Why I will still vote Labor

For those in other countries Australia has just sworn in our first female Prime Minister, Julia Gillard (pictured).

She has filled the post after the former Prime Minister (Kevin Rudd - see 2 posts ago) was flagging in the polls.

Gillard is less conservative than Rudd and is not a Christian so I think many of my fellow Australian Christians will go for the more conservative, Christian Tony Abbott. I will not.

This is for two reasons. The first is there is no benefit to me personally by voting liberal as they will no doubt cut social security (which I depend on for a living) and also cut education and health. I study and use the health system a lot for my mental illness. I can not vote for anyone who would decrease my quality of life to that extent, whether he believes in God or not.

The second reason is that, as a woman, Julia Gillard may be more open to some of the more intense issues effecting women such as domestic violence, rape and child abuse. I am not a conventional feminist but I do not believe women and children should put up with the light penalties for these crimes and the lack of education and shame surrounding them.

Also, in her words: "I will delight you. I will disappoint you. But always I will be working hard for you."

No doubt other people will have different views. I am not representing anyone else. These are just my views. I only ask if you have other views to please be respectful.

God Bless

Amber

Seven Ways to Change the World - My analysis

NB - This post contains some thought provoking ideas with which many of you will disagree. I don't mind people commenting anonymously but please be respectful.

Hi Everyone

I have just finished reading Seven Ways to Change the World: Reviving Faith and Politics by Jim Ellis.

Ellis describes himself as an evangelical Christian (but not a fundamentalist) and is concerned with the way in which the 'religious right' has taken over American politics - making, he feels, the only two topics of political thought to be abortion and homosexuality.

He feels, as I do, that when Christians engage in political thought/decisions the scope of that engagement should be broader. He quotes from Old Testament prophets Micah and Amos, and from Jesus Himself, about God's concern for the poor and oppressed. He asks that Christians (and other interested people such as 'spiritual seekers' keep the government honest by not only private piety but by engagement with the issues.

The issues, Ellis feels, are third world poverty, racism, the environment, peaceful negotiations instead of war and using war only as a last resort, having loving family and community relationships, welfare within the state (especially for young mothers so that they will not have abortions) and keeping leaders (including church leaders) accountable to their supporters. ]

He stresses that many great Evangelical arrivals have occurred when faith became 'life changing' and 'policy changing'. He stresses that we are in an age where the word 'Christian' stands for being personally pious and out of touch at best and hypocritical at worst. However the name 'Jesus', for most people, conjures up images of compassion, justice, mercy and forgiveness. He says, obviously, that this is a huge problem.

Before launching into my opinions I would like to publicly thank my Christian brothers and sisters who stood by me during my lengthy mental illness and who were exceedingly charitable. I know many of you may question my opinions in this piece but this does not mean that I am unthankful for your support. It simply means that my mind is now clear enough to have opinions - and I believe this is something to really thank God for!

Now - for the opinions - I pretty much agree with Wallis wholeheartedly. I think Christians should not only support evangelism and charity (which are important) but we should think about and pray for a less broken world. After we have gone to God in this way it is time for us to make a decision about how we will intervene in this broken world.

Interventions can be personal (like recycling) or public (giving information about third world issues etc) or wholistic (hey let's get involved at every level!) I think the wholistic way is the best. Of course we all have our 'pet' issues but I don't think God does - every issue is important to Him and we have to, at least, have thought about them enough to give answers to the sceptic or seeker who wants to know our position on third world poverty, global warming and racism.

For my part these are the things I'd like to do - do some Volunteer work for a charity like Salvos or Vinnies(using my office skills), stop thinking bad things in my head about disadvantaged people, pray for those I can't practically help, write to politicians to keep them accountable and, after I have been stable for at least five years, volunteer as a secretary/business advisor in a remote Aboriginal community.

Anyway - if this post has inspired you or you really disagree with it please let me know. Your comments are valuable to me.

God Bless you all

Amber

The Australia Day/Invasion Day Debate - My comments

I will start off by saying that I am happy to live in a country where 1) The stolen generation have received an official apology and 2) The illustrious award of 'Australian of the Year' has been given to an Aboriginal activist. Mick Dodson is a worthy recipient and both of these points show that Australia is becoming a more mature, inclusive country.

There are many other things that I love about my country. I love its wild and natural beauty and am thankful for the many environmentalists and others who have worked non violently for this to be reserved.

I am grateful children from poorer families are eligible for payments, subsidies and deferred fees so that they can continue their education.

I am grateful for national health insurance (Medicare) which has, essentially, saved my life from asthma attacks and allowed me to regain sanity after years of suffering from severe mental illness.

I am grateful for freedom of speech and religion. I can openly say I am a Christian, and express my views on this blog without the threat of government persecution.

I am grateful for democracy and the ideal that we 'little people' can have a say in how our country is run and keep it accountable to its stated ideals and promises.

I love Australia and I know no other country. But...Australia has a black history too.

In Tasmania it seems something akin to genocide was carried out. In the Northern Territory (my other home) Aboriginal people are disproportionately dying earlier from treatable diseases, incarcerated, losing their children, having problems with drugs and alcohol and being involved in domestic violence.

The 26th of January, to my suffering fellow citizens, is a celebration of a day when their country was invaded which led to many of the aforementioned problems.

I am not arguing to turn back the clock but, like Mick Dodson, I feel I must argue for a different day. If we truly want Aboriginal people to live as citizens in their own country we must also want to celebrate 'nationhood' with them.

To me this would involve a simple thing - changing the date of Australia Day - perhaps to the date when Aboriginal people were granted citizenship, and the vote.

Now that is something worth celebrating.

God Bless all my readers even those who will probably disagree with me (as I said previously it is, I think, a mark of a healthy democracy when we can disagree without fear).

Amber

Barack Obama's Inaugeration

Yesterday my friend Edwina brought a tape of Barack Obama's inaugeration and we watched it at my place with another friend of mine, Heather.

Millions of people were outside waiting for Barack Obama to 'make history' as America's first black president.

Despite what must have been a gruelling schedule Obama appeared poised and confident as he came to the podium amidst loud chants of "Obama Obamna" fronm the crowd.

Obama stressed that the people of America should remain faithful to their founders in the midst of the current crisis.

He clearly indicated what were the signifiers of crisis - war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the economy, lack of health care and appropriate schooling and the environment. He said that these challenges would be met and that everyone should choose hope over fear.

He stressed that he was standing for peace and dignity. This got a large cheer.

He said that for the Muslim world - he wanted to enter a new era of respect and work towards the "conmon good". For poorer nations he said that he wanted to see their farms flourish.

He said that Americans are entering a new era of responsibility - to themselves, the nation and the world. That "with hope and virtue let us brace the icy currents..."

After this wonderful speech an elderly black man, Reverend Joseph E Lowery, a civil rights leader with Martin Luther King, prayed for Obama. He said thaqt God had the 'whole world in his hands' and that he wanted the poor delivered from exploitation and a world without war and racism.

I believe Obama will be a good president and that he is sincere. He is not, however, Jesus, and he will make mistakes.

I urge everyone to pray for him, respect him and forgive him when the honeymoon period is over and he makes a mistake.

God Bless you all

Amber