LogoNNN
The Norfolk and Norwich Christian community website

Opinion


protest 750pbDemonstration, Action, Revolution for what is right

Peter Farley is reacting to last week’s climate change protests by schoolchildren, and suggests that maybe an element of rebellion is justified.

Speaking of the recent demonstrations by mainly children and young people against climate change, a Downing Street spokeswoman was right in saying the disruption to planned lesson time was damaging for pupils.
 
Right, that is, if you are saying it’s damaging to encourage youngsters (who are disenfranchised) to protest against policies which chronically damage their future and the future of the planet which they will one day inherit.
 
Wrong, however, if you consider (as I do) that this is real education, teaching people (even children and young people) to think for themselves and stand up for their rights. For far too long, this country, like so many, has been dictated to by those who have most to lose if the status quo is not conserved.
 
Let’s not kid ourselves, we don’t live in a democracy - we live in a dictatorship. A dictatorship is described as: a form of government in which absolute power is concentrated in one person or a small clique. Here, as in so many so-called democracies, power is in the hands of the big multinationals and their lackeys, a clique of the rich, who dominate the way our world functions and behaves.
 
The right-wing domination of our national press serves to perpetuate the notion that we must continue to ‘doff our caps’ to our self-proclaimed elders and betters - might is right! When will we, as ordinary people, learn that we need to repair the damage done for eons, by an education system, designed, distorted and perpetuated by those with vested interests?
 
State and Church have done untold damage, by teaching countless generations to genuflect. Why? To protect corrupt and unrighteous systems, which serve only to safeguard and uphold the interests of those whose power and authority is built on the illusion of spurious authenticity.  How long are we going to simply accept, ‘This is how it has always been’, as reason for doing nothing to change things? Such inertia is irresponsible. No worse than that, it’s anarchic and socially destructive.
 
The truth is, not only are conservative interests causing us to commit environmental suicide, they are bringing about the annihilation of all that is humanitarianly valuable – including our freedom of speech, our human rights (even our responsibilities).
 
As a Christian, I believe in the principle of Romans 13:1-2: “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”
 
That said, I fully concur with Martin Luther King Jr, who writing from prison in Birmingham, Alamba in 1963, concerning civil disobedience stated: “I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law.”
 
In Genesis 1 – there is an implicit mandate from God to mankind to care for the world, to protect the environment, not just for ourselves but for all forms of life. For me, that principle takes preference over being subject to governing bodies, in situations where clearly those authorities are not acting in accord with biblical injunctions, with regard to climate change and how we treat one another.
 
Today, many thousands of innocents in the UK who are disadvantaged, disabled or downtrodden are paying the price, whilst those responsible for getting the country into a financial debacle got off scot free and the political powers that be, blatantly condoned it!  
 
Can that be right? No! Ought it to be challenged? Yes! We need a demonstration which demands dignity not destruction; action which advocates accord not anarchy; revolution which requires respect not rioting.
The problem is, who is in a position to demonstrate how things should be done? Whose actions are worthy of emulation? Who’s fit to lead a revolution?
 
Any suggestions?


 
The image above is courtesy of pixabay.com
 


 

peter farley 540CFA Wannabe Word-Weaver, Peter Farley (founder of The Matthew Project) is a father of five and grandfather of thirteen. He lives and worships in Sheringham. He is a town councillor and one of the organisers of  Sheringham Shed - a Men's Shed project shortly to open in the town.

 

 

The views carried here are those of the author, not of Network Norfolk, and are intended to stimulate constructive and good-natured debate between website users. 

 

We welcome your thoughts and comments, posted below, upon the ideas expressed here. 

 

Click here to read our forum and comment posting guidelines


7379 views
To submit a story or to publicise an event please email: web@networknorwich.co.uk