HISTORY REPEATS!

Welcome to March, the one time first month of the Roman Calendar. Legend has it that it was created by Romulus, the first king of Rome at around 730 BC and continued until about 150 BC. It had just 10 months and only 304 days, which meant that winter was nowhere in sight.

The month was dedicated to Mars, the god of war, so they added a little “ic” to the end of Mars to show it belonged to him and, as the Romans pronounce “c” as “ch” it became March.

In Europe, starting military ca mpa igns in spring made a lot of sense, the Romans even set the Ides of March (March 15th) as the deadline for settling debts. The spring offensive of the WWI started on Mar 21, 1918. No surprise then that Putin i nvaded Ukraine on Feb 24. In his mind it was to settle an old debt, bring Ukraine back into the Russian fold and start to re establish the Russian Empire as it was under the House of Romanov. At its peak between 1721 and 1917 it stretched from the Bering Sea, in the East to the Black Sea, in the West, an area that covers at least 11 time zones.

To represent the war in geographic terms is one thing (with Ukraine being just a small matter), but in ideological terms it pitches slavery against freedom, socialism against capitalism and dictatorship against democracy. A philosophy of “What’s yours is mine” against “What’s mine is ours”.

We see this conflict everywhere, both on a large scale and a small scale, in personal relationships, the tussle of political parties, the shouting down of views by keyboard warriors, the occurrence of massive cyber attacks and the bullying of smaller powers by larger powers. In sum, the desire by one side to disempower the other, versus the desire to help each other. With all its flaws democracy seeks the latter and totalitarianism the former (disguise it as they may, as Putin has for invading Ukraine).

One system helps people grow, inn ovate and work together, the other weakens them, destroys initiative and impoverishes them. So it’s hardly surprising that between 1946 and 2017 the number of democratic countries in the world increased from 29 to 57.

Totalitarian states see democratic neighbours as an existential threat. So Putin’s war on Ukraine is a war against democracy, one to be countered by every democratic nation. Once again we see that the RSL motto “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty” is for ever true and that always, and everywhere, there are those who wish to disadvantage others for their own benefit. They can use brute force, or disg uise their agenda with words like “For the better good”, but in every case they will attack until they are repelled and that’s how it’s been for all of human history.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ag ain shown us the price of freedom and democracy and

1821 World Democracy that they must be constantly fought for. On both the world stage and in day to day life injustice needs to be countered, bullies challenged and those who want to take more they give brought to heel.

We are delighted to let you see that democracy is still alive and well with news of the first Independent for the NSW Seat of Vaucluse since 1945, Karen Freyer (P7) and news from Labour candidate for Coogee, Marjorie O’Neil (P22). You can also read about “Humpback Whale Migration” (P4), “Historic Weddings” at St Mark’s Church (P6), the new “Watsons Bay & Vaucluse SHG’ website (P8), “Ethical, Lab Created Diamonds” (P9) plus four stupendous “Host A Murder Events” (P20).

We also invite our readers to thank, and patronise, all the small businesses featured in our paper. Without them there would be no paper to read. You can also keep up with their activities and find out more about them on www.reliableassociates.com.au

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Lastly we extend a big thank you to all our staff, our printers, the people who deliver the papers to us and the increasing number of volunteers who help distribute the papers throughout the Eastern Suburbs.

Best wishes,

Greg Prior & ESL Team Eastern Suburbs Life Newspaper Supporting Local Businesses and Communities

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