Our Future Self-Determined
This Pilgrim Praxis post is unusual in its emphasis on the nation in which we make “our home on [and] native land”.
God knows it is not perfect – we, settler society, in the name of the Crown as sovereign, robbed the Indigenous Peoples – First Nation, Inuit, and Metis – of their land and waters – Turtle Island - and installed an apartheid system with “Indian Act” legislation. We have plundered the lands and seas for their wealth with nary a care for the impact on the planet. We have distributed the common wealth in ways that fail to demonstrate our commitment to justice and equity for all who dwell here. We need to confess this and more before we extoll some of the virtues of Canada.
But virtues Canada does have. We have learned that sharing creates a better society. We share as we cherish the universal health care system – imperfect, but a sign of commitment to “loving our neighbours” and demonstrating concern for their well-being. We commit to justice as we are governed by the rule and enforcement of laws with a history of strengthening justice through non-partisan courts. We cherish the diversity of peoples as a sign of our conviction that the Creator loves and affirms the varied gifts, qualities, ethnicities, and ways of being of the ONE global human family, increasingly represented in the Canadian branch of that family.
We celebrate the varied faiths and human values that are represented as part of the Canadian mosaic. We honour those who have risked and lost life itself to protect fundamental human values and international rules-based order – essential for the journey to justice-based peace and reconciliation. We are grateful for the Creator’s trust in us to be responsible and fair stewards of this beautiful and blessed portion of Earth – from sea to sea to sea. And so much more…
We live in a time when too many nations believe they are entitled to expansionist and imperial fantasy fulfillment. In every continent there are unjust and, too often, bloody campaigns to enlarge the scope and control of economic interests, quasi-religious entities, and colonizing nations. Russia’s predation of Ukraine, and Israel’s 100 years of war to take over Palestine from its Indigenous Peoples stand out now.+
Canada is currently discovering that its neighbour, the United States of America, with whom peace has reigned since Confederation 1867, is now a threat to our sovereignty, economy, and identity. The unrepentant convicted fraud felon President and his erratic and hyper-rich underlings empowered by the votes of Republicans are relying on imposed trade tariffs to effect political, economic, and resource gains from Canada. The USA has shown itself to be an unreliable neighbour partner to Canada - in fact it has become a danger to the well-being of our country.
The topper to this mendacious hegemonic mania includes the notion that Canada should become the 51st state of the Union.* This would be the fulfillment of the “Manifest Destiny” heresy which has swirled in USA circles since its Revolutionary War. It would make Canada a trailer among the tail feathers of the American Eagle.
It seems to surprise too many Americans that this is not a welcome prospect for the overwhelming majority of Canadians. I can assure them all that it is an abhorrent, impious, impertinent, and repulsive idea which Canadians will not countenance and resist with all means and resources.
To make this clear, I and many others have just signed the Pledge for Canada initiated by the Action Network’s invitation to Canadians to reflect on the current challenges Canada faces and what we can all do to respond to the risks and to contribute to building a more resilient Canada. Buying Canadian and boycotting American products is a good place to start. Calling on legislators to remove inter-provincial barriers could enhance Canadian businesses and reduce retails costs by as much as 20%
Please consider a further encouraging step, sign on to the Pledge for Canada if you agree that the principles set out represent a useful starting point for encouraging the solidarity we need and for urging our leaders to work together to develop a whole of Canada approach. Click here:
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/pledge-for-canada-petition?source=email&
On a more theological level, I keep hoping that the seed gifts of the Spirit of Holiness and Gentleness implanted in every child of the Holy One, will be enlivened and matured to energize all, who love God above all and neighbour as self, to begin to “do to others as we would have them do to us.”
It’s time for a more justice-based and peace-filled world, with all material and verbal weapons of war transformed into ploughshares and gracious words of gratitude contributing to reconciliation in the one human family and with Creation.
Pilgrim Praxis
