Things I Believe

I know, I know ... Friday's meant to be Things I Know, not Things I Believe. But I feel like I don't know much except how foggily exhausted and stressed out I am (bor-ing), and so instead I thought I might put a few beliefs / positions out there. Just because I want to.

BEFORE YOU READ THIS:

These are my beliefs. You do not have to agree with them, and you can argue with them all you want in comments, if you feel like it. You can tell me, point blank, that I'm wrong. I'm OK with that.

You cannot, however, call me or other commenters names. You cannot flame me or other people. You cannot impute value (or lack thereof) to me as a person because of anything on this list, or at least you can't do it in my comments.

'K?

Alright then. Here are 5 things I believe. I believe other stuff, too, but these'll do for now.

I believe human-made global warming is real, and a profound threat to the future of this planet. I accept the need to act urgently to mitigate it, and that this will cause short to medium term financial discomfort and dislocation. I think it's necessary anyway.

I believe that the only person who has the right to determine whether or not to continue a pregnancy is the woman experiencing it. I am utterly, unabashedly, and permanently pro-choice. Which, as I hope most people know, does not mean I am in love with abortion or that I would (necessarily) have ever had one myself. But I will never, never, never support any moves to take that choice away from the woman or constrain it.

I believe that Australia's refugee policies are inhumane, wrong-headed and ineffective. I think offshore detention of asylum seekers is cruel and cowardly, and, moreover, shows a mean-spiritedness that Australians shouldn't need to exhibit, living here so wealthy and safe as we do.

I believe that there is a life after this one. My views on what it might comprise are hazy at best, and I am actually comfortable knowing that in this particular, my belief might be just plain misguided (like us all, I will discover for myself one day!); but believe it I do, quite profoundly.

I believe that the philosophy of "the right to bear arms" is a scourge on America, a real and present threat to the safety and stability of that society. I am an implacable disliker of John Howard in every area but this: gun control was the best and most profound legacy of his time in office, and one I supported wholeheartedly.

So there you go.