The Forum > Article Comments > Our fragile liberty > Comments
Our fragile liberty : Comments
By Bruce Haigh, published 25/2/2013As long as Australia does not have a bill of rights, transgressions against individual freedoms are made easier.
- Pages:
-
- 1
- 2
- 3
- ...
- 12
- 13
- 14
- Page 15
- 16
- 17
-
- All
OK I take your point on the idea that “needs are things without which life ends”. My crude definition assumed you would try to interpret it with understanding.
I’ll try again, still hoping for your effort to understand.
In Australia’s Christian tradition we are told in symbolic language (not literal fundamentalism) that we once had a garden of Eden – but that man believed that he knew better. So Cain killed Able over a block of land and the war over land, the establishment of boundaries has continued. In spite of this, or perhaps even because of it, life has multiplied over the years. On that measure you are right – “life” as measured in numbers has thrived on the back of murder, oppression and wealth creation based on property theft. – but this war was always a dead end model, the antithesis of the message of love.
In this continuing war over land we are no longer limited to throwing stones at each other and the earth itself is revolting at the consequences of our ignorant pursuits. The consequence of our ignorance are becoming more dangerous and more apparent. As some Christians say, we must repent .. be born again as it were.
Now I’m no fundamentalist – I’m not even religious - but I understand the truth of all this.
The fact that all the good land is taken doesn’t make the taking now right. It’s true that it has also been “improved” with fences etc, but the “ownership” can be traced back to theft. The fact that the richest (or the fittest) got there first and put up fences doesn’t make it theirs. Those deprived by this (the landless) must have their rightful access restored if we are to have a chance to avoid further war. The poor can’t even collect and store rainwater without stable and secure access to land!
I’m not going to convince you I see, but the conversation has allowed me to understand a way of thinking that is quite alien to me, so thanks, and all the best for your life.