June 25, 2003

JAKE RYAN BEER FUND ALERT

Fantastic! So far a total of $A372 has been raised for Jake Ryan, Australia’s foremost anti-terror spokesman. News Ltd’s Cindy Wockner files an update:

Mr Ryan's mobile telephone was running hot, victims and families at home congratulating him for doing something no Australian had yet done.

"If anyone thinks it is the wrong thing, put yourselves in our shoes," he said yesterday. "He is one metre in front of you looking you in the eye and screaming out, what would you do? I've got no regrets at all."

Nor should he have. Meanwhile the BBC and Radio National place Jake Ryan where they believe he should be placed - at the very end of reports about how cruelly accused Bali bombing mastermind Ali Ghufron was treated by police. Who exactly is the victim here?

Jake Ryan lost his right heel, had other people's bones embedded in his legs and shrapnel pierced his abdomen. He was on crutches for four months.

So donate, if you haven’t already.

See here, here, and here for earlier Beer Fund reports. Now hit the PayPal on the left. Mention that your donation is for Jake. Let's try for $500, at least. Posted by Tim Blair at June 25, 2003 04:52 AM

Comments

I wasn't clear before I read this how injured he was. I can't quite understand how people in that courtroom stay sane listening to this man who has caused them unimaginable pain wail about being scared of the police. I'm so sorry.

Posted by: md at June 25, 2003 at 05:31 AM

The Indonesian police seem to have had a few Jake Ryanish words to this bloke about his moaning. He grizzled to the court that they said something like, hey you wanted to be a martyr and wage jihad and you're bitching about a kick in the balls? Get over it.

Posted by: Dave F at June 25, 2003 at 05:38 AM

"So donate, if you haven’t already"

Done! Rarely have I felt so good about doing something...

Posted by: Steve at June 25, 2003 at 06:55 AM

Yes yes, will donate as soon as my new ccard gets verified later today...

Hmm. I shouted at some lefties at Sydney University (Well... shout at them to be exact, more of a continuous thing). Can I have a fund to buy me beer as well? I think it's a worthy cause (Student Unrepresentitive Council meetings go by much better with when you can't actually remmeber them ...)

Posted by: Tim A at June 25, 2003 at 08:16 AM

If this was Australia, he would probably be aquitted, given an apology and $5m in compensation for having a bruised pinkie (or something).

How DARE that darstadly Jake Ryan pick on the poor, tortured little freedom fighter!

Pfft.

Posted by: Tim A at June 25, 2003 at 08:18 AM

Tim B - this little campaign of yours is a fairly disgusting attempt to exploit the mental state of a man who's been through hell for cheap political point-scoring.

Shameless.

Posted by: Bon Scott at June 25, 2003 at 11:13 AM

I'll happily buy a beer for any victim of the Bali bombing but this may be the silliest call for donations I have ever heard. It's not that I disagree with it - I just don't understand it.

Posted by: Simon Roberts at June 25, 2003 at 11:25 AM

re: murderous whackjob Mukhlas and his alleged treatment by the police, I have only two words to say...BOO HOO!!! Have a drink on me ,Jake...from an American admirer...and thanks, Tim, for this website...thru you,Tex,Yabbo and others I feel like I know Austrailias loony leftys...even tho I have never seen them before..(Adams,Pilger etc>)Keep up the good work.

Posted by: debbie at June 25, 2003 at 12:29 PM

What's cynical, Bon, about buying a man a drink? And where are the "politics" in supporting a victim of terrorism?

Posted by: tim at June 25, 2003 at 01:41 PM

Bon Scott has got a bad bout of blog envy, made worse because the occasion of this corrosive emotion is your disinterested effort in salving the wounds caused by mad criminals.
I deserve a beer for that.

Posted by: Jack Strocchi at June 25, 2003 at 01:53 PM

What do you expect from the roving zombie of a pop star who choked on his own chunder?
Go and get yourself a feed of brains, Bon.

Posted by: paul bickford at June 25, 2003 at 02:10 PM

Announcing the Jack Strocchi Beer Fund ...

Posted by: tim at June 25, 2003 at 02:13 PM

Tim, we have introduced Debbie here to Margot, Adams and Pilger. I think we need a "Debbie Beer Fund"

Posted by: Tex at June 25, 2003 at 03:24 PM

I think a Prozac/Serepax/Stemetil fund would be more useful.

Posted by: paul bickford at June 25, 2003 at 04:53 PM

Yes, but it doesn't give you the same sense of self-worth, enhanced social skills and sexual prowess.

Posted by: Tex at June 25, 2003 at 05:06 PM

Certainly, but it puts the nausea, vertigo and sheer blind terror in check.

Posted by: paul bickford at June 25, 2003 at 06:07 PM

Isn't Bon Scott, whoever he or she may be, the one querying the mental state of Jake Ryan -- a perfectly healthy state of mind, as any psychiatrist woiuld tell you, is to get angry when you ought to -- and therefore the one taking the piss.
It's Scott who should be ashamed of himself/herself. Pathetic doos.

Posted by: Dave F at June 25, 2003 at 06:12 PM

Come on Scotty. Stop being such the Zionist and put a few shekles in the pot. I just put in ten. If I don't see that you have put at least one, then I will have to just assume that you are a member of the Stern Gang.

Posted by: Charles at June 25, 2003 at 06:43 PM

I didn't say that his mental state was unusual - it's perfectly normal to be angry after such a horrible experience. I just said that Tim was exploiting it.

Posted by: Bon Scott at June 26, 2003 at 10:20 AM

I doubt he will be too perturbed at being exploited to the tune of a gorilla's worth of free piss.

Posted by: paul bickford at June 26, 2003 at 10:30 AM

Bon, I've said it before and I'll say it again.. you're a wanker. Any problems with that email me back and if you live in Melbourne lets get together for a chat...wanker...

Posted by: Jake D at June 27, 2003 at 08:45 PM