A very thoughtful piece from Simon Collins in today’s Herald:
Deep divisions over $1000 for a Rugby World Cup game as poverty grows
Have we gone a bit mad? Or is it all worth it to bring a touch of joy into our lives in tough times? Our moral authorities, as usual, are divided.
About 60,000 people have shelled out $56 million, an average of almost $1000 each, to watch a rugby game at Eden Park on Sunday. That’s seven times the Auckland City Mission’s $8 million budget, which assists 250,000 people in a year with food parcels, drug and alcohol and other social services. Anglican Church social justice commissioner Anthony Dancer says it’s “crazy”. “I think we’ve gone a bit mad,” he said. “Selfishness is the word I’m looking for. Things like this reflect an income gap that is becoming even more clear in this country. These are not normal rugby-loving people.”
But Catholic Bishop Pat Dunn said that if people could afford to pay $1000 for seats he hoped they enjoyed it, and everyone else could watch on TV. …
Auckland University philosopher and theologian Dr Matheson Russell … “The real question for each fan is this: Is this $1000 ticket part of a life-pattern of indulgent and self-centred behaviour that has little regard for the welfare of others? “Or is this a cherry on the top of an already meaningful life, a life lived for others, a life of compassion and generosity?”
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