On being radical – Here I stand!
My article entitled Mayor of Echuca honoured by Youniversity of Rushworth (see below) was emailed to The Waranga News with a request to publish it in the end of October 2009 issue. What a surprise to see it published not as an article, but as a letter to the editor on October 8. Not only that, but the last third of the article was deleted for ‘lack of space’. The result was that the article’s heading had absolutely no relation to the contents that were printed. None of the volunteer proofreaders noticed this inconsistency.
Editors sometimes put material in the ‘letters to the editor’ space to show that they are not taking responsibility for what is written there. Anything controversial might therefore end up in the letters to the editor. I acknowledge that the editor of any newspaper is entitled to edit, but this was not just editing in the strict sense.
The power of the press
The reason why Rushworth and the Waranga Ward have been treated with so much inequity by the Echuca Shire Council is that the local people have allowed it to happen. Most people understandably like to lead peaceful lives, but that is not always the best for democracy. The Waranga News is a good newspaper, but it has not often used the power of the press to advance the local area’s cause in terms of getting a decent share of the Shire finances. To let the Shire of Echuca get away with treating us like a charity case needs to come to an end. The Waranga ward needs to insist on backdated proportional per capita spending (see my budget submission on this website). The Waranga News is able to assist in terms of this insistence.
Rock the boat
If The Waranga News is afraid to rock the boat, maybe it is time for The Rushworth Radical or The Waranga Warrior to be born. If anyone is interested in this idea, you already know how to contact me. Preparing a few pages and distributing them around Rushworth and neighbouring towns, would not be that expensive. The Waranga Ward must insist on backdated equity or consider seceding from the Shire of Echuca.
I would edit The Rushworth Radical, but controversy will not be avoided. In the meantime, I am just toying with the idea.
Where I stand
You probably already know where I am coming from. I have been married for over 42 year: I am a father of four and grandfather of eleven. I am an ex primary/special education/secondary teacher, an ex speech therapist and an ex ordained minister. I have a low vision problem that can be embarrassing , especially when I do not recognise people on the street, as I cannot always distinguish their faces.
I am not part of any church denomination but I am nevertheless a Jesus believer. I believe that Christian believers need to be radical. I am not against the institutionalised church, but I find it difficult to be a compliant pew sitter and participant in second grade music. I find it therefore difficult to fit in, as I prefer dialogue to being just a listener. I question some of the fundamentals of the Christian faith on the basis of longterm consistent study of church history and the Biblical record. I have no problems with other people seeing things differently, but I must go with my own conscience. I have not yet met anyone who has even tried to intelligently convince me to the contrary on the basis of true sola scriptura.
Here I stand!
Andre
