27 January
Hmmm.
A story on several levels - why christians love John Key, him being a rock star, photo-opportunities, and one good man amongst a bunch of dickhead wimps.
Jared Dixon seems to have been the only attendee at the christian Parachute "Rock" festival who wasn't overawed by John Key turning up and preaching to the proto-Nats.
For those who have never heard of the Parachute Festival, it is a gathering of young, mostly white, middle-class christians to hear christian pop music. Attendees age upwards of 12, with an average in the late teens. Lots of first time voters, exactly the demographic least likely to vote, and therefore a Key constituency.
Coming from mainly National Party supporting parents, and having been indoctrinated with christianity, it's no real surprise the kids have bought into their parents' Conservative political beliefs. Stupidity loves company. Middle-class wimps begetting more middle-class wimps.
What a pleasant surprise to see there was at least one young man there to whom the Jesus fable actually means something. I've been quoted many times praising the goals and teachings of Jesus, because things like non-violence and no wars seem pretty smart to me, plus, as Jared Dixon quite correctly notes, he was quite big on sharing wealth rather than storing it.
Maybe Jared is the only one at the festival who's been listening to Pope Franky lately, because I can guarantee you the Pope would not be voting for John Key.
I love religious contradictions, and my favourite thing of all with christians is that they name their religion after a bloke they mostly ignore completely. Rich christians? Not Jesus' friends. Christians in the army/navy/air force? Not Jesus' friends. Christians spending money on luxury while children starve? Not Jesus' friends. Christians praying to help them win at a game? Not Jesus' friends.
In Jared Dixon, we find a young bloke who has not just
read the bible, but is living his life by it.
Copyright © Alan Charman