Post 225--Centennial of (Some) Women's Suffrage in Canada

This blog contains more critique of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau than praise, something I am not proud of and does not make me happy. I would much rather have reasons for praise than critique. I would much rather be happy with my PM than unhappy. But as a Christian, I cannot not see myself happy with a Liberal government, for the essence of liberalism is to downgrade, if not actually despise and have contempt for established age-old traditions, many of which belong to the order of creation.

The last statement in the above paragraph probably sounds like I'm a dyed-in-the-wool kind of conservative. I'm not! Definitely not!  But that's for another post. Actually, my deepest attitudes and theories are embedded in this entire blog. If you've been reading my previous 224 posts, you will have grasped at least something of my perspective--neither liberal nor conservative but Reformed Christian. As I said, for another post.

But today I agree with and support our PM, something that gives me joy. Again, it is not 100%, but when you celebrate something, you don't major in qualifications; you just joyfully celebrate. And that's what I'm doing today. And I invite you to join the PM and little me.

You may remember that one of the first actions of our PM was to appoint a Cabinet marked by gender parity as well as racial diversity. And, you may remember, I expressed praise and gratitude for that move.  Unfortunately....  No, no, I don't go there today. Just celebrate! That step by the PM was a huge step forward in the process of empowering women in our country. It wasn't all women at that time, something the PM acknowledges below, but it was a huge and significant step forward in the dynamics of developing history. Please remember my "Tomato Post" no. 224. Tomato history is an interesting example of history developing forward and opening up towards richer variety and differentiation; The suffrage issue is not merely an example but actually a huge step towards the liberation of 50% of Canada's population. It significantly pushed history forward and opened it up.

Today, we join the PM in celebrating the centennial of that first huge step of women suffrage. Please read his statement below and celebrate. 

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Statement by the Prime Minister on the 100th anniversary of women winning the right to vote in federal elections

May 24, 2018
Ottawa, Ontario

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the 100th anniversary of women winning the right to vote in federal elections:

“One hundred years ago, women in Canada gained the right to vote in federal elections for the first time. Today, we recognize the countless women who have transformed politics in Canada and shaped a better country for all of us.

“This decision was a turning point for gender equality and a victory for Canadian democracy. When more voices are heard, we shape laws that reflect who we are and decisions that improve the lives of Canadians. Social activists and feminists worked hard to win the right to vote. Our democracy is stronger because of their commitment to their convictions, and their vision for a more just future.

“While this anniversary represents an important milestone in the quest for equal rights in Canada, not all women benefitted from this progress. Indigenous women, Asian women, and others were denied the right to vote. These exclusions remind us that progress does not always happen equally, and we must do more to make sure everyone’s rights are respected, promoted, and valued.

“Canada continues to work hard to address the obstacles women and girls face. Here at home, we are taking steps to promote women’s participation in the workforce, support women’s leadership, reduce the gender wage gap, and fight gender-based violence. In 2018, Canada put gender equality at the core of the federal budget, and made empowering women and girls a key theme for our G7 presidency. Thanks to measures like our Feminist International Assistance Policy, we are working to empower women and girls and advance gender equality around the world.

“The 100th anniversary of women winning the right to vote in federal elections reminds us that we are stronger when everyone, no matter their gender identity, can participate freely, fully, and equally in our democracy. A century later, women’s leadership continues to push Canada forward. Today, let’s celebrate the achievements of the many women who have shaped our country. Let’s honour their legacy, push for justice and equality, and make sure all voices can be heard.”

PMO Media Relations: media@pmo-cpm.gc.ca
This document is also available at https://pm.gc.ca

Post 183--The Power of Prayer

You may know that my wife and I spent 30 years in Nigeria as missionaries. If you want to know the entire story of that journey, I invite you to read our memoirs at

                < www.SocialTheology.com/boeriana >

After various introductory sections, the memoirs are the first entry: Every Square Inch: A Missionary Memoir.

You may be surprised at what became a problem to me for the first half year there. I was so amazed at Nigerian Christian prayers during church services.  Not only were there long queues of people waiting to offer a prayer, but the way they prayed just seemed unreal to me at the beginning. They were so real about, so serious, so persistent and covering many different fronts of life.  I had never heard such strong and emotional prayers.  I could not help but kind of doubt their genuineness.

Looking back on that early period—I’m talking late ‘60s, some 50 years ago!—I have come to understand that this was culture shock on my part, a spiritual culture shock. I had never heard such prayers. Of course, this was the pre-Charismatic breakthrough when really no one prayed that way in any culture I had ever experienced. 

I was a product of Western Christianity, of its Reformed branch, that was so heavily influenced by the Western worldview that is so much more influenced by Rationalism with its rational spirituality and logic, and by secularism, the major “common sense” in the West. All of that discouraged that kind of prayer outbursts.  Our  prayers were genuine all right, but so rational, reasonable and calm. And we certainly did not form queues of eager prayer warriors!

I look back on that experience with a sense of shame and embarrassment. Here I was, a Christian missionary, and I could not understand the prayer culture of our hosts, let alone appreciate it. I am happy to report that over time I not only came to understand it, but also accept it as genuine. I even began to copy that style of prayer, without pretense, but with sincerity, conviction and meaning. Nigerian Christian spirituality enriched me and I am grateful for that experience. One of the many blessings I received during my years of service there. My prayers have never been the same since, especially not my public prayers.

Today is Sept 3, 2017—21 years since I left Nigeria, physically at least. An item from Nigeria’s Premium Times appears on my screen. It is a story about Nigeria’s Super Eagles, the beloved national football team, having beaten their Cameroonian competition.  However, the report was not about the way the Eagles played, but how they prayed! Here’s the report, picture and all.

PREMIUM TIMES      Sept 3   2017

 Super Eagles defeated Cameroon by ‘prayers’ — Gov. Emmanuel

Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has said that the Super Eagles’ victory on Friday against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon was a “testament” to the power of prayers.

The Eagles whipped their arch rival, the Lions 4-0, in their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

“The victory of Super Eagles today against The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon is a testament to the fact that whenever we go on our knees and seek the face of God like we did today during our fasting and prayer session, God will answer our prayer,” Mr. Emmanuel wrote on Facebook, few hours after the match.  END OF STORY.

This was not some pastor hidden in a church somewhere.  This was a politician, a State Governor, a man with much power and wealth. Most of his colleagues are very corrupt, though I hope this not to be the case here. But there this man wrote it on one of the most public and wide-spread podiums in the world without hesitation. Amazing. And then the story was spread by the news media. This was big stuff. Prayer saved the day or, at least, the big match. Never mind how they played. They won by prayer. Their strategies did not get any praise. It was prayer that did it, prayer and fasting.  You can’t get more serious!

As a semi-Nigerian who loves Nigeria and its people more than “semi”-- I am happy our team won, but those earlier questions of Nigerian Christian prayers came back to me. In a way it was a typically traditional response. When things go wrong in Nigerian life, people seldom take responsibility but blame external forces, including enemies, evil spirits, etc. But this time things went right, at least as far as Nigeria is concerned.  So it is refreshing to see the Governor giving credit for this result to God instead of boasting of the players’ prowess. I wonder about the Cameroonian reaction!  Whom did they hold responsible for their loss?

At the same time, the above picture does not make one think immediately of pious players. The front player seems almost angry, certain aggressive and determined. He’s not about to give anyone a chance!  The second player is having fun, an emotion that does not necessarily exclude spirituality. So, an ambiguous picture.

But my main hesitation is the prayer itself. It is a prayer for a battle, but not a battle for freedom or liberation. Rather a prayer for myself and my people against the interest of another group whose interest is equally valid before God. It is a prayer for my victory and their defeat.  Unless it is a case of an unjust war, Christians do not generally pray against each other but for each other. So, I find this prayer difficult to swallow.  But they did win. So, perhaps God did hear it.  But what if the Cameroonians prayed likewise?

Fortunately, this was for God to figure out, not for me. Sometimes it pays to leave things up to Him!

PS--Sorry that the picture has not appeared. I'm not a techy and don't know how to fix that.  But here's the URL. Try to access it yourself-- http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/242214-super-eagles-defeated-cameroon-prayers-gov-emmanuel.html