Dale Farm (first seen in 2011)
If you really want the whole background story you can look for it all over the internet by entering “DALE FARM” there will be quite some reading I’m sure. My own interest in Dale Farm was initially little more than passing. There are two very clear sides to the story and due process would, I thought, eventually sort the mess out. However these things have a nasty habit of dragging on for ages and changing minds and hearts in the process. I’ve found the whole legal situation to be a bit like addressing a child with an “owie” with a dictionary definition of pain when what they really need is someone to kiss it better (even though we all know the pain won’t actually go away by kissing it better!)
Today’s picture particularly caught my eye being on the front of several news papers and all over the internet. The very heated argument on both sides of this story aside, these are people who are judged to have done something wrong by the courts. They are now being evicted quite legally. What made me sit up and pay attention for the first time was a phrase from one of the officials that started with, “These people deserve all they get, they should have...”
A few hours later, quite unrelated, Gadaffi also “Got what he deserved”. I’m so glad I don’t get what I deserve! The whole point of following Christ is that you DON’T get what you deserve! HE “got it” for me! I was disappointed to see the results of two polls that showed that BOTH stories (Dale Farm and Gadaffi) had a 95% approval rating of the outcome being what “should” happen. Rough justice it would seem is here by popular demand and here to stay.
Mercy V Justice. Compassion V Judgment.
I found it interesting to note that many of the Gypsy community also have strong faith - something I’ve been aware of for many years. My mother is from a Gypsy family! Are these then my brothers and sisters (cousins at very least) that are being evicted and their homes destroyed? Does that actually change anything? Nevertheless the just desert line of thought troubles me deeply. I’m not sure how I’d have changed the outcome of either story even if I could, but rejoicing as the “will of the people” is enforced is a dangerous place to stand. When they shouted “crucify” 2000 years ago I wonder how many knew it to be wrong and stayed silent? Would a poll then also have yielded a 95% approval rating? And would my voice have been one of the majority?
