G'day Bev and the Group
At 05:23 PM 15/10/03 +0800, Bev Fabb wrote:
One of the unfortunate effects of the changes in fee structures for tertiary
studies is that some young people are joining the military because they give
them a tertiary education, pay all the fees- so no HECS debts- and give them
full pay while they study. A very attractive package for young people faced
with huge tertiary fees or debt. So there is a link between education policy
and peace issues believe it or not.
I have suggested that this is an issue which Uniting Justice needs to take
up nationally.
Bev
Hmmm... without wanting to put words into your mouth, you seem to be saying here that a strong Australian military is something we should oppose as a threat to peace.
Perhaps you should discuss this with Ramon Horta or any other East Timorese.
Certainly there are strong and reasonable views against our involvement in particular wars, notably Vietnam (which I opposed) and Iraq (which I supported). But that's not the same thing as opposing the very existence of the Australian military, or thinking it "unfortunate" that good people join. Some do think exactly that of course. Part of my problem at the time of the Vietnam conflict was that unlike these extreme pacifists I could not claim conscientious objection to warfare in general. That is, I certainly object to warfare, but I also think there is a time to shoot back. Neville Chamberlain tried it the other way. Disaster.
So far as our involvement in East Timor or the Solomon Islands goes, my only criticism is that we waited too long in both cases, and that needless suffering was the result. As I understand it that is also the position of the federal opposition. In a way, that is Chamberlain's mistake all over again, isn't it? He waited, when he could have saved many lives by being a bit more ready to shoot, especially bearing in mind that the other side was shooting already.
I doubt there is any chance of Australia embracing extreme pacifism, or even unarmed neutrality. In which case, we need armed forces. I say, the better the armed forces are at what they do, the less collateral damage there will be. I want them to be clever enough to hit what they shoot at, and nothing else, so far as is humanly possible. Actually I think they do very well at this already. Perhaps the scholarships they offer are one reason for this. If so that is a good thing.
Our military have a very nasty job. I think most Australians want to support them with the best training and equipment we can possibly give them, and in other ways too. I'm pleased that the UCA supplies chaplains as part of this. Perhaps you should talk to these chaplains too.
Or perhaps I have misunderstood you. What exactly is this issue to be taken up nationally?
Yours in Christ
andrew a
email: andrewa @ alder . ws
http://www.zeta.org.au/~andrewa
Phone 9441 4476
Mobile 04 2525 4476
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