Two Changes
+ Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney
17 Aug 2008
During our brief history Australia has always been supported by a friendly English-speaking “super-power”, first of all Great Britain and now the United States of America.
But two recent events highlighted how the world is changing, the Beijing Olympics and the Russian invasion of Georgia. As China is much more important to Australia we should begin there.
Both China and Russia are authoritarian where many of the liberties we take for granted are non-existent.
That being said we have to give sympathy to the rulers of China with their immense problems The country is huge with 1300 million people, as though the Roman Empire has remained intact there.
Long a successful trading nation, perhaps only a third of the population shares in the spectacular economic progress. Discontent bubbles up in many local protests and a one child policy is enforced roughly. The Beijing smog is symptomatic of the general challenges, ecologically and even spiritually.
This smog will clear as the Chinese become more prosperous and as internal press freedom increases.
Christianity is spreading, more of it Protestant than Catholic, despite differing levels of government opposition, just as it did in a hostile Roman Empire. The “underground” Catholic Church loyal to the Pope have been further restricted as the Olympic Games approached, with some bishops and priests under house arrest. Many Beijing priests have fled to the country areas for the period of the Games.
The opening ceremony was a mighty exhibition of Chinese technology and power. I was not surprised to learn that the fireworks display was enhanced by computer images for television viewers. This ceremony, like the Chinese embassy in Canberra, was making a statement about China’s role in the world today and her confidence about tomorrow. The power centres of the world are shifting from Europe and the Atlantic Ocean to the shores of the Pacific.
Last week I wrote about Solzhenitsyn and his providential role in dismantling Russian Communism. It might come as a surprise to learn that Russian Prime Minister Putin, formerly of the K.G.B., and the centre of power, believes that the collapse of the Soviet Union was “the greatest geo-political tragedy of the twentieth century”. Post-Communist economic rationalism in Russia was a disaster for ordinary people and helps explain the pockets of bitter hatred towards Solzhenitsyn on some blog sites. They see him as a traitor and destroyer.
Putin wants to use Russia’s resources boom to reassert great power status, is contemptuous of democracy and enjoys popular support at home for his invasion of Georgia. Their imprudence played into his hands.
The big question is whether Russia’s Georgian adventure is an end or a beginning.
On the other hand China’s opening ceremony praise for the teachings of Confucius was positive and hopeful, because one big question in China is how the spiritual void there will be filled, now that Mao and Marxism are discredited.
Today’s Australian children will be adults in interesting times.
