Pearls and Irritations

This is a topic difficult to raise without it sounding like a sermon. And although I happen to be writing on a Sunday (and was ordained as an Interfaith, post-denominational minister nearly 20 years ago) “sermonising” has never worked for me: not in the getting or the giving.

What we “ought” to do will never be done with the same heart as what we want to do. Or what we want to do passionately. No one can generate that kind of feeling for us. But a spark of enthusiasm can be ignited. If you watched more than the tiny snippets on the Australian news of the Democratic National Convention you would have seen lots of genuine inspiration for better times to come, as opposed to the Trumpian hysteria that howls and divides and is in no way confined to just Trump.

It wasn’t perfect. “The people” as her only “client” is a noble assertion from presidential candidate Kamala Harris. But we know it’s not all the people equally: that Palestinians remain people to be defended against and not protected, even as their suffering is accelerated by the military-industrial “complex” that has disproportionate power in the US and dominates the political psyche.

Regular readers of P&I understand that at least in part because the continuing destruction of life and infrastructure in Gaza, and dispossession of Palestinians on the West Bank, are topics that have been aired consistently here. Too frequently, you may be saying. Possibly. But it can also be argued that Australia — through its “defence”-driven relationship to the United States — is complicit in the ethnic cleansing taking place in what should be Israel and Palestine, but is not.

There are urgent, serious topics left out, though, in P&I – despite a daily output second to none. They would include, at the very least, far more about the entrenched, ugly discriminatory race politics in Australia; more about our region – especially Indonesia. And what about “the Pacific” – and why Australia seems so oblivious to what a genuine Pacific commitment might mean?

There are appalling problems with personal, workplace and family violence in Australia. Are those problems inevitable? There are also policy initiatives that could, and should, be more fully aired here across health (including mental health, my profession and passion), housing (older women and young people outrageously homeless in rich Australia).

There are myriad questions to be explored about the insane power of mining giants and global fossil fuel companies not only to determine real-time politics so catastrophic for the environment and for the real-time health of our children and their future. This is particularly relevant in the Northern Territory where children are most vulnerable, and the CLP mining-enthusiasts have just returned to power.

Then there’s the RBA behemoth to be questioned with their seemingly limited view of economics disputed most recently by the Nobel Prize-winning Professor Joseph Stiglitz. Which might also take us to whether any banks — plus all human services — could or should be again brought under a public umbrella for the “common good”. Such considerations could, in turn, take us to myriad discussions about what the “common good” might look like and how it could be persuasively “marketed” in an age when legacy media priorities are fixed by what are far too politely called “vested” interests. Which is, after all, why P&I exists. And why P&I needs to thrive.

John and Susy Menadue (the “irritation” and the ‘pearl”, according to John) surely could not have accurately predicted the media landscape we find ourselves in when their initially modest online journal was launched. I intend to interview them, if they will allow it, about that time. Meanwhile, you have Phillip Adam’s discussion with John to enjoy.

To return, though, to the moment we are in now, the thriving of P&I cannot rely solely on the Menadues, their family, editor Dr Aran Martin, acting editor, Sam Varghese, nor on their excellent technical and production support people who make a seven-day high-quality online journal possible.

John has been calling for donations that are, for a period, tax-deductible. I applaud that. And ask you to give enthusiastically. None of this happens by magic. It arises from practical idealism; it is also very hard work. So is writing for a journal with the standards that P&I has. (And we, the writers, are unpaid, to allow the journal to exist without advertising or any commercial influences. John, too, is totally unpaid.) “Unpaid” is something of a tradition when it comes to “good works” and good work. It is also quite unsustainable for the key people putting out a journal with the scope and reach of P&I.

This is a journal of positive influence. We need that influence to extend further. This will happen only when the modest fundraising target John has set is reached. Or exceeded. None of this will go to the Menadues, nor to the writers. It is, however, essential for the people giving their work lives to the principles of ethical policy discussion, such as we find here.

So, I want to go further than asking you to donate essential funds. I want to ask you also to donate some essential imagination about how you can spread the P&I word(s).

How often, for example, could you forward to others an article that has provoked or pleased you? Are you willing to enter the jungle of Twitter/X and discover among the embittered trolls and RW extremists — easily blocked — a civilised, welcoming community of readers, thinkers, activists? Without social media, valuable “alternative” media like P&I would reach far, far fewer readers. The dreaded silos of opinion would become thimble sized.

Facebook is also a place where articles can be shared. And let us never forget the power of face-to-face conversation. We are all subject to influences; we are all “influencers”. In small circles, we may have the most influence of all.

Engaging with P&I, arguing with it, writing for it, reading it with an active mind, favouring this and disputing that… sharing it freely and widely, P&I grows as a community publication that is as ethical and vibrantly provocative and useful as it needs to be.

It’s not up to John, Susy, Aran, Sam, or “just” the writers. Success of any publishing endeavour grows from the depth of readers’ engagement: from their care, enthusiasm, trust and activism. Is that you? Is this “us”? I hope so.

Can you help Pearls and Irritations?

For the first time and for a short period of time we can offer tax deductibility on donations through the Australian Cultural Fund which is a fundraising platform for Australian artists. It is operated by Creative Australia and was established by the Australian Government in 2003 to encourage donations to the arts.

You can make your one-off donation here.

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