In the grand scheme of things, I’m a
nobody. Not famous, haven’t achieved any earth shattering or ground breaking
moments; one of billions, living on a small, blue grain of sand in an
unimaginably vast universe. As a member of the ALP a similar description
could apply but herein, I try to do my bit and have had minor achievements. A
recent conversation with a wonderful ALP friend; a gracious person, devoted
friend, unstinting Party member and loyal to the end, got me thinking about my
Party membership. Why I joined the Party.
I would offer a variety of reasons – a
long interest in politics, dismay at the third - time election of a Howard government,
an abhorrence of conservative politics, a belief in equality, equity, social
justice and the proverbial fair go and being tired of saying and asking, “Why
aren’t THEY doing this or that?” ‘THEY should be doing this”, “When will THEY
do such and such” when the recognition came that I was ‘THEY’ and I should be
putting my money where my mouth was. And so it came about that through a friend
I threw my hat into the Labor ring.
I joined the ALP. I didn’t join a
personality cult. I didn’t join because I liked a particular politician. I
didn’t join because of what I could get out of it. I joined because there was
no other party to join. I joined because of the ALP’s rich, rich history and
it’s proven record of fighting for and winning a multitude of battles, rights
and justice for we, the people. I joined to help in that fight and cause.
As proud as I am of my party
membership nothing could take the place of my pride in my membership in
Annerley Branch. Such an honour to be associated with some of the hardest
working, devoted, faithful, True Believers. The activity of this Branch is
infectious. How could you not want to work and help? How could you not want to
spread the message?
This questioning of my membership has
caused me to wonder why others join? What are their motivations? And in some
cases, I shake my head in disbelief, anger and frustration. Am I being
judgemental? You bet I am! I make no apology for the offense these ramblings
may give to some and I challenge each of us to question our membership.
We don’t like a certain politician? So what? We don’t like a certain policy? So what? We have the opportunity as members to change, through plebiscite or motions, that politician or policy. That politician or policy is not, I repeat, IS NOT, the ALP. None of us is always pleased with certain outcomes but from my experience, after discussion, rational argument and a general agreement reached, we can at least be content that our voice has been heard – if it is raised – and if we bother to get involved.
I’m finding it increasingly hard to comprehend why we can’t get more members out on visibility and information stalls. Why members don’t want to help maintain ALP governments. Why this task falls to the few. Why, when we have victories, all are only too pleased to take the credit and pat backs but when some have in fact done very little to ensure that victory.
We don’t like a certain politician? So what? We don’t like a certain policy? So what? We have the opportunity as members to change, through plebiscite or motions, that politician or policy. That politician or policy is not, I repeat, IS NOT, the ALP. None of us is always pleased with certain outcomes but from my experience, after discussion, rational argument and a general agreement reached, we can at least be content that our voice has been heard – if it is raised – and if we bother to get involved.
I’m finding it increasingly hard to comprehend why we can’t get more members out on visibility and information stalls. Why members don’t want to help maintain ALP governments. Why this task falls to the few. Why, when we have victories, all are only too pleased to take the credit and pat backs but when some have in fact done very little to ensure that victory.
All of us, no matter the level of our
involvement, know we have the fight of our lives on our hands in 2013 to keep this
federal ALP government. Knowing that, it behooves all of us to be out their
spreading the good news and fighting like we’ve never fought before. If an Abbott-led Coalition government takes
control of our country towards the end of this year, will we be able to hold
our heads higher than ever before and say we did our darndest to prevent it, or
will we be the ones, ringing our hands, wearing sackcloth and ashes and asking,
“Why didn’t they do this?” or “Why didn’t they do that?” – in the words of that
ancient teacher from Galilee – ‘Scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites!’
You don’t like Julia Gillard? You
don’t like Wayne Swan? You don’t like Graham Perrett? So what? Can I offer a
not too gentle reminder that Julia Gillard, Wayne Swan, Graham Perrett ARE NOT
the ALP but, they are the politicians who will advance policies reeking with
social justice: Politicians who will advance progressive agendas: Politicians
who will benefit the nation far more than a conservative government ever will.
I’m not going to beg and plead for
more help. God knows we can do with it, but I am asking for a searching of
conscience, a reason to maintain party membership, a recommitment to that
initial fervour that got us involved in the first place.
John Lincolne is Executive Co-ordinator (Events) of the Annerley Branch
John, congratulations on this piece. It is incumbent on each of us to revisit the reasons that we are in this organisation - revisit why we believe, think and act; revist what we can and should be doing to advance our cause(s). Your advocacy for active involvement is well take, I also would hate to reflect that I could have done THIS, or THAT to help stop the 'Forces of Darkness'!
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