Premier Christy Clark has declared on what is described as a popular Christian TV show that it's the Bible that gives her courage to make "tough" decisions as our premier.
I missed her saying her piece because I'm not a regular viewer of 100 Huntley Street. But, as reported, it sounds like a piece that passeth understanding.
First of all, what persuaded the premier to appear on a show presenting "the amazing stories of people who have had life-changing encounters with God," according to its website?
Second, did it really take a reading of the Bible to convince her that the biggest challenge for politicians is "to find the courage to do the right thing" and "to make a long-term decision that's good for the future but may be tough in the short run?"
Thirdly, what tough decisions was she talking about? The harmonized sales tax stupidity? Getting to the bottom of the B.C. Rail court derailment? Asserting her province's interests at the National Energy Board's Enbridge pipeline hearings?
I don't want to join the hoard of media flap-jaws gloating over Clark's expected political execution next May. I don't ally myself with the nasties who think she should carry a lunchbucket and stay out of restaurants.
And I get really angry with those east of the Rockies who declare that she whom we almost chose as our premier is one who "in a field populated by hypocrites and phonies" has "taken duplicity to a new level," and who as a "nation-wrecker" threatens the foundations of Confederation and destabilizes the nation.
Clark need kowtow to no transmontaigne know-it-all proclaiming that B.C.'s interest is not the national interest. She's doing her job, which is to stand up for British Columbia, as she sees it, in the best way she knows how - even if she seems unsteady on her pins at times.
But back to the Bible, as they say. I don't know what the Good Book can have to do with her late, brave ultimatum that the Northern Gateway pipeline can go ahead if the price to her treasury is right. She sounds like a latter-day Esau, ready to sell our environmental birthright for a mess of pottage.
Religion, especially the evangelical sort, hasn't played much of a role in B.C. politics since the days of Phil Gaglardi and the Social Credit ladies in tennis shoes.
It hasn't played a role in national politics, either, even though our Constitution places us under God's supremacy. But there are those who would smoke out Stephen Harper's religious beliefs to explain his politics.
Lawrence Martin of the Globe and Mail wrote last week that the prime minister is a member of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, which believes that "the free market is divinely inspired and views science and environmentalism with what might be called scorn."
This has led author Andrew Nikiforuk to see Harper's evangelical creed as the root of his government's muzzling of the science community, low regard for statistics and disinterest in environmentalism and climatechange skepticism.
Martin observes that the PM is not inclined to proclaim his religious beliefs and that the news media are reluctant to press him to do so, it's his "personal business." Still, "if" his government's policies are motivated by faith over reason, it's "cause for debate."
That's a pretty big "if," and I see nothing to suggest Canada's prime minister is anything but politically crafty - just like any other Canadian politician worth his or her salt.
If we want to see where this sort of debate leads, we need only look over the border. A war over a fast-food outlet revoltingly named Chick-fil-A erupted after the president of the company denounced same-sex marriage.
Democrat mayors have announced a boycott of the fast-food chain. Gays and lesbians are being accused of "intolerance" toward other views.
Public opinion polls are transfixed by what U.S. voters think of President Barack Obama's faith - 17 per cent apparently think that their very publicly Christian president is a Muslim - and how "comfortable" they are with it.
We can thank God that Canadian politicians are made or broken because of their public actions, not their private beliefs.
Original Article
Source: times colonist
Author: Iain Hunter
I missed her saying her piece because I'm not a regular viewer of 100 Huntley Street. But, as reported, it sounds like a piece that passeth understanding.
First of all, what persuaded the premier to appear on a show presenting "the amazing stories of people who have had life-changing encounters with God," according to its website?
Second, did it really take a reading of the Bible to convince her that the biggest challenge for politicians is "to find the courage to do the right thing" and "to make a long-term decision that's good for the future but may be tough in the short run?"
Thirdly, what tough decisions was she talking about? The harmonized sales tax stupidity? Getting to the bottom of the B.C. Rail court derailment? Asserting her province's interests at the National Energy Board's Enbridge pipeline hearings?
I don't want to join the hoard of media flap-jaws gloating over Clark's expected political execution next May. I don't ally myself with the nasties who think she should carry a lunchbucket and stay out of restaurants.
And I get really angry with those east of the Rockies who declare that she whom we almost chose as our premier is one who "in a field populated by hypocrites and phonies" has "taken duplicity to a new level," and who as a "nation-wrecker" threatens the foundations of Confederation and destabilizes the nation.
Clark need kowtow to no transmontaigne know-it-all proclaiming that B.C.'s interest is not the national interest. She's doing her job, which is to stand up for British Columbia, as she sees it, in the best way she knows how - even if she seems unsteady on her pins at times.
But back to the Bible, as they say. I don't know what the Good Book can have to do with her late, brave ultimatum that the Northern Gateway pipeline can go ahead if the price to her treasury is right. She sounds like a latter-day Esau, ready to sell our environmental birthright for a mess of pottage.
Religion, especially the evangelical sort, hasn't played much of a role in B.C. politics since the days of Phil Gaglardi and the Social Credit ladies in tennis shoes.
It hasn't played a role in national politics, either, even though our Constitution places us under God's supremacy. But there are those who would smoke out Stephen Harper's religious beliefs to explain his politics.
Lawrence Martin of the Globe and Mail wrote last week that the prime minister is a member of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, which believes that "the free market is divinely inspired and views science and environmentalism with what might be called scorn."
This has led author Andrew Nikiforuk to see Harper's evangelical creed as the root of his government's muzzling of the science community, low regard for statistics and disinterest in environmentalism and climatechange skepticism.
Martin observes that the PM is not inclined to proclaim his religious beliefs and that the news media are reluctant to press him to do so, it's his "personal business." Still, "if" his government's policies are motivated by faith over reason, it's "cause for debate."
That's a pretty big "if," and I see nothing to suggest Canada's prime minister is anything but politically crafty - just like any other Canadian politician worth his or her salt.
If we want to see where this sort of debate leads, we need only look over the border. A war over a fast-food outlet revoltingly named Chick-fil-A erupted after the president of the company denounced same-sex marriage.
Democrat mayors have announced a boycott of the fast-food chain. Gays and lesbians are being accused of "intolerance" toward other views.
Public opinion polls are transfixed by what U.S. voters think of President Barack Obama's faith - 17 per cent apparently think that their very publicly Christian president is a Muslim - and how "comfortable" they are with it.
We can thank God that Canadian politicians are made or broken because of their public actions, not their private beliefs.
Original Article
Source: times colonist
Author: Iain Hunter
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