Keith weighs in on where Australia is heading
Keith weighs in on the debate about the 'Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions' controversy in Marrickville, and uses this as a springboard to highlight broader concerns about where this 'lucky country' is heading!
Anytime anyone or any organisation or government criticises Israel they are immediately criticised and pressured as anti-semitic in an obviously organised way amid vociferous denials about that organisation from the various Jewish groups here. But I think there is a deeper and much more serious issue developing.
The USA has seen an increasing polarisation and loss of civility in its political debate for some time. Christians have been part of that as the Glenn Beck phenomenon clearly shows. The division and stridency that George Bush and John Howard encouraged and played on continues to grow here in Australia. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.
I predict an increasing and increasingly acrimonious divide between those Christians who support the Greens and those who support people like Fred Nile. The choice will be clear, whether you are going to support the future or the past; Whether you are going to be inclusive or exclusive in your basic philosophy and approach to life; whether you will embrace or spend your life threatened by the Other.
The Religious Right is an organisation predicated on fear and grief at their loss of previous influence. You see the same phenomenon when you look at who is driving climate change denial. They are mostly old, rich, white men who fear a loss of power and money. There is no logic to any of this. It is pure emotion, so reasoned argument is useless. It is fear being expressed as politics. You see the same fear of change and loss of power at play on the issues of women in leadership in the church and the place of gays in society.
I expect the next ten years to be interesting and sad as the election of Barry O'Farrell will allow the Religious Right a voice they have not had before. I predict uncomfortable times ahead for those of us who value justice, fairness and inclusiveness.
Join the debate on the Fighting Fathers Forum (use VIP code 'NO HOMERS' to join the forum)
Anytime anyone or any organisation or government criticises Israel they are immediately criticised and pressured as anti-semitic in an obviously organised way amid vociferous denials about that organisation from the various Jewish groups here. But I think there is a deeper and much more serious issue developing.
The USA has seen an increasing polarisation and loss of civility in its political debate for some time. Christians have been part of that as the Glenn Beck phenomenon clearly shows. The division and stridency that George Bush and John Howard encouraged and played on continues to grow here in Australia. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.
I predict an increasing and increasingly acrimonious divide between those Christians who support the Greens and those who support people like Fred Nile. The choice will be clear, whether you are going to support the future or the past; Whether you are going to be inclusive or exclusive in your basic philosophy and approach to life; whether you will embrace or spend your life threatened by the Other.
The Religious Right is an organisation predicated on fear and grief at their loss of previous influence. You see the same phenomenon when you look at who is driving climate change denial. They are mostly old, rich, white men who fear a loss of power and money. There is no logic to any of this. It is pure emotion, so reasoned argument is useless. It is fear being expressed as politics. You see the same fear of change and loss of power at play on the issues of women in leadership in the church and the place of gays in society.
I expect the next ten years to be interesting and sad as the election of Barry O'Farrell will allow the Religious Right a voice they have not had before. I predict uncomfortable times ahead for those of us who value justice, fairness and inclusiveness.
Join the debate on the Fighting Fathers Forum (use VIP code 'NO HOMERS' to join the forum)
posted by Father Dave at 5:17 AM
2 Comments:
I totally agree with Keith. I witnessed a similar mentality in the late 80s and early 90s. The Greiner govt saw itself as the broom which would sweep the state clean of Wran's rabble. Let's hope Barry is a bit more tolerant because generally speaking...the most politically dangerous are those with narrow frameworks upon which the rest of society has to fit. When the "fit" just doesn't work, conservatives never look inward but punish those with the wrong foot size.
Beautifully put, sister.
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