Tonga in trouble

The events of last week in Tonga did not come as a surprise to the keen political watchers of the small island nation. Although many people of course were shocked at the speed of the people's reaction to parliamentory decisions leading to much rioting, destruction, burning of targetted property and the death of six reactionaries, those watching the political climate of the last decade now say, it was bound to happen. It could have been prevented with political sensitivity to the escalating tension that has been obvious in the prodemocracy movement.

The world will now watch as Tongans try to come to terms with what has happened. It is important the people and their government and traditional and religous leaders are allowed to go through their own process of internal assessment as part of their moving forward. If the Tongans can rise up from their current situation, they will eventually embrace a more democratic nation which will be better in the long run for the younger and the unborn generation. Good Luck Tonga!

Well done Kevin Rudd

It is encouraging to read that a politician is advocating an alternative vision for Australia's future, based on christian values.
Spokesman on foreign affairs for Labor and chairperson of Labor's committee on faith, politics and values, Rudd has written a 5000 word essay suggesting a model for Christian involvement in political life.
Rudd has also been consistently seeking to move the support of Christians away from what he sees as conservative "tick-the- box" moral agendas. Rudd does not want to see Christianity used as the handmaiden of the conservative political establishment.
He reiterates from the Bible, that christians will be judged not by how pious they have been, but whether they have helped to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and visit the lonely.
Rudd's message is to christians of varying traditions - that they have a sense that they can have their express political view in politics but they don't necessarily have to vote conservative.

Souce: UCA Journey Nov. 2006