I was updating my video bar to reflect some of the footage taken of the National Day of mourning service when the YouTube link I've posted below poped up in the search. I wonder what you make of it. I'm kinda scared and a little bit freaked out by it, no wonder I saw no sign of Westboro Baptist Church at the service. This cute little animated puppet is one scarey dude. Have you seen Child's Play with little Chucky?
Seriously though, how helpful do you think this is? I link this post back to my post on foolish compassion. Sure we don't agree with the inhumane and outrageous views of a small minority that call themselves Christians yet hate everyone. There is something seriously wrong here and I mean some serious pshchological issues going on there with Fred Phelps and his followers.
It's interesting that I note within myself that I think I was more fired up about 'Pastor Danny's' comments from 'Catching the Fire Ministries' than I am by Fred Phelps. I just find it hard to take that guy even remotely seriously but he explains the bushfires in Australia quite simply saying, 'God hates Australia'. Of course he links it to the film Heath Ledger stars in when he played a homosexual character, saying that Australia is full of fags and we deserve it. I know I used to get angry too but I just can't take this guy seriously enough to get angry with him anymore.
Back to this video link however. What disturbs me is the assumption of attack by Australians and the condoning of violence against anyone who aligns with this thinking. We are Australian and we are better than that...I hope. Otherwise we may be just as bad as the people of the Westboro Baptist Church.
Remember the words of Jesus to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. These are the actions I would hope we as Australians would aspire to over violence and revenge. Let's have a conversation about what that kind of love and compassion look like rather than ways in which we can hurt people who enrage us with their views and opinions.
Check the video and if you really want to see what the Westboro Baptist Church are saying you don't have to look far to find out.
Showing posts with label ethics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ethics. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Foolish Compassion
As everyone is well aware by now, the man charged with arson over the Churchhill fire is probably the most disliked person in Victoria. Here is yet another example of poor journalism, the court has ordered his identity be protected yet the media in all their wisdom pretty much hand him to the public on a silver platter guiding them to sites like facebook and myspace where his picture and details are in full view.
Greg Barnes who is a human rights lawyer has criticized the media saying not only have they hurt his opportunity of getting a fair trial and possibly destroying the investigation all together but he has been horrified at how this tragedy has brought out the worst in Australians. He said with every tragedy you get to see the best and the worst in human nature. While the best has been seen, yes we are seeing the worst with the reaction to accused arsonists with hateful threats of violence and suggestions on how we should treat such people.
Well I have a suggestion, how about we treat such people with compassion? I don’t mean we ignore the actions or even that they shouldn’t face justice, but no amount of revenge or hate will reverse or the circumstances or satisfy hurt and anger. Revenge is not justice, it’s just another crime.
I suggest compassion because it was to choice of Jesus to act with compassion towards people. Sure Jesus got angry at circumstances but never did he seek revenge. He urged his followers to do outrageous things like love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them. Jesus’ sermon on the mount is probably the most famous yet outrageous sermon recorded in his ministry. It’s a mission statement for his ministry and his suggested way of life. While a natural reaction to anger and feelings of injustice is to react and get even, the Jesus model is quite the opposite.
Christians are called to stand for far reaching love, outrageous grace and foolish compassion. It may not make sense but it is the only alternative to a world of people who still insist of solving problems with revenge attacks, violence and getting even. In all of human history these methods we insist on are yet to be fruitful and work. So as a Christian, a follower of Jesus I join the voice of many who have gone before me and ask that you tune in to the values of the kingdom of God try a method that takes patience and understanding.
True compassion comes from a changed heart, one moved with pity for a person who finds themselves in a tragic place, either by their own doing or through some other circumstance. Have compassion and let the justice system determine the punishment.
Shalom Mark
Greg Barnes who is a human rights lawyer has criticized the media saying not only have they hurt his opportunity of getting a fair trial and possibly destroying the investigation all together but he has been horrified at how this tragedy has brought out the worst in Australians. He said with every tragedy you get to see the best and the worst in human nature. While the best has been seen, yes we are seeing the worst with the reaction to accused arsonists with hateful threats of violence and suggestions on how we should treat such people.
Well I have a suggestion, how about we treat such people with compassion? I don’t mean we ignore the actions or even that they shouldn’t face justice, but no amount of revenge or hate will reverse or the circumstances or satisfy hurt and anger. Revenge is not justice, it’s just another crime.
I suggest compassion because it was to choice of Jesus to act with compassion towards people. Sure Jesus got angry at circumstances but never did he seek revenge. He urged his followers to do outrageous things like love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them. Jesus’ sermon on the mount is probably the most famous yet outrageous sermon recorded in his ministry. It’s a mission statement for his ministry and his suggested way of life. While a natural reaction to anger and feelings of injustice is to react and get even, the Jesus model is quite the opposite.
Christians are called to stand for far reaching love, outrageous grace and foolish compassion. It may not make sense but it is the only alternative to a world of people who still insist of solving problems with revenge attacks, violence and getting even. In all of human history these methods we insist on are yet to be fruitful and work. So as a Christian, a follower of Jesus I join the voice of many who have gone before me and ask that you tune in to the values of the kingdom of God try a method that takes patience and understanding.
True compassion comes from a changed heart, one moved with pity for a person who finds themselves in a tragic place, either by their own doing or through some other circumstance. Have compassion and let the justice system determine the punishment.
Shalom Mark
The media circus moves on
I was driving in Melbourne reflecting on the time we spent as chaplains in the bushfire affected areas the previous day and I switched on ABC radio to listen to any further coverage. There was an interesting topic being razed regarding media ethics, particularly in covering the Victoria bushfires. They had media ethicist Dennis Muller on to comment on how some of the stories have been covered. It was interesting when he talked about guidelines for reporting that reporters must ask themselves, is this story necessary to report in the public’s interest or is it purely to satisfy public curiosity. I find that an interesting and helpful guide in terms of my own discipline as a consumer of information.
Sadly, most of the time, media speculate, dramatize and use inappropriate emotional lures in order to get your attention, sell a story and make lots of money. While the coverage of events such as the bushfires are essential for raising awareness and support from the community I think this question needs to remain our guiding standard, Do the public really need to know this or is it purely to satisfy curiosity?
This guide may even form how we conduct our face to face conversations out of respect for those who are deeply affected. Not only are methods for sourcing information absolutely appalling but motivations for sharing information need to be checked.
Papers like the Herald Sun are nothing better than a gossip tabloid and even The Australian and The Age have let it slip a little in the frenzy of securing the most excusive story with the most shocking information. The way some have described how and where human remains have been found and who is more important than another in recognizing and name those who perished is deplorable. So far only one paper has published a public apology on their inappropriate coverage of a story. Dennis Muller wrote in to The Australian to complain on behalf of a family he was close to who perished in the fire. The Australian covered a story about them with speculative information and no actual facts. They made the bold move of publishing Dennis’ letter with an apology. Now I reckon that takes guts and integrity to do that so well done The Australian.
While callers rang the ABC during the program and shared their views (some criticizing even ABC’s coverage but most applauding their sensitivity) some were mentioning the TV media and how inappropriate they have been. Then last night I saw one of the things they were complaining about with my own eyes. Channel 10 news had a still picture of a burnt house displayed behind the news reader. As the news reader talked they had these graphics that some brilliant drongo had concocted of computer generated smoke rising from a few areas in the photo. Not only does it look tacky but have they thought about the on going trauma that causes people?
I’m critical about this because I have now spoken with survivors, volunteers and professionals and I have some idea of the effect the media is having on them. And for all of the positives that our coming from coverage with the raising of money for survivors etc, there are so many negatives with their methods and practices.
I heard stories of media personalities from all TV stations doing things like bribing Red Cross people for the red arm bands we were wearing so they would have access to restricted areas; stealing CFA uniforms and posing as firefighters so they could get in and get a good story; sneaking past road blocks and finding people who hadn’t left their burnt homes yet and badgering them for a story. If you have a problem with the way the media are covering stories, write in a complaint, stop watching their news channel and stop buying their papers, they need to learn how to display real journalism with integrity not tabloid speculative gossip.
The worst part is the way the media created a swarm of activity, they pounced on people and relief centres from day one. Channel 7’s Sunrise program did the noble thing of setting up camp in Wittlesea and even flew their weather presenter down from Queensland where she was covering the floods (because they don’t matter any more, there’s a better story down the road). Now Mel from Sunrise might put on an emotional show and maybe she was deeply affected by the devastation, but the problem that Dennis Muller raises is that media personalities are not trained for this, they are not counselors or relief workers, and they don’t have the experience to deal with these things.
So they get in peoples faces and share their stories. What we don’t see however is what all the other onlookers see, the media scrum harassing for a story like seagulls running and squawking for a chip as devastated people look on bewildered. When we were there working with the Victorian Council of Churches as chaplains, the media had disappeared and the impression we got from people was that if they came back they wouldn’t be very welcome. Not only did people survive a firestorm but then they had to endure a media storm for a full week. They have no ide the effect they have on people when they all pack up camp at once and leave the people they have exploited behind.
The media circus moves on to the next attention grabbing story. Have they learnt anything? Will they alter their practice? Only time will tell.
Mark
Sadly, most of the time, media speculate, dramatize and use inappropriate emotional lures in order to get your attention, sell a story and make lots of money. While the coverage of events such as the bushfires are essential for raising awareness and support from the community I think this question needs to remain our guiding standard, Do the public really need to know this or is it purely to satisfy curiosity?
This guide may even form how we conduct our face to face conversations out of respect for those who are deeply affected. Not only are methods for sourcing information absolutely appalling but motivations for sharing information need to be checked.
Papers like the Herald Sun are nothing better than a gossip tabloid and even The Australian and The Age have let it slip a little in the frenzy of securing the most excusive story with the most shocking information. The way some have described how and where human remains have been found and who is more important than another in recognizing and name those who perished is deplorable. So far only one paper has published a public apology on their inappropriate coverage of a story. Dennis Muller wrote in to The Australian to complain on behalf of a family he was close to who perished in the fire. The Australian covered a story about them with speculative information and no actual facts. They made the bold move of publishing Dennis’ letter with an apology. Now I reckon that takes guts and integrity to do that so well done The Australian.
While callers rang the ABC during the program and shared their views (some criticizing even ABC’s coverage but most applauding their sensitivity) some were mentioning the TV media and how inappropriate they have been. Then last night I saw one of the things they were complaining about with my own eyes. Channel 10 news had a still picture of a burnt house displayed behind the news reader. As the news reader talked they had these graphics that some brilliant drongo had concocted of computer generated smoke rising from a few areas in the photo. Not only does it look tacky but have they thought about the on going trauma that causes people?
I’m critical about this because I have now spoken with survivors, volunteers and professionals and I have some idea of the effect the media is having on them. And for all of the positives that our coming from coverage with the raising of money for survivors etc, there are so many negatives with their methods and practices.
I heard stories of media personalities from all TV stations doing things like bribing Red Cross people for the red arm bands we were wearing so they would have access to restricted areas; stealing CFA uniforms and posing as firefighters so they could get in and get a good story; sneaking past road blocks and finding people who hadn’t left their burnt homes yet and badgering them for a story. If you have a problem with the way the media are covering stories, write in a complaint, stop watching their news channel and stop buying their papers, they need to learn how to display real journalism with integrity not tabloid speculative gossip.
The worst part is the way the media created a swarm of activity, they pounced on people and relief centres from day one. Channel 7’s Sunrise program did the noble thing of setting up camp in Wittlesea and even flew their weather presenter down from Queensland where she was covering the floods (because they don’t matter any more, there’s a better story down the road). Now Mel from Sunrise might put on an emotional show and maybe she was deeply affected by the devastation, but the problem that Dennis Muller raises is that media personalities are not trained for this, they are not counselors or relief workers, and they don’t have the experience to deal with these things.
So they get in peoples faces and share their stories. What we don’t see however is what all the other onlookers see, the media scrum harassing for a story like seagulls running and squawking for a chip as devastated people look on bewildered. When we were there working with the Victorian Council of Churches as chaplains, the media had disappeared and the impression we got from people was that if they came back they wouldn’t be very welcome. Not only did people survive a firestorm but then they had to endure a media storm for a full week. They have no ide the effect they have on people when they all pack up camp at once and leave the people they have exploited behind.
The media circus moves on to the next attention grabbing story. Have they learnt anything? Will they alter their practice? Only time will tell.
Mark
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