Dear Carl
I guess I should have specifically stated regarding 'compassion should be selective' that I mean this on a government/policy level, rather than personal. Thanx for pointing that out.

Government policy causes all kinds of anguish... not just in the area of assylum seekers, but in industrial relations, economic policy, trade policy etc.
I myself am a victim of discriminatory and to my mind GREED based trade policy. I heard on TV last night some whining farmers who heard the suggestion that they should leave the land saying :"But what will we DO...this is all we know"... haha.. words which I have almost SHOUTED at Mark Veil (actually I have..but only in capital letters in an email) when I accused him of 'selective' benefits to the agricultural/mining interests at the expense of manufacturing regarding Tarrifs on Chinese manufactured goods.

As to whether the ultimate 'national interest' is better served by digging stuff out of the ground, (which won't ever be replaced) or by encouraging manufacturing remains to be seen, but of one thing you can be sure.."its selective" :)

This also relates to the practical expression of Christian principles in government. i.e. the topic.

Jesus drove the 'opportunistic traders' from the Temple.. "whip whip...get OUT of here you..." and I wonder if there is not a dangling whip from the sky over our Trade Ministers office :)

"W" has one good point... I think Labor/Rudd IS seeking to undermine FF by stealing their policies. But on same sex marraige.. never never never as far as I'm concerned. W, you can call my homophobic on steroids+Turbo.. it won't change that position.

Rudd is demonstrating how 'Church and State' SHOULD be related. Politicians are sensing the community mood..and acting on it.
That dear brethren and sisters is Democracy :)

STEVE... thanx, piggy needed that poke on accuracy. Now.. I refer YOU to John 3 :) the whole chapter..
cheers all

YngNLuvnIt

Im not sure what sector of society your comments might represent, and i am a little confused about your thesis.

However, i would like to say this; i know that the Left wing of Aus culture are attempting to feralise sexuality.There are several advantages to such a pogrom.

For example, in time if socialism became the dominant paradigm, dudes who are strong would have a greater selection of female aquaintances. Thus a greater sex pool can be grabbed. I harken my mind back to Mad Max 1 + 2.

But that is a mass digression from the days of Jesus, to which you were refering. I am certain that sin and sex go together, or it woudn be much fun. I am also certain that the sin of sex is not the deep and despised scenario which you are attempting to put across.

Sin -as in the Bible- is often symbolic. As we all know we have genital bits, so logic details that they are there for purposes. So i woudn't be shy of using it/them. Symbolic sin of the sexual kind would probably really matter as a comparitive only on the judges day, leaving us free to live a sinless life in the meantime.

The choice is yours, and I hope that gives an alternative point.

Carol

How does the ages-old notion of marriage "discriminate" against gays? Marriage is far from a mere contract or legal idea. It is the most important civil institution in our society whose purpose is to provide a stable environment for the raising of our entire society while we are young. There is nothing to be gained by diluting the institution to merely "people who might have a crush on each other at the moment."

By all means let the gays have their committment ceremonies, etc. but gay marriage is a contradiction in terms which would all do well to continue to reject.

Glad to see someone knows their Bible a bit. Sure it's not Leviticus chapter 88. I don't think there is a Leviticus chapter 88. Are we prohibited from smelling Roast Pork or just eating it? Who cares? Is God listening to me? I really don't think so.

I posted an obviously moronic diatribe and you dignified it with a response. Amazing.

Take a look at the Hubble telescope pix of a myriad of smudges; distant galaxies all of them. Each one containing vast quantities of stars and planets. Do you think a 'being' who created all that can be understood by us? Or that such an entity gives a toss what we monkeys do to get happy? I really don't think so.

What's the Bible's favourite metaphor: a flock of sheep? We ain't sheep but an awful lot of us want to be. Kevvy Rudd's just taking advantage to get elected. And the over-happy Jesus-loves-me twit who pollutes Sunday mornings; just his way of getting rich. Just the usual bunch of weaklings who can't face life's essential and brutal truths, (ie all of us). I use drugs myself.

Rudd wants to be PM. The ALP's the place for people who seek power and don't fit into the Libs. Some of them have a conscience but it doesn't amount to much by way of results. Kevvie's one of that new ALP breed of technocrats, (God I wish I knew where they were breeding them). They've all got the same suit and haircut; well studied in the arts of numbers-getting. He'll strongly support the considered argument implied by opinion poll trends. But he won't change the world.

Interesting statements are being made by artists world wide on the recent rise of the new right in Europe. One this is the music video Example: Laibach - Across The Universe. Eastern Europe knows that storm clouds are coming from the right. In this spooky music video, we see arian brown shirted kids sing and dance in the famous John Lennon Song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzTGwIwwguo

This could have been inspired by the famous US film: "Pleasantville" using the same song. The connotation of puritanical misunderstanding leading to violence, as shown in the film "Pleasanville". Puritism starts in innocence but ends in ugly violence. Across the Universe was sung by Fiona Apple in this version. We wonder in the vastness of the universe, how infantile humans behave.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gLWTtlMwo4

The arts community internationally know exactly what is going on. The rest of you are either in denial, slow to catch on, or are seduced by puritanical ways.

This is really getting ominous and creepy. Watch these music videos I have linked for you.

Someone is trying to say something very important.

Incisive as usual Leigh - what economy of words - and BD, your qualified compassion knows no bounds. - I shall read Rudds article - once informed I shall comment further. In the mean time I shall exit this discusison