The rejection of Dr Bernard Moeller’s application fro permanent residency because he has a son with Downs Syndrome smacks of all that is worst about economic rationalism. While reason might dictate that there will have to be some cost constraints on immigration, here is a situation where a man who is providing much needed services to our country is not treated with any sort of reciprocity. I have no idea whether this is a callous decision on the part of bureaucrats, or whether there is a fault in the rules which they are obliged to apply. But the Minister for Immigration needs not just to attend to this particular case but to the prevention of further such incidences.
If you want to read more about it you can do so here.
Bit slow down here but in response to this rejoinder to my first letter
Thank you Reverend Sandy Grant, for that most insightful letter (Mercury, Oct 29) on the Lord’s Prayer.
However, all this prayer does is reinforce to me how much mankind is being held back through the continuing belief of Stone Age myths and delusions.
Will mankind ever take the leap forward and rid ourselves of such stupendous nonsense?
Tony Dutton,
Balgownie
... they finally got around to publishing my surrejoinder (always wanted to try that word out)
It amazes me that people feel they can sweep away a belief system adhered to by upwards of a billion people around the globe simply by asserting it’s primitive delusion (Mercury, October 30).
It was particularly amusing to hear Tony Dutton describe the Lord’s Prayer as “Stone Age myths”. History classes taught me that the transition out of the Stone Age occurred between 6000 BC and 2500 BC for most of humanity.
On the other hand, Jesus’ delivered his justly famous teachings around 30 AD, well after such great ones as Socrates (d. 399 BC), Plato (d. 348/47 BC), and Cicero (d. 43 BC). I’ve never heard their philosophies and beliefs derided as Stone Age!
Importantly, there is considerably more documentary evidence, also dating closer to the time of delivery, for recording the teachings of Jesus than for these other great men.
Lastly, I am saddened that people consider matters such as human accountability and the need for forgiveness raised by the Lord’s Prayer as “stupendous nonsense”.
Jesus’ enduring teachings continue to be quoted widely today and deserve more serious engagement than that!
David Morrison in yesterday’s (10/11/08) SMH. Not directly related to Christianity, but still a good one:
Miranda Devine seems to be a bit muddled about motorists’ behaviour. Speed limits and penalties are no excuse for lying under oath. The fact most cars on a particular stretch are speeding does not mean that no one should be fined. The fact that some drivers can’t control their rage does not mean the rest of us should speed to accommodate their feelings. Losing a licence can be very hard on drivers, but I suspect that is the idea. The authorities are encouraging us to obey the law.
David Morrison Springwood
As a metallurgist-turned-preacher, I am twice insulted by Annabel Crabb comparing my oratory skills to Kevin Rudd’s ("Hail to the chief: Kevin leaves us speechless”, November 11). I have a dream: that we will no longer be judged on the nature of our employment, but on the strength of our rhetoric. Now where’s that bit in Corinthians …
Derek Cheng, Merrylands
Derek! A smuggled in reference to Corinthians? Honour is due!
There’s not much Philip Nitschke and I agree about but he is right to say the 22 months’ weekend detention given to Shirley Justins for the manslaughter of Graeme Wylie is “lenient” (“‘Bloody mess’ ends in detention”, November 13). I would say extraordinarily lenient. But, while he praises the leniency, I am at a loss to see how such a sentence fits the crime or serves society, or how Dr Nitschke has the audacity to accuse the victim of being selfish for not arranging his death beforehand. Those suffering diminished capacity from illness or injury have no choice but to trust the people closest to them. And, irrespective of their capacity, their lives are still a gift to be treasured. Carers have a responsibility to preserve that life, not end it.
Phillip Heath has been a great headmaster of St Andrew’s Cathedral School, with his ability to know, engage and encourage the students warmly and personally being his trademark style. This makes the Herald’s reporting of his departure as an opportunity for more Sydney Anglican-bashing all the more disappointing. No one would deny there have been tensions about the choir between the cathedral and the school, but that is hardly remarkable. Which school, public or private, doesn’t experience tensions about all manner of things?
Contrary to the headline blaming “meddling clergy”, Mr Heath’s tone is ironic, and he denies tensions with the diocese are the direct reason for his departure. If the quoted words are his own, he says he is leaving for life-season reasons, and I believe him.
Contrary to the headline blaming “meddling clergy”, Mr Heath’s tone is ironic, and he denies tensions with the diocese are the direct reason for his departure. If the quoted words are his own, he says he is leaving for life-season reasons, and I believe him.
Did Claire mean, or write “irenic?” Seems to suit the context better.
‘Irenic’ does fit better, David. But another friend who read the report said that there’s a certain degree of naivete, at best, about resigning as the principal of a Sydney Anglican school and responding to a phone call from the SMH by saying ‘Why yes, I’d love to be interviewed about my experiences’.
The point being, I think, that you can expect to be reported badly and wrongly.
I have spoken to Claire and she did originally write ‘irenic’.
hmmm.. apparently the SMH sub changed it to ironic.
Yes, Claire said the same thing to me.
Stop the presses! Hold your breath!
SMH front page correction coming tomorrow!
Because it is simply impossible to imagine that the SMH would make an error or three in line with their editorial preconceptions, and allow those errors to pass unchallenged.
Brian McGee (Letters, November 24) need not worry about the choir at St Andrew’s. I have been there twice recently on a Sunday and it was pumping. Apparently it is there every Sunday.
Andrew Mitchell, Putney
Brian McGee might change his tune about some of “ those clerics who have purged beautiful traditional choir music” if he attends St Andrew’s Cathedral Choir’s 140-year celebrations at the cathedral on Thursday.
I have spoken to Claire and she did originally write ‘irenic’.
hmmm.. apparently the SMH sub changed it to ironic.
Yes, Claire said the same thing to me.
Stop the presses! Hold your breath!
SMH front page correction coming tomorrow!
Because it is simply impossible to imagine that the SMH would make an error or three in line with their editorial preconceptions, and allow those errors to pass unchallenged.
Correction published in today’s SMH here. Not quite ‘front page’.
Corrections 25 November, 2008
In a letter published yesterday ("A choired taste"), the word “ironic” was mistakenly substituted for “irenic”.
I am surprised at Kevin Rudd’s description of parts of Afghanistan as “God-forsaken”. I would have thought as a Christian Mr Rudd would know that the Christmas message is that, far from forsaking any part, God expressed his love for the whole world by sending his son.
I am surprised at Kevin Rudd’s description of parts of Afghanistan as “God-forsaken”. I would have thought as a Christian Mr Rudd would know that the Christmas message is that, far from forsaking any part, God expressed his love for the whole world by sending his son.
Philip Cooney, Wentworth Falls
Well done, Philip!
Oh the perils of selling out your soul for the sake of the “30 second grab” for the 6pm news headlines ! How well indeed for Philip to pick up on it so efficiently - so as to get the SMH to publish aspects of the gospel message.
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