I guess it can be a worrying place at any time, but certainly the news of the last week makes you wonder just how far people will go.

Of course, I am referring to the Malaysian flight which was blown out of the sky killing so many innocent people - almost 100 kids among them.

Wars have been going on for centuries; terrorism too but really only becoming a global threat in recent times.

My understanding of history is not great, but I have always believed that wars had a few unwritten rules.

One of the major ones was that innocent people, especially children, were taboo.

Certainly passengers planes were not fired upon by ground fire.

Planes have been destroyed while in mid-air, but that has normally come from within.

Has our world disintegrated to such an extent that human life can be so callously ended by missiles from earth?

Unfortunately, in conflicts fighter planes will be targeted.

But never passenger planes simply transporting people to their destinations after holidays, business.

Have we gone to another level in our lack of respect for human life?

And it gets worse.

The families of the loved ones so horribly killed are having enormous problems getting them home.

The lack of respect for the bodies - no matter what the reason - is impossible to comprehend, no matter how black-hearted people can be.

I am absolutely gobsmacked by the lack of power of the international community to take control of the crash site and secure the bodies.

Life can be ended so quickly and unexpected in many ways in our normal path in life.

For such an atrocity to occur - involving innocent people in a conflict which has nothing to do with them - is a crime of the very worst kind.

- - - - 

I’m looking forward to the Commonwealth Games which start today.

I can not understand the apparent lack of interest in the Games.

Media commentators are writing them off as irrelevant and of no interest to the general public at all.

I most definitely do not agree.

Any sport involving your country should stir the patriotic juices.

To have such a huge range of sports competing all at the same time against world class athlets....well, it doesn’t get any better.

There are always major sporting events like World Cups, golf majors, Wimbledon etc.

But they involve just the one sport.

We now have a host of sports in action and I for one will be following them with great interest, cheering the Aussies on all the way.

To suggest people are not interested in the Games (I hope) is way off the mark.

- - - -

On to another sporting saga which is worrying - the future of so-called rugby league supercoach, Wayne Bennett.

He did deliver a premiership to my team, St George-Illawarra, but his signing this week with the Brisbane Broncos for next year leaves a very sour taste in the mouth.

Bennett is not exactly setting the world alight with the Newcastle Knights this season - indeed admitting he is ‘embarrassed.’

He announced mid-season he wanted out.

It’s not his fault I suppose that Brisbane snapped him up - but the treatment the Broncos have dished out to current coach, Anthony Griffin is disgraceful.

Griffin has the Broncos well placed (much higher than Bennett’s Knights) but he has been discarded without a second thought.

Footy is big business, true - but surely there is still some semblance of decency around.

It makes you wonder now how the Knights can finish their season knowing Bennett is thinking about next year.

And likewise for the Broncos - most of whom were very supportive of Griffin.

Now he’s been cast aside, do they still have their heart in it?

I don’t think it does the sport any favours when these things occur.

But naivity is one of my weaknesses.

- - - -

If there’s one thing I regret, it’s never being part of a singing group, performing to crowds.

I can’t sing so it was always going to be a problem, but I would have loved to have given it a go.

So I think it is terrific that we have two finalists in the Voice of the Outback competition this weekend.

Penny Sense loves to sing karaoke and  has been singing up a storm.

Artie Wright has been more behind-the-scenes, just singing with his family.

But he too has been killing ‘em, especially the young women.

They’re in action at Narromine Services Club tomorrow evening.

I’m told the grand final has been sold out, but there are plans to stream the performances live throughout the club so people can still attend and even vote if they wish.

- - - -

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”