Money money money

The Greek debt crisis is consuming yards of press and tv footage. I cannot begin to imagine how on earth, unless the Greek nation has access to raw materials which are worth millions, they could begin to pay off yet more debt, which they will need to incur in order to go on trading so we are told. If they default on their current debts, there will admittedly be a lot of pain in the short term, but maybe it is better to bite a painful bullet now than go on suffering hugely and indefinitely and still majorly painfully. People will still trade with them. It would help if they could tax their population a bit more effectively and efficiently. Of course governments in debt is no new thing. It's been happening since time immemorial, with rich bankers and money lenders financing wars and trade initiatives for most governments since Pharaoh was a lad.  Maybe Greece should sell itself to China, which seems to be flush right now. But seriously, the whole merry go round of countries in debt rather begs the question of who exactly does control policy. In name, the government does, but O boy, the shadows in the back room must be pulling some hefty clout wouldn't you think? Kind of makes me think again about Jesus' advice about giving to Caesar what belongs to him. In those days the tax revenue probably did acrue mostly to the government. Nowadays, does it really belong to Caesar, or does it actually belong to Caesar's debtors? Speaking of which, Italy is also under the economic microscope these days. Turn in your grave Caesar. 

9/11

The 10 year anniversary of the destruction of the Twin Towers is featuring large in the media. People can remember where they were, what they were doing when the news broke. It was an incredible and unbelievable act of chilling and catastrophic hatred. This weekend many churches are opening their doors in the cause of peace and reconciliation and healing. It is sad that so often it takes a catastrophe to make us look long and hard at our attitudes. This anniversary will hopefully see great progress along the road of mutual understanding and respect. Many from both faith groups have given serious thought to attitudes of suspicion and negativity which were in place long before 9/11, and  shortly after that atrocity they began to realise that it was time to review previously held racist opinions. Fear and loathing of those who are different from us will never lead to good. The Christian Faith  bids us reach out to them in kindness and respect. At their hearts, those of deepest Islamic faith feel the same, of that I have no doubt. It is sad and strange that despite the fact that Love is Lord in both faith groups, so much savagery and destruction have proceeded from them. When we humans get our hands on the pure spiritual stuff, we sure can cause havoc with our own legalistic additions and interpretations. I suppose we are in constant need of that reminder from the Cross of Christ, that the way to a better pace is laced with pain. The pain of 9/11 hopefully will take us to a place which would have been anathema to the twisted fanatics who flew into the Towers, but of great blessing to millions from both faiths.

From here to there

Some things seem easy to figure out. Our local daily paper, "The Press and Journal", has been leading for a number of days recently with articles about the controversy surrounding the proposed bypass of the City of Aberdeen. A small group of protesters have tried to block this initiative at every turn. The most recent episode in this saga had a local businessman put round a petition expressing the exasperation of around 2000 local citizens with this group. Nevertheless, they continue with their objection. The fact that Aberdeen needs a bypass is a no-brainer. Of course it will adversely affect some, but it is adversely affecting a lot more at the moment. Moving out from the local, another headline has been about the proposed merger of the police forces from regional forces to one national Scottish force. The chief constables are against it, the government is for it. It's easy to figure out that the politicians reckon it will save money. What is more difficult to establish is will it be better, or worse for policing in Scotland. One intuitively thinks, worse. Moving on to Glasgow, and Celtic Football Club, where there is astonishment expressed at the "Not Proven" verdict handed out by the jury on the charge of "religiously aggravated attack" on the manager, Neil Lennon. Having seen the incident captured on CCTV and read the evidence of those involved, one wonders what the jury knew that the average newspaper reader doesn't. I am inclined to think that for a whole jury to decide this, there must either have been complicating circumstances, or all the jury members belonged to some sectarian club or other. Finally, going global, there was a debate on the radio concerning Guantanamo Bay, and the US Army's notorious prison camp there. Barack Obama promised to close it down. He hasn't yet. On the face of it an easy decision to reach. In the backrooms, what arguments have persuaded him to stall?
Some things are easy to figure. Others seem easy, but turn out to have unforseen problems, and others we just know are difficult, like separating the investment functions of the banks from the saving and lending functions, now, or later.
Some people look at the Christian Faith, give the world's  rampant exhibition of distress, tragedy and plain evil a cursory glance, and reckon it's a no-brainer that God doesn't exist.