Its pretty much impossible to travel anywhere in outback Oz and not be
struck by the impact of both alcohol and pornography. All throughout the
Kimberley’s, the NT and remote Qld are large signs identifying ‘restricted
areas’ – zones where alcohol is either strictly limited or where it is
banned and where possession of even soft porn incurs a hefty fine – think
$5000.00.
Why is this the case?…
And is it just aboriginal people who this is wreaking havoc amongst?
It has caused me to reflect deeper on how we deal with these issues in a
non-indigenous setting. I wonder if alcohol wasn’t currently legal – and if
we knew its social impact – if we would even ponder making it readily
available? I actually tend to think not. Given the amount of grief that has
been wrought in our own communities through alcohol abuse, I imagine that at
some level simple ‘common sense’ would dictate that we make it a prohibited
substance. (Yes – I know this leads to other problems / black market etc).
It seems that the impact of alcohol on aboriginal people is more visible
because they are louder, often have their disputes in public and don’t seem
to have the same concern for ‘decorum’ that we anglos appear to have. But my
observation is that the impact on middle class white folks is often not much
different. It just (usually) happens behind closed doors.
I have to say that I am a lover of red wine and I regularly enjoy a beer, so
what I am writing disturbs me greatly. I don’t write this from any
theological conviction re the rightness or wrongness of drinking – I hope
those debates have gone the way of the dinosaur – but if there were a
theological frame to slot this into it would be that of how we shape the
kingdom now and how we best love our neighbour. Is it more loving and more
in line with the shaping of God’s kingdom to abstain from alcohol and to ask
others to do likewise?…
I don’t think any politician would ever have the balls to run a prohibition
campaign – not here in Australia – so we will never go that route – but I am
somewhat perplexed by this wonderful substance that I enjoy so much, yet
that seems to be the root of so much social evil. Of course I understand
that the root of the ‘root’ is a ‘sinful nature’ that uses good things in
wrong ways, but I can’t help wondering what a community would be like in the
absence of any alcoholic drink.
Honestly – I don’t like the thought of it! I’d miss my evening glass of red,
but I was saying to Danelle this afternoon that if we actually knew that
complete abstinence was the key to a healthier society then I’d be prepared
to bite that bullet. I think the aboriginal communities have been learning
this the hard way. I wonder why we haven’t seen similar restrictions come
into white communities?… I guess its cause no one would ever allow it, but
perhaps we need to rethink this one. (he says still not really wanting to go
there.)
As for porn.
Well any moron knows that porn is evil stuff and messes with people at all
levels. Obviously the extent of child abuse in aboriginal communities has
been a catalyst for its prohibition, but I wonder why we still permit this
one in our communities? What level of porn related child abuse, female abuse
etc is acceptable? Obviously we feel that some level is ok as we don’t rail
against it. Is it just too hard?
Sometimes we just live in the world we know and don’t question the way
things are.
Many of you would have seen the ‘Truman show’. A movie in which the central
character (Truman’s) entire life is a TV show but he doesn’t know – he is
completely unaware. He has been caught in a giant studio right from birth
and every other person is an actor. It’s the ultimate voyeur television with
people all round the world waiting on his every move.
At one point the creator of the show is interviewed. His name is Christov.
The interviewer asks Christov the creator of the show, why hasn’t Truman
ever cottoned on to the fact that his life is a sham?
Why hasn’t he realised?
Its a fair question. Christov replies quite profoundly “we accept the
reality of the world with which we are presented” . How true… we accept
the reality that we grew up – our family’s reality – our local community’s
reality – we accept the media constructed reality – the world as the TV
tells us it is.
Maybe we have accepted a reality in regards to alcohol that actually needs
to be questioned.
Maybe we all need to ask more questions generally.
But – yes – sometimes I worry about where the answers would lead us.
Wow. Good thoughts.
I can certainly appreciate the struggle you’re going through, as I too have gone through it for a while now. I’m doing the whole application process to be a worship pastor, and while I’ve not restricted myself based on denomination, the one thing that constantly worries me is that some church will want to hire me that asks their pastors to abstain completely. On the one hand, I totally understand that they want to not tempt those with alcohol addiction and whatnot, but on the other, I fail to see how total and universal abstention – and a rule to back it up – actually help them. Instead, wouldn’t it be a better picture to see pastors and those who are supposed to be examples in the church practicing moderation? You know, like your one glass of red – totally healthy for you, in fact. More than that, I don’t know, it obviously depends greatly on your BMI and whatnot, but … it’s something between you and God to decide how much is too much.
Also, when your outward behavior starts dishonoring the mission with which you’ve been charged. But lots of things can do that anyway, and we don’t make rules about them (like gluttony).
Thanks for wrestling with the issue so transparently.
It’s interesting that porn is being seen as the damaging thing that it is in some communities while it is becoming more and more acceptable in wider society to talk openly about browsing porn online.
Thank you for being brave enough to tackle this subject. My thoughts mirror yours but as a non-drinker, I am told that I don’t have authority to speak on the subject as I have nothing to lose. I have often pondered a world without alcohol. How many people would still be alive because they weren’t killed by a drunk driver? How many marriages would still be intact? How many women and children would not have been abused? How much more productive would we be as a society? Although I don’t drink, my drug of choice is caffeine. I regularly partake in coffee and chocolate but if giving them up meant a better world for all of us, I would do it today. I know there are millions of people around the world who are responsible drinkers and of course it is unfair to force prohibition on all, but looking at the big picture it seems it would be a worthy sacrifice. But alcohol lovers, do not fear, it will never happen. This drug is so acceptable to us as a society and we are just too weak to give it up. Now don’t get me started on porn.
Having grown up in a tee-total home I have been concerned that there are Christians talking about having that ‘glass of red’ or drink of choice like needing a ‘fix’ or a ‘hit’. In Eph 5 told ‘Don’t be drunk we with but be filled with the Spirit’ or as the NLT says “Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you.” It all depends on who or what we allow to influence or control us, and who or what we rely on to ‘complete’ us and meet our innermost desires. If we are relying on a drink or even another person to do what only God can do, we will never be satisfied or fulfilled.
Good thoughts Andrew. I knew about the alcohol ban in many communities. I didn’t know about the porn ban. A good move I think.
Humanity has always found ways to self-destruct, and alcohol, pornography, etc etc is alive and well in both indigenous and non-indigenous communities throughout Australia.
So why don’t we stand up and cry out against these injustices in our own ‘anglo’ society? Why are we happy to allow laws to be imposed on the Other, but not ourselves? Dave, why is it a “good move” to do it to ‘them’ and not to ‘us’?
Not meant to be read as argumentative – just think that these laws, interventions etc reek of racist paternalism, and we sit back in our arm chairs, with our beer in hand, watching our “soft”-porn on the tele, thinking the world is a better place for those “poor, loud, socially-backward” aboriginals.
Maybe we could start by increasing the tax on alcohol paid by manufacturers and retailers? Hang on, wouldn’t they just pass on the tax increase to the consumers in the shape of more expensive alcohol? Wouldn’t that mean less people could afford higher alcohol content drinks? And wouldn’t that mean less alcohol was consumed by larger quantities of people (especially those with less money – ie, the poor and young). And wouldn’t that lead to a decrease in alcohol-related injuries and deaths across society? Yes – and this exactly the kind of thinking behind the alcopops tax. But try and get that through parliament and you have every tom, dick and harry up in arms because the price of their pre-mix bundy and coke just doubled at the footy!!!
But implement a community-wide law on people that are basically invisible to the majority of Australians (most people never step foot in outback Aboriginal communities), and who have a relatively negligible effect politically (Aboriginal population is 3% of Australian population) AND which doesn’t affect the cost of our Bundy and coke at the footy and apparently we are on a “winner”.
We can’t afford to keep implementing “solutions” that remain to be “BLACK” and “WHITE”.
Shame the porn ban isn’t elsewhere. Can’t even pay for petrol without seeing it. There is no capacity to even choose exposure. What does that communicate for our children? Sexual abuse and pornography are not aboriginal issues – they impact all of us.
I have lived and worked in rural and remote communities for a good portion of my life.I too enjoy a beer and wine on occassions. Having said this I have lobbied for bans of alcohol in the communities in which I live. Why? It is simple…for the children. The children who dont get to vote…the children who don’t get a voice…and for the children who suffer so much and dont choose the life in which they find themselves. If it was just to save one child from a life of abuse then I would happily give up my social wine for good.
Live in a community that has no bans then watch it transform when bans are put in place. Watch lives transform as they get the chance to breath and get a chance to seek the help they need. Alcohol is the poison that drowns these communities giving them no chance to grow. While they are not the long term answer they certain make a difference for many children here and now and with the break in supply many people see the opporunities to seek the help they need to heal.
As for the indemic problem in white society. The ‘behind closed doors’ is so true. Just because it is not seen does not mean it is not just as real. If nothing else wouldnt it be interesting to see the problems rise to the surface with a nation wide community ban. To expose the hidden damage that has been caused by this socially acceptable drug.
Perhaps Homer Simpson says it best, ‘ Ah alcohol! The cause of and solution to all of lifes problems’. – Maybe not but certainly it does more than any of us would like to admit….easier just to accept the world we live in as Truman did but…at what cost?
clearly an abstinance ban will never occur in oz, but i think followers of J need to be asking these sorts of questions on both topics – but more than asking – also taking real action – visiting oz in jan, i was kind of shocked to watch mainstream tv for a few minutes after 12pm – and saw that every second add was soft porn promoting all sorts of immoral behaviours – seriously that does need to be challenged strongly by the ch community.
hmmm…. its interesting actually living in a country where there is a complete ban on both of these things. if there weren’t these bans here, i shudder to imagine the consequences. (sure there is still an underworld of abuse here – but it is the small minority vs the majority)
Hi Folks
Thanks for the thoughtful responses on a challenging subject. Alcohol is a raw nerve in Oz society then mix it with racial / social issues and it becomes explosive!
I dont think this is an issue with any easy answers. I always been an advocate for responsible drinking – believing that God gave us good things to enjoy (rather than abuse).
However we do seem to be in a real mess because of these two issues – amongst many others.
I guess the other challenge is to ask where we legislate against human freedom?
Where do we stop?
Do we ban cigarettes (a greater source of unnecessary death amongst Aussies than alcohol) or anything that has a negative impact?
We do seem to be spiralling out of control as a society, but I am lost for a healthy response.
I am pondering and praying as to whether teetotalling is a healthy response for me. (Note – for ME) I don’t see it as something I would enjoy but perhaps in this culture it would be a powerful statement about what I believe matters?…
Still pondering as I don’t believe rash decisions are usually the best ones!
The fact that I love a glass or three of red doesn’t help either…
It is definitely a hard one…. I studied Aboriginal Studies at school and it opened my eyes to the atrocities of white colonialism. I think a large part of this is a reaping of the seeds of 200 years of abuse of the indigenous peoples of this country. when you add alcohol to the mix, everything explodes… and again, it’s a fine line between paternalism and good governance. I know many communities are chossing the bans for themselves… maybe there is a way to work alongside those communities/people rather than telling them what to do.
on the anglo/european australian front – i doubt a ban would ever happen… big corporations hold too much power. it’s interesting to ponder the difference if a “white” community did decide to ban it in their own little area though wouldn’t it? would make for a good experiment!
tough subject and tough words but I think you are onto something. the problems caused by alcohol in our society are largely ignored and I think that IS the church’s problem. I appreciate your commitment to uncovering the truth and speaking prophetically on this Hamo.
I am also concerned for our young people who are earning good money and then binge drinking at the weekend. The women are putting themselves at a high risk of having children who have various degrees of learning difficulties from undiagnosed foetal alcohol syndrome. Is it fair that these babies brains are cooked before they are even born? This is not just an indigenous problem. See the ABC productions on Lateline on Foetal Alcohol Syndrome. Maybe there needs to be more teaching by parents and those responsible for education of our young people of the responsibility of both male and female to be responsible for the life and well being of a child. They don’t ask to be born with these added disadvantages.
While I’m sure that a national ban wouldn’t happen in Australia (it’d be way too unpopular and politicians don’t do unpopular), I imagine it’d be a bad idea anyway. When we tried that here in the States (the whole “prohibition” movement), it led to more problems than it solved, and in fact, made the problem worse once it was repealed. Alcohol started out as the same sort of issues I’ve heard described in this stream of comments, but then some women got together and decided to do something about it, thinking that passing a law would make a difference. They got everyone up in a frenzy and banned alcohol. What happened? A drastic increase in violent crime, the rise of the crime lords running “speakeasies” to sell black market booze, and the associated violence to protect said illegal investments. Trust me – just as with guns, passing a law to make something illegal does NOT make the problem go away, it just pushes it underground.
yeah, i agree Andrew, the question is about legislating against human freedom – can we, and how far is too far, or not far enough.
We legislate continuously don’t we. Don’t speed, wear bike helmuts, don’t drink and drive, don’t park here, don’t park there, don’t steal, don’t kill, buy a ticket before boarding a train, take your shoes off before you come in —- a billion laws.
Some we clearly accept, others we grudgingly accept. But everyone except a few crazy anarchists would say that there is a need for some laws – and I bet if anarchists are honest they would also agree –
Is there anything at all, good about porn in anyway at all? – from a position of Christian faith – no clearly not – so i think we could very easily advocate and call for a complete ban on porn all over australia in good conscience.
Alcohol – well – a little alcohol controlled is clearly not evil or damaging or sinful – unlike porn – so a blanket ban against alcohol probably can’t be defended – except in extenuating circumstances – eg remote communities. But – there still does need to be some sort of response to the terrible tragic missuse of alcohol in mainstream communities doesn’t there. – perhaps individual abstinance – as a personal stand/reaction/statement/ as you have suggested – (this is something i have chosen – perhaps because i don’t want to be brother to something which causes so much destruction in the hands of people?)
Perhaps there are other steps we can take – I know that in footy clubs, schools, unis work places etc- drunkeness is celebrated, pushed, encouraged, pressured even – there is an active powerful push towards missuse – perhaps people should be stronger, and more vocal in a reverse push, or counter push in response at times?
hmmm… we already do legislate against alcohol don’t we – you can’t serve an intoxicated person – you can’t sell to minors, advertising is restricted, places of sale are restricted – perhaps we can as a society step up in these area’s substantially – that would take concerned citizens lobbying relevant people.
just thoughts, interested to hear peoples responses.