{"id":15831,"date":"2025-10-07T17:25:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T06:25:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rationalemagazine.com\/?p=15831"},"modified":"2025-10-07T17:26:02","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T06:26:02","slug":"a-bridge-to-peace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rationalemagazine.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/07\/a-bridge-to-peace\/","title":{"rendered":"A bridge to peace"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mp_wrapper\">\n  <div class=\"mepr-unauthorized-excerpt\">\n    <p>Editor\u2019s note: If you would like to submit a letter for possible publication, please email it to editor@rationalist.com.au. See our\u00a0Publishing Guidelines.\nDear Editor,\nThe safety objections that aborted the pro-Palestinian march across Brisbane\u2019s Story Bridge in August were far-fetched if the previous peacefully enacted Sydney Harbour Bridge march protesting Israel\u2019s hostility in Gaza was any guide.\nFor 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\u00a0 This engineering success was hard gained, as will be the road to peace for the Israel-Hamas conflict, which reignited three years ago.\nIt'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\u2019s spiritually and pragmatically rebrand these protests as \u201cpro-peace\u201d and, therefore, non-aligned marches.\u00a0\u00a0\nA contemporary furore among factions at the long-abandoned North Sydney Olympic Pool \u2013 venue of the swimming events for the 1938 Empire Games, with the Harbour Bridge looming in the backdrop \u2013 provides stark lessons.\u00a0 Alas delayed and disputed pool renovations in 2025 and counting have consigned the marvellous sight of half-moon swimmers\u2019 arms, pulsing up and down this iconic pool, to a dimming memory.\u00a0\nThe halt to war in the Middle East, ...<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"mepr-unauthorized-message\">\n    <hr style=\"width: 100%;max-width: 1000px !important;height: 5px;border-width: 0;color: red;background-color: red\" \/>\n<div style=\"text-align: center\">\n<h3><em>You're part way through this article. Want to keep reading?<\/em><\/h3>\n<h4><em>Only members of the Rationalist Society of Australia can read our Premium articles.\u00a0<\/em><\/h4>\n<h3 style=\"height: 20px\"><span style=\"color: #c83200\"><em><a style=\"color: #c83200\" href=\"https:\/\/rationalist.com.au\/membership\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Become a member today.<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><em>Already a member? 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