Preserving the integrity of the bush.

One has to commend the Nationals for their steadfast insistence that the third Telstra sale (T3) has to pass the genuine scrutiny (martialled by them) of the people of rural Australia. That this will not be automatic, or easily gained, is as it should be.
Australians are deeply in love with the bush, even if most of us don't live there. We recognise that there is something quintessential about the bush, and that our Australian character is caught up in it. This is more than just a romantic irrationality and we should not be surprised by it.
Many countries have either destroyed much of their rural base (the US) and one recognises how sad the country is about this. Others have acted to protect it (see for example this reflection on the French insistence of the preservation of the rural sector).
Sure, there are elements of protectionism which are infuriating but do we want to see the French rural community gutted any more than we want to see the bush knee-capped.
As we say: Good on the Nationals, hold this government to genuine account....someone has to, and the Opposition seems to have been filletted!

Seductions

Having just spent a good part of the last day at seminars on changes in the church, and particularly today on Small Strong Effective Churches one becomes aware that there is an abundance of wisdom from the presenter, Kennan Callahan, who reminds us:

• that big is not necessarily beautiful, which is a perversion of thinking ...indeed a seduction... presented to modern organisations in a world gone mad
• that people are drawn to positive communities where engagement with the gospel, as much as anything else...is fun

This is, I think, a helpful perception. We too often are seduced by the problems of this world, and forget that God delights in us and we are called to delight in him. That is, that the experience of God is fun. There have been too many periods in my last twenty years when there has been too little fun.

As I reflect on my life as a Christian, I see that much of what I treasure is the fun...the laughter, the song, the celebration, the relationships. This is where genuine experience of God begins to be found. And too often we have been caught up in pedantry not necessarily of our own making, but often of the bitter agendas of people who are seriously screwed up!

I am not saying that we should trivialise our faith, but that the advice to stop taking ourselves so seriously needs to be heard by us all.

Don't be boring

A reflection by a senior priest to a junior priest, concerning the art of preaching. Rule No. 1...don't be boring!
I couldn't agree more. While it is easy to be flippant and banal, and that might not be boring...it is not saying that either. If the genuine gospel is being preached it will certainly not be boring. Challenging, inspiring, demanding and so on, but not, I think, boring.
One might add, in conclusion. That it is not just preachers who make sermons boring. Listeners who do not listen, who simply long for it all to be over; who fail to think about and engage with what is being said and take it seriously. Yes, listeners, you must take some responsibility too.
It took me years to realise that one of the unfortunate side effects of having been a young chorister was that I had also developed bad listening habits. I was eighteen when I realised that I had to undo 12 years of bad listening habits. Not entirely the fault of the preacher, sometimes so. But we all need to take responsibility.

Slowing down

Today is the first Sunday when the furious work pace appears to have slowed down.
But you have to admit that things are looking good.

A natural sign

This strange creature made his way across a busy road and up a tree a night or so ago.
Since we moved to Blackwood ten years ago the numbers of Koalas seem to have been on the increase. This is, I think, a good thing.
It was good to see the cars slowing down in the half dusk light, even though the volume of traffic was high. At least sometimes we recognise that there is more to life than just getting there as fast as you can.

But...what is the real price of identity

The previous discussion asks some questions about the actual dollars and cents involved in establishing identity and such things as providing certificates.
All this begs the question about the current debate concerning an Australia Card and what the price of that might be, and who might foot the bill.
The previous discussion notes that we should not be confident that Government will not expect citizens to pay for the price of establishing one's identity to its satisfaction. This, if a passport is anything to go by, is quite a costly exercise.
But the real price will never be the dollars and cents, but the erosion of privacy and civil liberty. These matters always have to be balanced with other issues such as security and the common good but this is a tight rope and a slippery slide to mix a couple of metaphors.
In principle it seems to me that there are some important guidelines that government and other organisations could do well to keep in mind:

• Information is power. Personal details are not neutral, they colour the picture considerably. Whether it be gender, economic status, age, health details, HIV status, criminal record, likes and dislikes, political affiliation, credit rating and so we could go on... all of this has some intrinsic value
• In principle, information should not be kept that is not necessary to keep. The collection of information for its own sake should be discouraged.
• The collection of any information should be regulated and approved by independent authority which has to be satisfiued that there is adequate justification
• Cross referencing of information should be carefully monitored

There are indeed so many principles that we begin to see something of why it is so scary.

That ole house

Some will be fascinated to see the ongoing development referred to before I went on holidays. You'll note particularly that a pergola/verandah has been attached on the northern side, and a larger extension on the southern side.
Sue even said there is a chandelier inside now!!!

The price of identity

Some of you will have read the ongoing saga of getting our new passports for our brief overseas holiday, now sadly over. Much of this is to do with the establishment of identity. Indeed the peculiar issue of the status of marriage certificates (see here) is exactly about this issue; though it is to be noted that even though Marriage Celebrants (such as myself) will now be issuing certificates that are numbered, these will not be "official" and couples will still be required to purchase an evidentiary certificate from the registrar. This is also the case with birth certificates, at least in SA, new-borns although registered are only ever given an 'extract' and a full certificate also needs to be 'purchased'.
As only full certificates are acceptable means of proof one wonders why they are not issued instead of these non-acceptable means. Why are you required to pay an extra $30-$60 for a document that, in reality, everyone is required to have?
Don't get me wrong I think we should have legitimate and authenticated certificates of birth and marriage, it has long concerned me that the process of registering marriages is far too loose. I wonder how many people have found out years after they were married that some hiccup has occurred (like the documents were lost in the mail, or the envelope never got posted) and the marriage was never fully registered. No receipt or counterfoil, for example, is issued to either celebrant or bride and groom to say that the official lodgement process was completed. I have at least on one occasion found forms that I thought I had posted off a couple of weeks later (I now make a point of posting off forms on my way home from the wedding).
Passports, too, that are lost or stolen will now cost at least an extra $50 (on top of the application fee) to replace.
Identity is a costly business.

Saying sorry

On last night's Lateline, Marcus Einfeldt said how kind and how graciously received was the PM's apology to Vivienne Solon for her illegal deportation and treatment at the hands of the Department of Immigration.( see here for that extraordinary apology). Tony Jones immediately jumped to the question of whether or not that expression of sorrow was also an admission of legal liability.
What idiocy would lead us to think that that is so? Only p[resumably that which is fuelled by our lust for controversy. Even the slightest understanding of the separation of powers would cause us to understand that it is the Courts, whether the "high court of Parliament", the Supreme, Federal or High Court that will determine legal liability; and not the word of one its agents...albeit one at the pinnacle such as a Prime Minister.
If we would not expect such bizarre connection perhaps Howard would have expressed his sorrow to the aboriginal people along time ago.
While there is no doubt in most of our minds that it is appropriate that the Rau's and Solon's of this world should receive financial compensation for the gross injustices that have been wrought upon them, the mere throwing of money at these situations does little to address the pain and the destruction of life and psyche that has taken place. Nevertheless it is not unreasonable to think that there should be some financial recompense...and equally well there should be a word of sorrow. One is not more valuable than the other...they are different components of the expression of regret.
We are still waiting for the sorry to the aboriginal peoples of Australia!

Same, Same....but different

In the way of things there were many memorable captions in the over the top abundance of the omnipresent T-shirt on the idyllic isle of Bali. My favourite worn by a Chinese companion at breakfast one day.....on the front Same, Same and on the back ...but different!
It appealed to my quirkisms any way.
It spoke something of our experience in Bali (home today and a 20 degree drop in temperature). A very relaxed & friendly culture, people of different ethnicity living relatively harmoniously. Is it "cultural tourism" mainly not...unless the culture is tourism.
Amidst our many fears before we left, I kept saying to people that it was more dangerous in London than in Denpasar...a prophecy that proved sadly true!
Never once did I have I have public officials demanding money so that I wouldn't end up in jail. Never once did my three daughters feel treated disrespectfully, though my sensitivities were sometime higher than that.
Never once did we suffer food poisoning from poor hygeine, nor did we lack medical attention when three of us at different times had tonsilitis or bronchitis (which we brought from Oz with us).
More pleasing yet, the kids saw some of the awful disparities that we....a family of pretty modest income...could afford this great holiday in a way that will not be possible for most Balinese in the forseeable future.
Would I go again...certainly! Would I encourage others to go...certainly! Will we be able to afford to...not for quite some time!

35 here

It is winter here in Bali and today it is only 35 degrees. Brrrrr!
But I did notice that it was only 13 in Adelaide yesterday! We have all got into the swing of things, though it is a very "in your face" kind of place. This morning as Sue and I went for a walk on the beach she laughed as I said to the man who offered to sell us a tray full of watches: "It's quarter to 8." It can be a bit annoying and the hotel serves as a useful place and safe place to retreat to when you don't want anything new or cheap.
Everyone has been quite well, though left Adelaide with a chest and a nose and I got progressively sicker for the first week. But ........I feel fine now. Cya soon

Tomorrow looms

in six minutes time it will be tomorrowand I shall be off on a short holiday.
It has been a hectic day...but we will get there.

Forthcoming arrangements

Many will appreciate from a previous series of posts and a general comment made early last month that I am not without my detractors! And why should I be?
However, it's simply not possible for me when I am going to be away (as I will be in the immediate future) to either comment, rebut, retaliate or what ever. In that sense a weblog is an easy target for those who like to attack the defenceless.

As it is MY weblog it is not unreasonable for me to take some control of this. And so, for the immediate future it will not be possible for most third-parties to comment on my posts.
I do this not out of any menace but because I think people might be coming to my weblog to read my meanderings not of those individuals who (under the guise of anonymity) like to berate others with their ceaseless reiteration. It is harassment, and has ever been so.
Only now it is electronic harassment.
Harassment is, I think, selfish and indulgent. It is increasingly illegal, and rightly so. It is deeply hurtful, and harassers seldom heed the genuine pain of those they harass.
I have indeed expressed my pain and that of others to our peculiar harasser, and to no avail. He continues to do it.
So, it is with some regret that I take this step.
But I think all but one of my readers will appreciate why!!

Irregularity

I apologise to those of you who complain about the infrequency of recent posts. It is fortuitous in a way, as the next two weeks will be even more erratic!!!
I will try and make what posts I can, while I am away for a couple of weeks holiday.
In the meantime, I look at the house over the road. An archaeological find of the last two months, and I imagine it will be very different when I return. The little old lady died, her nephew sold the house, the local heritage builder pulled fown the front fence, they removed the ivy growing over the house, chipped away the plaster facade....and found the sign "Boot and Shoe shop!"
People had forgotten it was there, though photos existed in local histories but no one could remember just where it was.
Well, parishioner Joan S could because they had lived in the house just after the War when first married.
Now the builder has chipped and chivied, gutted and paved, even resprayed tan bricks to look red! And it will be looking fabulous and unrecognisable when we return in two weeks.
In the way of these things, I imagine it was bought for a song...another song has been spent renovating it, and it will be sold for four songs and a half in 12 months time. The way of the world.
I will try and post a photo for tomorrow.
Cya soon.