Posted by Kevin Bates Happy Easter to you and yours. The image of the Resurrection of Jesus is for me a constant call and invitation to look again, to see with new eyes, to listen from a new perspective. In this morning's Sydney Morning Herald, High Court Judge, Justice Michael Kirby has offered our security chiefs and political leaders and the rest of us such a new perspective. Addressing a conference at which most of Australia's security chiefs were present, Justice Kirby called for a reassessment of the resources we are pouring into the "war against terror", noting that many more people die of AIDS and poverty related disease in the world every day, than died in the September 11 attacks. He notes that the amount of energy we are putting into tracking down terror suspects, simply gives them more press, and more public attention than they deserve. If we were to put these resources into AIDS research and treatment, into looking at and dealing with the root causes of poverty, the terorrist threat itself would decrease, as in large part it is the result of inequalities and poverty, and the world would then become a more peaceful, kinder and indeed a safer place. Such common-sense wisdom is the stuff of the new life of Easter. Still this wisdom struggles to be heard, as the more powerful jostle each other for yet more power, and in the process only serve to make the world more dangerous, poor and violent. Thank God for people like Michael Kirby, who speak with measured wisdom and clarity, and who continue to call us to look for the signs of resurrection. Let's continue to call each other to rise from the things of death, with persistence and great hope. Happy Easter to you again., Kevin Bates
on March 22, 2005, 7:28 am
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