In a world that fails to see how we continue to use scapegoats to direct our violence at, especially in a "Christian" country leaves us a long way from redemption and how our lives continue to mimic the story of the sacred text. Perhaps that is why whether it is embodied in our DNA as humans we continue to use violence and animal behaviors to claim our authority as to "being on the right side" with God. In my humble opinion humanity is not on the way of Christ until we awake to see what we are doing. Conscience of our behaviors may provide us a way if we awake and seek forgiveness. Would that not require conversion like Saul - to Paul? Recognizing that all life is sacred and part of the divine intention. Fear mongers seem to teach separation and division using dehumanizing or demoniac language to claim righteousness. In my humble opinion for what it is worth, I am left "just wondering" when we will wake up?
Right-Wing “Feminism” Nothing New
To understand the world often one must look from the bottom up. We are who we are by how we treat the weakest, vulnerable, and voiceless amongst us.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Apostolic Visitation: Why Bother? Why be Bothered? | National Catholic Reporter
Apostolic Visitation: Why Bother? Why be Bothered? | National Catholic Reporter
Sister Joan has laid out very clearly how inquiry can be used to falsely accuse people. The current judicial system has its origins in the process used in the inquisition of the 'witches trials' and still carries overtones of such failure to ensure fairness and respect to individual human rights. Perhaps Helena Guergis could relate to Stephen Harper's inquiry into her character discovery case.
I wonder who might be looking into Stephen Harper's character. With billions of dollars of security between himself and the peasants who inhabit the land, I guess we can be thankful that we still have a few crumbs to nibble on!
Sister Joan has laid out very clearly how inquiry can be used to falsely accuse people. The current judicial system has its origins in the process used in the inquisition of the 'witches trials' and still carries overtones of such failure to ensure fairness and respect to individual human rights. Perhaps Helena Guergis could relate to Stephen Harper's inquiry into her character discovery case.
I wonder who might be looking into Stephen Harper's character. With billions of dollars of security between himself and the peasants who inhabit the land, I guess we can be thankful that we still have a few crumbs to nibble on!
Monday, June 14, 2010
letter to mp
Hon. Brian Jean, Member of Parliament
House of Commons, Ottawa, Ont.K1A 0A6
5101 - 50th Ave. Athabasca, Ab. T9S 1T2
Dear Brian Jean;
I write as a clergy within the United Church of Canada who is shocked and dismayed by recent news of Israeli actions against Palestinians in the West Bank. A previously secret Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) Order took effect in the third week of April 2010. It classifies Palestinians in the West Bank who do not have documentation issued by the local Israel Defence Forces commander as “infiltrators” in their own land.
It will also confine Palestinians to their villages and further sever them from vital economic, health, education, and social centres. Palestinians found in contravention of the order could be subject to almost immediate deportation or jail terms of up to seven years. Israel is party to the United Nations' fourth Geneva Convention that prohibits "individual or mass forcible transfers, as well as deportations of protected persons from occupied territory to the territory of the Occupying Power or to that of any other country....regardless of their motive."
I would urge you and your caucus to have Prime Minister Stephen Harper formally denounce this action in a protest to the government of Israel. Human rights apply to all citizens, and failure to speak out speaks volumes of your actual lived values concerning human rights. The culture of fear and intimidation that is currently being demonstrated as hosts of the G8 and G20 is an inane response reflecting values I as a Canadian neither hold or appreciate. Integrity requires symmetry between what you say and what you do. I appreciate the freedom of expression in Canada that allows us to respectfully point out to each other what we see and interpret of our actions and statements. I believe Canada's reputation is in jeopardy and others respect for Canada in the eyes world citizens will not be seen in a positive light.
Peace is not the absence of war and requires more dialogue, education and processes to bring people together. A violent military aggressive approach traumatizes generations for decades and teaches only war and not peace. Gandhi once wrote '' There are moments in your life when you must act even though you cannot carry your best friends with you. The still small voice within you must always be the final arbiter when there is a conflict of duty''. I urge you to listen to the voices of those who are not represented by the ''Official Statements'' that ignore basic human rights issued by those who consider themselves leaders. Tyrants come in many persuasions. As I may have mentioned before; power and politics are the steroids of arrogance that continue to build strong images of 'mighty men' meanwhile enhancing life threatening breakdown of the human families condition.
I would appreciate the opportunity, to meet with you to discuss this issue and other pressing and important concerns our community faces.
Respectfully
House of Commons, Ottawa, Ont.K1A 0A6
5101 - 50th Ave. Athabasca, Ab. T9S 1T2
Dear Brian Jean;
I write as a clergy within the United Church of Canada who is shocked and dismayed by recent news of Israeli actions against Palestinians in the West Bank. A previously secret Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) Order took effect in the third week of April 2010. It classifies Palestinians in the West Bank who do not have documentation issued by the local Israel Defence Forces commander as “infiltrators” in their own land.
It will also confine Palestinians to their villages and further sever them from vital economic, health, education, and social centres. Palestinians found in contravention of the order could be subject to almost immediate deportation or jail terms of up to seven years. Israel is party to the United Nations' fourth Geneva Convention that prohibits "individual or mass forcible transfers, as well as deportations of protected persons from occupied territory to the territory of the Occupying Power or to that of any other country....regardless of their motive."
I would urge you and your caucus to have Prime Minister Stephen Harper formally denounce this action in a protest to the government of Israel. Human rights apply to all citizens, and failure to speak out speaks volumes of your actual lived values concerning human rights. The culture of fear and intimidation that is currently being demonstrated as hosts of the G8 and G20 is an inane response reflecting values I as a Canadian neither hold or appreciate. Integrity requires symmetry between what you say and what you do. I appreciate the freedom of expression in Canada that allows us to respectfully point out to each other what we see and interpret of our actions and statements. I believe Canada's reputation is in jeopardy and others respect for Canada in the eyes world citizens will not be seen in a positive light.
Peace is not the absence of war and requires more dialogue, education and processes to bring people together. A violent military aggressive approach traumatizes generations for decades and teaches only war and not peace. Gandhi once wrote '' There are moments in your life when you must act even though you cannot carry your best friends with you. The still small voice within you must always be the final arbiter when there is a conflict of duty''. I urge you to listen to the voices of those who are not represented by the ''Official Statements'' that ignore basic human rights issued by those who consider themselves leaders. Tyrants come in many persuasions. As I may have mentioned before; power and politics are the steroids of arrogance that continue to build strong images of 'mighty men' meanwhile enhancing life threatening breakdown of the human families condition.
I would appreciate the opportunity, to meet with you to discuss this issue and other pressing and important concerns our community faces.
Respectfully
Friday, April 16, 2010
“War is easy compared to life.”
Where one lives in position to the universe is beyond our knowing. Living on the earth we know neither if we are on the top or bottom of the little ball that orbits the sun. Depending where we are on the ball, we may experience life differently from someone elsewhere. Where we are should not change our purpose. My relationship to the Divine mystery takes my imagination from the edges of the universe to the smallest atoms put together within my own body and all things in between.
As my curiosity to know and understand life in all dimensions, and the fact as an animal with legs, ears, eyes etc. I search and wonder. Life in all its complexity is filled with joy, struggle, ecstasy, delight, sorrow. Sharing life with all life around me, I am part of an interwoven web, that for what I do, say, and act affects the whole. Holding such consciousness is for me why life is not easy. Death can bring relief from the struggle, but God the creator has set before us both life and death.
I will try to choose life for all, taking time to “figure – life out” as the alternative of dying which in itself may be easier. Our great work of life is to live fully. If we choose not to do the “great work” to nurture life, do we honour those who choose death and make it easier for a path of war? Do those who choose war actually make life easier for all? May your journey be in peace, love, hope and joy.
The human spirit lives by creating new ways to live. May you live fully today, so when you die others will know that you have truly lived. Being in awe of Creation, I will sit and sense the holy in all that is around me on this Earth Day of reflection.
Where one lives in position to the universe is beyond our knowing. Living on the earth we know neither if we are on the top or bottom of the little ball that orbits the sun. Depending where we are on the ball, we may experience life differently from someone elsewhere. Where we are should not change our purpose. My relationship to the Divine mystery takes my imagination from the edges of the universe to the smallest atoms put together within my own body and all things in between.
As my curiosity to know and understand life in all dimensions, and the fact as an animal with legs, ears, eyes etc. I search and wonder. Life in all its complexity is filled with joy, struggle, ecstasy, delight, sorrow. Sharing life with all life around me, I am part of an interwoven web, that for what I do, say, and act affects the whole. Holding such consciousness is for me why life is not easy. Death can bring relief from the struggle, but God the creator has set before us both life and death.
I will try to choose life for all, taking time to “figure – life out” as the alternative of dying which in itself may be easier. Our great work of life is to live fully. If we choose not to do the “great work” to nurture life, do we honour those who choose death and make it easier for a path of war? Do those who choose war actually make life easier for all? May your journey be in peace, love, hope and joy.
The human spirit lives by creating new ways to live. May you live fully today, so when you die others will know that you have truly lived. Being in awe of Creation, I will sit and sense the holy in all that is around me on this Earth Day of reflection.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Are we living the sacred myths
Pondering here in the hills; are we living the sacred myths. Why did President Obama decide to ride into Afghanistan as a messiah of peace on "palm sunday" as in the christian story of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on his counter protest to the Romans and elite "taliban and rulers of what we want believe as the oppressors"?
In Canada the RCMP used the Easter long weekend to apologize to the mother of the innocent man killed by taser at the Vancouver Airport. Is this an example of the Roman soldier at the foot of the cross proclaiming they had killed an innocent man?
The unveiling events in Russia and Poland - have connections of which story of the Polish people will be allowed to be told. When someone comes along and trys to restate or reframe the actual story - the result often is termed 'tragic irony' and somewhere the truth is lost or changed for either the powerful or the underdog.
The one truth that I encountered this weekend was the statement "war is a lot simpler than life!" Are we only taking the easy way out of our "existential pain" by continuing a societal suicide?
As the holy fool I see strangely in the darkness. May we find ways to live in peace which is harder and lonelier but the right work of all.
In Canada the RCMP used the Easter long weekend to apologize to the mother of the innocent man killed by taser at the Vancouver Airport. Is this an example of the Roman soldier at the foot of the cross proclaiming they had killed an innocent man?
The unveiling events in Russia and Poland - have connections of which story of the Polish people will be allowed to be told. When someone comes along and trys to restate or reframe the actual story - the result often is termed 'tragic irony' and somewhere the truth is lost or changed for either the powerful or the underdog.
The one truth that I encountered this weekend was the statement "war is a lot simpler than life!" Are we only taking the easy way out of our "existential pain" by continuing a societal suicide?
As the holy fool I see strangely in the darkness. May we find ways to live in peace which is harder and lonelier but the right work of all.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Please Mr. Tally Man - get a proper count
I'm currently transforming my justice anger into constructive criticism. In Alberta where the public health care system is being privatized and insurancitized by the Alberta Health Services Board.
A woman currently on a long term disability - is undergoing breast cancer treatment which developed while on disability for another condition. After suffering anaphalactic shock from the chemo drugs given at the cancer hospital, she was prescribed an antidote drug to help prevent the occurance at her next treatment. O yes - is she on a "medical plan" which will have to cover it as it is not consider cancer treatment. The new drug is 2800.00 per injection of 1 cc. and is required before the cancer treatment drug is administered every three weeks. The doctor who ordered the prescription laughed out loud when told the patient was on disability from an Insurance Company. He did not hear the dilemna when she told him her monthly income is limited 2000 and she lives alone grieving the death of her husband to cancer in February.
When you drive 300 km round trip for every treatment - plus several other medications to pay for including morphine etc combined with living costs mortgage 450 month the cost is one of choice. Do you continue the treatment because you can not afford the necessary drug costs of the "health Care Treatment" and to choose to live and eat. Having a sense of safety and not having to sell all you own used to be why we developed a single payer health care plan. Maintaining a spirit to live takes as much energy as the body needs to heal itself.
So the question becomes - is our precious health care system healing or killing us slowly? Or is it our collective inability to address the real issues - and to name what is happening. Why is there so much cancer in humans lives today? Or do the numbers not add up? Please Mr Tally Man - i've carried alot more coal and bananas than your giving me credit for!
A woman currently on a long term disability - is undergoing breast cancer treatment which developed while on disability for another condition. After suffering anaphalactic shock from the chemo drugs given at the cancer hospital, she was prescribed an antidote drug to help prevent the occurance at her next treatment. O yes - is she on a "medical plan" which will have to cover it as it is not consider cancer treatment. The new drug is 2800.00 per injection of 1 cc. and is required before the cancer treatment drug is administered every three weeks. The doctor who ordered the prescription laughed out loud when told the patient was on disability from an Insurance Company. He did not hear the dilemna when she told him her monthly income is limited 2000 and she lives alone grieving the death of her husband to cancer in February.
When you drive 300 km round trip for every treatment - plus several other medications to pay for including morphine etc combined with living costs mortgage 450 month the cost is one of choice. Do you continue the treatment because you can not afford the necessary drug costs of the "health Care Treatment" and to choose to live and eat. Having a sense of safety and not having to sell all you own used to be why we developed a single payer health care plan. Maintaining a spirit to live takes as much energy as the body needs to heal itself.
So the question becomes - is our precious health care system healing or killing us slowly? Or is it our collective inability to address the real issues - and to name what is happening. Why is there so much cancer in humans lives today? Or do the numbers not add up? Please Mr Tally Man - i've carried alot more coal and bananas than your giving me credit for!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Hope from exile to the promised land
From the work of Rene Gerard - I have found a perspective that names the violence of our culture. The culture is enfused with sacred versus profane violence. When we walk closely with each other, we will discover stories of amazing hope. One day everyone will know justice and not be frozen out to life as it can be.
I invite you to the following website to hear Eve Ensler's story of a better tommorrow!
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/64
May one day - we will name and discuss what we most truly fear!
brother
bruce
I invite you to the following website to hear Eve Ensler's story of a better tommorrow!
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/64
May one day - we will name and discuss what we most truly fear!
brother
bruce
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