Guess what @ScottMorrisonMP and @AlexHawkeMP!? Tharnicaa has the same birthday as Ann Frank: one of the most discussed victims of Holocaust! In 1940, after Germany invaded the Netherlands, Anne and her family couldn’t leave the country, 1/14 @AlexWodak@hbowly#HomeToBilo
so they hide in a warehouse to escape the persecution of Jews by the Nazis. For over two years, Anne wrote in her diary with an awareness that was extremely mature for her age. She detailed her experiences and insights while she and her family were living in constant fear. 2/14
Anne Frank’s diary showcases her incredible storytelling abilities in such horrific circumstances. In 1944, the Franks were found and sent to concentration camps. Anne died before she turned 16, and her father, Otto Frank, was the only family member to survive the Holocaust. 3/14
Here are some of Ann Franks insights: “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” *For example Exhibit A: 4/14
“Dead people receive more flowers than the living ones because regret is stronger than gratitude.” *Perhaps we could be grateful for Priya, Nades, Kopika and Tharnicaa. They came to Australia of all countries! They even settled peacefully. 5/14
“No one has ever become poor by giving.” *I believe we could all learn much from Australia’s Sikh Community. What they have done for so many strangers, wanting absolutely nothing in return: Love (e.g. bush fires, Covid-19 lock downs). 6/14
“In the long run, the sharpest weapon of all is a kind and gentle spirit.” *Well that explains why the Biloela family and hundreds of thousands of Australians will not accept cruel outdated policy!
“Whoever is happy will make others happy.” *Mirror Neurons they’re called. 7/14
“Human greatness does not lie in wealth or power, but in character and goodness.” *If it was my decision I’d stick to human rights @hrw, research on international refugee law @KaldorCentre and independent expert medical advice @TheRACP: Win. Win. Win. 8/14
“In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” *See how far compassion can travel!? Across the world. Even from history books to the present. It’s actually timeless, borderless and boundless. Life’s single greatest lesson. 9/14
“As long as this exists, this sunshine and this cloudless sky, and as long as I can enjoy it, how can I be sad?” *No man however powerful, of any authority, can ever take the sky. Sigh... 10/14
“Sympathy, love, fortune… We all have these qualities but still tend to not use them!” *To withhold fortune from others is a crime against humanity. No ifs. Not buts.
“The young are not afraid of telling the truth.” *They are our future! Be like @GretaThunberg. 11/14
“I must uphold my ideals, for perhaps the time will come when I shall be able to carry them out.” *You both know, and we all know, with a stroke of a pen, you have the power to make this ideal a reality. 12/14
“We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same.” *Such clarity from a teenager. Let’s not pretend it’s complicated. This is a very simple choice: cruelty or humanity? 13/14
Please be honest with Australians. Do not use their court case as an excuse. You know that’s not true. Please stop harming children and adults to deter others. Listen to experts. Break the cycle: End cruelty. Join humanity. 14/14 #HealingTrauma#GameOver#TimeForAHome#HomeToBilo
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I love how Noel Pearson said Dutton wants to bury Uluru, but the problem is now it’s “alive”. Growing up my mob didn’t see trees and mountains as things that were “alive”. Took me a long time to learn and see and feel that. But he’s right, Uluru and the words have come to life.🧵
And I’ve not seen something that beautiful in my lifetime. On such a grand scale. Normally, it gets corrupted along the way. I’m glad I can see its’ raw and fresh beauty now and pure intentions. I can see the “No” scare campaign attempting to shut it down… But it’s alive.
I’m glad I’m old enough to see that. I can’t ask for more. Except for others to. The Uluru Statement from the Heart is the first words that penetrated my heart on a national and international level, spiritually, without religion, which is more powerful. Straight to the Heart.
For years I struggled to sit still, concentrate, do assignments, office work, appointments, registrations, etc. I was easily distracted. I’d procrastinate. A Psychiatrist thought I had ADHD. My attention is great today. There are so many tools. Martial Arts changed my brain. 🥷🇵🇭
It does not need to be Martial Arts, 🧘🏽♀️ Mindfulness also changes the brain. Although, some argue that it can be more difficult changing the brain with our minds, because our minds are so flippant (e.g. One minute we feel good. Next minute, we feel awful, so often unreliable).
This might account for why so many people say they hate 🧘🏽♀️ Mindfulness or that it does nothing for them. Mindfulness is also experiential. This means that it takes practice over time to appreciate its benefits, rather than to be understood by our intellect on day one.
“A belligerent samurai, an old Japanese tale goes, once challenged a Zen master to explain the concept of heaven and hell. The monk replied with scorn, "You're nothing but a lout - I can't waste my time with the likes of you!" #HealingTrauma
His very honor attacked, the samurai flew into a rage and, pulling his sword from its scabbard, yelled "I could kill you for your impertinence." "That," the monk calmly replied, "is hell."
Startled at seeing the truth in what the master pointed out about the fury that had him in its grip, the samurai calmed down, sheathed his sword, and bowed, thanking the monk for the insight. "And that,"said the monk "is heaven."
Former President of Ireland and Chair of The Elders at #COP26, Mary Robinson: “I’m afraid because he [@scottmorrison] is too influenced by the fossil fuel lobby.” #COP26Glasgow
“Most people going through the immigration process have to do it without Lawyers. They have to do it by themselves. They’re making their last fight against a trained government prosecutor, effectively as being blind folded, with your hands tied behind your back. #HealingTrauma
I am a Lawyer and a Law Professor and my wife is as well. I have two brothers who are Lawyers. A sister in law who is a Lawyer. I am surrounded by Lawyers. When I have a legal problem I don’t turn to my family to help me. I hire somebody to do it.
And certainly I’m in the privileged position of not having to deal with the kinds of high stakes matters that the folks who are in these facilities are. So that’s something that I’m certainly going to do because I understand the benefit, but Lawyers are only part of the answer.
“Once, I ran from fear so fear controlled me. Until I learned to hold fear like a newborn. Listen to it, but not give in. Honour it, but not worship it.” #HealingTrauma
“Fear could not stop me anymore. I walked with courage into the storm. I still have fear, but it does not have me.”
“Once, I was ashamed of who I was. I invited shame into my heart. I let it burn. It told me, "I am only trying to protect your vulnerability". I thanked shame dearly, and stepped into life anyway, unashamed, with shame as a lover.”