots adding to the mess.
Should whoever have invaded Israel? No.
Should they still be hanging onto – and killing – hostages? No.
Should the Israelis and all the others firing rockets and bombs at them get much more serious, much more quickly, about suspending military action? Absolutely.
You could go on and on, to just about every corner of the globe, and find someone wanting to invade someone else or justifying a grab for land and/or power.
But except for World War II (that’s how hopeless we humans are, we have to keep count of our world wars) I doubt there has ever been a war justified in history.
And it doesn’t matter how big and tough any dictator, or potentate, or president, or prime minister is, they don’t last very long, don’t even live all that long.
So why do we keep putting ourselves through it all?
That’s why we created sport: so you could win a few, lose a few, shake hands and go home and get on with real life.
Real life isn’t about all this horror in the headlines, real life is about family, friends, a future and just getting on with your job. And your life.
If these packs of protestors are looking for some way to be really useful, maybe they could try to add something positive to the community, such as cleaning up the mess they’ve left behind.
Or chipping in for the insane overtime bill for all the cops pulled off far more important work to protect Melbourne from the fallout we all knew was coming.
Or taking up sport.
That’s far more important and causes far less trouble – particularly this year, because Collingwood didn’t make the finals.
