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Wishful thinking
Seven Day Deadline For Peace In Ulster Far Right Takes Power In Austria
Where did the idea come from, that if you ignore wickedness, it will go away? Perhaps there is a subtle influence from our nursery rhymes "... leave them alone and they'll come home, wagging their tails behind them"! The problem is, of course, much older than English folklore.
Ezekiel speaks from God in denouncing the false prophets ... "Because they lead my people astray, saying, "Peace", when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash ..."
On September 30 1938, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain flew in from Munich having signed a peace accord with Herr Hitler. His famous words were soon to have a hollow ring, "I believe it is peace in our time". The politics of reconciliation was replaced by a form of conciliation that did not include repentance. This is always dangerous.
This week's news should cause concern for those who are careful students of human nature and of the Bible (the two observations should coincide!).
Firstly the reluctance to decommission illegal arms makes the 'peace' in Northern Ireland more 'virtual' than real. "Peter Mandelson clung to the hope of progress in Northern Ireland last night," says The Times, "as he gave the IRA a final seven-day deadline to give up arms." However Mitchel McLaughlin, chairman of Sinn Fein said, "If it isn`t in the Good Friday Agreement, then demanding it will not make any difference." However Unionist leader David Trimble said that his party would not budge unless there was "clear, significant and verifiable decommissioning" within the next week.
When people will not allow themselves the dignity of repentance, there is no real peace. While we hold onto what is wrong, reconciliation is impossible.
Last Thursday, in Austria, Jörg Haider`s far right government took power ending 30 years of coalition rule. Even the Austrian president, Thomas Klestil, was alarmed, reportedly telephoning European heads of government and urging their intervention.
In the past, Mr Haider has praised the Nazi "orderly employment policy" and embraced SS veterans as "decent people", explains Karacs. "Israel was expected immediately to withdraw its ambassador in protest at the decision," says The Telegraph. "Leaders of EU governments and the European Parliament also warned that Austria could have its voting rights in the EU suspended or even be ejected from the EU."
"However, the isolation of Austria is not universal. Countries such as Britain, Denmark, Finland and Sweden appear to be markedly less enthusiastic about the EU trying to dictate to a member state, however distasteful Herr Haider may be," says Martin Fletcher in The Times.
In other words it is none of our business, it will probably all be a damp squib, surely no country could act with Nazi brutality again!. Really!! What about Bosnia, Kosovo and Northern Ireland!!!?
This world needs a Saviour who can pay all the debts, heal all the wounds and restore the repentant. Those who follow
Poll says Majority Oppose Section 28 Repeal
Reuters news agency reports:
A majority of Britons oppose the Government's planned repeal of the section 28 homosexuality law, a new poll has found.
In the Mori poll for the Daily Mail, 54% of those questioned said they opposed the abolition of section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988, which prohibits local authorities from promoting homosexuality as a normal way of life.
And in another warning to the Government over its plans in the field of gay legislation, two thirds of those polled said they would be unhappy about lowering the age of consent for homosexuals from 18 to 16.
The poll did find sympathy for a tolerant approach to homosexuality, however some 65% backed the idea that children should be taught that homosexuality is neither right nor wrong, and that it must be tolerated as a way of life.
The poll involved questioning 1,007 adults on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week, just as the Government found itself under attack from religious leaders for its plans to repeal section 28.
The poll asked respondents to say which of two statements most closely reflected their view.
Some 54% agreed with the statement that section 28 should remain, and schools should not be allowed to promote homosexuality, while 39% said the ban should end and schools should be free to decide whether to promote homosexuality.
Asked whether the Government's plans to lower the age of consent from 18 to 16 were right or wrong, 27% said it was the right thing to do, but 66% said it was wrong.
The Government argues that section 28 inhibits teachers from advising pupils who are being bullied because they are uncertain about their sexuality
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