Mr Downer
I was glad to recently hear you say that you are a
Christian, but I fear you've got the wrong idea about Jesus.
As part of his new movement of repentance and renewal, he
came to set free the oppressed (refugees?); to bring good news to the poor
(probably not Kerry Packer or shareholders) and to raise up the lowly and the
despised of our society (welfare recipients?).
A church with nothing to say to our country's greed and cruelty is a whoosy, half-hearted church. Jesus has a lot of uncomfortable things to
say to your government. It'll be hard
but please, as a Christian, have a listen.
I would also like to raise the issue of your claims several
weeks ago that the ABC was biased in favour of the left. I disagree
strongly and feel that the ABC is an important antidote to the low quality
journalism of the commercial media. With the interests of big business
represented so strongly by almost all of our media, don't you think it is
imperative that we have a broadcaster ruled not by profit and advertising but
by journalistic and ethical integrity?
I agree the ABC mustn't have a biased political agenda -
unless you consider the pursuit of truth to be a political agenda.
Thank you for your time, and as my brother in Christ and
leader, I will continue to pray for wisdom and discernment for
you.
Dear
Senator Alston,
I'd just
like to let you know my opinion on the ABC.
I feel
strongly that the ABC does an excellent job in providing intelligent, critical
coverage of world affairs. With such strong business interests
represented in our commercial media, I feel it is important that the ABC
balances this with journalism informed first and foremost by ethics.
I appeal to
your values of fairness and democracy to avoid bringing neo-liberal homogenity to our society. If neo-liberal,
conservative, patriotic values are so good, let them prove their worth in
genuine public debate that is not framed solely by media which presupposes
these same values.
Thank you
for your time and your commitment to represent me and the other people of
Yours
sincerely, Nathan Hobby
Dear West Australian,
Your Weekend Extra article 'Resurrecting Christianity'
(19/4) would have been better titled 'Resurrecting Stale Liberal
Anglicanism'. Dr Shepherd seems to be
the darling of The Weekend Extra.
At least once a year we're treated to his boring agenda which was old
news a century ago but is dressed up as a startling revelation. Shepherd's comments reinforce most
Christians' prejudice against 'theology' and embarrass those of us with
theological backgrounds. The detail of
the resurrection is not the main question facing either the church or
society. Instead, in the power of that
resurrection, the church needs to prophetically call both itself and society to
account for the evil of people like Phillip Ruddock - one Anglican showing a
distinct lack of Jesus' sacrificial love for the marginalised. While the church remains captive to middle
class respectability, 'common sense' ethics and the twin wrongs of liberal
compromise and fundamentalist distortion, it remains impotent.
Sincerely, Nathan Hobby
March 2003 – just before Iraq War
Dear Mr Downer,
I am deeply disturbed by
your performance as Foreign Affairs Minister. This war is particularly injust and unnecessary.
Please don't close the
Iraqi embassy - now is the time to be talking MORE to
Yours
sincerely, Nathan Hobby.