Media lies and Propaganda on War - Opinion.

Living in a country other than the propaganda drenched US, meaning the constant lies from their politicians and their mainstream media, this would include the UK's BBC, our own 'state media', the ABC, (Australian Broadcasting Company) is bad but mainly follows the pro Zionist, pro Ukraine nonsense that the rest of the international establishment media is constantly spreading across the world. The Australian media when reporting on Iran, mainly show 3–4-minute sound bites from US president Trump. Personally, I find these news clips cringeworthy and painful at best, because as over 50% of American's believe, Trump lies as he breathes. The lies at the top of the list are about the war in Iran. 

Since the launch of Operation Epic Fury, (many call Operation Epstein Fury) on the US/Israel attack on Iran, February 28, 2026, the deception, war crimes and blatant lies coming forth from the Trump Administration has been relentless. 

What is now being revealed is the extensive destruction of American bases across the region. What is even more incredible is currently the Trump Administration is attempting to spin a tale that it was Iran who started the war and not the US and Israel. The most disturbing aspect to these untruths, is that many people will believe anything that the American president, his cronies and legacy media will tell them. 

There is no doubt that mainstream news outlets are an integral part of the military industrial complex. It is also evident that these outlets have misinformed the public on the genocide in Gaza. In an important book written by Assal Rad, Don't say Palestine, How the Media Manufactured Consent for Genocide. Rad supplies a plethora of examples revealing the downplay of crimes against humanity in the headlines. This is intentional, and on face value, diabolical. (see @AssalRad on X for example). 

In Australia, the federal government has supported the genocide in Gaza and approves of the attack on Iran. As mentioned above, the ABC, (Australia's Pravda) pushes American propaganda daily. As I'd like to think of myself as an informed citizen of this country, the subtle and not so subtle lies about Iran and Gaza, is stomach churning at best. In fact, when it comes to Australian foreign policy, our governments have always backed the wrong horse. There is no doubt that much of the Australian Federal government is infiltrated by Zionist Israel. I still can't get my head wrapped around the notion that Australia supports a genocidal regime. The government may do so, but the population of the country does not. 

Because a portion of the population has access to the internet, and therefore access to independent media, we can bypass propaganda and lies promoted by the Military Industrial Complex via legacy media. Social media is also a way to be informed about the reality of politics, war and genocide.  

Events are moving so fast around the planet that it's difficult to keep up and separate the wheat from the chaff. 

But it is necessary. 

Leo Tolstoy - The Death of Ivan Ilyich – Comment.

 

Long after completing his two masterpieces, War and Peace and Anna Karinina, achieving world fame, an older man, Tolstoy penned this short story, examining death, and what constitutes a 'good' life'. What is a life well lived?  Whether this text answers this question is really up to the reader. From a cultural and societal perspective, Ilyich's has met all expectation, though in death he confronts life's meaning.

Our protagonist is a respected citizen of Moscow from a good family. He is educated in law to become a respectable judge. We see him move up in status and later marry a woman who he deems appropriate though never expresses any real feelings for her or in general. She fits well in his view what constitutes a good wife, though more precisely, what others believe is a successful marriage. We come to discover that she is not a very deep person and looks at her husband with some bitterness and disrespect. Their bourgeoisie status, however, is cemented when he is promoted and moves into a big house, where he conducts extensive restorations at considerable expense. It is here that he has a slight fall, injuring himself that sets his painful demise in motion. 

Ilyich's health diminishes at a slow rate and by the end the pain is unbearable. At first the doctors really don't have a clue as to what is wrong with the man, and we as readers never understand his illness. Ivan's disgust for his doctors grows. Ivan's disgust with his family grows, especially his wife. They seem to be more concerned about how his illness affects them socially and personally. He slowly becomes acutely aware of this fact. The only person in his immediate circle that cares for the man is his humble servant. The servant displays an unusual kindness for Ivan, attentive without patronizing or showing pity. Ivan comes to the end of his life feeling that nothing was worth it, no love or meaning at all. He dies an excruciating death.  

Living one's life only on the surface, achieving only the expectations of society in a wholly materialistic manner is death to the spirit. Through Ilich's life, bourgeoise goals of action and material status was his only concern. The man's only interaction with his fellow human being was a weekly card game, and this activity was not to form deeper friendships, but only to win the game. 

In The Death of Ivan Ilyich, we come to understand that living only a materialistic existence without at least an exploration into the philosophical, the spiritual, life in the end has no meaning. Ilyich lived a materialistic life and died a horrible meaningless death. 

A lesson for us all. 

 

John Williams – Augustus – Comment.

The Washington Post heralded Augustus as the finest historical novel written by an American. This statement of opinion is debatable on many levels. First, the genre of historical novels, many teachers hammered into me early in life, as something to avoid. When studying history, read historians and certainly not fiction writers. There were two "historical" novels that I've found informative and entertaining. Gore Vidals, Julian and Marguerite Yourcenar's Memoirs of Hadrian. See comment: Articles, Essays & Consideration: Marguerite Yourcenar – Memoirs of Hadrian - Review .Yourcenar of course is French, and Vidal is American. See comment: Articles, Essays & Consideration: Julian- Gore Vidal- A Review Both novels, including William's Augustus, are likely the best of the best in this genre. Yourcenar wrote a curious comment on the genre:

"Time itself has nothing to do with it. It is always surprising to me that my contemporaries, masters as they consider themselves to be over space, apparently remain unaware that one can contract the distance between centuries at will." (276)

In all three novels mentioned, send this reader back in space in time as if I was a curious spider on the wall unseen and listening in silence. 

Augustus was the 'chosen' son and heir to Julias Caesar. After Caesar's brutal assassination by his close friend's and colleague's, the 19-year-old Octavius (Augustus) far from Rome received word of his adoptive father's death, and the infamous political machinations of Roman politics began. 

There are many lessons in this novel regarding power, love for one's country, close friendships, family, and living by one's principles. August was the first Roman Emperor who ruled from 63 BCE to 14 CE establishing a united Roman Empire and Pax Romana. He is described as slight in stature, fair with piercing blue eyes. He managed to navigate through lies and backstabbing, attempted assignations, and the "betrayal" of his beloved daughter, Julia. 

The most interesting and valued relationship of Augustus was with his daughter. She was his intellectual equal and sacrificed her personal life for the good of her father and Rome. The end of their relationship can be viewed as quite tragic. 

At the end of the book, we gain a greater insight into Augustus Caesar, as he writes to his friend Nicolaus of Damascus, contemplating his long life of 76 years. I found this section to be quite moving. 

Augustus is written in the epistolary form – fictional memoirs, dispatches, letters and poems. Don't let this let put you off, as William's excellent prose drags you right into the story. 

An excellent read.