Protect Us, Protect Us

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The Tiger

I am the delightful Paradox.
All the world is my stage.
I set new trails ablaze;
I seek the unattainable,
And try the untried.
I dance to lifes music
In gay abandon.
Come ride with me on my carousel rides.
See the myriad of colors,
The flickering lights.
All hail me the unparalleled performer.

I AM THE TIGER.


The Ox

Mine is the stabilising force
That perpetuates the cycle of life.
I stand immobile against the
Test of adversity,
Resolute and unimpeachable.
I seek to serve integrity,
To bear the burdens of righteousness.
I abide by the laws of nature
Patiently pushing the wheel of Fate.
Thus I shall weave my destiny.

I AM THE OX.

No man's life, liberty or property are safe while the legislature is in session.
Judge Gideon J. Tucker




In all the lands of chaos, in the darkness and the light, on narrow paths and beneath the bowers of the forest, that was where we were, automatically writing. Born to a diseased existence, curdled and cuddled in a single lifetime, these mistakes, these terrible mistakes, haunted him beyond all measure. He didn't tip the aiya enough, he knew she was hoping, could sense it, as he handed over the cloth from the market, that money would have been more useful. Here on the edge of existence. Here in the crowded streets of Calcutta. Here, where we sought redemption and found oblivion. This was the answer. You will always be hopeless.

How smartwas that? He needed to be restructured. He was so terribly, terribly sorry. Money would have allowed the aiya to buy things for her six children, to cope a little better in the one room they all shared. You are the most privileged generation in history, someone said, a disembodied computer voice, something straight out of the ether. And it was true. All was before them. Hints were cast out. He was, as always, searching for a solution. A handsome face hid a different world, of soaring depths and chasms opening sickeningly beneath his feet, of crying eagles soaring above the marshes, of their cousins the falcons darting above the plain, of months turning into years, too bad they were too old for children, they would have been perfect.

Then one day she told him it was true; and he stared at her, startled. Surely she was too old. It's true, she laughed, taking in the astonishment in his face, and then burst into tears. I hope it's alright, he said. Deformities had been high, particularly amongst the older parents. It was the first for both of them. One way and another, children had escaped them. Oh so do I, she said, laughing and crying at the same time. He went to hug her. The Hooray Henrys had been quiet for weeks, not one of them on the road. So quiet, so ghostly quiet had the dump become that they thought the far off city must have died. Well it was not that far off, but far enough if you were on foot, 20 kilometres or so. It was a long way for an old man and an old woman, and they decided, beyond words, without any conversation on the subject, that they would not take the risk.

Instead they had been happy to grow old in their slanted little hut against the old church wall, to make themselves comfortable around the makeshift tables. But the baby changed everything. They would need to think things through more clearly, perhaps move to somewhere safer, not as close to the road. But they were caught between the scavengers in the dump and the Hooray Henrys on the highway, and nowhere was safe. In the absence of any traffic, their fire smouldered 24/7. It was one of his primary tasks, keeping the wood up. He felt protective, enormously proud. And then he asked her what he had never dared to ask: how old are you? She looked 60, always had. Forty seven, she said, briefly vain, staring into his face for a reaction. I know, she said ruthfully, I look older.

No, no, you don't, he protested, and it was obvious to them both he was lying. It doesn't matter, she said, I know you will never leave me, not now. He didn't like being told where he was gong to spend the rest of his life, but it was true enough, he would never desert her. It had been true before, it was even truer now. They were channelled into the sub stream, all these thoughts, all these hopes. His heart was swelling with pride. Even so, 47 is pretty old to be having a baby, he said. Yes I know, she said. I have complete faith. But we might have to move from here, she said, echoing his own thoughts. Imagine if one of the Hoorays came here, and took him. They were half formed beasts hiding in the shadows, ready to take their children at any opportunity.

Who were these people talking to them. Why did the ancestors spill down the generations, coming to rest in this humble place? What was the purpose? Why were you masked? All the regret he had felt for oh so long, he knew there was no room for prevarication. All his regrets belonged to another life. It wouldn't have helped him to pour them out. Tiny things, embarrassing things. Excruciating moments blown out of all proportion. Tides of voices reaching to them here. Humanity was not lost. Humanity was far from over; here there would be new life, the sound of children playing, toys. There's a high risk of miscarriage, Molly said. It's not going to happen, he said, it's not going to happen, and stroked her hair. We will descend on you, we will protect you, the wastrels in the air cried out. He had to protect their unborn child. There was danger one every side. He went to sleep with his head full of images, unseen threats, unnamed fears, disembodied voices. Protect us, protect us, he cried out, leaning down at the alter to pray.




THE BIGGER STORY:

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24398634-662,00.html

MORE than 1100 immigrants and visitors on long-term visas are arriving each day, figures show.

The net migrant intake in the year to April was a record 200,000 people, an ABS report released yesterday says.

Permanent migrants and those who said they would be staying for more than a year amounted to 430,000 people.

This was balanced by 230,000 permanent and long-term overseas departures, the report, Australian Demographic Statistics March Quarter 2008, said.

The nation's population reached 21.28 million in March, a 1.6 per cent jump on the previous year's. Victoria added 87,600 people to reach a population of 5.27 million.

While Victoria had a big increase in overseas immigration, it experienced a net loss of 2400 people because of interstate movement.

Queensland and Western Australia reaped the most from net interstate migration, gaining 24,300 and 4000 people respectively.

Immigration accounted for 59 per cent of the nation's population increase, while the excess of births over deaths comprised 41 per cent.

http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSN2445958320080924

WASHINGTON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush will seek to convince the American public in an address to the country at 9 p.m. EDT on Wednesday (0100 GMT on Thursday) that a $700 billion financial rescue plan is needed to shore up the U.S. economy.

The Bush administration and the U.S. Congress have been trying to hammer out an agreement on the proposal and some lawmakers had pressed for Bush to make a televised address to the American public to explain what was at stake.

"There is no doubt that because this is such a massive legislative package, and it would have such critical impact on our economy that the president wants to talk directly to the American people," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

Bush will speak for about 12 to 14 minutes from the White House.

"The president believes it is important for the American people to fully understand the depths of the crisis in our financial markets, how that crisis affects them, and the urgent need to agree on the solution," she said.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE48N6XT20080924

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke implored Congress to move quickly as the U.S. Congress launched another marathon day of hearings into the Bush Administration's $700 billion financial bailout plan and the state of the U.S. economy.

Bernanke warned on Wednesday that downside risks to the U.S. economy remain "a significant concern" and the Fed was monitoring developments carefully and would act as needed to promote growth.

"Action by Congress is urgently required to stabilize the situation and avert what otherwise could be very serious consequences for our financial markets and for our economy," Bernanke said in comments to the Joint Economic Committee.

Bernanke and U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson will both be on Capitol Hill for most of the day Wednesday after more than five hours of testimony on Tuesday.

"Despite the efforts of the Federal Reserve, the Treasury and other agencies, global financial markets remain under extraordinary stress," Bernanke said.

The most severe U.S. housing slump since the Great Depression has sent foreclosures soaring, saddling the global financial system with a mountain of bad debt that has threatened to choke off the supply of credit.

The Bush administration, supported by the Fed, want to use $700 billion of taxpayer money to purchase bad mortgage debt and other securities from financial institutions.


From a poster.