This blog was first published at https://blog.canberradeclaration.org.au/ on 23 July 2019
As we watched the election campaign from the comfort of our lounge room, we were horrified at the nasty behaviour by some of those involved. We shook our heads and wondered how our country, known all around the world for being fair and willing to help the underdog, had managed to fall to such levels of social disunity. The contrast was even more stark when, on the death of Bob Hawke, they ran back flashes to life in Australia then. Oh, what has made us so competitive that we would stoop to such dirty strategies?
A few days after the election, having had my fill of post-election news media commentary, I looked for something enjoyable to watch while I ate my breakfast. I found a documentary on people who had built homes in the USA that met and overcame the challenges of their environments. It showed how these people worked together, innovated and achieved their ultimate dream homes. As it finished, a rerun of The Block came on, and I was hit with a feeling of despair, I just wanted to turn it off. Why? The question hung there for a while. It was still about innovation and building dream places to live, so why did I find it so unpleasant?
The answer came quickly enough. The first show, even though things were tough, it proved that with hard work things could be achieved. The second was about the competition and winning, not necessarily at any cost, but winning nonetheless.
This made me again reflect on the election campaign. One team promoted winning and getting what you could for yourself, the other, working together and helping each other to make this country what it could be again.
Which brings me to the subtle things that are working to divide this country. With the proliferation of reality TV shows, there is very little else on, certainly on free TV in regional areas -- the constant message that is unconsciously being sent out is that everything is a competition. We must win to achieve and reach the top. Of course, this is not the only way this message is being sent out in order to try and divide this country but it was one that was brought in the strong contrast for me today.
Well, for the first time in a long time, Scott Morrison and his team prove this message to be very wrong.
So, let’s be aware of the underlying messages that are being sent to us, via not only our TV shows but other forms of media and start remembering that by working together we achieve a lot more than by competition.
We are a diverse country, in backgrounds, talents and skills. God created us to work together side by side, not just as male and female but as a team.
“And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” ~ Genesis 2:18
“From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” ~ Ephesians 4:16.
Prayer: Lord, may we all see through the subtle messages that would try to break the bonds between us as human beings. Help us to see them for what they are, and engage the enemy by forging stronger relationships with each other, knowing that all of us have important skills that are needed to make this country a better place in which to live.