Monday Missive – October 15th, 2012

Bulla Fighter!

No, that’s not a typo. I’m giving you a traditional Fijian word of welcome!

I am writing to you from my cabin at the ‘Uprising Resort’ in Pacific Harbour, Fiji!

Just below you’ll see the view I’m looking out on from my cabin at this very moment!

It’s a beautiful place, and it was a beautiful setting for the wedding of Geoff and Laura – our onsite Binacrombi managers.

It has been a great privilege to be here for the wedding. I leave tomorrow, but I can see myself coming back here with the family one day. It’s a wonderful place for kids.

The pics above capture something of the beauty of this experience. If you click on any of these thumbnails you’ll get a full-size version of the pic. I’ve also set up an online wedding album on the member site here.

I’m not going to take up too much of your time this week as I am trying to relax in the hours I have left in this place, but I must confess that my week has been one of both extreme highs and lows.

The highs, of course, are all associated with these days in the tropics and the opportunity to be a part of something very special in the lives of two of our Fighting Fathers team. The lows are largely tied to what’s been happening back at home – most particularly at Binacrombi!

One of the boys we’ve had staying with us out there ran amok. I won’t mention him by name. Suffice it to say that he is an old friend – someone we have been working with for many years now – and the courts had put him into our care at Binacrombi as an alternative to prison.

Perhaps we should have seen it coming. We were having trouble securing his medication as the country doctors were reluctant to take responsibility for his prescription without a fresh diagnosis. Also, with Geoff and Laura away getting married, his regular support team was not there. We had Denning – my highly capable assistant- on his way to assist for the weekend when the young man snapped. He broke into our cabin, stole a bunch of knives, and started threatening people and doing extensive property damage.

When Denning arrived he quickly got the situation back under control. He settled the young man down, disarmed him, and they watched a DVD together. By the time the police arrived the young man was quite placid, though he apparently got agitated again when they went to take him away, and he needed to be handcuffed.

So … we now have a handful of intimidated guests, a fair bit of damage to clean up, and a young man in psychiatric hospital, pending a return to prison – not a happy situation.

The one positive in it all was Denning’s performance! He proved himself a true Fighting Father. Perhaps it’s time that the rest of the Order got together and gave him his Fighting Fathers tatt!

And while Denning waits for his tatt, feel free to send him a note of congratulations via his Fighting Fathers mailbox (just click here or on his pic).

OK, I said I wasn’t going to take up much of your time today, but before I go let me say that I’ve been encouraged to see more participation on the forum this week.

My dear brother Ali Baghdadi has joined the member site this week and has published a scathing assault on Mitt Romney, most especially on his plan to “outsource US Middle East policy to Israel” (nb. I’m quoting Ali and not Romney). The Republican candidate has been staunchly defended by my Confederate brother, Cibby, but I think there’s a lot more room here for constructive dialogue! Click here to join the debate.

Might I also recommend to you a few articles that have appeared in the last week:

• David Rothkopf reveals plans for a ‘surgical strike’ on Iran’s nuclear facilities!
• What Is Happening to Muslims Will Happen to the Rest of Us!
• The Real Victor of the Iraq War: Monsanto
• All may not be what it seems in Libya! Is NATO covering up the truth?
• Catholic Worker sentenced to six months for witnessing against drone warfare
• Episcopal Bishop implores Candidates to put Israel-Palestine on the agenda!
• Christian-Jewish relations hit all-time low as churches question military aid to Israel!
• “How to Reign in ASIO!” – Dr Ben Saul explores the dark side of ‘security’ in Oz

That should keep you busy till next we meet.

May the Lord bless and strengthen you for the work to which you have been called.

Your brother in the Good Fight,

Dave
dave@fatherdave.org
www.fatherdave.org
www.fighting-fathers.com
www.how2changetheworld.com

P.S. I know I promised you the videos of Mother Agnes by this week but Denning (who is also our video editor and producer) has had his hands full! We should have them packaged up and ready for you in a nice ezine by next week.