tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21487528.post3844903288066958060..comments2023-08-19T23:23:19.849+10:00Comments on Sentire cum Ecclesia: I was a stranger and you welcomed meSchützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21487528.post-55664658442994778042010-10-22T21:03:13.000+11:002010-10-22T21:03:13.000+11:00There's a bit of irony here, David. As we know...There's a bit of irony here, David. As we know, many of these small communities are dying and are the first to whinge when government services are withdrawn. <br><br>In effect this could be a shot in the arm for the whole district and may help to sustain a viable community that was looking down the barrel of decline.<br><br>I'd also be cautious about the kind of coverage it is getting. The media are pre-disposed to look for the controversial angle and that can only be negative.<br><br>I think also that there's other reasons for country people to be angry -- witness the meetings about the Murray-Darling basin -- which add fuel to the fire.<br><br>Notwithstanding that, I'm sure people of goodwill still have genuine concerns and, hopefully, it is those people who will help iron them out.<br><br>The church's, especially, Dale West (from <a href="http://www.centacare.org.au/" rel="nofollow">CenterCare</a>) and Mons Cappo have made positive noises from the get-go.<br><br>My experience, for what it's worth, is that the refugees themselves will overwhelm the locals with their gratitude, their willingness to learn and their enthusiasm. Some will be traumatized of course, but I'm continually humbled by people who have had the toughest of lives on the one hand but who are generous, open, loving and hospitable, on the other.Tonynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21487528.post-81270002506352841762010-10-22T21:28:18.000+11:002010-10-22T21:28:18.000+11:00PS, I'm interested to see how they handle Ben ...PS, I'm interested to see how they handle Ben Hur as a sort of circus performance. The original movie was controversial because it had an actor playing Christ, I wonder what will be done tomorrow?Paul Gnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21487528.post-59117025032707442052010-10-26T22:15:26.000+11:002010-10-26T22:15:26.000+11:00"Worked" in the sense of stopping the bo..."Worked" in the sense of stopping the boats, Tony. Just look at the stats. Surely, you're not in favour of families risking their lives to traverse oceans in these unseaworthy vessels? <br><br>Consultation with the locals would have just been the polite thing to do, smooth the path and all that. Now it's having to be done post facto, with emotions heightened. Not smart.<br><br>And yes, I believe the people of Nauru were consulted originally, and are willing to have the facility re-opened. So, why not? Politics. Discussion over.acroamaticushttp://acroamaticus,blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com