Post 151—“Reportedly”—CBC’s Macdonald’s Rumour Mill

A warning for this post: It’s not for the faint of heart. I’m giving it all I’ve got!

CBC News of January 30, 2017, featured an “opinion column”—that’s how it was classified by CBC—on the January Quebec mosque shooting, an event that generated a lot of news for CBC, “news’ meaning money. The writer is Neil Macdonald, who is an “opinion columnist” for CBC. If you watch CBC news at all, I am sure you’re familiar with him. I got to know him mostly from his Washington DC news—or is his work there more opinion oriented as well? As I read his piece, I was reminded of my friend (somewhat) Ezra Lavant, whom Neil actually sarcastically mentions in his article. Why did he remind me of Ezra? That was before I came across reference to him in the article. Neil reminded me of him because the two are equally sarcastic. But because Ezra directs his blunt sarcasm against the CBC and its cohorts, he is berated by some of his colleagues as a trash journalist. Since Neil uses his sarcasm in the service of the leftist media establishment, his is acceptable.    

The title of Neil’s column is “Simple truth is Canada's mass shooters are usually white and Canadian-born.” It is interesting that the title falls short of the full statement, probably because Neil’s editor wanted to play down Neil’s offensive remark somewhat, by leaving it in the text but omitting it from the title. Probably no one would take offence at this title, but the complete charge is something else. I quote a couple of sentences:  

The suspected shooter is Bissonnette. Not an immigrant. Not a Muslim. Probably a Christian, judging from his name. And, reportedly, a big admirer of Trump.

Just about every single one in our modern history has been a Canadian-born, Canadian citizen, and usually white and Christian.

Judging from his name, Bissonnette is probably a Christian?  Welcome, Macdonald, into the Church, the Body of Christ!  Well, judging from your name, right? I am glad to learn you are a Christian!  We can use some more Christian journalists, but it seems you still have a few things to learn before your faith and profession are integrated. Or are you like so many secularized Christians who separate their faith from their occupation?  I offer to become your mentor!

But Neil, on what basis do you suggest Bissonnette is a Trump admirer?  “Reportedly”—does that mean more than rumour?  Perhaps I don’t know the difference between rumour and opinion. Are they the same? Can you write an opinion in the national news agency, paid for by my dollars, on basis of “reportedly” and nothing more factual?  Hmmm. I learn new things every day. I have yet to meet a Canadian Christian who admires or even just likes Trump. Please introduce me to one….  Of course, I live in Vancouver, which could be different from the rest of the country. Since you’re a Christian, at least by name, you should have easy access to them and ask.

But then that second quote—“usually white and Christian.”  Wow!  What is your definition of a Christian? His name? His great uncle a pastor? In the centuries-old line of the Scottish reformer John Knox?  You saw him once in church attending a wedding or funeral?  Perhaps attending the memorial service for the victims of this Quebec killing?  Well, no, now I’m getting downright silly.

You, my readers, can access the entire article of Neil at: http://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/canadian-mass-murders-1.3958772 and read it yourself. The next post will deal further with my “Christian brother’s” (?) “reportedly” allegations.

Post 150--The 149 Story Continued

The time between this and the previous post is a lot longer than intended. This time it is not an excuse such as being too busy or traveling. The problem was a technical one with this blog as a whole that I, try as I may, was not able to overcome. I needed a techie to get back on the road. I did find a techie soon enough, but he was not able to come until just two days ago. So, I'm back.  Please welcome me!

The material in this post was supposed to have been placed only one day after no. 149. It was actually written that day. Thus it reads that way as well. It is the next day's development of the March for Life. 

It is time I make something clear. This post along with 149 may give you the impression that I am a conservative and a supporter of Trump and his ilk. People assume that a pro-lifer must be conservative, right?  The same if you say something positive about Trump.  When on top of all that you include a negative reference to liberals, well, then you've clinched it: you're a true blue conservative.  

Well, I'm not. But neither am I a liberal. I am a Christian with a different frame of reference. I support some conservative issues as well as some liberal ones. I disagree with many conservative issues as well as many liberal ones. Being associated with conservatism embarrasses me to no end as a Christian, for conservatism embraces so many causes I could not possibly support. Same for liberalism. This is the reason it may seem that I sometimes jump the fence between the two sides. I am neither; I have my own "side."  So, I don't jump fences! It's almost like "A plague on both of you," but Christians don't wish a plague on anyone. Hence, I won't go there. 

Alright, having made that clear--at least, I hope I have!--let's get back to the topic of 149.  In the next post I will move on again.

============

This is the same writer of 149:  Kristan Hawkins--

If there's one thing I took away from yesterday's March for Life, it's that the hundreds of thousands of young people who showed up are ready and willing to get to work to abolish abortion.

You and I already know that this generation of young people is the Pro-Life Generation. In fact, polls show that a majority of Millennials support severely restricting or banning abortion!

But despite the media's narrative that young people are lazy and just want to be coddled, the more than 1,800 young people that showed up ready to get to work at today's SFLA East Coast National Conference (and the 500 more that showed up last Sunday at our West Coast National Conference) have proven that narrative couldn't be more wrong!  

These young women and men are determined to win the battles ahead of us in the next few weeks: to defund Planned Parenthood, confirm a pro-life U.S. Supreme Court Justice, and abolish abortion in our lifetime.

I'm so grateful for the support we have received from you to be able to put on the nation's largest pro-life conference.

We're providing so many valuable resources for these young people to go out and make a pro-life impact in their community, and we couldn't have done it without your support.

Today, students are learning the best messaging to reach their peers on the life issue.  They're learning what rights they have -- this is critical as we see more and more high school and college campuses cracking down on "free speech" (i.e. everyone who has a different opinion than the left-wing college administrators).

Students at our national conference are also learning how to help women in crisis by working with their local pregnancy center and taking part in SFLA's Pregnant on Campus Initiative.

For Life,
Kristan Hawkins
President, Students for Life of America

P.S.  President Trump and Vice President Pence have forced the media to take notice of our March for Life.  Yesterday, SFLA was featured in at least 18 different news articles or interviews from Fox & Friends to CBS News, The Weekly Standard, TIME, and even NPR!
P.P.S.  This morning, I'll be on MSBNC to debate a former Clinton staffer and Planned Parenthood executive, so please keep me in your prayers!

Post 149--Ready to Defund Planned Parenthood?

The letter below just arrived on my screen and I decided I would share it with all of you immediately.  I know the organization is American, not Canadian, but the issue it talks about is international in that we are talking about trying to stop the wholesale murder of the most vulnerable of all human beings, namely babies. The euphemism is, of course, abortion, one of the most barbaric practices of the West. The 

people who are fighting this battle feel that this a most opportune moment to strike a blow at that practice and kill it instead of babies. So, here it is, email address and all.   

K

Kristan Hawkins | Students for Life <kristan@studentsforlife.org>

|

Wed 01-25, 7:12 AM

You

Dear Jan H, Since the election, leaders in the pro-life movement have been meeting to determine how to partner with the leaders in Washington to make our mission of ending abortion in our lifetime a reality. In case you haven’t noticed, we believe that defunding Planned Parenthood and redirecting those federal funds to health centers that truly service women, men, and children in all stages of life is a strategic stepping stone in our path. So, if you are tired of Planned Parenthood ending the lives of 323,999 innocent children every year and harming countless women while raking in $553,700,000 annual taxpayer dollars ... and you're ready to start defunding this harmful organization in 2017 ... then register to join this important nationwide online webcast event: www.defundingplannedparenthood.com During the presidential campaign, Donald Trump said that he was committed to: "Defunding Planned Parenthood as long as they continue to perform abortions, and re-allocating their funding to community health centers that provide comprehensive health care for women.” Following his inauguration last week, our movement has an unprecedented opportunity to make defunding Planned Parenthood a reality. You are invited to an urgent NATIONWIDE webcast event to discover the first steps we must take --together -- to successfully strip half a billion dollars of annual taxpayer funding from America's largest abortion chain. WHAT: "Defunding Planned Parenthood" urgent nationwide webcast DATE: Tuesday, January 31st TIME: 9 PM Eastern (8 PM Central, 7 PM Mountain, 6 PM Pacific) REGISTER TO ATTEND AT: www.defundingplannedparenthood.com During this historic webcast, you'll hear from me as well as many of our nation’s top pro-life leaders: Marjorie Dannenfelser, Susan B. Anthony List David Daleiden, Center for Medical Progress Lila Rose, Live Action Ryan Bomberger, Radiance Foundation Abby Johnson, Former Planned Parenthood Director, ATTWN Steve Aden, Alliance Defending Freedom Kristan Hawkins, Students for Life of America (Me!) Tom McClusky, March for Life Carol Tobias, National Right to Life Committee Eric Scheidler, Pro-Life Action League, #ProtestPP Kristi Hamrick, Americans United for Life Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life Jim Sedlak, ALL, Stop Planned Parenthood David Bereit, Host By attending, you'll learn: Why RIGHT NOW is the most strategic opportunity to defund America's largest abortion chain that the pro-life movement has seen in decades The 5 COMPELLING MESSAGES that are most effective at showing the general public why Planned Parenthood must be defunded The 3 PRIMARY SOURCES of Planned Parenthood's $1.3 Billion annual income ... and which source is most vulnerable over these next 60 days BREAKING NEWS from Capitol Hill on the exact process, timing, and collaborative action needed to help Congress and President Trump act swiftly on their promise to defund the abortion giant WHAT YOU CAN DO to help create the massive public pressure needed to overcome media bias and abortion industry propaganda ... and succeed at defunding Planned Parenthood This is the moment we've been waiting for! Jan H, please register to join this webcast and learn how we can seize this historic opportunity and END Planned Parenthood's death grip on our taxpayer dollars. Spaces on the Defunding Planned Parenthood urgent nationwide webcast are limited, and hundreds of thousands of pro-life Americans are being invited, so claim your spot now at: www.defundingplannedparenthood.com For Life, Kristan Hawkins President, Students for Life of America PS- Please help spread the word about this urgent “Defunding Planned Parenthood" nationwide webcast! Forward this email to everyone you possibly can so they can register to attend the Tuesday, January 31st online event at: www.defundingplannedparenthood.com

Post 147—President Obama’s Farewell Address

Though I prefer to share Canadian events or currents with you, a farewell address from the world’s most powerful man—at least, so it is claimed time and again—should not be ignored, even if he is American. I think it can be argued that US Presidents have more effect on Canada than our own PMs.  Our PM’s largely react to what a US President says or does. This is not a criticism of anyone; that’s just the way things are in this globalized world.

Once again, it’s Jim Denison’s wise words of today about Obama’s farewell that I wish to share with you. Here goes:

President Obama gave his farewell address to the nation last night. He spoke from McCormick Place convention center in Chicago, less than four miles from Grant Park, where he gave his 2008 victory speech. Watching his address, I was struck by two contrasting themes. One: Mr. Obama clearly wanted to claim success for his last eight years in office. Every president leaving office wants to do the same. It's a natural way to consolidate gains and celebrate progress. At the end of his speech, he repeated the familiar "Yes we can!" from his 2008 presidential campaign, followed by "Yes we did!" Two: The president wanted to cast his vision forward, clearly setting the stage for confrontations with the Trump administration and its competing agenda. He cited a laundry list of contentious issues, from climate change to discrimination to health care, and made it clear that he is not going to fade from view. His party has no clear leader and could face even more congressional losses in 2018. It seemed to me that Mr. Obama was not only framing his administration now ending, but also making a campaign speech for his future now beginning. In coming days, I plan to share my thoughts regarding Mr. Obama's worldview and its consequences for our culture. For today, let's think about his farewell speech and more specifically, the right spirit in which to respond. Consider a lesson from the recent election. In the current edition ofNewsweek, Michael Wolff notes that the establishment media was so surprised by Trump's success because they were so out of touch with Trump's America. Their alignment with liberal values and cultural elites made it difficult for them to see other worldviews coherently or objectively. Those of us who embrace biblical values must be careful not to do the same. For instance, I know pro-choice supporters who are personally opposed to abortion but believe the choice should be with the mother rather than the government. They see themselves as defending both the mother and the child. I disagree strongly (for my white paper on this issue, see Abortion and the Mercy of God), but I need to understand their position before I can persuade them to change it. Denigrating them as "baby killers" is as offensive to them as calling the pro-life position a "war on women" is to me. We can be "culture warriors" or we can be cultural missionaries, but we cannot be both. There are times when we must defend biblical truth, as did the prophets and apostles (1 Peter 3:15). But there are also times when we should build relational bridges over which to lead people to biblical truth. Jesus condemned the Pharisees' hypocrisy (Matthew 23), but he engaged the Samaritan woman in gracious conversation that led to the conversion of her village (John 4). As we respond today to President Obama's farewell address, let's do so in a way that respects both his office (Romans 13:1) and his person (2 Timothy 2:24). Let's stand for truth, but let's do so in love (Ephesians 4:15). Let's value the people we influence more than the debates we win.There are no red states or blue states in heaven, only eternal souls.  It's this last sentence I have a little trouble with--"eternal souls" or "eternal resurrected people?"

Post 135--Muslim Reaction to US Election

       

Today, I welcome a special guest for the occasion.  Many Christians have problems with the secular establishment of both Canada and the USA, even though that establishment includes many Christians, including both our Canadian Prime Minister and the American President.  In my opinion, though I appreciate some of their decisions, I am dumbstruck at some others. In both countries the secular establishment is slowly putting the screws on religious liberty. However, no time today to deal with that in detail.

Many Muslims are having similar problems. So, today I welcome Abdul Malik Mujahid, who sends out emails under the name Sound Vision. This is what he circulated today:

Assalamu Alaikum (Peace to you)

Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, whom we love so much, would get all sorts of questions. One day, while sitting in the wilderness, someone asked him about trust in God: “Should I trust in God and not tie my camel?” 

The camel was the primary mode of transportation at the time in Arabia. If you lost your camel, you’d lost one of your key assets. And if you were traveling far in the desert, losing your camel could mean death.  

The Prophet’s answer: Tie your camel, then put your trust in God.

That principle does many things for us. 

As Muslims, we have been become political footballs, first in Europe, then in Canada, and now in America. We are the number one victims of ISIS, as well as war and terror. Yet, we are blamed for causing terrorism. 

We had two choices in this election: Someone who hit us where it hurt us the most. Then there was the other presidential candidate who swung right back, defending Muslims and the diversity of this country. 

For many of us Muslims, who spent millions of dollars and votes supporting Hillary Clinton, we tied the camel - I guess. 

Now is the time to trust God. He controls the world. We do not. He sees the whole picture and truly knows the best for everyone. We love Him, we trust Him. He is the Creator of us all. He created you and I, as well as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. He strategizes and He is the best strategizer (Quran 8:30).

Houston Rockets NBA star Hakeem Olajuwon illustrated this beautifully. He had always been a good basketball player, and was always a Muslim. However, when he truly embraced his faith in a mosque in Houston in the 1990s, he transformed. 

He would still lose games, but he ultimately led the Rockets to victory. And this is what he told me about trusting God (Tawakkul). 

"Before I started practicing my faith, I used to completely rely on myself,” he said. “When I had done my best, I would be extremely frustrated if I didn't win. It would irritate and anger me. And that was causing me to be bad to others by fighting and swearing.

"But when I started practicing my faith, I learned that results are not my property. I started doing my best but then I left success and failure to my Creator. Now I was not irritated by failure and was not over-inflated by success. That caused me to calm down and improve my behavior towards others on my team and we became a team."

So trust God. Don’t despair (Quran 39:53), and don’t give up. That is not Sabr (patience). Sabr is to do your utmost and endure whatever it takes to achieve that goal. 

I have a personal goal. And I would like you to be my partner in achieving that goal. To liberate America from fear, hate, and anger, which were there before Trump, and may not end with this election cycle. 

We must engage with America to end the cycle of war, terror, and hate, which has caused us to lose trillions, kill millions, and dehumanize each other, despite all of us being God’s creation, Who created us from the same man and woman (49:13).

Seek help with Sabr (patience) and Salat (prayer). That increases trust in God. Open your hearts and minds for your neighbor, white, blacks, and all shades in between. 

And pray that God opens the hearts of our neighbors toward us. 

It is time for reflection as well. It will take many Sajdas (prostrations to God) and many Duas to achieve balanced, thoughtful conclusions. But for now, I will say this: American Muslims are achievers. They achieve what they set their mind to. We wanted to build mosques and we have doubled the number of mosques since 9/11; we wanted to build Muslim schools and we have tripled the number of Muslim schools since 9/11; following the beautiful example of the Prophet, we have responded to disasters in America and abroad by rushing to help, thus multiplying our relief organizations. 

But what we have not done is devote resources to take America forward. We have not invested even one percent or .01 percent in what we have invested in mosques, schools, and relief organizations. 

So for now, I would just say, let’s do a personal audit: An audit of our personal time and money. What percentage are you committing to your empowerment to take this country forward? That is the camel that still needs to be tied before we expect God to do miracles for us. 

Peace

Though there are significant core differences between our two religions, we also have many similarities that we need to capitalize on. Much of what Abdul writes today resonates with me. I similarly feel that Christians spend way too much time, money and effort on “religious” matters when they should instead be religiously engaged in society by contributing to its welfare, to the common good. But religiously, not secularly. With the Spirit of God in their hearts not only but also in their minds, in how they create images of a just society according to the insights of their religion.

So, thank you Abdul. Perhaps we ought to sit down together and see how far we can work on this together.

Post 105--Trump: On the Lighter Side!

After the heavy subject of Post 104, you deserve something lighter and more pleasant today: Donald Trump! See the last sentence in previous blog—a pun for the lighter side. Did I say “lighter and more pleasant” with respect to Trump?  Yes, I did, as incredible as that may seem to you at this point.  Just read on.

.

Donald Trump Family Interview

This evening I watched the Trump family being interviewed on CNN, not just the old man himself, but also his current (third) wife and four of his adult children, two daughters and two sons, all of them perhaps half-brothers and half-sisters.  Not sure just how they relate to each other, but all of them Donald’s children. They seemed like very nice people, well brought up, well mannered, all good looking and nicely groomed. And that’s in spite of the two divorces in their family, something that, according to marriage and family specialists, should not happen. They should be disturbed people with lots of problems in their lives.

Of course, they may all have been groomed for the event and be on their best behavior, including Donald himself. So, they may have been cleverly prepared for this show of civility. You never know what goes on behind the scene. However, they all seemed pretty genuine, again even including Donald. They all spoke so highly of their father in answer to questions from the floor that they would not have been able to practice on. And Donald, that tough bear of a political campaigner, himself came out as a really friendly and likeable chap. His children all spoke so highly of him in spontaneous unrecited responses to questions. But in spite of all that, the fact of two divorces does throw kind of a shadow on the whole situation, especially on his repeated claim that he has a wonderful family. Nevertheless, the programme was a very pleasant change from Trump the vicious campaigner. He himself explained the reason for showing this different side of him: he was in a friendly environment instead of in the hostility of vicious campaigners who are dishing all sorts of untruths about him. So, at least, he explained.  But perhaps there is a brighter and lighter side to the man. Political campaigns can bring out the worst even in the best!

Certainly there is one thing I accept from him, namely that he is largely free from the pressures of special interest groups and their lobbyists, since he is rich and can act independently. I believe we are all aware of how tied most politicians are in the US—and probably in Canada as well—to these groups and their agents, how unfree they are to vote their conscience and convictions. It would be a refreshing experience to have a US President who is free to do what he sees as the right thing after full consultation with all the stake holders. I would expect him to reign in some of his seemingly atrocious “promises” or threats once in office and after consultations. (The use of quotation marks in this last sentence is significant for grasping its meaning.)

The Lighter Side

A lighter side? Another one? Indeed there is.  There are various skyscrapers in the world associated with the Trump name. Canada has one in Toronto and right now as we speak there is one under construction in downtown Vancouver, my city. It is the second highest building in the city. The outside seems to be completed; the interior is still being worked on.  I wonder about the things architects take into consideration. I know they at least sometimes take the shadow a high building casts over its neighbourhood into consideration, but I wonder about reflections of the sun. We live in downtown, the West End. Between us and the downtown high rises north of us there are a few blocks of lower building and various parks. So we have a wide open view of the city’s sky line.  Some of these buildings reflect the sun right into our apartment, so brightly that we either have to move to another chair or draw the drapes.

At dawn, the sun rises in the east where we cannot see it, but reflects its bright beams onto the windows of high buildings in the north, from where the reflection bounces off right into our apartment.  We can’t even see the sun but it blinds us!  During the evening sunset in the east, the same thing happens, but now from other buildings.  Again, we can’t even see the sun but we have to move to another chair. 

What does that have to do with Trump? Well, I warned you this would be about his lighter side. That new Trump building, more than any other, reflects the morning and evening sun from many of its different floors separately so that our dining area is totally lit up from an invisible sun. If our bathroom door is open, those reflections in the morning totally light up the world map on the wall behind the toilet, while in the evening the reflections are lower and lighten up the toilet itself! When you consider that the sun itself is in a totally different direction and hidden behind a dozen or more high rises, then our bathroom lighting system is the cause for much amused laughter on our part and that of our guests. So, that tiger we see on the TV day after day—at least if you can stand him that long—has after all and indeed his brighter side!  His family showed it during the family interview and we see it every morning and evening.

So, we do wonder whether architects take such reflections into consideration.  Whether we like it or not, we are reminded of Donald Trump every morning and evening. We are grateful that it is that lighter side.

Pun intended!