MAY 2021
TRUTH OR SCARE? UNDERSTANDING THE COVID-19 VACCINE
IS THE BIBLE HISTORY?
A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ON THE WORLD TODAY
CU
R RENT
WHAT IN THE WORLD MDMA AND MENTAL HEALTH A recent Global Drug Survey has highlighted how psychadelic drugs are being used as a way to self-treat mental illness. Out of 110,000 worldwide respondents, 6500 reported using LSD, MDMA, magic mushrooms and more to treat mental health conditions. The head of Australia's part of the research project, Dr Monica Barratt, recognised mental health workers need "accredited training" to "help support people who take underground psychadelics for self-treatment".—Global Drug Survey
TOP THREE POINTS OF STRESS NEW ZEALAND
A poll of New Zealanders has revealed 50 per cent of residents list Covid-19 as the country's most pressing issue, following by housing affordability and economic stability. Child poverty and a widening pay gap were also listed as concerns, while only 15 per cent saw racism and gun control as the country's most important issue, and 85 per cent of females also believe in climate change action.—RNZ 4
SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • MAY 2021
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, AMIN MOSHREFI—UNSPLASH, SASHA LEZHNEV—FLICKR, AUSTRALIAN DIAMOND IMPORTERS
AUSTRALIA
MOTHER'S DAY
GOLD RUSH CONGO
A mountain in Luhihi, Congo, has become an instant "Gold town" as the soil has been reported as 60-90 per cent gold. Video footage has shown hordes of villagers using shovels and other tools as well as their bare hands to extract the metal. The country's mining minister has spoken out against the pressure put on the small village, with mining on the mountain subsequently banned.—Times Now News
Mother's Day originated in 1870 when writer Julia Ward Howe sought to recognise peace and protest war —Mental Floss
It became a holiday in 1914 when Anna Jarvis, who worked amongst poor mothers in the community, sought to recognise and remember them —Mental Floss
Mother's Day has the highest volume of phone calls each year; approximately 122 million
BLOOD DIAMONDS TANZANIA
A Tanzanian mine which has produced diamonds for one of Queen Elizabeth II's brooches has been accused of "serious" human rights abuses by at least 35 Tanzanians. The alleged victims were abused or shot by guards at the Williamson diamond mine, which is in one of the country's poorest regions. Queen Elizabeth was gifted a 54.5 carat pink diamond found in the mine at her wedding in 1947.—The Guardian
—Town and Country Mag
167 countries celebrate Mother's Day—more than half do so on the second sunday of each May —McCrindle 5
CU
R RENT
LIANA MIKAH—UNSPLASH
How favourite colours, late dinners and unwashed clothes can get in the way of the ones who matter the most.
6
BY MARYELLEN HACKO SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • MAY 2021
Mother-Daughter
CONFLICT & WHY WE HATE THOSE WE LOVE MAY 2021 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES
7
BORIS JOVANOVIC—GETTY IMAGES
I
was sitting in class. A sea of 10-year-olds reached for the sky, waiting anxiously to share their favourite colours. “Pink!” “Blue!” “Purple!” “Rainbow!”, each exclaimed as the teacher pointed at us one by one. My heart pounded. Should I choose one of the four popular options or tell the truth? “Yyyellow?” I blurted out on my turn, blushing, waiting for someone to laugh at me for being different. Instead, one girl put up her hand and said, “I change my mind! I like yellow too!” I was totally over the moon. When Mum picked me up that afternoon, I prattled on about my colour choice with such joy that when I finished, my youngest sister piped up: “My favourite colour is also yellow!” . . . The NERVE! Anger flared up inside of me. “No, it’s not! It’s mine!” I yelled. “It’s mine too!” she retorted. “Well, you can’t have it!” I said. “Pick another one!” She didn’t. And I spent the next few weeks begrudging her for that. I wish I could say this incident with my sister was the only time I was mean-spirited towards my family. But it’s not. As I entered adolescence, my reactions only became (much) more intense, especially toward my mother. My generous, loving and patient mum was the target of countless emotional teenage episodes— slammed doors, rolled eyes, silent treatment for days on end. Usually, these incidents developed from
8
SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • MAY 2021
nothing important: me being unable to find a sock, then blaming her for not organising them “properly”; me getting hungry and angry at 7pm, then complaining that she “never made dinner on time”. While I grumbled and fumed, she continued to make my dinner, wash my clothes, drive me to every appointment, to fulfil every need—all without a whisper of thanks. I have often reflected on such moments and wondered why. Why, when a random girl copied me, I was overjoyed, but when my sister did, I reacted so differently? Why, when all my mother did was love me and fulfil my needs, all I did was criticise her, push her away and take it all for granted? Now that I’m much older and hopefully wiser, I realise that it wasn’t my mother or sister who I had a problem with. It was myself, my fragile ego. The ego, as coined by Sigmund Freud in psychoanalytic theory, is the portion of human personality that defines a person through interactions with the external world. According to Oprah Winfrey, it “identifies with our self-image, personality, talents, accomplishments and perceived weaknesses . . . [It] draws a line and separates you from everyone else.” In other words, things like your career, relationship status, cultural background, likes and dislikes, hobbies, all combine to form an ego structure; a unique identity. And when this identity is threatened—by words of criticism, the loss of a job
or being marginalised—our ego acts defensively, often out of fear. It’s in early adolescence that the ego structure is often most fragile, as teenagers become increasingly self-aware, develop new interests and aspirations, and begin comparing themselves to their peers as a source of self-understanding and self-worth. Hence, the troublesome teen years. Dr Shefali Tsabary, clinical psychologist and author of The Conscious Parent, says, “Our children, young ones under the age of five, they’re not attached to, ‘how do I look?’, ‘am I complete?’. They don’t think, ‘I need to become a lawyer or a scientist, go to an Ivy League School’ to give themselves the stamp of approval. We put this ‘lack’ on them. . . and that’s why children revolt. Either they withdraw because they’ve been shackled with compliance or they revolt.” To all the parents dealing with
troublesome teens, rest assured this is not a personal attack, nor a cause-effect equation to say difficult adolescents are always the product of bad parenting. I certainly wasn’t. On the contrary, my parents were nothing but generous and
MAY 2021 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES
9
W
ELL B EING
Freedom from Gluten THE INSIDER ACCOUNT
IMAGE SUPPLIED
OF A COELIAC’S LIFE
18
SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • MAY 2021
For many people like Kylie Banks, abstaining from gluten isn’t about alternative eating “lifestyle” or “culture”. In the case of someone with an intolerance or allergy, eating gluten can have severe consequences.
MAY 2021 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES
19
CU
LT U R E
FURIOUS FR ANCHISE,
THEFASTSAGA.COM
Y IT N I L U C S A M Y S A T FAN
54
SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • MAY 2021
Amongst the grunting of engines and squeal of tyres, Fast and Furious is the seventh-highest grossing film franchise ever. It’s what’s under the hood that counts though, and there are questions about how the films have influenced a generation of men. BY MARK HADLEY
MAY 2021 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES
55
Signs of the Times radio is being enjoyed all across Australia and New Zealand on Faith FM and online. The Signs of the Times team discuss the latest in current world events, faith and wellbeing with experts and guests. Ready to feel informed and inspired?