Articles by Bert Hetebry

About Bert Hetebry

Bert is a retired teacher in society and environment, and history, holds a BA and Grad Dip Ed. Since retiring Bert has become an active member of his local ALP chapter, joined a local writer’s group, and started a philosophy discussion group. Bert is also part of a community art group – and does a bit of art himself – and has joined a Ukulele choir. “Life is to be lived, says Bert, “and I can honestly say that I have never experienced the contentment I feel now.”

In search of Motherland

3 August 2026 Bert Hetebry 4

Where in hell can you go Far from the things that you know Far from the sprawl of concrete That keeps drawing its way About a thousand miles a day? Take on last look behind […]

Immigrants: Searching for hope in in a time of hopelessness

22 July 2026 Bert Hetebry 5

Fiddler on the Roof is humorous, yet dark story of a Jewish family, set in Ukraine about 1905. Ukraine was part of Imperial, Czarist Russia, and the first Russian Revolution occurred in 1905. A bit […]

Power and Glory, or should that be Gory?

15 July 2026 Bert Hetebry 3

Recent travels have put me in a reflective mood. Trying to understand the fears which we live under, the arrogance of post colonialism, the sense of self-righteousness, the ongoing repression of indigenous people through the […]

Journalist typing on laptop at editorial desk

Shag, Marry, Date debacle

8 July 2026 Bert Hetebry 29

Oh dear, our Prime Minister has been caught out again. Trying to be Mr Ordinary when asked to engage in a game which objectifies women, he said OK. The game was to judge a woman […]

Smiling woman with "Are you judgy?" text

Culture and what to believe. (Book burnings, beheadings and bigotry.)

2 July 2026 Bert Hetebry 2

Culture, monoculture, multiculture. What does it all mean and why are these things bandied around as though our lives are dependent upon them being deemed to be correct, whatever ‘correct’ means. Probably a good starting […]

Twin Towers with heavy smoke, September 11 attacks.

How are people radicalised?

8 April 2026 Bert Hetebry 6

Who will be the next terrorist to re-enact the Bondi attack of last December,? Or perhaps walk into a mosque on Friday and kill unsuspecting worshippers? A synagog? A church? Or just a random attack […]

Refugees standing in a long line outdoors.

Where in hell can they go?

28 March 2026 Bert Hetebry 1

Motherland Where in hell can you go Far from the things that you know Far from the sprawl of concrete That keeps crawling its way About a thousand miles a day Take one last […]

Civility, Civilised, Civilisation: Do they mean anything at all, really?

19 March 2026 Bert Hetebry 11

We like to think that we are a civilised people, don’t we? I was pondering this question, considering what it means to be ‘civilised’, what ‘civil’ looks like, so I asked a few people on […]

Diverse group standing against hate message.

The comfort of faith and the seeds of hate

21 February 2026 Bert Hetebry 8

Yes, there seems to be a bee in my bonnet, a buzzing in my brain, as I try to understand why religion can be such a comfort for some, but so marginalising for others, why […]

Is it real, this that I feel?

13 February 2026 Bert Hetebry 7

Have you ever walked through a forest and wondered at the feeling, the sense of freedom, quiet contemplativeness, perhaps barefoot, feeling the earth beneath your feet and your mind relaxes, listening to the sounds of […]

Politician with American flag and bold text.

Is American Imperialism in its death throes?

11 February 2026 Bert Hetebry 10

The threats to acquire Greenland, the attack on Venezuela, and the interest in Panama and Cuba are really just the Imperialist play book, re-opened by Donald Trump as the USA seeks to assert its power […]

Text about fear being taught and reinforced.

The fear of Sharia Law

2 February 2026 Bert Hetebry 5

There is a fear of Islam, and with the seemingly growing Islamic population, there is a fear that Sharia Law will be imposed on us. At least that is the impression gained when reading some […]

Quote about misunderstanding religion and hate.

The trouble with religion

29 January 2026 Bert Hetebry 11

In Australia, we have, we ‘enjoy’, sometimes ‘suffer’, freedom of religion. Freedom of religion: What does that really mean, especially in the context of the urgent call to somehow inscribe restrictions on that in the […]

Hands typing on laptop under "AIMN Editorial

A taxing problem

23 January 2026 Bert Hetebry 31

The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) has reported on its annual economic survey of Australia, and in it has made several recommendations. Three important ones are: Increase the GST Do more to reduce […]

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