God Bless Stephen Harper
Dear Editor:
Not only am I happy to have a Prime Minister who unashamedly makes reference to the Almighty but somewhat mystified at how upset certain segments of the media are over it.
Sue Montgomery(Montreal Gazette), Barbara Yaffe (Vancouver Sun) and Linda McQuaig (Toronto Star) have all voiced their disapproval with Stephen Harper’s oft repeated “God bless Canada” invocations. Do the aforementioned have a problem with Part 1 of our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms which clearly states “Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law” or would they take away freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief, opinion and expression including the freedom of the press and media?
For far too long the tired old argument of “separation of church and state” has been wrongly interpreted and applied to try and silence expression of religious belief and conscience in the political arena and in government decision making.
Some of the greatest reforms in society have come about because men with religious conviction and courage had the freedom to speak out. Where would black America be today had Martin Luther King been silenced? It was William Wilberforce’s (devout Christian) tireless speech and work that brought about the abolition of child
slavery througout the British Empire. Our own Tommy Douglas (Baptist minister) gave us medicare because he had a burning conviction that every Canadian, rich or poor, deserved proper medical care.
I have no problem with our Prime Minister making reference to God. I do have a problem with those who would take that right away from him.
Gerald R Hall
Nanoose Bay, B.C.
