Author Archives: fatherdave

Jon Stewart parodies Obama's war on 'Islamic State'

Posted on September 16, 2014 by fatherdave

This is a powerful mixture of insight and humour from Jon Stewart, though the way he frames the parody does concern me. Stewart rails against Obama’s ‘Team America’ pitch in selling another Middle Eastern war with a view to questioning … Continue reading →

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Why are we worried about the Islamic State? Did I miss something?

Posted on August 29, 2014 by fatherdave

The war-drums are beating. Hysteria is spreading across the nation and reaching fever pitch! Al Baghdadi and his hordes of masked men are on their way to kill us all! Nobody is safe! First Syria, then Iraq, next … Australia? … Continue reading →

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Supporting Syria – an address by Father Dave

Posted on August 6, 2014 by fatherdave

An address given at the Imam Husain Islamic Centre on July 25th, 2014 It is hard to know how to talk about Syria as there are really two entirely different and competing narratives about Syria, and how you understand the … Continue reading →

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Why it's OK to arm MODERATE jihadists in Syria

Posted on July 5, 2014 by fatherdave

Twas bryllyg, and ye slythy toves Did gyre and gymble in ye wabe: All mimsy were ye borogoves; And ye mome raths outgrabe. (from Lewis Carroll’s ‘Jabberwocky’) I must admit that I was a little confused when I first heard … Continue reading →

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Is the violence in Syria and Iraq really sectarian?

Posted on July 4, 2014 by fatherdave

We’ve been sold this line for a long time – that the violence raging across the Levant, most obviously in Syria and Iraq, is of a sectarian nature. It is Sunni against Shia, Muslims against fellow Muslims and non-Muslim minority … Continue reading →

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Iraq, ISIS and Syria – what’s going on?!

Posted on June 19, 2014 by fatherdave

So many crazy things are happening in the hell that is flowing from Syria into Iraq at the moment that it’s hard to know what is going on. As Christians we need to make a meaningful response to all this bloodshed … Continue reading →

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The Syrian people have spoken and they want to keep Assad!

Posted on June 19, 2014 by fatherdave

I did not vote for Bashar Al-Assad. I didn’t vote in the Syrian elections at all because I am not Syrian! If I had been Syrian I don’t know if I would have voted for Assad. I really didn’t take … Continue reading →

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Understanding the war in Syria – a sketch video

Posted on June 9, 2014 by fatherdave

This is an engaging attempt to explain the violence in Syria, if a little simplistic. I would question it at two points. Firstly, I’m not convinced that the Syrian war ever did start as a purely democratic uprising. I suspect … Continue reading →

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Boxing in the streets of Syria

Posted on May 26, 2014 by fatherdave

It’s been a long time in production but here it is – the video that I’ve been yearning to share with you since returning from our peace mission: “Boxing in the Streets of Syria” My plan is to use this video … Continue reading →

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Syria – every story has two sides

Posted on May 25, 2014 by fatherdave

“Silver Water: Syria Self-Portrait” is a movie that recently debuted at the Cannes film festival in Paris – the only Arab film in the fest’s official selection. The movie documents human-rights abuses allegedly carried out by Syrian government forces in the city of … Continue reading →

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