An Educative, Enlightening Study in Contrasts: Indulging in the Ultimate Act of Political Hari-kari... versus a Superbly Noble Demonstration of Decency and Community Good Will (Allied with Some Real Political Nous)

Baffled - beyond belief? Good. All will be revealed in the reasonably foreseeable...

Guessed correctly? I doubt it. Anyhow, for the time being - and yes, I will return to this asap - I'm referring to, in the former instance, Justice Minister Andrew Little's promotion of prisoner voting, and in the latter to the representations of a significant leader in the New Zealand Muslim community and/or *her protestations to a select committee considering the matter that recent efforts/attempts to effectively marginalize gun-owners and thus politicize the Government's gun buy-back scheme were not only counter-productive but actually risked marginalizing and endangering said (Muslim) community even more...

*And they had better listen - and well - to this former Labour Party women's vice-President, I believe.

To Be Continued...

How Right [as in Spot-On Correct] Seem Those Preachers Named Wright, whether former President Obama's [one-time] Pastor Jeremiah Wright...or Pastor Joe Wright of Kansas: vis-a-vis a priceless rare moment of candour, courage and conviction - and clarity - whereby a person in - and moreover of and with - a modicum of spiritual authority dared to call a spade a spade...and then all hell quite literally broke loose...

But first (things first), I'll briefly 'cover off' vis-a-vis a certain *Jeremiah Wright, who was - if you remember - the one-time pastor of a certain American president...-Barack Hussein Obama's however 'no brainer' decision to pretty much 'throw him under a bus' in his all-out effort to become president being a shameful episode in his run-up to election as America's first ever black American President.

Though Obama's decision quite clearly spoke of realpolitik at its most raw and basic level - and any and every political commentator at the time (and before and afterwards) would've doubtless suggested he had no alternative whatsoever if he really seriously wanted to be elected - I still happen to be so old-fashioned as to believe the end still doesn't justify the means, and that what Obama did ultimately spoke to his own lack of true, sterling (let alone godly) character, however unnoticed by the sophisticated set or commentariat of the day...

Besides, to somehow feign that a message (i.e. sermon) in which said pastor lambasted his own nation in no uncertain terms by entreating "God damn America!" (on multiple occasions, as is the wont of **Negro/African American/black preachers in the U S of A over the centuries as they use the simple but useful 'tack' of emphatic repetition to ram a particular point home) - as opposed to the usual "God bless America!" - was one he neither heard nor had had any idea about...

...is simply stretching credibility a little too far by a country mile or several...

Surely if ever there were not only a memorable sermon but moreover one inciting massive controversy both within and without Wright's and Obama's church, that would've been it...

*Without referring to him as he is - or at least was - known, i.e. by the monicker of  'Reverend', having (literally millennia ago) been strictly warned off that sacred space by my Lord and Saviour; such a title being rightly reserved for One and Only One Person...

**Using in this one instance all three - ***civil - terms which have been used over the centuries for the imported darker populace of the United States.

***Because as we all know there have been all manner of demeaning and derogatory terms used - whether in recent times or (doubtless) back in the time of slavery (and after this) - by all sorts of other Americans about their longsuffering black population...including, incidentally, by a particular President well-feted in liberal, 'progressive' circles...

To Be Re-continued...

Count your many blessings - name them one by one... and it will surprise you what the LORD has done: For Thanksgiving Day (A tribute from 'the isles of the sea')

Here's the (tenfold) result of a (deliberate/conscious) brainstorming exercise I engaged in this (Tuesday, November 26th, NZ-time) afternoon - for what it's worth...

Ten things to be/that I can genuinely be grateful for...

#For a God Who declares righteous the ungodly who believe in Him 

...to one not working, but believing upon the God that justifieth the ungodly, - his faith is reckoned for righteousness (Romans 4:5 - as re-rendered (p.132) in William R Sewell's ROMANS Verse by Verse : originally from the Holy Bible: Revised Version)

...to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness (King James Bible)

In other words, for re-creation ordained by God the Father, obtained/purchased by a self-sacrificing, self-denying Substitute and Saviour/Redeemer, the Son of God and Son of Man, and ultimately effected/enacted by God the Holy Spirit

#For a truly unique ('one-of-a-kind'), deeply spiritual (if not particularly religious), counter-cultural,  yet highly dysfunctional (extended) family

#For the gift of life...from a benevolent Creator - and my earthly parents

#For a blessed place (nation/city/suburb and surrounds) to grow up in (God's Own/Godzone; or Aotearoa-New Zealand, as it's perhaps somewhat better known)

#For wisdom (and grace) to become healthy/maintain good health

#For spiritual blessings galore c/o a wonderful LORD - Jehovah Jireh

...including...

#the bounties (depths/realms of hidden treasures) of/in God's very own (sacred) words

#the inestimable Gift of God's Holy Spirit - His own dear Presence within to lead, guide and walk alongside

#The bounties of Nature (aesthetic beauty in skies and clouds, seas/forests/mountains/scenescapes)

#'a friend like Ben'...and his generosity in not only regularly *'ravishing my heart' with stunning pics of the foregoing, but providing me with the means to view them, a laptop (computer), an all-important tool of the trade to allow/enable me to keep on keeping on providing you, my loyal, devoted viewership across and around the globe, with my musings upon this, that, and especially the other...

*I like the phrase - despite its rather questionable background/undertone; and simply employ it here to express my deep appreciation to a kindred soul/spirit who has thus and so brightened my day each and every time I've undertaken to get online (and especially onto and into my blogsites)

Postscript (3 days on):

How about these two extra blessings (i.e. causes for gratitude) for good measure...

#The inestimable blessing of song...about which it is quite literally difficult to know where to begin

#Incredibly enough, in view of the widespread public (and especially mainstream media) opprobrium into which this particular 'breed' has come over recent decades - I hereby pay an honest, heartfelt salute to the TV - and especially radio - evangelists (naturally, of the Christian variety/persuasion) of this world, without whose faithful ministrations my own faith (and Christian walk) might be in *more of a shambles than it/they presently is/are

*Seeming to damn 'em all with faint praise, I now see (re-reading what I've written), but it's not meant in that negative-sounding way, truly!

*"Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock"...that does not visit-seek-heal-feed the flock..."but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them."

**Does this not epitomize the world's great enterprise of geo-religio-political overlordship, or what?!?!?

*Taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Zechariah 11:17;16 (&15); and Ezekiel 34: 1-(4)-10-12-16-18-21-31)

**Or rather and in particular its Central Headquarters and Command Central, though, admittedly, not necessarily at every moment in time throughout history...

To Be Continued...

A Whole Lot Less 'Hui' and a Whole Lot More 'Do-ey' DEMANDED: Talk is Cheap, Folks...and It's Long Past Time...for Meaningful, Tangible Action by/from This World's #1 Peddler of Paedophilia and Protector of Paedophiles (we all know who I'm referring to)

Let me simply add, that the world's largest religious organization - a millennia-spanning geopolitical entity whose tentacles reach throughout the globe - has its work well and truly cut out for it: some serious fronting up to do, some serious questions to face up to, and some major penance and penitence/contrition to - authentically - enter into/undertake/carry out ASAP...

...for her guilt has reached to high heaven...

...and God has remembered her [myriad] crimes...

...and as she has rendered, so it will - one day, very, very soon -
be rendered back to her...

...and, folks, believe you me, her religious facade will then be stripped away, and she will be left naked and desolate, forsaken and on fire...and left awaiting the fierce judgment of God Almighty.

And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.

(The Apocalypse/Book of Revelation: 18: 5/6ff; 17:16; 18:21; but N.B. a multitude of equally applicable Scriptures therein, i.e. 17:1-6/7-8/9-15-18; 18:1-24; and also 19:2;19/20; 20:4; 13:1-10; 12;14;18; and 14:8-12; 15:2;4/5; 16:2;3/4-6/7;10/11/13/19; and 2:12/13/14-20/21/22ff; 6:9-10-11. Altogether 2 & 75 & 12 (plus) = 89-plus (of 404 verses) = pretty nearly 25%(a quarter) of the book!)

So, although as commentators quite reasonably point out, Jesus Christ - the *actual author (not 'Saint John' as so commonly supposed) of Revelation (*as is in fact mentioned right at its actual outset), indeed features **first and foremost throughout the entire final book of the Bible/New Testament (yes, Christ Jesus - not some fancy, fraught happenings, which there verily are! - Himself is the **front and centre of God's final love letter to the human race)...

...yet, next to/alongside Him, the strange sea-beast of Revelation 13:1/2-10 is the major subject (and next in prominence is the final days' ***'time of trouble such as never was'), the 'first beast' (also termed 'the woman' ('whore'/'harlot') 'riding the scarlet-coloured beast'; which is variously 'reported' to have the ****following series of features/characteristics and actions/deeds/life history):

#sitteth on seven mountains (Rev. 17:9)

#sitteth upon many waters (elsewhere depicted as 'peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues' (Rev 17:1;15)

#'that great city - that mighty city!', [one] 'reign[ing] over the kings of the earth' (Rev 18:10 & 17:18 - plus Revelation 14:8; 16:19; 18:16;18;19;21.) See especially Rev 16:19: 'the great city was divided into three parts...great Babylon'.

Hey, who could that possibly be/represent? Jerusalem, or even Dunedin, Aotearoa-New Zealand, I suppose...

In case you're left still wondering, methinks the following (verses in Revelation) might leave you in no doubt whatsoever - and even this is but a mere sampling of verses and passages throughout the literal length and breadth of the Apocalypse that could conceivably be argued apply to this 'great' religio-political entity/power variously named 'the beast', the 'first beast', the 'sea-beast', the '(great) whore'/[scarlet-coloured] woman/'great city Babylon'...and, most emphatically of all -

MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (sic; Revelation 17:5)

Geographical Location/Situation (and Origin):

'I know...where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is...'; 'I...saw a beast rise up out of the sea...and the dragon gave him...his seat';'the seat of the [first/sea-]beast'; plus Rev 17:1: 'the great whore that sitteth upon [a certain geographical location, clearly defined]; and 17:15; and 18:7.

Type of Organization:

A religio-political power with its (metaphorical) fingers 'in every pie' throughout our world; one with immense authority and - long - exercising considerable (coercive) influence and power over earth's citizens, even to the point of being the object of worship rightly due to God alone. (See Revelation 13:1-4, 8, 12; 14:8; 17:2,3,5,7,10-14,16-18; 18:3;9-10; 19:2.)

Meddling in earth's affairs by engaging in merchandising/trade traffic via ocean-going vessels - especially in precious metals and woods, fabrics, ivory, herbs and spices, grains, oil and alcoholic beverages, animals especially livestock...'and slaves, and souls of men'! (Revelation 18:11-19)

Persecuting to the death God's own special, faithful people - even waging all-out war against (both) them (and many others). (Revelation 6:9-11; 7:1-3,13-14; 12:6,13-16/17; 13:2,4,7,10,12; 15:2; 16:3,4,5,6,7; 17:6,7,14; 18:24; 19:2; 20:4. Whew!)

Identifying Marks/Details (in addition to all the foregoing):

Bears multiple names and titles of significance. (Revelation 13:1; 17-18; 15:2; 17:3,5; 18:7.)

Has/bears a *****special, unique number...the number of a man...yes, even the infamous 666 of graffiti artists and the like...(Rev. *****13:18; plus 15:2).

Bears a special mark - again the infamous mark of the beast so often bandied about in discussions (even secular and merely speculative) about 'endtime events' (see Revelation 13:16/17; 14:9-11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20;20:4 - eight references in nine verses).

Is ever associated with - and moreover the unashamed promulgater of -
#idol (and demon) worship and (religious) compromise. (Revelation 2: 14,20-22; 17:2,5; 18:2,3,23.)
#fornication/(spiritual) adultery. Revelation 2: 14,20-22; 14:8; 17:2-5,15-16; 18:3,9,14; 19:2.)
#seducing others (God's own 'servants'the 'children of Israel') into such adultery/idol-worship (Revelation 2: 14,20-22.)
#(spiritual) intoxication/drunkenness (Revelation 14:8,10; 16:19; 17:2,4,5; 18: 3,9,13,14,23.)
#coercing(forcing) others into this (intoxication and fornication) Ibid.
#corrupting the earth thereby Ibid; and 19:2.

Indulges in luxurious living and self-glorification (Revelation 17:4; 18:3,7,9, 12-17,19.)

Is known for its fine music, arts and crafts, and for conducting marriage ceremonies. (Revelation 18: 22-23.)

Speech bears the marks of blasphemy...against God...[H]is name...[H]is tabernacle...heaven [dwellers]...(Revelation 13:1,5,6; 17:3.)

Engages in miracle-working/performing 'signs and wonders'/nation-deceiving 'sorceries' (Revelation 13:13-14; 16:13-14; 18:23.)

Received a 'deadly wound' which was thereafter 'healed', leading to renewed and revamped respect for the same...culminating in a last days worldwide worship. (Revelation 13:3,4,14; 14:9-11.)

*See Revelation 1:1! Surely that ascription could hardly be placed any earlier in the book (to find Revelation's real author)?

**Indeed Jesus the Christ is described a number of times throughout the book as 'the Alpha and the Omega', 'the Beginning and the End', 'the First and the Last' etcetera. (Revelation 1:8,11,17; 22:13.)

***Though not defined in these precise words in Revelation (unlike in the gospels of Matthew and Mark; Mark 13: 14-20 (-24 etc); Matthew 24: 15-20 (-29 etc); although a time/season of great tribulation is referred to (Rev. 7:13/14.)

****Originally cited - or certainly intended to be - in one of my final blogposts, entitled 'Cultural Christianity'(etc) upon my original blogsite - now indefinitely suspended by me (from additional 'entries'): http://nuffsaid:consideryourself-frombothsidesnow.blogspot.co.nz/(or .com/).

Well worth an occasional look - if I do say so myself - with those who still have an appetite for politically incorrect, out of left - and right - field, alternative perspectives upon this wondrous world of ours (and its infinitely-variegated rag-bag of issues and concerns and controversies)...

*****Weirdly enough the two numbers (i.e. 13 and 18) in standard (i.e. non-biblical) numerology - admittedly one of the various and sundry occult 'sciences' so condemned by (especially Older Testament) scriptures - which are more associated with negative circumstances/events/situations than arguably any others...

*****Curiously enough, the very outfit/religio-political entity many such as Yours Truly believe that this number (and indeed all the various and sundry descriptive references vis-a-vis the 'sea-/first-beast' throughout Revelation) refers to...on at least one occasion in one of its numerous publications itself has effectively acknowledged that this '666' - in numerous ways - signifies some of the various names and titles that its titular head has appropriated to itself down through the centuries! And so itself queries whether the same might indeed be the biblical Antichrist (as ******many have so long maintained)!

******Indeed Yours Truly (again) wrote a 21-22-page opinion piece (some six-and-a-half years ago now) in which it is mentioned (early on) that there was veritable unanimity down through the centuries and even millennia by pretty well every going Christian 'concern'/denomination/even religious establishment offshoot and sect imaginable that this selfsame religio-political power was indeed verily the long-foretold Antichrist of the gospels of Matthew and Mark and the Revelation (and indeed Older Testament book of Daniel).

And incredibly that includes those (Christian 'sects') which then as today were amongst the Dissenters and Nonconformists (and other 'heretics'), and which are today but weren't then amongst the bastions of 'new theology' liberalism and adherents of the (highly political) so-called 'social gospel'. Yes, *******on this one point all were basically in complete agreement.

*******So why and when did things ('everything') change? Well, let's just say that the Counter-Reformation - even today - has a whole lot to answer for. 

Cry for all the inn-o-cent ones...born in-to a wor-ld they did-n't de-serve...

Sometimes absolutely everything comes together in such a simply extraordinary way...that one can only deem -  and term - it supernatural...or damn near pretty close to it.

And thus and so this very day has proven. And so, without further ado, and in tribute to the 'innocent ones' - whoever they may have ever been throughout the lengths and breadths of human history and geographical space - let me dedicate this blogpost (which is part three in my current series)...

...taken from the words of that legendary singer-songwriter of yesteryear (and perhaps still today, for all I know) Randy Stonehill...

Stumbling - again, this very day - upon/across another (second) *Children's Holocaust exhibit, this one at Dunedin, Aotearoa-New Zealand's varsity, the University of Otago...and being, as usual/ever,  (understandably and) absolutely transfixed (etcetera)...

...and later this day (as I tuned in to Parliament's general debate, as is my wont when(ever) the opportunity presents itself) hearing the Green Party's spokesperson on womens' and gender issues, M.P. Jan Logie, wax eloquent about this very day of the/each year indeed being the international day of the GLBTQ et al! 'community', i.e. one in which such minorities' 'rights' (and interests) are celebrated...as she movingly related her own background story insofar as it touched upon the way in which she was herself treated especially in her youth...

may I simply re-dedicate this blogpost, incoherent and unfinished as it is...and in view of the series on abuse I'm presently running...

to all the innocent ones...born into a world they don't deserve...

What more can I possibly add...?

*A truly exceptional exhibit, consisting of a series of progressively larger wooden boxes, each one containing numerous buttons, each button representing the life (and extinction thereof, by the SS et al) of Jewish children throughout Nazi-occupied Europe in the 1930s and especially 1940s as they  - with their kith and kin - were herded onto metaphorical cattle trucks and 'shipped' off on rail carriages throughout the then Third Reich onto concentration camps where their lives expired in a medley of incessant gruelling labour, scanty food, awful living conditions and oftentimes the gas chambers...

Thus representing the one-and-a-half million children who lost their lives amongst the 6 million-some Jews, Gypsies, Mentally and Physically Infirm/Disabled, Homosexuals, Socialists and Communists who likewise were exterminated by that diabolical regime...

Disturbingly anti-semitism hasn't only re-reared its ugly, vile head in present-day Europe (especially), but a new survey showed the incredibly - and quite frankly - unbelievably high levels of anti-semitism actually present in many/most such nations of 'modern' Europe - as in amongst the general populace of each country - yes, in our modern and oh so sophisticated and enlightened era to boot.

Though commentators - whence the report originated, anyway - were doubtless extremely loath to make any linkages of this upsurge of anti-semitism over recent years - especially apparent in France (which has likewise seen increased levels of long-established Jews there emigrating to Israel) - to the increased alleged **'Islamicalization' of Europe (as the hordes of refugees, economic and otherwise, have understandably sought to get the hell out of the hellhole which is Syria - ***and, for that matter, neighbouring Iraq (and Afghanistan)); and/or to the associated anti-Israeli sentiment among the same - let alone that of modern-day indigenous European secularists...

I for one have little doubt whatsoever as to the association thereabouts, and, like many in the United Kingdom in particular - especially Great Britain's 'chief rabbi' - am appalled/disgusted etcetera (as I've indeed already - long since - expressed upon other blogposts (especially those pertaining to the ongoing machinations of the UK's never-ending Brexit saga)) vis-a-vis Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (and his invidious, inexcusable and quite frankly unconscionable defense of party MPs and activists whose anti-Jewish sensibilities and the like have long since been put on sordid public display)...

**I realize a 'somewhat' contentious term to employ - let alone concept to raise - but what prithee can one call the numerous ghettoes throughout present-day Europe - admittedly, as much a result of those indigenous Europeans who've not been over the moon about the reconfiguration of their own nations in recent times, especially in view of the major upsurge in the aforementioned anti-semitism all over the continent, and in the numerous incidences of the imposition of sharia law here, there and seemingly everywhere...

No, Mr Corbyn's days may well be numbered. And despite all the characterization of his 'Tory' opponents as xenophobic and Islamophobic etcetera, it's interesting how British Prime Minister Boris Johnson appointed the most - genuinely, and conspicuously - ethnically diverse cabinet awhile ago, yet received scant all acknowledgment much less praise from those usually not remotely backward about coming forward in severely criticizing the (especially U K Conservative Party) status quo
over its neanderthal-ian characteristics and general, seemingly congenital disposition...

***I suppose one could add Yemen and Libya etc to that list...

Let's just add that the virtue-signallers of this great globe are oftentimes the very ones who in their own lives evidence the very worst (since so often exceedingly subtle, less easily detectable or publicly aired) racism/classism etc etc etc...

Nuff Said!

Cardinal Pell a Paedophile? Perhaps...but possibly not. But a Clergyman Complicit in Criminal Conspiracy and Conniving Cover-Up of the same? You betcha!

Part Two: Cardinal George Pell: Paedophile and/or 'Just','Simply' 'Accomplice in the Act'?
Today (Part 2a): Laying all my own cards out on the table: Where am I coming from?

So what brings me to my own summation of the saga that is the criminal indictment and subsequent prosecution and imprisonment of Cardinal George Pell? A pertinent question, especially as I've never met the man, and, even during the *two-and-a-half plus years I spent in Oz (ever so briefly in 1988/1989; and straddling parts of 1990, 1991, 1998 and 1999), I'd never ever heard of him (best to my recollection) - whether as a cardinal or simply a bishop (etc). And thus I'd 'merely' (what can generally only be considered somewhat to highly subjective) media accounts/reports/analyses/ commentary to go by. Yes indeed.

Well, let's lay all my cards out on the table to begin with, and so a number of personal disclaimers are doubtless in order. For starters, I've never ever been sexually abused **as such.

*Two-and-two-thirds' years in toto (when including a holiday prior to moving there), pretty much the same period all up as I spent sojourning in the land of my parents from mid-1992 through mid-1995.

**Which I well realize is qualified in such a way as to perhaps raise more questions than it answers. Suffice to say that in one's childhood things can occur which, while not strictly categorizable as ***/****abuse as such, can hardly really be termed consensual (given one's age and personal maturity), and which, at the same time, are arguably ultimately detrimental to one, leaving a lasting impression in more ways than one and thereby/otherwise majorly impacting one's life journey in more ways than one can readily recount - or, quite frankly, would ever wish to.

Let's just add that parental inattention and effective neglect has more to answer for in this life and world than many realize - and are far from trivial shortcomings when all is said and done...

All that having been well and truly said/placed upon the record, in this case a genuine as apology was offered/tendered (at least once or twice, and maybe even three times all up - and over a number of years, best I can recall); and done completely unprompted/'off the bat'/without any reminder thereof or arm-twisting on my part. And indeed I was not only completely taken aback and blown away (by the person's honesty thereabouts, and moreover courage to confess however much 'after the fact'), but by the individual's preparedness to take complete responsibility/culpability, not pleading any extenuating circumstances thereabouts or excuses whatsoever...

***Physical abuse is a different matter altogether. Indeed I suffered thus (on several identical occasions as to the surrounding events) and in a particularly cruel, even sadistic manner...as, admittedly, most of my other siblings have themselves spoken of experiencing from said individual (though, far as I'm aware, anyway, never once in a sexually abusive fashion). But without scarring let alone lasting (physical) damage, as indeed I did sustain (upon my upper left thigh) - and still show the long scar thereabouts - as per ye average youngster's (especially boy's) multitude of physical scars occurring from ye normal rough-and-tumble play...but without the regular allotment of broken bones.

Though in another completely different instance, another family member's physicality could well have led to major, long-term injury of a most serious kind...and, gratefully, that was also something about which I later heard (occasionally prompted by Yours Truly) genuine contrition thereabouts...

 Though even then I hardly suffered in the ways (and not remotely to the extent) many doubtless do.

****But as for psychological abuse, well let's just say that's another matter entirely, and I did indeed suffer thus and from a number/variety of authority figures who verily abused that authority over me by so doing, but - hopefully/seemingly, at least in the long run - not irremediably or irreparably...

Guilty OF [the specific, particular] sin [alleged]? No, or Not Necessarily. But, nevertheless, Guilty AS sin? It would appear, Absolutely: The Other (More Sordid) Side of the Human 'Experience' (as it pertains to Cardinal George Pell, former Australian Roman Catholic Archbishop & one-time Vatican #3)

Before beginning, a few explanations are in order. First of all, this particular blogpost (and an accompanying, more or less 'stream of consciousness' one vis-a-vis the future of the longstanding Roman Catholic practice of (public) confession (to a priest) - i.e. 'the confessional' as it's better known), was initially written (out) way back yonder, on the 21st of August to be precise...only not posted (for various reasons, chiefly other priorities/lack of sufficient time to do it proper justice).

Being an important topic, and one moreover which I wanted to do sufficient justice to, procrastination evidently got the better of me (as it has with other, equally serious matters such as 'Black Lives Matter', Global Warming/Climate Change, the Me Too Movement, 'Making a Man an Offender for a word', Cultural Christianity, the present state and status of the Vatican/papacy vis-a-vis global geopolitics, (western) mainstream media double-standards over so-called fake news - and in relation to the treatment accorded Islam on the one hand and Christianity on the other (especially vis-a-vis so-called 'hate speech'), and thus political partisanship in general (again, principally as witnessed in 'western' nations), those current 'cream of the crop' (especially western world-wide) issues atop the apex of the cultural warfare pyramid, abortion and euthanasia (and other, related, life-and-death matters of public policy) vis-a-vis the (rapidly diminishing) right of folk (especially health professionals) to take a stand and stance of conscientious objection to, the *GLBT 'community' and its increasingly strident public presence (alongside the equally insistent demands for safe spaces in public fora juxtaposed with how important the once dearly-enshrined value of freedom of speech still is)) - yes folk, my work is evidently well and truly cut out for me, I well appreciate; but just to remind regular readers that, no, I haven't forgotten my (long-declared) intention to tackle these thorny topics.

So where do I begin? Just here...in regards to my 'good fortune' - or rather providential 'luck' /blessedness - in having a chance encounter (the day I started posting this) in a local (downtown) supermarket with a fellow 'very much in the know' about institutional abuse (in a religious setting); coincidentally at the very time (and in the very week) I'd been preparing to at long last get around to posting my long-gestated blogpost/s on Cardinal Pell (and the RCC Confessional).

Since I daresay it would serve no real purpose except (to stoke) a misguided and self-serving sense of self-importance - and anyhow it's **/**quite inappropriate to do so without asking/getting that person's approval in so doing - I've no intention of name-dropping unless and except insofar as said gentleman at some time gives me permission to mention his name and/or insists I do so...

Suffice to say my chance encounter has thrown a mini spanner in the works, as - upon reviewing said (long-shelved blogpost) draft upon arrival home Friday - I discovered it was somewhat more favourable towards the ***'good' cardinal than I'd expected (or recollected)...And though I will ever and always continue to pursue this blogsite - as its longstanding motto declares - 'with fear of and favour towards none', whilst 'bestowing bouquets and brickbats', I feel I owe it to said gentleman to make it abundantly clear why I hold the ****particular view I evidently do...

*Or is it now GLBTQI et al...? (Though last I heard there's now a plethora of such sub-categories.)

**And so I felt I owed it to my (aforementioned) sometime acquaintance to respect his confidence (though we've hardly discussed anything in any great depth, really only upon a fairly basic level).

**Yes, not all (would-be, wannabe) journalists (including those, like myself, of a strictly freelance variety) can be said to operate in an amoral atmosphere without respect of common decency and the like - despite persistent public perceptions to the contrary.

***Using that (quote, unquote) term 'good' strictly in its colloquial sense (and because it has a certain resonance) - but most definitely not because I feel it in any way aptly depicts the said clergyman.

****That being stated, I recall that my own views were/have been somewhat complex, coloured as much by what I perceived as being somewhat of a personal witchhunt latterly conducted against Cardinal Pell - irrespective of the particular facts in the matter, and with a *****predetermined agenda at play... However, having qualified myself thusly, I say that only in respect of the specific crime of which he has been recently convicted and sentenced to imprisonment...

*****For, as has become increasingly apparent to myself and numerous fellow believers over recent times - irrespective of our views about systemic abuse in state and religious institutional settings over many years and decades, and even centuries - there are those with a predetermined agenda towards, even a personal (and frankly, barely-disguised) vendetta against, pretty much anyone and everyone professing a Judaeo-Christian faith/belief system (along with their associated church); and I say that as someone who - like such greats as President Abraham Lincoln (and Aotearoa-New Zealand's own  Janet Frame) - has had very little time for 'organized religion' as such...

But, lest my (aforementioned) comments (as in the two immediately preceding paragraphs) be somehow or other misinterpreted/misconstrued/misunderstood, I say the foregoing  ******most definitely not in relation to Pell's longstanding, overarching, powerful position of being the go-to person for anyone and everyone within the Roman Catholic Church in Australia - and especially the states of Victoria and/or New South Wales as the case may be - vis-a-vis those seeking exposure of paedophile priests and their being brought to account for their *******'aberrant behaviour'...  

******For, though this will be elaborated in Part Two (and possibly Three) of this blog series, Pell would appear to be as donkey deep in the longstanding global paedophile priest cover-ups that have (in, initially, the North American instance, and, latterly, that of France) thus far been so thoroughly and graphically exposed in all their shameless shamefulness by two international film festival movies, firstly 'Spotlight' set in Boston, Massachusetts, and more recently 'By the Grace of God', set in France...

*******Deliberately, intentionally understated by me here - as ever - to emphasize my point.

******* (&***) Well aware - in both these (rather disparate) instances - that this is (admittedly, just one of!) the very 'foible'(s) (again, deliberately understated for natural emphasis) for/about which the ********'venerable' Prince (i.e.Andrew!) has been so unceremoniously lambasted over recent times ...though in his case, it would indeed seem to reflect his personal 'character', or lack thereof ...

...yet let me state once again that - deliberate, intentional - understatement is not a sin; indeed, ye average journo engages in the same without batting an eye - and moreover without incurring 'pushback' - pretty well all the time...

********Hey, there I go again - pretty well automatically, involuntarily...-so maybe I too have an endemic case of foot-in-mouth disease...

All Things Bright and Beautiful, All Creatures [fauna - and flora!] Great and Small, All Things Wise and Wonderful, The LORD God Made Them All

And that includes, as my aforementioned hymn rephrase expresses it, not only the living, moving fauna, but the 'flora' that equally grace our increasingly fraught planet...

...be they native (indigenous) or introduced (exotic) species...

This - one of *three all-time personal favourite hymn 'numbers' by the 19th century composer Cecil Frances Alexander - expresses best as I can my **own long-gestated and articulated and indeed openly, actively-expressed views thereabouts...

...about the ***seeming ****double-standards and 'high-minded' indifference of those - some of whom in my own long-standing acquaintance, even friendship - articulating the culling of any plant (or indeed animal) which is not indigenous to a particular area...

Obviously my own land, Aotearoa-New Zealand - otherwise (in years gone by, anyhow) known as 'God's Own' and/or "Godzone' - has suffered immensely (as has been increasingly realized over recent times) from the introduction - generally entirely inadvertent and/or accidental, but nevertheless - of (what have effectively become) pest species...

...everything from rats to possums, stoats and ferrets - and wild boar, as well as thar, deer, wallabies...
(though let's not, let's indeed never ever forget those most intolerable of insects, the common housefly and the German wasp!)...

...and likewise, among its 'innumerable' 'invasive' plant species, everything from gorse and broom through to a plethora of weeds, over to all manner of exotic tree species...

*Those other two hymns being 'There Is a Green Hill Far Away' and 'Once in Royal David's City'.

**As evidenced - if such evidence were sought/desired/required - in submissions (and accompanying 'literature' thereabouts) still held in my hoarded possession from years/decades gone by...wherein I made personal representation/s to the particular individual/s concerned and/or entities (including local council etcetera) involved as to my own strong disagreement/opposition...to various removal of trees, notable and distinguished...even if (generally) not native varieties...

...including over the (highly) controversial 'culling' of a wonderful 'stand' of Douglas Firs up in Dunedin's blessed Ross Creek area back around 2000-2002 or so...

***For who am I to judge anyone else's inner motives and motivations, however much I happen to oppose the[ir] particular actions in any specific instance...

****Yes, you'd be correct to surmise that I'm writing now in regards to the present staunch protests up in Auckland over the imminent culling of a large stand of exotic - but prized - trees there... 

Were you there - do you remember...some of the all-important dates in human history (of the unforgettable 20th Century in particular)?

...though the memory thereof appears rapidly ebbing/fading away among today's supposedly oh so enlightened/sophisticated/knowledge soaked and saturated/information overloaded 'generation'...

What sort of events/happenings, you understandably/rightly question?

Oh, those that so many of us still to this very day recall precisely where we were when we got wind of their occurrence...

Such all-important 'stuff' as, f'r'instance...

*the assassination of 'JFK', America's (then) youngest ever President, one who briefly inspired an entire generation and era...

*that of his own brother, and also wannabe president, Robert Kennedy, likewise an inspiration to so many (there and overseas)

*the assassination of Martin Luther King, and his one-time ideologically divergent (but later converted to King's own nonviolent disobedience ethic), fellow African American Malcolm X

*the lunar landings...of the Americans, with Neil Armstrong's classic "One small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind" announcement/declaration

*the fall of the Eastern Bloc, akin to a series of dominoes, crescendoing from 9 years (in Poland) to nine months to nine weeks to nine days to nine hours (in the various instances), culminating in the demise/breakup etcetera of the USSR/Soviet Union upon the birthday of Yours Truly in 1990/1991

*the premature/deliberate?/premeditated?/well-planned? death of the Princess of Wales, Lady Diana Spencer, on August 31, 1997

*'9/11'

*the election of America's first ever black president

*the election of Donald J Trump as US President

Yes, as the old 'Negro spiritual' goes, were you there...

when [all these things] took place/occurred,

were you there...?