define irony
Alexander Downer criticised churches for making comments on political issues, and in particular:
the tendency of some church leaders to ignore their primary pastoral obligations in favour of hogging the limelight on complex political issues
So let me see, a politician instructing churches and clergy on how they should behave and in particular imparting the advice to concentrate on their core business, which does not encompass commenting on politics or foreign affairs.
Whereas, part of the core business of politicians is [apparently] commenting on the role and operation of the church.
UPDATE - in the first version of this post, for some reason (random brain freeze) I renamed Alexander as “Andrew Downer”. I was mortified, so did a quick search to see who it was that I was attributing this statement to (and upon whom I was heaping my vitriole). What I found was that I was not the first to make this error. Maybe he just looks like an Andrew.
However, I would note:
- a petition would have more effect if directed to the right person
- you would expect that the greens would be able to look up the correct names of politicians at the same time that they were creating an email list
- a lateline report, particularly when accompanied by a video should attribute quotes to the correct person on the transcript
August 28th, 2003 at 1:07 pm
I am thinking that anyone who gets to be archbishop, primate etc has had plenty of experience with complex political issues.
On the other hand many of our polititians have had little experience at examining their behaviour from a moral or ethical perspective. (or if they have they’ve done an aweful job of it.)
Perhaps Alexander should just go back inside his glass house.
August 28th, 2003 at 6:27 pm
ahhh, but all polititians are religious aren’t they, where as most church leaders spend most of there time trying to ignore politicts (well at least politicts for the sack of politicts)
August 29th, 2003 at 12:01 pm
from scott adams (dilbert):
I’ve also learned recently that “ironic” means anything you want it to mean. Example:
Me: “I heard that Bob was killed by a meteor.”
Induhvidual: “Wow. That’s ironic.”
Me: “Why is it ironic? Was he an astronomer?”
Induhvidual: “No, it’s ironic because, you know, what are the
odds?”
Me: “So anything unlikely is automatically ironic?”
Induhvidual: “No, it also needs to be bad.”
Me: “This conversation is ironic.”
Induhvidual: “Shut up! You’re making me pee like a banshee!”