I had a great fathers day! Thanks kids. This is actually a pic from last year, same day though.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Father's day
I had a great fathers day! Thanks kids. This is actually a pic from last year, same day though.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Matt Redman and Hillsong
There are so many awesome singers out there and so many wonderful songs. I encourage you to enjoy yourself as you listen or sing along to this song, I would prefer the latter; as it takes the focus off us and we can then reach out. Pray as you sing, pray during the song, pray after the song, reach out to our help in time of need, he is forever faithful. God bless!
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Sacrosanct
The Foundation
Native protest, what the heck is the beef? Living in the lap of luxury will never allow you to identify with those less fortunate. One face or side of Canada is about the riches amassed and the progress that is taking place, the darker side of Canada (which by-the-way is never openly admitted) is its relationship with its Native people. Unfortunately the (native) reality is always marginalized, always segregated to places in the hither land: It is covered up, opposed and treated like an isolated incident. Put in the context of Canadian life it is often a minor issue; but if it is the major reality of native people, then in that case it must be addressed. If native people are kept helplessly dependant, than the umbilical cord must be cut to create an independence: This dysfunctional relationship, needs a healthy dose of liberty. No governing body can function at its full capacity, unless they become the driver. This whole political domination, is anachronistic, it has outlived its purpose. The more you hold down a people the more they want to be independent. Native people have tried to fit into Canadian society, but they have been opposed, and treated like they are nothing more than outsiders. What, I ask, is the alternative but to make your own environment to stand up and make a statement? Native people are the foundation on which this country was built; you cannot separate Natives from Canada. They have to be given their rightful place, and allowed to prosper; they should never be treated like a threat. All such thoughts and rhetoric have perpetuated the colonial way of domination; never was it about helping native people come to their full potential and to be a part of Canada, to be moreover the success story that grew from a barren land. Native people are the true pioneers that settled this country. They again are the foundation on which Canada was built. (Treaties attest to this truth)
A catch-22; protest and stay oppositional, which we should recognize that when we do protest we end up being a minority and quite frankly being in opposition further exacerbates our position, it makes us the disadvantaged people: Native people can either stay a minor issue, or they can pursue developments that will benefit them as a people. Hence, resources are the only alternatives to a brighter future.
If native people prospered, then we can say, as Canadians that we are all proud to live here. No other country has this opportunity.
Do you ever notice how some people fit in, they can learn the game and fit in that way, or they can take over and set new rules, it may work or you could be put out of the game completely. But playing the game does not mean you are true to the game. For one thing, people do not necessarily care about your life, especially if the game they are playing is giving them great dividends. In the end, you might fit in but chances are you will have to start a new group.
So Canada is unique, in that we have two nations who founded this country, it is the epitome of multiculturalism worldwide. Evidently the only way to function was to give a little independence to the lesser of the two, allow them to achieve some sort of independence. Sounds like a great country, but a third founding member has been overlooked. What is wrong with giving independence to another group? Is prosperity limited to the chosen few? Or could Canada become even better? Native people are just beginning to reach a potential that has once been denied.
Fittingly the protest started off at the First Nations University, and ended off at the Legislative Building; The reason being that our beginning is at the education level and the ending is at the political level.
And so the story goes as if done in din, it is not a lesson rather it is about a problem that is not addressed. It is becoming sacrosanct to question the plaguing injustice, the lack of moral fortitude that is often in the hands of the majority. Rather than seriously examine this daunting reality, it is hardening hearts, with no response calculable and it is a problem that is left to a new generation. To a new fire, a new breath of life, that sees the reality of today and looks to a better and brighter future.
Will Canadians ever awaken to see the injustice?
Native protest, what the heck is the beef? Living in the lap of luxury will never allow you to identify with those less fortunate. One face or side of Canada is about the riches amassed and the progress that is taking place, the darker side of Canada (which by-the-way is never openly admitted) is its relationship with its Native people. Unfortunately the (native) reality is always marginalized, always segregated to places in the hither land: It is covered up, opposed and treated like an isolated incident. Put in the context of Canadian life it is often a minor issue; but if it is the major reality of native people, then in that case it must be addressed. If native people are kept helplessly dependant, than the umbilical cord must be cut to create an independence: This dysfunctional relationship, needs a healthy dose of liberty. No governing body can function at its full capacity, unless they become the driver. This whole political domination, is anachronistic, it has outlived its purpose. The more you hold down a people the more they want to be independent. Native people have tried to fit into Canadian society, but they have been opposed, and treated like they are nothing more than outsiders. What, I ask, is the alternative but to make your own environment to stand up and make a statement? Native people are the foundation on which this country was built; you cannot separate Natives from Canada. They have to be given their rightful place, and allowed to prosper; they should never be treated like a threat. All such thoughts and rhetoric have perpetuated the colonial way of domination; never was it about helping native people come to their full potential and to be a part of Canada, to be moreover the success story that grew from a barren land. Native people are the true pioneers that settled this country. They again are the foundation on which Canada was built. (Treaties attest to this truth)
A catch-22; protest and stay oppositional, which we should recognize that when we do protest we end up being a minority and quite frankly being in opposition further exacerbates our position, it makes us the disadvantaged people: Native people can either stay a minor issue, or they can pursue developments that will benefit them as a people. Hence, resources are the only alternatives to a brighter future.
If native people prospered, then we can say, as Canadians that we are all proud to live here. No other country has this opportunity.
Do you ever notice how some people fit in, they can learn the game and fit in that way, or they can take over and set new rules, it may work or you could be put out of the game completely. But playing the game does not mean you are true to the game. For one thing, people do not necessarily care about your life, especially if the game they are playing is giving them great dividends. In the end, you might fit in but chances are you will have to start a new group.
So Canada is unique, in that we have two nations who founded this country, it is the epitome of multiculturalism worldwide. Evidently the only way to function was to give a little independence to the lesser of the two, allow them to achieve some sort of independence. Sounds like a great country, but a third founding member has been overlooked. What is wrong with giving independence to another group? Is prosperity limited to the chosen few? Or could Canada become even better? Native people are just beginning to reach a potential that has once been denied.
Fittingly the protest started off at the First Nations University, and ended off at the Legislative Building; The reason being that our beginning is at the education level and the ending is at the political level.
And so the story goes as if done in din, it is not a lesson rather it is about a problem that is not addressed. It is becoming sacrosanct to question the plaguing injustice, the lack of moral fortitude that is often in the hands of the majority. Rather than seriously examine this daunting reality, it is hardening hearts, with no response calculable and it is a problem that is left to a new generation. To a new fire, a new breath of life, that sees the reality of today and looks to a better and brighter future.
Will Canadians ever awaken to see the injustice?
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
An Injustice to one is an injustice to all
This is a video on youtube, it depicts the growing unrest, but it is all done through peaceful measures.
Monday, June 02, 2008
New Heights
Every human being has the right to be free. Liberty is the right of every human being. No one can give you what is already yours. If people are hindering your freedom, than they are doing what is unnatural. It is not that people do not voluntarily give themselves, if anything that is the ultimate sacrifice when one does give up his freedom: In doing so they gain a new freedom.
If freedom cannot be taken, you cannot lose it to another. Just as man cannot take another mans freedom so likewise he cannot give you freedom. Freedom does not lie in man's ability. Associating oneself with another's freedom is the ultimate arrogance. If anything, it is the domination that you are incurring that needs to change. If we feel we are in a process of administrating freedom, we are in fact in a process of domination.
Native people are in that very circumstance, they are dominated and oppressed, and they have limited freedom. Only by another administrating freedom, can we gain greater independence. But yet natural law says otherwise, in that we should never be in a circumstance where we are without freedom.
Today the constant discontent is falling on hardened ground, on deaf ears. The dominators do not care to hear such a cry. Even if justice is still needed, it will not be heeded. If anything the discontent is becoming stale. The older generations and much of the middle aged are hard pressed to see things differently. Natives have been dominated since the inception of this country. Why change the status quo, today we are getting bitter and contentious verbiage, it seems that the plight of the native people is not altering opinion rather it is hardening hearts. What we need is a new wine skin, for a new way, maybe it will be the new generation who will not just blindly follow convention, maybe it will be them who move and shake mountains. Leaders have to come from the middle aged, and guide justice through the fevered youth. Canada is a great country, and great things are possible. Rather than see new possibilities we are grounded by indifference, justice must rise to meet the new heights that are possible. Can Canada be greater, truly, it will only come by those who are willing to soar.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
