Faith Meets Life: Have a great, and civil, life
As I am writing news shows are announcing that scores of Hells Angels are being arrested in Quebec and New Brunswick along with alleged co-conspirators in the Dominican Republic and France.
Last year in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, a Hells Angels bunker was rammed by a fuel tanker-truck which exploded (they have “bunkers!”). There are reports of many tonnes of cached explosives discovered. According to CBC.ca, the current raids are to arrest gang members for alleged murders, conspiracies to commit murder, drug trafficking and gangsterism.
This of course is not the Canada we know and love. We are champions of civil behaviour, tolerance and compassion. Surely, these gangs are the exceptions to the rule.
We should hope so and work together towards that being the case. In fact, civil and compassionate behaviour is not something we can take for granted.
I don't in any way want to compare our elected leaders to those who fill the honour rolls of biker gangs. The latter are extreme examples of vice triumphing over virtue. I don't even want to write off gang members as somehow subhuman, for, according to the Christian understanding of people I learned as a child, all persons are able to be transformed by the grace of God. The many stories of prison conversions toward God are telling on this point.
At the same time, we apparently, also need to see our federal elected representatives work harder at being virtuous.
Elizabeth May, who lives not far from me here in Nova Scotia, has released another book, this one called, Loosing Confidence. In it she said that Canada's government is in need of transformation. And she does not mean that the Green Party needs to be elected to power, though she heads it.
She means that elected representatives, even those in opposing parties, perhaps especially those in opposing parties, need to rediscover the virtue of civility. We have probably all seen enough of Question and Answer Period online or on tv to have a sense of what she is talking about. May decries the sarcasm, rudeness, name calling, fillibustering and other manipulative techniques that are standard fare in Parliament.
But May's concern, like others', goes further. It is not only for a renewal of civility in parliamentary back-and-forth. It is for the viability of democracy. In her view, a healthy democracy is essential if we are going to face down the crises threatening, not only Canada, but the rest of the planet.
It turns out that what happens in Parliament is not just about those who are present there. It is about all of us.
“The essential elements of a functional democracy are a free and independent media, a well-informed and engaged electorate, and high levels of participation on voting day,” writes May. There's a place in that statement for all of us.
May is onto something, as I am sure many will agree. And what she is arguing for is for us all to be well informed and willing to participate when and where we can, even if it is only through the simple act of voting.
More deeply, I think, it is key to expect civility and grace from every person, beginning with ourselves: yourself, myself. Looking out for the other person. Trying to understand how others hear or experience you. Considering how the other person wants to be treated, wants to be approached, or listened to.
Getting back to the Christian instruction I received many years ago, the clearest ethical rule I ever learned was a quote from Christ: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” That one statement alone, perhaps combined with prayer and openness to each other, could have a great impact. Many Hells Angels members have perhaps not heard it or need a reminder. Presumably, most elected officials have, and it probably helps guide many in their behaviour toward each other.
But if all of us in our own ways, this year, this summer and beyond, were to reflect on it a little more, we may help plant more seeds for a civil society that will be able to address the difficulties of today and the future.
Have a great summer. And, especially if this is the last time you lay eyes on this column, God bless you.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
Last year in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, a Hells Angels bunker was rammed by a fuel tanker-truck which exploded (they have “bunkers!”). There are reports of many tonnes of cached explosives discovered. According to CBC.ca, the current raids are to arrest gang members for alleged murders, conspiracies to commit murder, drug trafficking and gangsterism.
This of course is not the Canada we know and love. We are champions of civil behaviour, tolerance and compassion. Surely, these gangs are the exceptions to the rule.
We should hope so and work together towards that being the case. In fact, civil and compassionate behaviour is not something we can take for granted.
I don't in any way want to compare our elected leaders to those who fill the honour rolls of biker gangs. The latter are extreme examples of vice triumphing over virtue. I don't even want to write off gang members as somehow subhuman, for, according to the Christian understanding of people I learned as a child, all persons are able to be transformed by the grace of God. The many stories of prison conversions toward God are telling on this point.
At the same time, we apparently, also need to see our federal elected representatives work harder at being virtuous.
Elizabeth May, who lives not far from me here in Nova Scotia, has released another book, this one called, Loosing Confidence. In it she said that Canada's government is in need of transformation. And she does not mean that the Green Party needs to be elected to power, though she heads it.
She means that elected representatives, even those in opposing parties, perhaps especially those in opposing parties, need to rediscover the virtue of civility. We have probably all seen enough of Question and Answer Period online or on tv to have a sense of what she is talking about. May decries the sarcasm, rudeness, name calling, fillibustering and other manipulative techniques that are standard fare in Parliament.
But May's concern, like others', goes further. It is not only for a renewal of civility in parliamentary back-and-forth. It is for the viability of democracy. In her view, a healthy democracy is essential if we are going to face down the crises threatening, not only Canada, but the rest of the planet.
It turns out that what happens in Parliament is not just about those who are present there. It is about all of us.
“The essential elements of a functional democracy are a free and independent media, a well-informed and engaged electorate, and high levels of participation on voting day,” writes May. There's a place in that statement for all of us.
May is onto something, as I am sure many will agree. And what she is arguing for is for us all to be well informed and willing to participate when and where we can, even if it is only through the simple act of voting.
More deeply, I think, it is key to expect civility and grace from every person, beginning with ourselves: yourself, myself. Looking out for the other person. Trying to understand how others hear or experience you. Considering how the other person wants to be treated, wants to be approached, or listened to.
Getting back to the Christian instruction I received many years ago, the clearest ethical rule I ever learned was a quote from Christ: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” That one statement alone, perhaps combined with prayer and openness to each other, could have a great impact. Many Hells Angels members have perhaps not heard it or need a reminder. Presumably, most elected officials have, and it probably helps guide many in their behaviour toward each other.
But if all of us in our own ways, this year, this summer and beyond, were to reflect on it a little more, we may help plant more seeds for a civil society that will be able to address the difficulties of today and the future.
Have a great summer. And, especially if this is the last time you lay eyes on this column, God bless you.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
