God does not die on the day when we cease to believe in a personal deity,
but we die on the day when our lives cease to be illuminated by the steady radiance,
renewed daily, of a wonder, the source of which is beyond all reason.
Dag Hammarskjold, Markings, p64

Happy New Year everyone!

Innuendo about the Marion Mosque

You may have been as disturbed as much as I by recent comments by the Australian Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, about “investigations” that were being carried out by government departments about funding for the new mosque at Parkholme, referring to Saudi money and Islamic extremists in the same communique. Later he had to back down from these insinuations.

But the damage is done.

I’m wondering whether the present government is testing the waters for a re-run of the Tampa strategy, which was so successful in winning them an election.

In any case, the Muslim community is again put on the back foot.

You may recall the statement prepared by the chaplains and read to the Flinders Muslim Community at their Friday Prayers on September 8 last year (Flinders Spirituality News 11-9-06) at a time when the Prime Minister was questioning who is a ‘real’ Australian.

Once more we are called upon to stand in solidarity with those who are being unfairly targetted for political gain.

I am in the process of convening a meeting with the Imam of the Marion Mosque, Imam Sharif, to offer friendship and goodwill.
Email me if you have a message of kindness which you would like me to convey.

Best wishes for 2007!