Death of a Giant...
...what? The headline refers to that in yesterday's Sydney Morning Herald, announcing the death of Australia's richest [business-] man, Kerry Packer. By all accounts rude, overbearing and a bully, 'death of a giant arsehole' sounds like a better completion of the headline.
He was nevertheless lauded by many of those in Australian media, and of course the Prime Minister, John Howard. Apparantly 'generous', he gave large tips to casino staff when he won big, and donated $10 m to the hospital which kept him alive for 5 years after an almost terminal kidney complaint. Big f**ing deal, as he himself probably would have said. Tipping casino staff - a huge plus for humanity. And a $10m donation in gratitude for being kept alive when your personal $$ value exceeds $7bn; so what?
Let me just clarify, I have never met the man, and oviously now never will. But it doesn't say much about Australian society that the type of person they worship is either a sportsperson (more on this later) or a man of ex-Mr Packer's calibre.
-A
He was nevertheless lauded by many of those in Australian media, and of course the Prime Minister, John Howard. Apparantly 'generous', he gave large tips to casino staff when he won big, and donated $10 m to the hospital which kept him alive for 5 years after an almost terminal kidney complaint. Big f**ing deal, as he himself probably would have said. Tipping casino staff - a huge plus for humanity. And a $10m donation in gratitude for being kept alive when your personal $$ value exceeds $7bn; so what?
Let me just clarify, I have never met the man, and oviously now never will. But it doesn't say much about Australian society that the type of person they worship is either a sportsperson (more on this later) or a man of ex-Mr Packer's calibre.
-A
posted by Crema-editor at 2:02 PM
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