Change Makers and The Kingdom of The Brave

Kingdom of the Brave by Ken Rasmussen

I am in tears. I’ve been watching interviews with parents of the young people killed in the Florida school shooting. How can it get to this? The tragedy is not just about the horrible circumstances. It is also about the failure of leadership in the United States.

I believe this is an important time for us all to reflect on what John Howard was up against when he initiated the gun buyback after the Port Arthur massacre. The Opposition party in Australia did what oppositions do. Howard was attacked by his political opponents and even some of his own party. He pushed through with clarity and courage.

Over one million guns were removed from Australian homes and workplaces during the buyback. Since then there have been a series of successful follow-up campaigns. The 2017 gun amnesty removed a further 57,000 guns.

Think of the suicides that have been prevented. Think of the people who will survive their depression and live to tell a joke at their daughter’s wedding. Think of the teenagers who endure bullying and go on to become Australia’s finest artists, musicians and writers.

People in the grip of mental illness no longer have easy access to a gun. Families make it through difficult times. Nanas live on to share wisdom and take the kids after school. Uncles get to be role models and goof around at birthday parties. Mates get to help with house moves instead of funeral arrangements. Fathers and mothers get to show up day after day at school gates and school assemblies all over the country.

The decision John Howard made has saved hundreds, possibly thousands of lives. Australian teachers get to worry about class sizes rather than how many students they could save in the event of a shooting.

The world is not full of goodies and baddies. It is full of people who each can make a positive change regardless of which political camp they belong to. A bad person, but an effective politician can do very, very good things. A good person who is an ineffective politician can be stuck in the mire. They are well-meaning but can lack the ability to make necessary changes.

John Howard made some questionable decisions during his term as Prime Minister. However, it is equally true to say that he was also responsible for one of the finest moments of leadership Australian’s have seen in recent times.

I speak for a lot of Australian parents when I say I feel very grateful to him for that.

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