tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post3524870948471623698..comments2024-02-11T19:28:27.997+11:00Comments on Personal Reflections: Sunday Snippets - the week in review 4 May 08Jim Belshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-54955461006785425382008-05-12T18:54:00.000+10:002008-05-12T18:54:00.000+10:00AV, you raise a few interesting points here. I sta...AV, you raise a few interesting points here. I started a comment, but then decided that it was worth a full post to explore some of the unknowns as I see them.Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-59950533436717806702008-05-12T16:19:00.000+10:002008-05-12T16:19:00.000+10:00I'll mull this over and may post a fuller response...I'll mull this over and may post a fuller response at mine. But briefly:<BR/><BR/><I>In this context, I was struck by the results of a Channel Nine on-line poll. Asked whether they supported the decision to give gay couples equal rights, 35,304 voted yes, 36,047 voted no. Channel Nine has a particular demographic, but I have found their on-line polls not a bad guide to first reactions to issues by the the broader Australian community. And here I see a constant conservative thread.</I><BR/><BR/>On the one hand, replace the word "gay couples" with "Asians" or "Aboriginal Australians" in that poll question, and it becomes clear what a sad reflection on our country it is that a question like that needs to be asked in the first place. On the other hand, the poll results indicate only a <I>slim</I> majority against giving gay couples equal rights. 10 years ago, 20 years ago--do you think the margin would have been as narrow?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com