NSW Police Commissioner, Andrew Scipione, proposes that new recruits for the police force must have no tattoos.

Opposition party spokesman, John Robertson, calls the suggestion “absurd”: focussing on something trivial instead of on investigating serious crime.

The police response is that the move is about “professionalism”.

* * *

Most, or at least many, tattoos depict themes like the occult, sex, wild animals, weapons etc. – symbols of rebellion against society’s constraints.

Is it too much to require somebody wishing to make a career of upholding society’s values to avoid looking as though heshe has a hankering for a bit of the opposite?

* * *

True religion has always been suspicious of tattoos.

The Bible itself says, “You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead; neither shall you make in yourselves any figures or marks.” (Leviticus chapter 19)

The impression is that God forbade these things because they were common amongst the surrounding tribes which followed false religions and gods.

Tattooing probably isn’t a black and white issue, but going against fashion in order to ensure that your example will not cause confusion – that sounds a good way to go.

Margaret Court is the women’s tennis equivalent of Don Bradman.

Perhaps the greatest female athlete Australia has produced.

Winner of all four Grand Slam tournament singles titles in the same calendar year (1970).

She won a record 62 Major titles overall.

The International Tennis Hall of Fame states, “For sheer strength of performance and accomplishment there has never been a tennis player to match her”.

* * *

Margaret Court still gets into the news.

Yesterday, for example.

She apparently said, “I believe marriage is between a man and a woman . . . I believe it’s important for young people to know that . . . .”

And, “I say what God says, and that’s why I’ve spoken out.”

Mrs Court, a lapsed Catholic, is now an office bearer in a Pentecostal group.

She has said that homosexuality is often the result of sexual abuse.

This resulted in a “backlash” with people saying there is no scientific evidence of such a connection.

There is, of course, but that is hardly the point.

The point is that homosexual acts are contrary to natural law and young people should know that and should be protected from entrapment.

Tennis player, Bernard Tomic, 19, driving his orange BMW last week was pulled over by police and issued traffic infringement notices for driving contrary to the conditions of his licence.

P-platers normally aren’t allowed to drive a high-performance vehicle — but Tomic has apparently been granted an exemption because of his career as a tennis player.

Tomic has hired defence lawyer, Chris Nyst, who wants a meeting with Queensland Police Commissioner, Bob Atkinson – claiming there has been a misunderstanding regarding the terms of Tomic’s exemption.

* * *

Professional athletes usually don’t work for a living.

They have all day to get wherever they want to go.

If anything, it would make sense to license them for lower-than-usual performance vehicles.

Road rules should be designed for the safety of the public.

19-year olds with P-plates are typically bigger safety risks than older drivers.

If being a celebrity gives one the right to flout the laws governing other people, it’s a serious matter.

The rule of law is important if our nation is to avoid being a rabble.

By definition, the rule of law must apply to all equally.

The occupants of Canberra’s Aboriginal “Tent Embassy” did their cause no good by terrorising our Prime Minister on Thursday.

That doesn’t mean that the Embassy should not exist.

Aboriginal culture includes the notion of their spirits belong to the land.

Not any land, but the land associated with one’s clan, totem or whatever.

Belonging to this particular land, you don’t feel the same about any other piece of land.

There’s little temptation to invade the land of the next-door tribe.

If Europeans felt that way, World War I and World War II may never have happened.

* * *

So January 26 (“Invasion Day”) is arguably a bad day.

How to make the invaders understand?

Give them a taste of their own medicine?

Invade/annexe a piece of land important to white Australian culture and see how they like it?

The choice of the “Embassy” site makes sense.

* * *

In fact both we and the land belong to God, Father of all races.

Saint Mary MacKillop said, “In the trials, annoyances and anxieties we daily experience, may we ever recognise that loving Fatherly Hand . . . .”

At present, neither Australia’s blacks nor whites seem to quite get it.

Let us pray that we soon will.

The other day I visited an elderly couple.

They were watching television — a tennis match between Serena Williams and Ekaterina Makarova.

They wanted me to watch with them, so I did, for about ten minutes.

A few minutes can’t do much harm, I thought.

I don’t know if you’ve watched television lately.

I was amazed.

It was nothing like I remembered it – the screen perhaps ten times the size I had been used to — the clearness almost overpowering.

You could almost count the players’ hair follicles.

* * *

A persuasive, potent, compelling weapon — especially if directed at those who can’t or don’t read much.

Even the most appalling behaviour and ideas could be made to seem tolerable.

And viewers rendered even less likely to find the motivation to spend generous time with God.

* * *

How much more meaningful our lives could be if we found even small periods of time for silence and reflection . . . .

Would we not, then, experience what Saint Mary MacKillop described, “God’s presence seems to follow me everywhere and make everything I do, or wish to do, a prayer . . . .”

Something to think about.

Sing loudly.

Repeat the last line of each verse.

* * *

My dog is old now (fifteen years), his eyes are nearly blind.

Yet though his hips and joints are stiff, he doesn’t seem to mind.

He’s not in pain, he eats his food, he persecutes the cat;

So we’re still pleased to have him round, except for one sad fact . . . .

He drops bowel actions randomly, he does them anywhere,

In carport, rumpus room or lounge, no longer does he care.

The moment that the urge comes on, he does one on the spot;

He cares not, be the time or place appropriate or not . . . .

In this respect he’s something like young people and their ways;

Their habits with regard to sex and how it’s done today.

Like Dog, they don’t repress themselves, they do it anytime:

In couples, groups, same-sex or straight, without reason or rhyme . . . .

They spread embarrassing disease, it’s not mysterious.

The body fluids they love to share contain a lot of pus.

The germs they catch on Friday night from Fanny or from Dick,

They give to someone else next day — soon all their friends are sick . . . .

All kinds of sins God will forgive, including unwed sex.

He wants us to enjoy his love in this world and the next.

But first we must be penitent, abandoning our faults:

This is for all, both young and old, the only hope we’ve got . . . .