Dawn Rowan Deconstructed

by Thomas Scarborough

The Dawn Rowan saga is the story of an Australian woman, a great social 
pioneer, unjustly defamed by the state.  She sued.  Despite daunting 
opposition, she won -- with a strong judgement in her favour.  This 
having been said, the Commonwealth then sued for the costs of its failed 
defence.  Now Dawn Rowan almost certainly faces financial ruin.  The 
full story is on the Dawn Rowan blog at http://dawnrowansaga.blogspot.com/.

The common Western notion of justice is that one should simply pursue 
it.  In the words of Miroslav Volf, one should engage in "active 
opposition to ... the kingdom of deception and oppression".  Or Andrew 
Davey: "Issues of justice and human rights must be tackled."

But is it really that simple?

I myself faced a similar situation to that of Dawn Rowan.  I am a 
minister in Africa.  I was falsely charged with a serious crime on the 
highest authority -- because I had involved myself in issues of justice 
and truth which threatened persons in powerful office.  Life as I knew 
it could have been over.  The saga involved a year of threats, 
interrogation, stonewalling, subterfuge, and many precarious and highly 
charged meetings.  But ultimately, the charges against me completely 
evaporated.  I, in return, gave a promise of silence to authorities.

I believe that the Dawn Rowan saga raises issues which go to the heart 
of what we believe about justice.  In this article, I might well go 
against prevailing beliefs in the West.  Yet, at the same time, I 
believe I would be reflecting the prevailing beliefs of a large part of 
the Third World.  I would have five "deconstructionist" questions to ask 
of the Dawn Rowan saga:

Question 1.  Is the pursuit of justice workable?

"If you're an Australian," states the Dawn Rowan blog, "you might 
naively believe that you live in a country committed in its legal and 
political institutions to fairness and justice."  The implication is 
that a belief in the pursuit of justice, even in Australia, is naive. 
The implication, further, is that it might be worse in other parts of 
the world.  Dawn Rowan stated on Channel Seven: "I don't believe there 
is any possibility ... of getting any justice."  If true, then what 
remains to be done with injustice?  Is the common notion of simply 
pursuing justice mistaken?  Or is it mistaken in some parts of the 
world?  If so, what is the alternative?

Question 2.  Is justice merely a surface phenomenon?

Naomi Wolf states on the Dawn Rowan blog: "It is very difficult and 
arduous to create and sustain a democracy -- but history shows that 
closing one down is much simpler."  The implication is that injustice 
thrives where the background conditions support it.  Conversely, justice 
thrives only where background conditions sustain it.  The prophet 
Habakkuk apparently had such background conditions in mind when he 
wrote:  "Justice never prevails.  The wicked hem in the righteous." 
(Hab. 1:4).   Dawn Rowan herself considers: "Anyone who doesn't believe 
in conspiracies in high places is being simply irresponsible."  Is it 
not possible that individuals who would seek justice -- Dawn Rowan would 
seem a prime example -- should be swept away in a flood that overwhelms 
them?  What then?

Question 3.  Does the pursuit of justice itself create evil?

The Dawn Rowan blog is replete with examples of the pursuit of justice 
which itself generates injustice.  While Dawn Rowan's original battle 
was won, the spin-off of evil would seem to over-shadow it by far.  Dawn 
Rowan herself considers: "There's been many, many people injured by this 
."  Her challenge unleashed a "tyrannous situation" -- "21 years of 
torture".  There was a massive squandering of public funds, "documents 
and notes went missing on a wide scale", across various departments -- 
and finally, to mention but a few examples, the government enforced 
bankruptcy.  This marshalled a great many people in the pursuit of an 
unjust cause.  Did the evil generated by the pursuit for justice not far 
outweigh the good that might have been achieved?

Question 4.  Does not the pursuit of justice destroy much good?

It is clear from the Dawn Rowan saga that the consequences of opposing 
injustice may paralyse the person who seeks it.  A just and 
well-intentioned person may be hog-tied by evil people -- if not (if you 
believe the same) by Satan himself.  They may be seriously diverted from 
a fruitful ministry -- if not from an entire life's calling.  Dawn Rowan 
herself states that her quest for justice "has pretty much destroyed ... 
my capacity to contribute".  The shelter movement which she championed 
completely collapsed.  Not only this, but Dawn Rowan has troublingly 
referred again and again to suicide.  A quote from the Dawn Rowan blog: 
"If I knew then what I know now -- I would have ... commit[ed] suicide ..."

Question 5.  Does the confrontation of evil change hearts?

Perversely, accusations of injustice -- call it sin -- would appear to 
lead, in most cases, to a hardening of the heart.  Does the pursuit of 
justice lead people to repentance and faith?  Does it lead the sinner to 
that point of contrition at which true transformation begins?  One of 
the key figures in the saga, within three or four days that he was first 
challenged by Dawn Rowan, announced in parliament that he would 
establish an 'independent' review.  It was this review which led to the 
downward spiral that we know today.  Dawn Rowan herself considers: 
"Anyone who doesn't believe in conspiracies in high places is being 
simply irresponsible."  The Law -- the biblical Law -- it would seem, 
will lead either to contrition, or to rebellion or concealment or wilful 
self-righteousness.  More often than not, it would seem to be the latter.

What might be the answer?

I myself, at the end of the day -- facing serious false charges pushed 
by powerful persons -- did not follow the Dawn Rowan route, and today 
still feel myself obligated to silence.  I hired a noted Church 
consultant.  He had served as a psychologist for the state, and was well 
aware of conditions in Africa.  He told me: "The American Civil War was 
won through Union soldiers lying down in the wheat fields".  I took the 
point.  I needed to do everything I could to get off the radar map, and 
to continue with a productive ministry.

I believe that one may need to adopt the attitude of the prophet Amos: 
"Therefore the prudent man keeps quiet in such times, for the times are 
evil." (Amos 5:13).  Christ said, "I am sending you out like sheep among 
wolves.  Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." 
(Matthew 10:16).  Sometimes, I think, people underestimate the evil of 
the times.  The apostle John said that "the whole world lies in 
wickedness" (1 John 5:19).  A servant of Christ needs to "live to play 
another day".  The calling is a spiritual one.  One needs to walk and 
witness gently, wisely, and patiently.  This does not mean the 
abdication of responsibility.  One can be a strong support to those who 
decide to tackle issues of justice themselves -- and of course one 
should keep open the possibility of a call to be prophetic.

Following my own struggles with justice -- and injustice -- I believe 
that justice is far larger than the technical "justitia", as Miroslav 
Volf describes it.  I consider that there is the justice of God, which 
guarantees that, after a lifetime of faith and trust in Him, His 
sovereign plan for me -- in fact, for the world -- will be completely just.

Dawn Rowan, I salute you -- for your clear vision, and courageous heart. 
  May God be with you, and revive you, and spread a table before you in 
the presence of your enemies.
__________________

Thomas Scarborough is a minister in central Cape Town.  He is registered 
as a postgraduate student at Fuller Theological Seminary and at the 
South African Theological Seminary (SATS).  He maintains an urban 
ministry blog at http://thomasscarborough.blogspot.com/

-- 

Shalom/Salaam/Pax!                         Rowland Croucher

http://jmm.aaa.net.au/   (20,000 articles 4000 humor)

Blogs - http://rowlandsblogs.blogspot.com/

Justice for Dawn Rowan - http://dawnrowansaga.blogspot.com/

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