Rupert Murdoch still pulling the strings
20 February 2012
Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch favours Scottish independence, which he has announced on his Twitter account, the social media network.
He has written: “Let Scotland go and compete. Everyone would win.” Everyone? Some prophet. There is no evidence that the Christian constitution of Scotland will survive the SNP constitutional shake-up. Already the SNP is challenging traditional Christian values within months of forming its first majority administration.
The Scottish Sun endorsed Alex Salmond and the SNP in the Holyrood election 2011. Yesterday Murdoch tweeted: “Alex Salmond clearly most brilliant politician in UK.” This reminds us of those who are enamoured with eloquent preachers while overlooking their theology. Our celebrity culture is changing the popular standards of assessment, and we have a population swayed by celebrity and panache rather than by solid judgment. The “Celtic tiger economies” which Alex Salmond held up for our admiration and imitation have failed miserably. He supported Fred Goodwin’s plan for Royal Bank of Scotland to take over ABN AMRO. Salmond’s judgment has been found wanting before, so why should we follow this leader?
This is the same week as Murdoch has announced the launch of his new paper The Sun on Sunday. This follows the ignominious demise of his News of the World seven months ago, which led to a fall in the weekend reading public.
One may be sure that business and media moguls are interested in financial profit - Murdoch wants to open Scottish purses as well as sway Scottish minds. Hopefully, the Scots are more savvy than this.
Related Stories
- 29 Feb 2012: Do Rupert and Alex need each other?
- 28 Mar 2012: If you want to learn how media moguls like to get their way, listen to the story of Sark on prime time radio Today at 8.10 a.m. The importance of this example is that in an island community it is easier to identify the influences at work, which are swallowed up by ‘noise’ in a larger community. The Barclay brothers, proprietors of the Telegraph newspaper, own the nearby island of Brecqhou. This story reminds us of king Ahab who wanted to own Naboth’s vineyard because it was beside his palace, and he abused his influence to secure it. 1Kings chapter 21. The Bible calls this attitude “coveting”. “You shall not covet your neighbour’s house, nor anything that is your neighbour’s” Exodus 20:17. Media moguls need to remember that they are accountable to God for their actions, and just as some people marry in haste and repent at leisure, so media moguls buy up in haste and will have eternity to ruminate on their results.
