As I left the Central Market, I spotted a girl wearing a Dietrich Bonhoeffer t-shirt. Yes, a Dietrich Bonhoeffer t-shirt. It was bright red. It featured his name, underneath a stencil outline of his bust. It looked like the kind of poster art made for Mao or Che Guavara. Except, it was Dietrich Bonhoeffer. On a t-shirt.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Not on a t-shirt.In order to find this funny, you have to have seen the article Kevin Rudd wrote in the Monthly where he proclaimed himself a 'Christian Socialist'. Here he wrote at length about the Catholic theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Only, nobody reading had any idea who Dietrich Bonhoeffer was.
And so Kevin Rudd, in true Kevin Rudd form, had tried to inspire the masses with his personal hero: some freakish, obscure German academic. George W. Bush once had me in fits of hysterics by claiming that his favourite song of all time was Creedence Clearwater Revival's Fortunate Son. Rudd, in turn, would probably pick something from Slowdive's Souvlaki.*
Of course, even if you do understand the history, you also have to be the kind of person who chortles irrepressibly at the sight of an obscure German academic on somebody's t-shirt.
As I regained my composure, I began to think that I was haughty and precious, and was quite alone in my amusement. But then I realised that I was not at all alone. Some girl was actually wearing the t-shirt.
* Or any other hopelessly obscure, out-of-print, yet critically acclaimed album. If you want to read some non-critical acclaim, go here, and read red_atm's review. It's priceless.
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And here, quite late, is a photographic wrap-up of Wednesday's apology, replete with State Party Leaders in all their glory. There will be more written about this momentus occasion at the Auditorium.
Mike Rann, keeping close to a camera at all times.
A heartening celebration.
I sat next to them the whole time. As the crowd cheered at each mention of the word 'sorry', Martin Hamilton-Smith and Duncan McFetridge offered polite golf-claps.
The crowd.
Compensation has already begun. In plastic.
3 people have said things. Say things?:
Ben, If you want to criticize me on aboriginal affairs then phone me. Ask any Labor member of Parliament about my passion and sincerity for aboriginal affairs and they will tell the truth. Kevin Rudd may speak mandarin but I speak pitjantjatjara.
Bennga nuntu ngurpa, nyuntu wankanyi puluka kuna.
Dr Duncan Mcfetridge MP
I will also send this comment by e-mail to Duncan McFetridge, so that he is aware of my opinion.
Dr McFetridge,
This was meant to be a photoblog with amusing comments, not an incisive political piece. You will notice my equally vulgar jokes at the expense of Mike Rann and Kevin Rudd in the same blog. The comment on your polite golf-claps - which I did find amusing - were not in any way representative of your record on Aboriginal affairs, nor were they a personal slight. If anything, I saw it as an odd way that politicians may behave in public, aware of the awe of the moment but without the gleeful enthusiasm of the masses.
Until two months ago, I lived in your electorate. I have also had experience working for a Member of State Parliament. I am acutely aware of your record on Aboriginal affairs, which I applaud. Loudly and with vigour. And, in fact, it was an opponent of yours who was praising you.
I was there when two Aboriginal people mentioned their shame about Brendan Nelson, and I saw you inform them that it was, in fact, the Liberal Government who apologised in South Australia in 1997. While I thought your argument could not have been won, considering that these people could not have been consoled, I understood and agreed with you. When I get around to writing my incisive piece, I will mention this.
I only now realise that State MPs may Google themselves and find their names and photos in blogs. According to our records, this blog has had a grand total of about 15 views, of which yours is one. This is something a friend of mine and I do to pass the time, and is not intended for (nor does it receive) a mass audience. I will undertake to be more careful in the future about where my throwaway lines are directed.
If you wish to discuss any of these matters with me, I will be happy to make the call.
Ben.
Hi Ben,
Good to see another Adelaide blogger here.
Bonhoeffer may be a bit obscure but he wasn't a dusty old academic. He was involved in a plot to kill Hitler, and was executed after the Allies had won WWII but before his prison camp was liberated.
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