By Sean Maguire

For most young Westerners, traveling is seen as an inalienable right and a rite of passage when becoming an adult. With the story that Chinese dissident writer Liao Yiwu has been refused permission to attend an Australian literary festival - perhaps this right needs rethinking.

We need to realise that while international borders might seem more fluid and more open in this era of globalization; for the world's most dangerous thinkers their country can act as an enormous prison stopping them from leaving to learn from foreigners and spreading messages their government doesn't like.

It's time we realise that traveling is still a luxury enjoyed by a privileged few that has to be used to learn and change situations where it is still restricted.

What do you think about the story of Liao Yiwu? Has it made you rethink your ideas on travel and the responsibilities that this comes with? Tell us and remember....Disqus!

For a man synonymous with the 60's, social revolution and civil rights; Dylan's recent state approved set list in China was a new low. This was a man that might have been a reluctant figurehead of the protest movement (see "It Ain't me Babe") but actually obeying a repressive government and lending it his credibility is something else.

It speaks of cowardice, irrelevance and suggets that the 'never ending tour' should end pretty soon.

How many times do we have to see this passivity before we turn off?

One too many Bob. 

Do you think Bob Dylan has lost his edge by playing a state approved set list in China? Should he just fade away? Tell us and remember....Disqus!

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Watching the semi-final of India vs Pakistan was, as is usual with high profile Indian games, a laughable affair. Every man and his dog wants to be seen “caring”.

What should have been a decent game of Cricket became all about the politics. The Pakistani PM and Indian PM went about the useless “I look at you for 2 seconds” handshaking.

At the end, Sonia Gandhi was sitting in the drinks cart, anxious to be seen in an Indian victory. It reminded me of when India won the 2007 Twenty20 World Cup – they returned to every single politician grabbing them, wanting to be seen in the limelight, so much that you could barely see the cricketers (they sat behind the Pols at the ceremony).

Full credit to the Cricketers, who despite the entire climate created in the last week, stuck to their Cricket and played out a good competitive match. Although they won’t listen, I hope Politicians understand that we watch sport to escape politics and return to some humanity.

How about you enjoy it with us, and get your opportunistic hands off it. . . read more

Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott and Leonardo Dicaprio have a lot more in common than you would think. All three have invaded my hopes, dreams and aspirations, then carefully and systematically destroyed them.

Dream number 1. No more references to tomato sauce by politicians ever again. Failed. 

Aspiration number 2. Environmentally conscious and proactive politicians that utilise creative solutions to harrowing problems. Destroyed

Hope number 3. A government that reflects the voice of the people, constructively exhibiting how the democratic process can work. Slowly spiralling into the pile of discarded desires. 

As is evident by this charade of an election, neither party shall accurately carry the voice of the Australian people. What we need to do now is look forward forgetting the joke of a government that shall exist for the next four years or so.

We must look towards the young and aspiring politicians of Australia. What Australian politics needs now is depth, character and intelligence, so I ask of our schools, universities and workplaces, will the real Australian government please stand up?   . . read more