I know these links will be boring to other Canadians already bombarded by the media and the other blogs and personal discussions. I don't plan on spending my energy writing about or talking about politics at all on my blog beyond this, but for those odd individuals out there that might take an interest and do the research themselves, here you go--if you have 20 to 30 minutes, give these links a perusal.
There are more fringe parties running, which in my opinion just split the vote like Nader more than anything, but power to them (I mean to the ones that DO something like The Green Party of Canada, though narrow in scope when it comes to their platform, at least they aim for goals that can be measured in some capacity and even accomplished).
My city's riding has a 20 year-old university student running under the Marijuana Party of Canada. Other fringe groups around the country I've found include the Marxist Lenonist party, or the Communist party of Canada. I know I've said in some online FIRE discussions that it's better to have more than two parties running for you country's government, but the side effect obviously is it results in such ridiculous platforms that will never get parties elected to power and in some cases won't even win them a seat in parliament.
With that being said, it's really down to four main parties in the limelight:
The Liberal Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada (and the race is mainly between the Liberal and Conservative, one of these two will win the election).
The New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP)
The Bloc Quebecois (who aren't trying to win, but to form enough seats in parliament with their agenda of separatating the country).
I can imagine how ridiculous our elections look to the Americans that are aware of what's going...
Feel free to comment on this, or
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On a separate and unrelated note:
Don't worry, the entries I've been working on concerning faith are actually going to be posted soon.
I finally got my newsletter printed and copied, and put them in the mailboxes at Auburn yesterday. So now I'll be sitting down today for the hour or so it takes to e-mail them to all the appropriate contacts in my e-mail address book. So if you're reading this and don't get my e-mail, it's either an accident or because you read my blog and I know you already know what's going on with me so why waste your time with another e-mail about it?
As for anyone else out there feeling led to help me out financially or become a supporter, any support in Canada can still be sent to Auburn Bible Chapel 911 Armour Road, Peterborough, Ontario K9H 2A7 with a designation that it's for me. If possible, don't write my name anywhere on the check but use a sticky note or put my name on the envelope. Otherwise, please pray: I have some intimidating challenges ahead of me to make my way back to Holland for June on the budget required for living in Rotterdam.
Dank je wel en tot ziens!
Steve
7 comentarios:
i'll help you get furniture and stuff when you are here.
oooh!! Links to all the party sites! This rules!
Steve Bremner = nice guy
Corriane you rock.
Noah, I guess I failed to realize any Canadians would actually be interested in the links to the party sites.
Steve
Steve, thanks. I was actually wanting to read up on the parties and then you provided these links. Thanks. I could only get a little out of Bloc Quebecois though as they would insist on not having any English version and my French is only so good.
It's funny, if you just read the paltforms of each party it all sounds good. Who wouldn't want to provide for education, protect the environment,etc.? But it's reading between the lines, figuring out how everything will be paid for that makes the difference. Also, I note the NDP is the only party that comes out and bascailly denounces Bush in their official platform. That would make me leary. I suppose for the States, it would be better if the conservatives won.
Waht I don't get about Canada is that there are so many Christians but one wouldn't know it judging from the Country's 'official' stance on things. Is the church asleep or what is it? I'm afraid we don't learn much about CAnada in America, nor did we ever read anything about it in the UK either. All I know is I've liked every Canadian I've had the good fortune to meet, regardless of their politics.
-d
Duncan
To answer in a *nutshell*, the Church in Canada IS asleep. I don't say that as a jab at any Canadians reading this, but I lived in the USA for 2 1/2 years, and being conservative in Canada doesn't necessarily equate with religiosity like it does the stereotype "most republicans in America tend to be Christians."
My observation of the American Church vs. the Canadian Church (besides the fact there evidently is more of a Christian population in the country there than here)--we don't dominate our society as much, therefore having seemingly less of a voice.
And secondly, from MY observation--I'm trying not to unecessarily offend, but please anyone reading don't assume I'm being obnoxious--is that the Canadian Church is way more passive aggressive as a whole, and tolerant of a lot of things, both within and without.
When I'm in North Carolina, I wanna tell the Christians I know to chill and love people more instead of just open air preaching (even though it's not done like hell fire and brimstone). In Canada, I wanna take the Christians and force them into the streets and PROCLAIM the politically INcorrect Gospel because I'm sick of the "love" most are happy to provide.
I could go on and on about differences, but you're right in noticing a difference.
And I just noticed that I accidently put the wrong link for the Marijuana party, and if you click on it it takes you to the liberal website. No, that was not intentional and was not a joke, I put the wrong one in there. There ACTUALLY is a Marijuana party and I fixed the link.
Steve
Also, Canadians are just darn nice and friendly and don't want to offend anyone, so Christians by nature don't speak up like in the US.We're just too nice.
Yes, you lot are nice!
Christ calls us more to speak out the truth than niceness as the truth will always offend sin and the flesh of man.
Thx Steve. Interesting. What I find odd is that there ARE radical, on-fire Christians in Canada that have had an affect on the world (with some great teaching, etc.), but yet seemingly little inluence in their own country. I suppose it shows the importance of the church working as one.
I think the only way the church there and here and all over the West actually, will be awoken more so will come from direct, blatant personal persecution. I have no doubt, reagrdless of how nice we may try to be, it will come. the simple matter is that the gospel is offensive to those perishing, regradless of how we may try to present it and the anti-Christ spirit will ahve none of it. It will weed out those commited and those not...and will force us to learn that we are one and need each other to work, pray together, etc. Thn we will witness God's fire move through us broken, humbled vessels.
God bless.
-d
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