ABC Radio National last week had a program that discussed ‘privilege’ and this article highlights Australia’s privilege.
Australia has economic privilege. One of our young writers’ parents are from India and he sent me information on the India-Australia Business and Community Awards (IABCA) as he was nominated for the 2018 Young Community Achiever of the Year award for his work in India.
IABCA is a big deal. An enormous number of Indian migrants have worked hard in Australia and done very well in business. Australia is indeed full of such privilege. .
The same can be said for all of our migrants who have established businesses in Australia. Australian - Chinese are a classic example. I have numerous Australian-Chinese mission associates who are classic examples of economic privilege.
To deny Australia is full of economic privilege for Australian-(ethnic groups) illustrates you exist in cuckoo land.
Opportunity privilege
Australia has opportunity privilege. Consider the educational opportunities all Australian children enjoy. There are apprenticeship opportunities, TAFE is available, teaching colleges, seminaries, universities, post graduate scholarships … Australia is full of opportunity privilege.
Go on any university campus and you’ll find a sea of international faces. Visit any bible college or seminary such as Australia’s largest ‘Morling College’ (NSW Baptist) and those studying for ministry come from the four quarters of the earth.
There are literally hundreds of indigenous programs funded by the tax payer to ensure our own first peoples can enjoy opportunity privilege. It’s not rocket science. Look at the number of successful people in any chosen walk of life who have come from humble backgrounds regardless of their ethnicity.
Internet privilege
Australia has internet privilege. Consider our social media avenues whereby we have immediate contact with our family members wherever they might be. Our family members travel - Messenger is a remarkable thing! Instant!
We connect with our friends and associates, we can do research and gather all kinds of information through the internet systems, and consider how many of our high school students have mobile phones. It’s communication privilege on steriods.
Travel privilege
Australia has travel privilege - Australia is a long way away, and it’s part of our culture to travel. Our son, like many young Australians before him spent a good portion of his 20’s in the UK. All of our four children have travelled extensively and some have come with me on international missions.
Go to any Australian international airport is it like the United Nations general assembly. Oodles of young Australians whose parents have come from countries around the world, are now part of this travel privilege. Australia illustrates travel privilege like no other considering our global geographical location.
Religious privilege
Australia has religious privilege. Believe as you wish in good graces. Hillsong illustrates this international privilege, with young people from around the planet.
Some in our young writers ministry represent this very thing – Indian, Palestinian, Greek, Chinese, Asian, Korean, South African, Mozambique, Canadian, West Indies, Kiwis, USA, England – Australia indeed has religious privilege.
Check out the Bible Society and the languages in which the Scriptures are printed. The Religious Press in Australia is alive and well heralded by the Australasian Religious Press Association (ARPA).
Political privilege
Anyone can nominate for election to our Shire Councils. Political parties seem to be ‘dime a dozen’, join one of them, along with lobby groups such as environmental and political such as Get-Up allow for voices from every which way ….
Prime Ministers in Australia come and go at an astonishing rate, put your name down…. Australia has a political privilege the envy of the world. Consider so many other such privileges Australia provides - medical, tourism, shopping, grocery selections, farming produce, welfare, charities, transport, garbage collection, clean water, industry, small business, rail …….
What is privilege
The point of all this privilege is that none of this is a pre-programmed ‘white privilege’, rather there are numerous privileges as illustrated. These privileges exist for everyone in Australia. For Christians, it includes the privilege of telling others of the Salvation of Jesus Christ.
Moreover, we invite young people 18-30 years interested in writing for Christian Today with your own column please connect with Dr Mark Tronson timeout@bushorchestra.com 0419 917 713
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html
Dr Mark Tronson - a 4 min video
Chairman – Well-Being Australia
Baptist Minister 45 years
- 1984 - Australian cricket team chaplain 17 years (Ret)
- 2001 - Life After Cricket (18 years Ret)
- 2009 - Olympic Ministry Medal – presented by Carl Lewis
- 2019 - The Gutenberg - (ARPA Christian Media premier award)
Gutenberg video - 2min 14sec
Married to Delma for 45 years with 4 children and 6 grand children