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Ross’s grounds for noncompliance, as described in the interview, were his strong opposition to conscription and a belief in the rights of individuals to exercise choice. At his court hearing, Ross also voiced a moral objection to killing and to Australia’s involvement in Vietnam, which he believed was an unjust war. The Vietnam War was the first conflict to be extensively reported live on television and the impact of its coverage contributed to the strong civic action against the war. Ross was sentenced to two years jail under the Commonwealth Crimes Act, but released after mounting public pressure and press coverage prompted an ACT Supreme Court enquiry into his case. Justice Smithers found Ross to be exempt from military service under section 29A (1) of the National Service Act and he was released after the Governor-General granted him mercy, possibly alleviating some of the political pressure on the Government to soften its stance. Under section 29A (1) of the National Service Act, a ‘conscientious objector’ is a person who sincerely believes that it is wrong to engage in any form of military service. Between 1965 and 1971, just over 1000 men applied for this status. Of the 1052 applicants, 733 were granted total exemption from any military service, 142 were exempted from combat duties and 137 had their applications rejected.

After being handed down for 3000 years the message probably got a bit muddled. It probably started as 'Only a fool thinks that sticks burned today will still be there tomorrow'.

Of course there are, but it would make a difference.

It would be higher if they got rid of the guns, but that won’t happen

That wouldn't work. He would just wait for them to catch up. He clearly thinks the Brits are putting on this show for him because they respect him so much. The truth is quite a bit less flattering but he's so egotistical he can't see it.

The question is, what comes next? He has become a martyr to the Republican cause and we could well see more violent incidents. Trump is stoking the flames as usual.

Or maybe the need to lift a leg against a tree.

I know, but I'd still take the dog.

If that’a what life with a robot,looks like, give me a dog any day.

I wonder why he reacts so badly to anyone talking about his Lebanese ancestry. It's hardly a big deal to have ancestors that came from somewhere else in a multicultural place like Australia. As far as I know he's only against illegal immigrants, but I assume his grandfather came here legally, or at least not illegally at the time.

I ended up at Meekatharra once too and sat out a storm for two days. The plane was tied down in the open and I didn't expect it to survive the battering, but somehow it did.

I don't think `fitter' is the right word, more like `mean and callous' by the sound of it. You obviously did survive the experience however, so by your Darwinian definition, you proved to be the fittest.

I was not particularly happy about being conscripted but registered as required. My number didn't come up. My parents, having lived through the war in occupied Europe and my dad having fought the Germans were more worried that I was.

Some pilots don’t. Those that do may live longer on average.

You mean flight competency checks for a pilot? Seems pretty obvious what they’d be for.

Well, that does it. I'm not getting out of bed tomorrow. Too much competition.

Majority rule is the opposite of survival of the fittest. The `battle' between the sexes is a battle for equality, also not survival of the fittest.

The one with the strong right wing?

Watching the European leaders sitting around the table with Trump and speaking in turn about supporting Ukraine without getting Trump offside brings home what a weak individual he is. They all had to heap praise on him to bolster his own distorted view of his magnificence. It's really pretty sickening.

He probably dimly realises by now that he’s been done over by Putin, so now he’ll try and save face by picking a fight with Zelensky and blaming him for his own pathetic failure.

I heard 'you know the Russian's own'?

I hadn't seen that before but maybe that's the `land swap' Trump has been talking about. Alaska for Ukraine. Putin would probably accept, Zelensky would be happy and Trump would have his peace in our time victory and his Nobel prize. Winners all around.

What are the chances that Putin meets Trump to discuss Ukraine and talks Trump into selling Alaska back to him?

You mean you want to skid over them to make sure you've got them?

I came across that yesterday. Quite informative and entertaining. Very British but a least the women ferry pilots get a mention too.