Howard's way as inspirational as ever!

I was very pleased to hear that our Prime Minister was planning to put pen to paper and draft a preamble to our nation’s Constitution.
John Howard – quite modestly as is his way – admitted he would be calling on some other eminent Australians to help in the task.
Not wanting to wait for his call, I looked up his number the other day and rang to offer my thoughts.
He listened intently as I outlined my own views as to what the preamble should contain, and then, somewhat out of character for our national leader, to my mind, seemed reluctant when I begged him to divulge some of his own thoughts on the matter.
But after what seemed like an eternity of silence, he began to open up.
“I believe the preamble should be simple, yet dignified,” Mr Howard said down the line.
“It should capture the national spirit. It should acknowledge our past and point to our potential.
“It should be more than a collection of words. It needs to be living, breathing encapsulation of what it means to be Australian.
“It needs to embrace our Aboriginal history and our multi-cultural present...”
I couldn’t contain my emotions any longer.
“That’s....awe inspiring,” I said. "Very well done, Prime Minister."
There was another long silence at the other end of the line.
“Prime Minister?” said the voice.
I really must get to the optometrist.

Rufus Badinage MBE, now retired, is one of Australia’s leading
experts on politics and public administration having worked as a
senior bureaucrat for various state and federal governments.