Themes Of Morality

Morality refers to the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behaviour. Morality exists in times of adversity and injustice due to with a positive attitude; we can truly see the good in times of adversity. This paper will clearly discuss themes of injustice, activism and adversity by establishing how African Americans and Indigenous Australians have faced injustice and ways they lived out the rules of living.

To begin with, the rules of living are also known as the 10 commandments (Exodus 20:2-17) and Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12), which are referred to throughout the bible. Primarily, the word beatitude means blessing and calls us to be holy, loving, committed and have a positive outlook to life. Similarly, the 10 commandments

are also important aspects to Christian living due to they provide guidelines displaying how to love one another stated in the scripture reference (John 13:34-35). Both the 10 commandments and beatitudes call Christians to love one another and to have faith in god.

According to the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne, Mum Shirl was an Indigenous Australian who visited vulnerable and lonely Aboriginal people in prison. She was named Mum Shirl due to when questioned her relationship with the prisoner; she would answer ‘I’m his mother’. Mum Shirl would spend time with the prisoners providing unconditional love, hospitality and company. Without a doubt, Mum Shirl displayed faith, hope, love, mercy and compassion to others, which demonstrates how she lived out the commandment “You shall not covet your neighbour’s goods (Exodus 20:2-17). This therefore establishes how Mum Shirl focused on giving and not receiving and showed generosity to others. Mum Shirl also reflected on the beatitude “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land (Matthew 5:1-12)” due to she was gentle and always treated others with kindness, compassion and respect.

The Stolen Generations was a period in Australia’s history, which involved the forced removal of thousands of Indigenous children from their home and families, in the vain attempt to eradicate the aboriginal race and culture by changing their traditions and customs to adopt a “white” culture.

Despite the fact that many Indigenous Australian’s encountered significant injustices in times of adversity, it lead to a remedy being established which gave Indigenous Australians a chance to live out their culture which displays the key theme of morality. In 2008, Kevin Rudd made a heartfelt apology dedicated towards Indigenous Australians who had faced injustice, particularly those of the Stolen Generations. As stated by Kevin Rudd, “For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations…we say sorry”…”All Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia.” Evidently, Indigenous Australians displayed the values of the Commandments due to they believed all people are created in image of god and should have dignity and respect which is demonstrated in the commandment “You shall not Kill (Exodus 20:2-17) ” Indigenous Australians also carried out the Beatitude “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted (Matthew 5:1-12)” due to they accepted the times of adversity caused by the Stolen Generations and chose to forgive Australians

from the impact of Kevin Rudd’s Sorry Speech.

When researching the History component to this task it became clear that segregation was a major cause of injustice for African American’s.

In particular, Rosa Parks was an African American civil rights activist who refused to leave her seat on a segregated bus. According to Source A, the police report states “…a coloured female sitting in the white section of the bus, would not move back.” Rosa therefore received a warrant from the bus driver and was charged with Chapter 6, Section 11 of the Montgomery City Code. Due to the devastating racial discrimination against African Americans on public transport, it closely links to the theme of adversity and injustice. In light of this, Rosa Parks stood up for equality and justice and ended segregation on buses, which clearly displays the concept of morality. Essentially, Rosa Parks lived out the commandment “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour (Exodus 20:2-17)” due to she spoke the truth and fought for what is good and stood up for what was right. Rosa Parks also displayed the Beatitude “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of god (Matthew 5:1-12),” clearly because she strived to advocate against injustice and ended discrimination on segregated

buses.

Undoubtedly, morality exists in times of injustice and adversity due to it reflects on how we can see the good in times of adversity by simply making a change and following the rules of living. This was evidently shown throughout the paper by highlighting how Indigenous Australians and African Americans displayed the rules of living and themes of morality, adversity and injustice.