A bridge to peace

Editor’s note: If you would like to submit a letter for possible publication, please email it to editor@rationalist.com.au. See our Publishing Guidelines. Dear Editor, The safety objections that aborted the pro-Palestinian march across Brisbane’s Story Bridge in August were far-fetched if the previous peacefully enacted Sydney Harbour Bridge march protesting Israel’s hostility in Gaza was any guide. For two years, the twin giant steel ribs of the Sydney Harbour Bridge crept closer together across its gleaming harbour until, on 19 August 1930, the gap finally closed and the arches riveted into a single continuous span  This engineering success was hard gained, as will be the road to peace for the Israel-Hamas conflict, which reignited three years ago. It's time to put out the fires of flaring acrimony incited by the so-called pro-Palestinian marches. Like the bridge arches that shook hands and met in the middle about 95 years ago, let’s spiritually and pragmatically rebrand these protests as “pro-peace” and, therefore, non-aligned marches.   A contemporary furore among factions at the long-abandoned North Sydney Olympic Pool – venue of the swimming events for the 1938 Empire Games, with the Harbour Bridge looming in the backdrop – provides stark lessons.  Alas delayed and disputed pool renovations in 2025 and counting have consigned the marvellous sight of half-moon swimmers’ arms, pulsing up and down this iconic pool, to a dimming memory.  The halt to war in the Middle East, ...