Desensitised

I presented a workshop today at the National Christian Youth Convention (NCYC). During my presentation I showed a video produced by Stop the Traffik which, among other things showed a protest featuring a girl holding a sign which had written on it "13 year old virgin for sale". The protest was to highlight the plight of the victims of human trafficking. During the question time I was asked if the pack I was talking about had any information on how to handle sensitive topics like that with young people. It wasn't something that we had thought about when putting the packs together.

Whilst acknowledging the relevance of the question and the need for information along those lines I also responded with a thought in the back of my head. I said that this generation of young people is perhaps the most desensitised to violence and other visual stimuli generation ever.

I was reminded of the group of young people in Britain who stood at the bottom of a building while a young person stood at the top and threatened to jump to end his life. The young people on the ground were yelling out to the boy at the top to jump. The police were horrified but were unable to stop the mob. When the boy eventually jumped, the crowd rushed forward with their mobile phones out to record and photograph the dead body.

I wonder how much this desensitisation has effected young people's interest in issues of justice? The news reports coming out of Gaza are just another movie on the TV showing war and destruction. Why should we care? These are not the images of the Vietnam war beamed back to a disbelieving public who had never witnessed anything like that.

Do we care? Are we too desensitised?

What I read today:

A statement from the bishop of Jerusalem

Why creationism is not the biggest threat to schools

Connection with the land

I read today that a steering committee has recommended that all Crown land in Victoria should be opened to Native Title claims by Indigenous groups. If this was to come to fruition (it still has to become legislation and pass the parliament) it would be a great step forward for Reconciliation in this state.

A number of years ago I was able to walk with the Indigenous custodian of Wilsons Promontory. He spoke of the Aboriginal heritage of that place and their connection to the land in that place. Anyone who has ever been to the Prom recognises that it is a spiritual place. That walk, more than anything else, has shown me the connection that our Indigenous people have with this land. It also showed me the lack of connection that we non-indigenous people have with the land.

While some indigenous cultural practices might change our use of the land (not climbing Uluru for example) I think that this would be for the best. For too long we have tried to live in Australia as if we lived in England. We steal water from the rivers to irrigate farmland to grow and graze food and animals from Europe.

The article currently highlights a problem with the current system. Indigenous groups currently have to show a continuous link to the land they wish to claim under Native Title. In Victoria most indigenous communities were relocated after colonisation and so have lost that continuous link. It is interesting to realise that I lived for 18 years in Gippsland and was never told once that it was the site of numerous massacres of the Indigenous population. Their disconnection from the land is a direct result of European colonisation.

It is definitely time that we recognised the indigenous communities connection with their land.

What I read today:

Native title reform bid

Isreali troops enter Gaza City

Cultural Change

I have to admit that the inspiration for this post came after reading Gen's post over at the JustSalvos blog.

Twice in the last week I have seen people wearing a 'uniform' for a cultural event. At Sensation (a dance party at Telstradome on NYE) there was some 40,000 people all dressed in white dancing the night away. Today at the SCG was Jane McGrath day, with everyone encouraged to wear pink to support the McGrath Foundation in the fight against Breast cancer.

Gen in her post talks about the ability of Disneyland to 'create a culture', a culture where people don't litter and everyone enjoys themselves. She talked about the ability of culture to shape behaviour.

I on the other hand want to reflect on how culture takes shape. All culture is fluid. From now on the third day of the Sydney Test will be Jane McGrath day and everyone will be encouraged to wear pink. That cultural event is shaped by the tragic loss of a cricketer's wife. A negative event has been transformed into a day to raise awareness and funds in the fight against breast cancer. The fact that Jane McGrath was married to one of Australia's most famous sports person helped her death, as opposed to any other person's battle with cancer, to create a cultural change.

Viral marketing is a form of cultural change. It aims to spread a message like a virus. Word of mouth, create a buzz. When I read the New Testament I see a viral marketing campaign of sorts. There was a message that was spread. It was an alternate culture, but yet was culturally relevant and culturally engaged. I don't think the same can be said of the church today.

How do you want to make a difference in our culture?

What I read today:

Binge culture curses 'lost generation'

Pulp Mill decision a 'dark day for Tasmania'