Tourist alert!

The Princess dominates the port, even peeking through the doorway of the Dome cafe!

We were called upon to share Geraldton with 2000 passengers from the Princess cruise ship today. They were ferried into town by a series of tenders and chartered coaches shuttled them backwards and forwards to various vantage points. We used subterfuge and our GPS to scuttle about between them – second guessing where to avoid the next wave of camera touting, dawdling sightseers so we could grab a quiet coffee and visit our own vantage points so that we could take photos, quietly muse and enjoy uncrowded peace. Geraldton’s media lapped up the port’s one day fame, gasping breathlessly at the multi-million dollar windfall and the promise of more to come as cruise companies increasingly look for ports closer to home. But then, we were just local, land-lubbing tourists ourselves. Funny how we get incensed at the disturbance introduced by our own kind!

Australia’s Imams on Osama, tolerance and Sharia law | Herald Sun

 

 

 

The recent niqab controversy has given rise to more, mostly media orchestrated, controversy over the role of Islam in western society.

At least one newspaper has had the civility to canvas a range of Islamic leadership voices on current issues often commented on “in the third person” : Australia’s Imams on Osama, tolerance and Sharia law | Herald Sun. Read well to be fully informed.

Doesn’t take long for some other newspapers, as pointed out by a colleague this morning, to create hysterical headlines from the same comments. Show me in the article above where “Muslims are demanding their own laws”!!!

Everyone should have a cup of tea, a Bex, and a good lie-down.

The same colleague asks where are the church leaders questioning the media’s role in fanning such mischief. Well here’s one.

Church State solution still simmers on the side-lines

This came across my screen a few days ago and I think it’s one of the more cogent opinion pieces I’ve seen in the media as the High Court hearing on government funding for National School Chaplaincy Program approaches.
Hurdle in church-state juggle – Opinion – Editorial – General – The Canberra Times.
Next month, of course, a decision will be made and there will be winners and losers.
This will be the real test of maturity for either side of the debate.
How well will either side handle a loss/win?

Nothing a 13 hour snooze can’t fix!

A few cough lollies, some aspro, heater turned up high and sweating it out through a 13 hour sleep helps chase the collie-wobbles away. The gentleness and considerations of a TLS (tender loving spouse) is also indispensable. I usually flee the scene on Sunday mornings when on leave (we live right next to the church), but I woke up just as the service was getting under way – no mood to flee anywhere. Slow breakfast, Sunday paper, and a good start on P D James “Death in Holy Orders” (what an apt title) saw us through to where I think I can grab the next few weeks’ leave by the tail and hang on!

Our need to know keeps us from learning so much…

Cover of "Native Wisdom for White Minds"
Cover of Native Wisdom for White Minds

Begin to care for nature and nature cares for you, in unsuspected ways – Bill Neidjie, Aboriginal elder and author of Kakadu Man.

On the eve of the climax of the great angst – the PM’s announcement of the details of the Carbon Tax package – we hear more wisdom from the earth’s indigenous peoples.

In our sophistication we need to know the “payoff” for each new initiative – even when returning to conservation principles. All our questions need to be answered.

Native Wisdom for White Minds makes the point that such questions never arise with indigenous peoples. Where the care of nature is concerned they simply start the necessary action. Our “need to know” often stops us from beginning.

First & Last Peoples

 

What is an Aboriginal view concerning asylum seekers? Ironically, while mainstream Australia quakes at the prospect of the “great invasion” by leaky boats, our first peoples (who have an outstanding and legitimate claim to having been invaded by “boat people”) are more accommodating. Here is a brilliant speech by Lowitja O’Donoghue: Return to Afghanistan: resettlement or refoulment?.  Temporary Protection Visas are history now, but they are replaced by an even more draconian detention regime and the “Malaysian” solution which reignites the threat of dangerous refoulment (returning refugees to the place of origin).
Is it only those who have experienced oppression that can show compassion for the oppressed? I believe not – but in this NAIDOC week we can reflect on what makes us human together – and it often takes those whom we soporifically marginalise to wake us up.

Indigenous Australians taking the next step – Eureka Street

Indigenous Australians taking the next step – Eureka Street.

Continuing reflections on NAIDOC week, this article describes a personal odyssey that reminds me very much of the ‘listening journey’ myself and some others undertook in the same region three years ago. Resilience and optimism against the background of the challenges of cultural deprivation and restoration had a strong impact on us. The NAIDOC poster for this year is powerful. We have several festooning the church hall right now.