The fantastic news in this part of the world, seen in multiple tweets, is that the Aussies have come out in support of marriage equality. Anyone who thought that the result would be otherwise was dreaming of course. It’s been obvious for years that the majority of Aussies want same-sex marriage to be legal.
This poll, though officially conducted, was a non-binding postal referendum. However, the high turnout and strong YES vote means the government cannot ignore it. The Australian Labour party is to introduce a Bill into parliament this afternoon to make same-sex marriage legal. Some MPs who oppose same-sex marriage plan to support the Bill. This is because the vote of their own electorate was an overwhelming YES.
More difficult is the choice of some Labour MPS. There are some whose electorates were amongst the few who voted NO. They will be torn between doing the right thing for society and representing the wishes of their constituents.
Voter Turnout:
UPDATED: #MarriageEquality voter turnout map. Lingiari/NT stands out – is this down to voters, or ABS process? https://t.co/6wkQpEWgGg pic.twitter.com/GeTcAiaUsk
— Nick Evershed???? (@Nick Evershed) November 15, 2017
YES Vote:
important data visualisation https://t.co/6wkQpEWgGg pic.twitter.com/vanBp1kwka
— Nick Evershed???? (@Nick Evershed) November 14, 2017
Awww, isn’t she wonderful!
I found Yvonne Gardner, 75, an lgbti campaigner, almost in tears. She clings my arm, and whispers in my ear; “I’ve been fighting for this for 50 years”. #LoveWins @heldavidson pic.twitter.com/gp3sXRFS1v
— Melissa Davey (@Melissa L Davey) November 15, 2017
It’s a day for rainbows in Australia ❤️???????????????? pic.twitter.com/QILhUJmLAy
— Parrot Of The Day (@Parrot Of The Day) November 15, 2017
Another bird celebrating the day.
#LoveisintheAir #Australia ???????? votes YES ????️???? to #MarriageEquality so does the #nature and #wildlife #Love#Congratulations #yes #rainbow @cityofsydney @SydOperaHouse @abcnews @7NewsSydney @9NewsSyd @newscomauHQ @australian @ParrotOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/5YMDcsLoCW
— Robbie Sydney Photos (@Robbie Sydney P) November 15, 2017
Political Tweets
Most of us know this of course, but it’s great to see someone on Fox News outlining the facts of the situation.
(Via Ann German.)
Shep Smith just took apart the Uranium One conspiracy theory in what amounts to a methodical annihilation of his own network’s coverage of the story. pic.twitter.com/D439QyIBWU
— Matthew Gertz (@Matt Gertz) November 14, 2017
It’s okay to tell lies if it gets an Evangelical Christian into the Senate apparently.
Kayla Moore, wife of Roy Moore, lyin’ for Jesus.
Several pastors dispute new letter claiming more than 50 faith leaders still support Roy Moore https://t.co/HZ1PQ1mtst via @thinkprogress
— Heather’s Homilies (@HeatherHastie) November 14, 2017
Ed Stetzer, who is a former Moore supporter, doesn’t think so. Here’s what he says about the lies Kayla Moore is spreading around.
1. Is this even a legit list? (It’s an undated near-reprint of an earlier list.)
2. There are 12K churches in AL, so (if legit) this is 0.41%.
3. BTW, 6% of ppl think the moon landing was faked.
3. Not one of the largest churches in AL is on the list.
4. Facts are our friends. https://t.co/YygjvJaxAP— Ed Stetzer (@edstetzer) November 14, 2017
WTF is going on the the USA? They reckon they’re the greatest democracy in the history of the world! What a joke!
The Republicans just broke a record – and not the good kind pic.twitter.com/yqo9LTJlHD
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) November 15, 2017
We got this news today too. What a waste of money this whole thing is!
The Trump administration is hiring 12 attorneys to seize land for his border wall https://t.co/chuiFLebJO
— Heather’s Homilies (@Heather Hastie) November 14, 2017
Human Rights Tweets
I don’t personally believe that Jeff Sessions is dishonest. He is a racist. I’m not sure if he realizes he’s a racist. He’s one of those people that think they treat everyone fairly but their racism is so ingrained they don’t understand how much it effects them. We get far left groups who talk about all white people having a sort of “toxic whiteness”. That it’s all but a crime just to be born white. It’s people like Jeff Sessions that they can point to and say, “I told you so.”
Jeff Sessions was asked why the FBI investigates ‘Black extremists’ but not the KKK. It did not go well for him. pic.twitter.com/4HW2cYSvyl
— NowThis (@now this news) November 15, 2017
Both the far left and the far right seem to have lost all touch with reality. In this case, it’s the far right.
I’m continually amused by conservatives’ idea of what would make liberals angry.
To clarify: no, smashing your $120 coffeemaker doesn’t hurt us at all. Go ahead. https://t.co/gnzIbbVs3l
— Matthew Chapman (@f awful fan) November 13, 2017
On the subject of Sean Hannity. He’s apparently okay when it comes to the “don’t touch your female co-workers” rule. However, he’s an enabler. He makes excuses for, and actively supports, men who are harassers, abusers, and worse. From the time sexual abuser Donald Trump announced his candidacy, his show became little more than a Trump infomercial. He had Bill O-Reilly on when no one else would, and wanted him back. Now he actively supports Roy Moore.
Gun Safety Tweets
Another mass shooting. California this time.
When will they ever learn, when will they ev-er learn?
Seriously Murreka…or gawd…or whoever is in charge…https://t.co/LlOwB7Mqq0 pic.twitter.com/yECw7iSoUw
— Archie Debunker (@Archee Debunker) November 14, 2017
Just Sayin’.
(Via Ann German.)
For those who want to be willfully ignorant about #GunControl, let me remind you about the reality of gun trafficking and how guns get around to places like Northern California and Chicago who have the strictest in-state gun laws. pic.twitter.com/nmMZpRvQ5u
— Josh ☤ (@ohwhateverjosh) November 14, 2017
News Tweets
Some information on the earthquake on the Iraq-Iran border.
The earthquake that hit Iran and Iraq has devastated thousands of lives. pic.twitter.com/jKWGbSSSeo
— AJ+ (@aj plus) November 15, 2017
History Tweets
Risqué!
A Suffragist showing off her pants in 1916. pic.twitter.com/cNrau6A1xv
— History Lovers Club (@history lvrs club) November 15, 2017
Funny Tweets
I found this on Pinterest.
Ways to amuse yourself … I’m gonna use #1 over the upcoming holidays! pic.twitter.com/bhfEQtPZXl
— Heather’s Homilies (@Heather Hastie) November 15, 2017
Ha ha!
(Via Ann German.)
Greeting cards for scientists | @tomgauld pic.twitter.com/UUodRh349C
— Shit Academics Say (@Academics Say) November 14, 2017
I like Ben Bochner’s response here.
(Via Ann German.)
I hear they’re painting a whole wing of San Quentin gold so the President can spend more time with his family.
— Ben Bochner (@ben bochner) November 13, 2017
I worked this one out too. 🙁
I have found that the secret to successful relationships is to stay out of them.
— Lord Rat Squirt (@lordratsquirt) November 14, 2017
Science Tweets
How cool is this?!
A Breathing Earth – the annual pulse of vegetation, land & ice pic.twitter.com/42jls6Q5pn
— Science (@sci enmag) November 15, 2017
Not long to go!
Stephen Hawking: The earth is f*cked. pic.twitter.com/yukWdDUoDQ
— NowThis (@now this news) November 15, 2017
Scenic Tweets
More beauty in Italy.
Sacra di San Michele, Piedmont, Italy pic.twitter.com/RzgUPhHtZ9
— Architecture (@archpics) November 15, 2017
Art Tweets
What a cool idea!
Artist Spray Paints Colorful Tiles on Floors of Abandoned Buildings https://t.co/aiWN8Zq8Hp
— Architecture (@arch pics) November 15, 2017
Flora Tweets
Big and beautiful. Not sure I’d want to stand next to it though. I’m not good at with bad smells. Still the plant would probably appreciate my vomit – it would attract a few extra flies!
(Via Ann German.)
The stinking corpse lily is the largest individual flower in the world. It’s critically endangered &smells of rotting flesh to attract flies pic.twitter.com/eJKJHw8H4Z
— Nature Is Weird (@Nature ls Weird) November 14, 2017
Insect Tweets
Wow! Gorgeous!
A beautiful dragonfly! (Photo Daniel Partogi Tambunan) pic.twitter.com/ZOKHyYaUo8
— Wild Nature (@mood wild life) November 15, 2017
Marine Tweets
Great news!
There might still be hope for the Great Barrier Reef pic.twitter.com/3mxwyBJFYk
— NowThis (@now this news) November 15, 2017
What a thrill that would be!
а little girl holds a penguin’s flipper as they walk together around the London Zoo, 1937. pic.twitter.com/iDMJ2hS4dg
— History Lovers Club (@history lvrs club) November 15, 2017
Bird Tweets
Beautiful!
To celebrate today’s #marriageequality result, here’s a playful Rainbow Lorikeet.#birds #WildOz @ParrotOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/nLwdvwski0
— David C. Simon (@the least) November 15, 2017
An iconic Aussie bird.
A pair of Galahs preening. It’s as much about bonding as hygiene.#birds #WildOz @ParrotOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/x3n7s1kncb
— David C. Simon (@the least) November 15, 2017
Dog Tweets
We all know a human who looks like this!
‘Please keep the noise down, I’m trying to read’ pic.twitter.com/7hIzsgdXZG
— HUMOROUS ANIMALS (@CUTE FUNNY ANIMAL) November 12, 2017
Cool kid!
Partners in crime pic.twitter.com/9sagsPu2ZB
— Life on Earth (@planet epics) November 15, 2017
Cute!
Cows line up to greet the puppy pic.twitter.com/l815vZkN1V
— Life on Earth (@planet epics) November 15, 2017
Cat Tweets
Says it all.
Too true… pic.twitter.com/xkyx6L4b83
— Cats and Kittens (@cats n kittys) November 15, 2017
Even Spidey knows cats are best!
???????????? pic.twitter.com/DIdolX3QzB
— ハマジ (@xxhama2) November 14, 2017
It was obviously put here for us!
— HUMOROUS ANIMALS (@CUTE FUNNY ANIMAL) November 12, 2017
Those eyebrows make for a genuine Judge Cat face!
Adopted Calico’s Thick Eyebrows Naturally Judge You All the Time https://t.co/Bbggm2D97D
— Life on Earth (@planet epics) November 15, 2017
The kits grow up so quickly …
Foster kitten: day 1 vs. day 43 pic.twitter.com/Xwxcekcq3P
— Awwwww (@Awwww Cats) November 14, 2017
A cat costume I approve of!
If I told you I wasn’t upset about not being cast in Disney’s live-action remake, I’d be lion. pic.twitter.com/ZFAyCw0pbA
— Awwwww (@Awwww Cats) November 15, 2017
The final tweet of the late Paddles, former first cat of New Zealand.
I am stardust. ❤️
— Paddles (@FirstCatofNZ) November 12, 2017
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What is sad about USian democracy is that I would imagine a large percentage of USians wouldn’t give a shit if we lived in a democracy or a theocracy or a plutocracy (which is really what we are now). I see us as very Weltdumm. It’s my made-up spin-off of Weltschmerz. We here in America are world-dumb. We refuse to learn from other successful countries. And then we elect someone like Trump. Ignorance-incarnate. Mic drop.
True socialist democracies across the world produce the happiest humans. That’s really the only metric I care about. Mic drop.
Spider-Man and the cat love-affair was Amazing. Amazing Spider-Man #194 (7/79) is the 1st appearance of Cat-Woman. Spidey likes cats. Incidentally, the book is quite valuable in high grade. Yes, I’m a nerd.
Nerds are the most interesting people, so it’s nothing to apologize for!
It is something I notice about a lot of USians. I blame the American Exceptionalism thing. A lot of USians truly believe that they don’t need to learn anything from anyone else. They just assume they’re the best. Anyone who criticizes them is wrong, and if it’s a fellow USian doing the criticism, they’re being unpatriotic. In other countries, there’s a different attitude – we see improving our country as patriotic.
Also, very, very pleased with Australia. Welcome to the club in accepting the right that LOVE is the reason for marriage and family, not SEX.
Really? Is there any jurisdiction that requires proof of love before it will recognize a marriage? Where is that on the license application? Is it a tick box? Do you have to send in an annual renewal, like a car inspection?
Doesn’t the US check that people who get a green card or some other benefit from marrying a USian really are in love?
Americans are here because the old country sucked. If the old country has got better and sucks less, that’s good to know, but nobody’s interested in trading places with cousins they left behind.
You’re right, Americans have little use for navel-gazing. We’re too busy getting rich and working on our firearms collections.
The USA is exceptional, first, because it is a republic founded on ideas not bloodlines. As importantly, no other extant republic even approaches its scale, longevity, prosperity, and diversity. (Does this even need to be pointed out?!?)
It depends who you are referring to. The Puritans left because they couldn’t force their extreme religious views on everyone else so they wanted to go somewhere that they could. As for bloodlines, it seems to me that the US is run by a small number of families who control everything in both business and politics.
And longevity? Almost all developed countries have better longevity than the US, probably because those in control only care about healthcare for those who can afford to pay for it. Everyone else is screwed.
And you’re not even as diverse as you think you are. The big cities are diverse, but they’re all Democratic. Most of the rest of the country is not diverse at all – they’re poor and clinging to their guns and Bibles.
We have constitutional monarchy now, which means they have NO power. They’re purely symbolic, just like the Hollywood icons so many USians follow. Everyone would soon kick up a fuss if royalty stuck their oar in, but you guys follow what entertainment figures do slavishly. And you stick to the rules in a book written by Bronze-Age goat herders partly hundreds, and partly thousands, of years before the European monarchies even had power.
We’re better educated (especially our women, who are also more equal), fitter, healthier, more peaceful, less corrupt, more equal, more diverse, less racist, less prejudiced generally, longer living, lower taxed, and it’s even easier to do business here. Yes, overall the US in wealthier. You also have a much greater proportion of your people living in poverty.
And all of us, including the Maori, were originally immigrants too.
If you can spare a couple of years, I’d be happy to help you plan your sabbatical touring and discovering the USA. I bet it would clear up lots of things.
I think it’d be easier for you to visit New Zealand. You probably wouldn’t need two years to realize why most of us don’t want to visit, let alone live in, the US.