Poirot,

You have certainly brought bigotry to the discussion which previously had nothing to do with race.

The skilled migrant population is mostly non european, but the liberals bring in more than labor, does that make labor and the unions racist?

Hi Poirot,

As usual, I agree with you that Jesus could have been a leftie, given many of the maxims attributed to him. As an atheist and post-marxist, of course I don't put much store in their actual provenance.

But I must say, in support of vour assertion, that the sentiments expressed in 'love thy neighbour', 'help strangers on the other side', 'turn the other cheek', etc. are immensely preferable to 'hack off their right arm and left leg', 'tear out the eyes of those who offend Allah, and of their children', 'cut off the fingers of unbelievers', 'stone women for a vast array of petty offences', 'look after only your own', etc. - clearly Christian precepts are more cosmopolitan and compassionate compared to the more tribal and backward set of values of Islam.

I'm sure that you would agree :)

Cheers,

Joe

Loudmouth,

Actually, I believe Jesus the Jew was directing other Jews to help their neighbours, etc.... ie. "other Jews".

Before Paul did a Bill Gates and made it all more accessible, following the teachings of Jesus was pretty much an in-house soiree.

Initially one was required to be a Jew to be included in the group - Paul cut out the middle-man - and then the Roman's got in on the act.

In any case, I haven't got time for mind forg'd guff of either variety.

Not really, Poirot: that Samaritan story for example: the Samaritans were an off-beat Jewish sect (they still exist in Israel, about 800 of them) so 'Jesus' (or whoever wrote up that parable) were broadening the notion of 'us' to extend beyond 'our pissy group alone', which is so characteristic of the narrow-minded, pig-ignorant tribal religions of the time, to a generalised 'other'.

In other words, the parable makes the point that strangers can have more compassion and decency than 'one's own'. That really was quite a remarkable viewpoint for the times - even for these times, and so easy to misinterpret, as - forgive me, Poirot - you have done.

Mind you, I think the story of the Good Samaritan is the most Marxist in the Bible. At least, that's how I've always thought that Marxists should behave. What do you reckon, Poirot ?

Cheers,

Joe

PS. BTT: Dutton's assertion tat refugees took jobs from Australians was a really stupid thing to say, BUT I think he was on firmer ground when he contradicted himself and said that refugees were far more likely to be on welfare five years after arrival, that they often arrived illiterate even in their own language, knew little or no English, and had no appropriate job skills. After all, this is not 1946 or 1950, when there was a wide range of infrastructure projects ready to employ hundreds of thousands of willing unskilled and semi-skilled migrant workers, people who built this country. Different ball-game now.

"In other words, the parable makes the point that strangers can have more compassion and decency than 'one's own'. That really was quite a remarkable viewpoint for the times - even for these times, and so easy to misinterpret, as - forgive me, Poirot - you have done."

How have I misinterpreted it.

Point being that Dutton's, runner's and many comments here display the polar opposite sentiment, ie....run around shouting the sky is falling and demonise the "other" - the stranger in their midst.

Yours is a perfect example of that kind of rhetoric, Joe...

I don't know how a person can become so deluded as you Poirot. Jesus teaching on loving one's neighbour and enemy has little to do with allowing mulitiudes of illegal immigrants to destroy your country. Please try a little honesty instead of self delusion.