Poor Bali

I'VE never been to Bali. I feel a moral obligation to go there now. The purpose of the murder campaign waged there over the past three years is the methodical economic destruction of the island.

This is, below the surface, a civil war. In the eyes of the bombers, the great crime of the Balinese people is to have successfully resisted the march of Islam. Bali is a largely Hindu-Buddhist island in an Islamic sea. It is thus a haven for infidels. Its greatest industry, tourism, serves Western infidels. Bali must be brought to its knees.

Well, actually, I've been to Bali. The above quote was by Paul Sheehan in yesterday's SMH. But my visit was 20 years ago, before I was married. I believe Bali has changed a lot since then. When I went, Kuta and Legian were separate villages, where now, I'm told, the tourist strip has expanded and joined the two places. Tourist Bali has become larger and more sophisticated.

My memory of the place is pristine beaches with the most perfectly formed surf I've ever seen, beautiful mountain scenery in the island's interior, and wonderful people. I'm sure those aspects are largely unchanged.

I share Sheehan's sentiment to (re)visit the island. Bali's economy will be devastated by this latest bombing, and by scaring the tourists away, ie, getting us to change our behaviour, the terrorists are winning.

The sad reality is, though, that I will not return to Bali soon. Logically, the risk of being injured or killed in a terrorist event is less than being injured or killed during my daily drive to work, but like most other would be tourists, I will not submit my family or myself to the remote risk. This is a great pity, for the Balinese deserve our support.

The terrorist victory of scaring the tourists from Bali is on top of the recent one of causing our Federal and State governments remove traditional safeguards against detention without charge or legal recourse.

I'm saddened by the degree that the terrorists have changed our behaviour and outlook. Where will it end?