Latest news with #JossMiller
Otago Daily Times
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Where are the peacemakers in the holy land?
Will the war-torn holy land ever be peaceful again? Joss Miller asks. In 1982, my wife Dawn and I spent a couple of weeks travelling around Israel. We were keen to get a sense of this country, whose inception as a state in 1948 was relatively recent. There had been major wars with Arab neighbours in 1956, 1967 and 1973 that had a profound effect in shaping its security framework and high level of militarisation. Tel Aviv was a modern, vibrant and bustling city. Jerusalem was easily accessed from there by bus and had all the hallmarks of a special city for many cultures and religions. One could sense though a certain fragility and impermanence, given the turmoil of numerous invasions and conquests that had taken place there over the centuries. Southwards lay the starkness of the Negev desert, with arid, gaunt hills surrounding it. Eilat, a coastal resort situated on the Red Sea, was a mecca for those seeking sun and relaxation. The Jordanian border was visible from there, but a no-go area at that time. Israeli military personnel were always present. To the north, a sense of peace and tranquillity could be found in Galilee where life appeared slower and less hectic. Not far from here was Capernaum, a quiet place where Jesus once lived. We were fortunate to be taken to the top of the Golan Heights, an important strategic point that was annexed from Syria following the 1973 Yom Kippur war. Druze villages dotted the hillsides where families farmed on small plots of land. Also visible was the road to Damascus in Syria where in late 1918 Lawrence of Arabia would have been leading Arab forces, in the hope of securing a better future for them following the defeat of the Turks and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. The British and French colonial powers, though, had other plans which since have all played a part in sowing some of the seeds for Middle East conflict. We observed Israeli tanks mobilising near the Lebanese border with a full-scale invasion of that country taking place a few weeks later, directed at the Palestine Liberation Organisation. The drums of war have returned there recently involving Hezbollah and resulting in more death and destruction. Tension in the West Bank and Gaza has been a constant for decades, regularly spilling over into violence: 20 months ago, the militant Hamas group in Gaza launched a violent attack on Israel, sparking an overwhelming military response that has resulted in huge numbers of Palestinian deaths and injuries, allied with immense grief and suffering. This horrific tragedy continues to unfold daily. Only a few days ago Israel and Iran were both under serious attack: that has fortunately resulted in a ceasefire. It is a travesty that peace continues to remain elusive in what is often referred to as the holy land despite significant efforts over the years to achieve this. Extraordinary and inspired new leadership in Israel and its various neighbours is critical: acrimony and grievances need to be set aside. There must be a genuine attempt to work together for the goal of enhancing the welfare of all citizens and rebuilding mutual trust, respect and co-operation. In particular, the circumstances of the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank urgently requires a solution providing them with autonomy, dignity and security so they and Israelis can attain a peaceful future, with each under wise leadership. Maybe then the holy land will truly become holy again. — Joss Miller is a retired Dunedin lawyer.
Otago Daily Times
26-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Remembering the days in the old school yard
Joss Miller finds himself looking back to where life's exploration began. There is a commonly used saying that your school days are the happiest days of your life, although not everyone would agree with that. These early experiences, however, are clearly imprinted in our memories and easily recalled. This being an important early step on life's long road. Decades later at reunions, many former pupils gather to reminisce on these distant times being then able to bring a greater maturity and perspective. I was among the first entrants to the newly built Rosebank primary school at Balclutha in 1957. There was a leaden sky overhead as we embarked on a journey that would last seven years. We were quickly absorbed into our classrooms, seated behind small compact desks replete with ink wells and blotting paper. Our lunch boxes were stored in the space under the desktop, a place too where obscure notes and messages were often left. Those of more mischievous inclination would occasionally flick ink from their nib pens on to the shirts of those in front. The three R's were to be our daily diet with frequent and repetitive recitations of the times table. Teachers appeared large and all-knowing through our youthful gaze. Misbehaviour could result in a pupil being struck a number of times with a leather strap on the palm of their hand. Written detentions in the form of "I must not ..." being repeated at least 100 times, normally took place after school. A mid-morning ritual required each pupil to consume a quarter pint of invariably warm government-sponsored milk, aimed at building strong and healthy bodies. When the end of period bells rang, a notable jubilation was evident as classroom doors were flung open and everyone dispersed on to the ample playgrounds and sports fields beyond. Apart from the usual sporting activities, we often engaged in highly competitive games of marbles where there was always considerable noise and controversy. Polio vaccines were administered orally in the school playground, with most of us too young to know how important this was. The dental clinic affectionately known as the murder house, was located on a small mound to which we unwillingly, and in trepidation ventured. The smell from foot-operated drills still lingers in memory. School inspectors came at regular intervals with their arrival always ensuring attentive classrooms. One day octogenarian long-distance walker A H Reed took time to visit on his way south. We knew he was a legend, having walked extraordinarily long distances in New Zealand and Australia. I recall a tall, gaunt and somewhat mystical figure. Seasons came and went. Blossoms gave way to winter chill. Summers seemed to stretch forever. We grew and matured. Then, in a flash, those halcyon days at Rosebank primary school came to an end. A new journey was about to begin over the road at South Otago High School. But that is another story. The words of poet T S Eliot well capture the story of life and its circular nature, in which our early days at school are an important ingredient: "We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time." — Joss Miller is a retired Dunedin lawyer.
