Category Archives: Personal

Refugees in the dark over security checks – Eureka Street

This article touches on a huge source of anxiety among refugees on bridging visas and living in communities such as ours. A High Court challenge is a flickering sign of hope that our Kafka-like systems will find an inch of redress. The toxic political polarisation that soaks our our waking moments, however, will take something more. RefugeesContinue reading “Refugees in the dark over security checks – Eureka Street”

Why keep saying sorry?

Sorry Day commemorations in Wellington Square, Perth, were significant but low key this morning. The usual annual crowd of 3000, comprising school children and business folk, is not as accessible on a chilly Saturday morning. Even so, about 100 folk gathered at the Sorry Pole listened to speeches from Sorry Day leaders, Noongar Elder BenContinue reading “Why keep saying sorry?”

People smuggler or the Schindler of Asia? – The Drum Opinion

People smuggler or the Schindler of Asia? – The Drum Opinion – Ali Al Jenabi was a people smuggler. Resourceful and compassionate, he took his responsibilities to others seriously. This has cost him dearly. (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). I find this article and the accompanying comments moving and disturbing on so many levels. Lamentation, sackcloth andContinue reading “People smuggler or the Schindler of Asia? – The Drum Opinion”

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen – fishes & faith

A wealthy sheikh decides on a visionary project that would be of benefit to his people (not to mention front door access to  his favourite British sport). Having already built a dam for irrigation, he would now like to stock it with salmon for fly fishing. Money is no obstacle, only the initial stubbornness of a narrowlyContinue reading “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen – fishes & faith”

In praise of purposeful passion

Time to consider another Beatitude from the syntax of Jesus’own native language: Happy are they whose passion radiates with deep abiding purpose, they shall envision the furthest extent of life’s wealth. (Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God) Again, a translation of this Beatitude from the Aramaic text calls forth freshContinue reading “In praise of purposeful passion”

A Dangerous Method and Synchronicities

As long suffering readers of this blog may know, I am fascinated with synchronicities (aka “co-incidences”), so off I hied myself to see “A Dangerous Method“, a movie on the early professional life of the guru of synchronicity, Dr Carl Jung. I found the movie somewhat dis-satisfying, although I appreciated the exploration of his relationshipContinue reading “A Dangerous Method and Synchronicities”

The Hunger Games, Girard and the Cross

I succumbed and took in “The Hunger Games” at the local multiplex  – a greybeard amongst herds of youth. The screenplay is the first of several based on a popular teenage trilogy surpassing, it is trumpeted, the Harry Potter and Twilight series. Eschewing magic tricks and supernatural themes, it paints a picture of a post-apocalypticContinue reading “The Hunger Games, Girard and the Cross”