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Editorial: A politically correct horror story
Commentary by Chris Clegg
for South Peace News
A few weeks ago I was covering a Girl Guides activity in High Prairie. When the girls started reciting their pledge, I was shocked.
Apparently, Christianity is taking a beating – again!
The girls began to recite the pledge:
“I promise to do my best, to be true to myself, my faith and Canada. . .”
My attention was immediately sparked.
What happened to ‘my God?’
Apparently, Canadian Girl Guides can choose to say ‘God’ or ‘faith’ in their promise.
Apparently, this all started when one girl expressed trouble with the pledge because she could not swear to ‘God’.
Well, we certainly can’t have that, can we!
Let’s see. Prayer in schools is all but forbid. ‘Merry Christmas’ is being replaced by ‘Happy Holidays’ and dare not discuss the subject of religion mixing with politics.
Remembering, of course, locally that our politicians mostly swear their oath on the Bible. A good Christian book I do believe.
But prayer before a council meeting? God forbid! Oops! There I go again!
When is this going to stop? When Osama rules the world?
Canada is a great nation. It is great because we embrace all the beliefs of its citizens old and new. We respect the right of each religious denomination to practice in peace.
The Girl Guides was founded in England by Christians, practicing Christian beliefs. It has grown into a global success story. Why? Because it offers girls a chance to have fun and learn. Part of the learning and fun was pledging to be true to God.
And, may I add, only to God!
Being Canadian, we now give the Girl Guides the choice to be ‘true to God’ or ‘true to my faith’.
In the giant scheme of things, one may argue this is not such a big deal.
The door is still open to be ‘true to God’ but we don’t have to remove the blinders to know what is happening. This is one more small brick being removed from the pillar of Christianity. Sooner or later, the house will fall.
Canada is a country built on Christian beliefs. Those beliefs are entrenched into our society, government and business community thereby contributing to making us the greatest country on Earth.
We also welcome everyone into our country and grant them the right to practice their religion without barriers. This has enhanced us culturally and given us wisdom to see the world in a more unbiased fashion than most.
We welcome people in Canada to practice their religious beliefs but try practicing Christianity is some Middle East countries and see how far you get, especially the women.
It is a sad state of affairs when a pledge that has existed for over 70 years has to be modified to appease one little girl.
Can someone tell me why a pledge widely accepted and recited by hundreds of thousands of little girls for decades suddenly needs to be tweaked to appease one girl who may be offended?
What could be more Canadian than that?
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