Word for the Week - John 8v32

"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, if you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free"

Ten Years - Yesterday

Hello,

Uncle Arthur decided not to post something about the tenth anniversary of the 1997 General Election on the precise date for a plethora of reasons. One of the reasons stems from the fact that I was very busy indeed at work and it just wasn't feasible to post a comment.

However, on reflection this blog and the objectives it is seeking to pursue are not just about Labour being in power and marking off the years, although Labour in power -for the longest ever period - is not to be sniffed at. In all the reflections and of course assessments of Blair's record (very few of them truly objective) Uncle Arthur has one abiding memory of that day.

Uncle Arthur was campaigning for most of the day in a seat somewhere in Lancashire, a marginal seat that returned a Labour MP, who is now a minister. At the end of that
sweltering (and yes, glorious) day he and a colleague spoke to some women outside some flats at about 8.30pm who did not know it was election day and they could still vote. Ok, seems a bit hard to believe, but not everyone lives in the weird and frenetic world of Westminster politics and all the 'sterile fuss' it generates. They were assured that they could vote and as they were Labour voters arrangements were made to chaperon them to the nearest polling booth.

That was the last bit of work Uncle Arthur did that day before returning to Manchester for the celebration and man it was a celebration. Uncle Arthur had one thought as those Labour voters were assured they could cast their vote. The thought was 'I just hope we don't let these people down'

I am not going to be rehearsing the arguments of what has and has not been done for Labour's core vote; that will be repeated ad nauseum in the next few weeks. My point is simply this; it would be good if every election we have a quite and poignant thought for those whom most Labour folk went into politics to serve in the first place. People will be let down by the system but striving to ensure that this experience is the rarity and not the norm is a worthy goal.

Warning from Caledonia

Uncle Arthur is visiting relatives in Scotland. The week before the Scottish elections it appears that Labour's woes will intensify here. I attended a fund-raising event in Glasgow last night where someone said Labour will get 'gubbed' on 3 May, the Scots don't mince their words.

This socialist heartland may express its ire by backing the SNP and ushering in an uncertain time for the UK polity. The prospect of an independent Scotland, I think is folly and would of course present a major problem for the Labour movement.

Uncle Arthur has taken the time to peruse the rainforest of literature which arrives at homes courtesy of the STV electoral system being used in this election. This of course heralds open season for the minority parties. Uncle Arthur noted that the Scottish Christian Party is standing on an agenda which may alientate some voters but it will be interesting to see how much they poll..not a great deal I would imagine. However, how well this party fares on 3 May is of minor concern to Uncle Arthur. The principal question is why are they standing?

I would imagine that part of their narrative is built upon the analysis that neither of the major parties pursue policies which reflect biblical values. They would find a sympathetic ear in many churches, because this is largely true. Furthermore, Uncle Arthur can think of recent legislation endorsed by a Labour Government, which not only appear rooted in secular ideology but arrogantly make life difficult for the churches in pursuing their own mission, let alone in seeking to interface with the rest of the world. The legislation on religious hatred and the gay adoption debate spring to mind when making this point.

However, whilst empathising with this observation, Uncle Arthur does not support the creation of a 'christian' political party for a number of reasons. Primarily, I do not believe that the bible grants the mandate for a chrisitian political party. I am open to fresh revelation and being corrected if wrong but that is my understanding. Uncle Arthur believes, and is not the only one I would humbly suggest, that christians should engage in politics and if possible join the mainstream parties and each christian should perhaps contemplate joining the party with whom they identify with. It is challenging trying to be a christian in any political party but I think this is the best way forward.

Yet, in conclusion, Uncle Arthur will flag up a contemporary exmaple of the complex interaction between christian narratives and the secular/liberal mindset. It is most instructive. A recent event in North Wales, where a Conservative candidate's comments appear to have been leapt upon (Clwyd West) because he indicated what the bible actually teaches about a matter of sexual ethics demonstrates why some christians will be tempted to form and join christian parties. If Christian standpoints are distorted or treated with over-reaction by whomsoever
then we need to ask what is the real issue? Is it a matter of bigotry or civil rights and discrimination or are we talking about religious freedoms here? I think if religious freedom is increasingly constricted whereby even responsible, compassionate comments are met with villification don't be surprised if more christians make the error of mobilising round christian parties.

There has to be a better way.

Hurrah for Lord Winston

Uncle Arthur noted that recently Lord Winston gently chastised Richard Dawkins for his aggressive and puerile attitude to faith.

See the link below for the piece in this Wednesday's Guardian written in anticipation of a public lecture at the University of Dundee. Surely, we can foster a more mature attitude to science and evolution without ridicule and caricature. This distorted and sometimes narrow discourse propagated by some secular biologists' also has parallels with the sometimes warped discourse in contemporary politics. Perhaps Dawkins and Jeremy Paxman both fit the cynical post-modern age where deconstruction rules and makes great entertainment.

Lord Winston's contribution will hopefully give hope that the paramaters of the debate can change and the real inter-relationship between faith and science can be established. This should be a healthy and invigorating linkage not a catalyst for culture wars.

http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/news/story/0,,2064899,00.html

Word for the week - Psalm 42v11

"Why are you downcast, o my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my saviour and my God"

Psalm 42v11.

Son of the Manse - For such a time as this

It would appear that the police files submitted to the CPS give the indication that personnel close to the Prime Minister may be facing criminal charges. We shall see.

Whatever has happened, we don't know, the whiff of corruption appears very close to Labour's door. Uncle Arthur fears dark days ahead for Labour, it is heading for a traumatic period and I don't simply refer to the inevitable rollercoaster of the electoral cycle.

Should Gordon Brown become leader of the Labour Party,as appears likely, he must demonstrate that he is the 'son of the Manse' and the church background in which was raised informs his leadership of Labour. The party of our non-conformist forefathers has been tainted by flirtation with the super-rich, the futile, singular pursuit of middle-england and grotesque plans for 'Super-Casino's'. It is heading for the rocks and needs a new direction.

Brown has recently written a book on the subject of courage. He profiles Mandela, Bonhoffer, Mandela and Bobby Kennedy and their respective character in the face of adversity. He now must show courage in cleaning Labour's stables and restore some integrity within the British system as a whole. Uncle Arthur believes he can show this resolve, for we must hope and pray that he does.

Facebook Craze

In the last week, Uncle Arthur has been inundated with requests to join other people's 'Facebook' networks. On one level this seems rather futile, all it is an online database of friends with pictures, rooms for messages and the ability to poke' your friends. What is the point of this on-line, elaborate contacts system?

Well, it seems to reveal some basic truths about us. We are human beings, who all crave, community and acceptance. In community we seek to find love, affirmation and equally importantly identity. The facebook network has political dimensions with peoole joining 'Im voting Labour 2007, 'Friends of Herbert Morrison', 'Fabians' and 'I'm voting Labour 2007' networks. On-line people are firming up their friendships and re-galvanising their individual and group identities. Perhaps political parties need to re-think through community, if this was done in an effective way, the political dividends could be huge.

Uncle Arthur believes that true identity and ultimate acceptance is found in relationship with God and this seeking after community secretly craves that original, fractured relationship with the father.

It will be interesting to see how this Facebook thing develops.