Career opportunities
I don’t normally discuss the volunteer work I do. Obviously, Dingo News is a large part of my efforts, but I still find time to give back to the community in other ways. My work as a volunteer Career Guidance Officer at our local experimental high school, is both challenging and rewarding. The opportunity to guide young minds, not a responsibility to be taken lightly.
We eschew the classroom, preferring to sit under the shade of the gum trees by the footy oval.
The Clash still inspiring inquiring young minds
Career Opportunities by the Clash is the song belted out at the start of every career guidance session.
One of my success stories, an all-girl band, Teenage Mutant Crack Zombies, include Career Opportunities in their repertoire. That Please Sir homage, every teacher craves, before cynicism and weariness with the system, crush the last vestiges of their spiritual aspirations.1
Whistleblower or Traitor?
The Clash fades and we begin the discussion.
Mick: “OK whistleblower or traitor?” Which is the more rewarding career given the complexities and consequences involved?”
Rory: “Whistleblower, because you occupy the moral highground, whereas a traitor is just a cunt.”
Mick: “Good, concise and… Wilbur! What have I told you about lighting up joints here!”
Everyone (loudly): “Don’t bogart that joint!”
Mick: “Precisely, pass it around. Also, love the “Free Palestine!” t-shirt.” [Always mix praise with censure]
“So Rory has postulated that whistleblowers occupy a higher moral ground than traitors? Right or wrong?”
Everyone: “Yeah. Yes. Too fucking right, etc…”
Mick: “Well I agree with you, but unfortunately our government doesn’t.”
“As you know, whistleblowers face imprisonment for doing a public good, while the criminals they expose don’t. So let’s see how a traitor, who has betrayed the public trust and his country, fares.”
“Basically, a former MP involved with a foreign spy ring was caught by ASIO. They haven’t released their name or gender as yet.”
[opens folder and begins to read]
“Director-general of ASIO, Mike Burgess stated, “The person was not active any more and had been “neutralised.”
Everyone: “Ooooh! Shit! Serves them right!”
Mick: “No. Not that “neutralised” – let me continue…”
“They’re not doing it now, they’re not breaking the law,” (the ASIO guy) told reporters and intelligence community brass at his annual address on Wednesday.”
“If we see them go active again, I can guarantee they’ll get caught.”
“So what do you think?”
The kids are alright
Lacy: “So that cunt gets off with betraying their country while Assange and McBride face imprisonment for exposing war crimes and shit!”
Mario: “So we don’t know their name? We don’t know their gender? That means every former MP is a possible traitor doesn’t it?”
Bennu: “Bet they kept their pension!”
Mick: “Some former MPs are kicking up about it, which is funny, cos they’re shonky as fuck and mercenaries for US/Israeli interests”.
Rory: “So why did the ASIO guy even bring it up?”
Mick: “He goes on about cybersecurity, our old friend terrorism and paints a picture of ASIO standing between us and a hostile world. So he’s after budget increases, and maybe smoothing the way for more restrictive laws.”
[The sound of a siren wafts through the air signalling the next class.]
Mick: “OK that’s us. So quickly, show of hands. Those of you, who would prefer facing prison as a whistleblower? To being a traitor, betraying your country and getting a stern telling off from ASIO?”
All hands go up.
Mick: “You lot are too good for this world”.
Notes
1 Yes. In one of my previous lives I was a trainee teacher. It didn’t take.
References
Is David McBride a whistleblower, a criminal or both?
ASIO reveals plot by retired politician to introduce a prime minister’s family member to foreign spies
Australian politician ‘sold out’ to foreign regime after being recruited by spies, ASIO boss says
Michael Pascoe: Forget the single ex-pollie, foreign influence is rife in Canberra
Calls for Australian spy chief to name ex-politician who ‘sold out’
