Canadian Politics Redux

HughFreakingDillon said:

Arlene Dickenson once again spot on about the matter: 

Some politicians deceitfully campaign in diversity but openly govern in Christianity. 

This week, multiple Conservative MPs stood on the floor of the House of Commons held Bibles near their chests, took selfies, and filmed video of themselves doing so. This blatant act violated explicit parliamentary rules against props in the House and the use of mobile devices in the chamber. The Speaker said absolutely nothing, which is so cowardly and also says he’s clearly not doing his job. And those MPs? They then proudly posted the pictures to social media, as if holding a Bible on the floor of Parliament means standing for what’s “right”  for everyone.

At election time, these very same MPs canvass in Sikh temples, speak at Muslim community halls, attend Hindu festivals, and tell Canadians of every background that they’ll represent them equally  They ask for and will take anyone’s vote. They smile for photos with any voter. They make all the promises to everyone they can.

And then what do they do once they’re chosen by a diverse electorate? They walk into Parliament and make it absolutely clear whose faith actually governs as if faith of any kind even belongs there.

This isn’t them defending religious freedom. It’s the weaponization of one religion to dominate public life and the filter with which they want to govern, while everyone else is expected to quietly accept their place. And that place isn’t equal representation. It’s not democracy. It’s not a government for all. 

It’s not just happening in Ottawa. Smith has allowed faith-based Christian nationalism to become the backbone of her political movement. Her government has considered handing public hospitals to the Catholic Church! Perhaps she should recall how well that went with residential schools and the fatal and brutal outcomes. The movement that brought her to power, Take Back Alberta, is led overwhelmingly by evangelical Christians explicitly using their faith as a governing ideology. She courts that base relentlessly while insisting she represents all Albertans. She does not.

So to every Muslim Canadian, every Sikh, every Jew, every Hindu, every First Nations person, every person of no faith who’s  ever been wooed by a candidate at your community event please remember this. Write letters to your MP’s. You deserve to know what happens to your voice after those running get your vote. Any party that uses any religious prop in parliament or uses Christian nationalism after elected is a direct betrayal of democracy itself.

The separation of church and state isn’t a bureaucratic nicety. It’s the only guarantee that a pluralistic democracy actually represents everyone. When that line’s crossed (and cheered), 

democracy itself is greatly diminished.

Canadians of all faiths, or no faith, deserve the same representation. That’s why we vote. We all deserve better than someone who takes our vote but won’t give our voice any sound because of our faith, colour or beliefs. 

♥️🇨🇦

That’s a cute rant by Dickenson.

What does she think about the Quebec law and the Supreme Court challenge?

What does she say about the GOVERNMENT cozying up to countries that were, months ago, the primary threats to our democracy?

Anything but the actual issue will be discussed by you, as usual I expect.

I apologize, I forgot not to feed the trolls, lol.

The comment I replied to didn’t need to include the preamble in order to be civil, which I thought was the policy.  Since Hugh has me on ignore perhaps someone else could politely point that out to him.

 I honestly don’t see how that preamble could be anything but a personal dig at me though. I had been actually enjoying sitting back in the shadows but this was unnecessary childishness.

In my decade posting here I have never personally put down other posters, but I’ve been called delusional, insane, told I have reading comprehension issues, among other comments. Admittedly it’s mostly been from one person, but not always, and it’s been essentially officially condoned (fine, it’s a private company where we don’t really have any rights), which is why I withdrew. Standing up for myself has only ever gotten me in trouble, so I’m working on accepting my role as everyone’s whipping boy, and as I opened with, I’ll work to not feed the trolls again.

 I have no clue how I’m still able to post.