Dear Belly,

Talking about dogs. We had a neighbour across
the street who had a prize winning dog (a bitch)
that he was very protective of. Well our kelpie
cross used to go across at night when the female
dog was in heat. One evening our kelpie did not come
home. We later learned according to the man's son
that his father had killed our kelpie and buried
it in his backyard. We couldn't prove anything of course.

This bloke was a real piece of work. He used to lock
his son in the shed overnight when the kid misbehaved
to teach him a lesson. You could hear the young kid
crying for hours -'çause he was scared. No wonder he
turned on his father.

Foxy very sad and that man should have served time in prison
My case is every bit as bad, that dog [one of two same breed held there] killed a small dog owned by the same people, ripped it up for no reason
Then took a third under the fence in to every house in the street, frightening owners
They asked me to do something about it
Took my time but lunging at me time and again got too much
Ended a thirty year friendship with her dad and me but such is life

To Yuyutsu.

Good people expose themselves to the worse conditions of the world because they care about those in those conditions. It was one of the teachings of Jesus to look after the widows and orphans, the sick, or even those in prison. Having compassion on the addict and the drunk fall in the same role. Though it seems to make it easier to do this for kids and teens then it to have compassion on an adult stuck in the same problems. I say this because that's where a lot of focus is aimed when it comes to community projects or government sponsored projects. Get kids out of gangs, and away from drugs. Nonetheless a reason to expose yourself to the worse parts of the word, is because you care for those stuck in those situations. Have compassion.

Countries feel no pain? I disagree. A country is like a person, only bigger. A government makes the same kinds of decisions a single person makes, only a government's decisions hold more influence and can do more good or cause more harm (depending on the decision) then an individual can. A country though is more then just the government, it's the people too. If a people are in poverty, then they suffer from it. If a country is in poverty, it is exposed to the same kind of pain and suffering. As an example I would say Venezuela as a country is in a lot of pain.

Regardless how you feel about governments though, they still exist and influence the world around us. As for taxes regardless if you agree with taxes, taxes are the bread and butter that fuel any government.

As for fulfilling a commandment, I think you should reconsider how a person can love their neighbor instead of trying to say what disqualifies that person from showing love. A country can feel pain, and it can also feel compassion. I've seen both.

To Josephus.

Good points. Loving one's neighbor also includes loving one's enemy. Not only is this about the reasons for foreign aid to other countries, but it also has the effect of changing those who are on the receiving end of of your compassion. Well said.

To Belly.

I've seen people change their attitude towards me because of how I acted towards them. This is true for coworkers, it would be true for neighbors also. Though it is not easy to do if you have a complaint against them, or they seem to have a disgust towards you, if the opportunity arises to show love to a bad neighbor when they are in need, then that love will not be forgotten. It can change people. Or at least it will change how they are around you.

not now soon just a minute old mate, first that house , been three owners from my move here
Mates with first two, second lot even drive from Sydney to say gday
Now my [ gone now] problem, mum and dad my friends, asked about house value before buying
Had a bit of a hard time, needed fence after purchase
Paid two thirds of the costs to buy it then helped install it
Pump out system [recycled on lawn] very poor, yard swampy, bought and installed [without asking] a new system yard returned to dry good lawn
Bit swampy driveway, installed rainwater drain on my side of fence, had [ paid for] truck load of road base delivered and made a driveway, dad helps son in law watched
So? daughter modern miss, hard to get on with, constantly shutting doors trying to not hear her abuse husband and? Foster kids!
They not me, needed to change, such is life indeed some people can not be good
Mum and dad still own the house, we do not speak, had the woman been my daughter? my door is open but not my child syndrome is at work

The problem most have with "love thy neighbour" is a lack of understanding of the neighbour. That applies on the personal level, the new foreign family that's moved in next door, and on the international level, those buggers from Somewhere. Without knowing these people we formulate preconceived ideas about them, mostly negative notions. The negativity in us leads to mistrust, bigotry, jealousy, hatred and sometimes violence.

During my lifetime I've had the privilege of not only meeting many Australians, but many people from foreign lands as well. I've been privileged to make many good friends from the people I have met over the years, I've got to know people on a personal level. It's my belief that 95% of Australians are essentially good, honest, decent people, but so are 95% of all peoples.

My wife is the greatest at meeting and greeting people I've every come across. Last week an elderly Aussie lady about 80 or more, 84 I believe, knocks on the door, I answer; "Hello, you must be Paul, I'm Annette, is "T" home". By then the wife is calling "Hi Annette, come in." Annette was a lovely lady, living on her own, a bit lonely. She stayed for an hour, we all talked, had tea, learnt much about Annette and her interesting life story etc etc. After she left, I asked the wife how did you meet Annette? "Well, I was at the shopping centre, sat down on my own for a coffee, at the next table was an old lady on her own, so we talked for a while, then I gave her our address and phone number, and told her to call me, or call in anytime she wants". The wife is forever doing that sort of thing.

Meeting the Native American gentleman from the Navajo tribe, when he comes to Australia soon on a speaking tour should be interesting. According to the wife he will be spending a day with indigenous people while in Brisbane, to discuss local matters. Since she has got to know the gentleman, he has invited us to come along.