Reality Check

I've been watching as the world around me has gone about it's merry little business.

Despite the constant news coverage with regard to the carnage left in the wake of Cyclone Nargis in Burma/Myanmar, nobody seems to have said a word. It's not come up in coffee breaks or "water cooler moments". People around me have been strangely silent on the topic.

Then it occurred to me that I too, had been strangely silent.

Now, with the news of an earthquake in China, that has also claimed many lives... it makes me wonder if the plight of the Burmese people will be forgotten.

I'm not going to let this matter slip quietly into the night without comment.

I'm so bitterly annoyed at the behaviour of the Junta. Is there anyone left in the world who does not think ill of their "leadership"? They persecuted and slew Buddhist monks who were protesting against the oppressiveness of their regime. Now they want all aid administered to their people, to go directly through them. They just don't have the manpower... why would anyone make such a stupid decision when so many lives are at risk?

I believe it is down to fear. When they have treated their people so poorly, their actions will be shown up for what they are in the light of international kindness - so they cannot allow that kindness to be seen.

And still the people die.

While all this is happening, Governments and agencies stand by longing to help... there is even a Godsend on the Burmese doorstep. The BBC has reported that US and Thai naval forces have by coincidence (not that I see it as coincidence), been training together in the area and the format of this training?

Disaster relief.

For pities sake it's all there on a plate... the Junta need to wake up and let their people be saved.

Here's a link to a UN pdf map detailing the areas worst hit.

Below is a video clip from the Disasters Emergency Committee that has been screened in the UK following the disaster. If you feel in a position to do something, please don't waste the opportunity:

Now we have the added tragedy of the earthquake in China. Again, thousands of people have died. China obviously has a better infrastructure than Burma and is better equipped to cope with the disaster. However if help is needed, I am sure the international community will be there. What is more, it might be very helpful for China to request help even if it feels able to cope. Why do I say that? I say it because it sets an example for the Burmese Junta to sit up and pay heed to.

When offering aid... does it matter that these countries have appalling human rights records?

No.

Because when we are on the side of life, we do all we can to preserve it in each situation. That sometimes means speaking out against a nation in the wake of human rights abuses one day... and reaching out a helping hand to that same nation when it cannot save it's own people... whether they wish it or not.

Somethings transcend politics.

Obscene

And so it begins...

No sooner have people received Live8 tickets, then this starts to happen:

Live8 Tickets on Ebay

his is obscene. £10 million for a pair of tickets? I would assume that the reason they've come up so soon, is because a group of individuals have texted blocks of applications in the competition in the hope of profiteering from it. It makes sense, because if their numbers appear that frequently in the draw, then it is logical to assume they will have early success.
I'm totally against touting, it ruins it for people who have a genuine interest in whats going on. I don't mind if someone can't go to something, them selling it on at or around cost... but you cannot apply that principle here.

You could say I'm jealous, and maybe I am a little. However my main anger stems from the notion that the amount of money some decadent people are spending is a substantial amount of the Gross Domestic Product of the worst off countries.

To some people, money truly is their god, and the love of it a root of all kinds of evil. I don't deny it's a valuable resource or tool, but that is all it should be... otherwise it becomes too important in our lives.

"No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." Luke 16:13

"People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." 1 Timothy 6:9,10

G8 Conference

I've recently been invited to join some friends who are planning on getting a coach to help the "Make Poverty History" campaign in a rally at the G8 Conference in Edinburgh. Getting a coach from Warwickshire to Scotland will take ages! Transport in this country is prohibitively expensive. It's crazy. Someone at my work is flying to Amsterdam for about £2, but to get to Edinburgh from Birmingham & back is £89. Logic?

I was there at the G8 in Birmingham in 1998. I remember it well. I was taking part in the Jubilee 2000 campaign. I was angry because the G8 leaders changed their plans and escaped to Weston Park for the day, so the protest was only received by lower ranked representatives. I was also a bit peeved because when we passed by The Atlantic Hotel, one of the US snipers who were posted on the roof (as protection for then President Clinton), aimed at me with his rifle when I waved up at them!

On the positive, it was a really powerful and moving experience to be part of, and what's more it WAS for a worthy cause. There were in the region of 80,000 of us standing in a circle, round the International Convention Centre. There was a massive unified roar of defiance from the crowd for about 5 minutes. We then began chanting "Cancel the Debt!" for another 10 minutes. the petition was received and we made our way out.

This year, there will be even more momentum, because the Live Aid 2 concert will be happening around the same time. So the people of the western world will be very much aware of and focused on the "Make Poverty History" agenda.

I've never been north of the border believe it or not, so I also have an ulterior motive to go. However going on coach seems a bit of a long haul to me!

I encourage any of you who can make it to take part in the protest. Even if you can't do that, pray about it... and if you can't do that, then make sure at some point in your lifetime you take in some form of political protest... everybody should do it at least once, it's quite exhilarating.

Choose your causes wisely though.

Besides, if you put your name to ANYTHING remotely political in this country, you get your very own dossier at MI5! OK so admittedly they probably don't have more than an A4 sheet on me at present, but it's fun to be thought of as a little subversive.... keep 'em on their toes, that's what I say!

For anyone who thinks doing something like this is a waste of time, I leave you with this scripture from Ezekiel 1:4-8 to ponder:

The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says.' And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house. You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you."

We don't engage in fierce debate on the grounds that we might win, we challenge those who oppose us because the cause is righteous.

N

Or as Babylon 5 put it:

"Tell the other rangers, the ambassadors, everyone in this army of light. Babylon 5 stands with you. Tell them, tell them that from this place we will deliver notice to the parliaments of conquerors that a line has been drawn against the darkness and we will hold that line no matter the cost." - Sheridan to the Rangers: "The Long, Twilight Struggle"

A Response

The following entry was originally written as a response to someones comment on my "Star Trekkin" post while it was still over at MSN Spaces. I have included the comment ahead of my response to give some idea of the original context:

PA_LightnSoundDj1
P.A was 'ere! OK the money could have been better used but at the end of the day u can't take away ppls rights to be ass-holes, by the same token the church could sell some of its buildings and lands and use that to wipe out some of the 3rd world debts i mean come on look at the cathedrals all in prime city centre sites, that land would be worth a fortune. The church is notorious for taking from the poorest of ppl and giving nothing back in return "pay now for your down payment in the afterlife, the more u give the more u'll be saved" also most of the cathedrals are in such a poor state of repair they are constantly paying millions just to keep them up, prime example is York minster where they have a door charge to enter the house of god! oh and a shop inside as well .... now i seem to remember from my catholic upbringing he scattered the traders from the temple once before, seems to me if he does return he'll feel right at home and have a great time turning over a few stalls set up at the back of many churches.

3-2-1 i'm gone P.A byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

April 22 8:19 AM(http://spaces.msn.com/members/koolpenguin/)

You may be interested to know that I actually largely agree. Do you know how much I sometimes wish an asteroid would just fall out the sky and knock our own church into the ground?

In the middle ages people wanted to honour God by building magnificent places of worship. It's been said you can always tell what a culture values the most, by the size of it's buildings. Back then it was churches... today commercial towers dominate the skyline. Rather sadly.

Anyway back to your point. As time wears on, these places, though architecturally magnificent, become increasingly archaic and impractical to manage. So this is the big question... do we bulldoze something of value (in terms of cultural decadence), or do we keep. it. Personally I feel that churches should be practical places. that require a low economy to run/maintain. Don't get me wrong, I value artistry and architecture quite strongly, but I believe if something is being kept for artistic and cultural value, then it should be cultural and heritage institutions that fund their upkeep. The role of a church building is to be a place that attends to the spiritual needs of a person foremost; a place of worship, a place of prayer, a place of inspiration and reflection. Art does have value within the church, but not ars gratia artis (art for arts sake).

The Archbishop of Canterbury recently urged the Anglicans to think global, act local. Which is excellent in principal. However, when the CofE itself syphons of colossal amounts of your church's money so that IT can act global, not to mention fund rather large clergy pensions, it becomes rather a hypocritical thing to say.

Personally I'd be very happy to see my church secede from the Church of England. That way we could invest more money in spreading the Gospel, and also supporting the needs of the community. I'd also be OK if the church of England ceased being a state religion. Why? Well, if the CofE stopped messing around trying to please everybody, and started sticking to it's guns, people might respect it a little more.

The saying goes that you can't please everyone... so you shouldn't try if it compromises what you are. It's far better to be true to yourself and honest about what you believe, instead of mucking about here and there and pandering to everything.

The centre cannot hold anyway, one day the older churches are going to be impossible to maintain financially, and then we will have come full circle and be back in people's homes... which is awesome!.

I don't care for all the robes and finery. An archbishop looks just as stupid squatting on the loo as any of us do! they aren't any more important... the wise ones (like the retiring archbishop of York), know this.

I went to a confirmation last year, and I had to stop myself laughing. the bishop overseeing it must have thought he was Gandalf. Every time he blessed someone by the laying on of hands, he badly exaggerated his gestures. He reached as far as he could behind him and then brought his arms fully forward... as if he was conjuring something up. It looked like he was doing breast stroke! there is no need for this. The power of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit resides in the heart's of faithful men, and the covenant is between God and the recipient. If the bishop is anything, he's merely a vessel.

The things that upset me the most are places like the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Church of the Nativity. What I find most beautiful about those places, is the fact that they are so humble locations, that played host to the most powerful events in history... the humility is part of that power, and yet it is denied because men pile mountains of gold all over them.

It's like girls, I don't particularly find girls who pile on tons of make-up attractive... I'm attracted to natural beauty the most, and it's the same with churches. Symbolism I'm fine with, but when the symbols and the finery become more important than what is symbolised, it has to stop because otherwise it becomes idolatrous.

So I stand by my criticism of the Star Trek fan campaign to save Enterprise, all the more because I am prepared to stand with you in your criticism of where certain church establishments, are rich towards themselves, but poor towards God.