Proud to Share Christmas
When we last saw John Vassilaki, he was an outspoken member of Penticton city council. That was 2011-2014. Success hasn’t spoiled him now that he’s mayor.
This week, council voted to have staff form a committee to explore whether to raise their salaries to compensate for losing the one-third, tax-free exemption from the federal government.
Vassilaki wanted to have no part of it. He and Coun. Julius Bloomfield were the only ones who spoke out against it.
Later in the meeting, Vassilaki didn’t pull any punches when he told the RCMP superintendent that citizens are frightened and crime is a problem. Both statements are true.
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While on the topic of council expenses, I’m uncertain as to why this committee is also exploring the controversial dental and extended medical benefits. I asked each of the mayoral candidates as well as all 24 of the city council candidates, at a public forum, if they would accept the health package, if elected. Everyone — except Judy Sentes — said they wouldn’t take it.
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It’s time to ban drones. The incident in London is an example of how dangerous the flying objects can be.
And, what purpose do they serve other than spying on your neighbours?
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We were anxiously awaiting the results of the proportional representation referendum in The Courier’s newsroom on Thursday when one of us thought, it would be totally wild if the vote ended in a tie and PR or first past the post was determined by random draw.
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Why do so many artists release Christmas albums? Some have more than one. This year, for example, rival Beach Boys Mike Love and Brian Wilson each released new Christmas CDs.
Does the world really need another version of “Silent Night” by a pop artist?
With the exception of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” you need to go back to the late-70s and early-80s to Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime” and Wham’s tear-jerker “Last Christmas” to find an original holiday song that’s relevant. Both of those took many years to become yuletide favourites.
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“Do They Know It’s Christmas,” the charity single by Band-Aid, an all-star group of English musicians, was by far the best of the famine-relief songs, but I still cringe to this day at Bono’s line: “And tonight, thank God it’s them, instead of you.”
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With this being my final column before Dec. 25, I wish all of our readers, my colleagues and our advertisers a Merry Christmas and successful New Year. Thank you for your continued loyalty and support, to me, the greatest gift of all!
James Miller is valley editor for Okanagan Newspaper Group.
Iwas recently directed to a CBC report detailing a ruling by the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal that ruled in favour of an atheist family who do not want their young child exposed to religious celebrations like Christmas and Hanukkah at the Bowen Island Montessori School.
The school was found to have violated the family’s human rights and ordered to pay $12,000. The article stated that the school doesn’t teach religion as such; its stated goal is to expose students to a range of cultural beliefs and religious celebrations.
The report, which included many more details than can be discussed in this column, raises a myriad of significant questions. Questions such as,
“How do you shield a child from the celebration of Christmas?” Or, “Why would you?” Even if you do not embrace the religious significance of Christmas, why would you not instead use it as a teachable moment to let your child know what you do believe?
Additionally, the question must be addressed of whether suing a school over a Christmas program is a reasonable course of action or if there might be a better way for us to peacefully co-exist in a pluralistic society? On a larger scale, is this case a reasonable application of human rights or is it one more example of political correctness run amuck?
On the other side of the ledger I acknowledge that those of us who embrace the Christian faith have had things pretty much our way for an extended era. We were in the significant majority, Canada was openly considered to be a Christian nation and Christian celebrations were accepted without question.
It must also be admitted that our celebrations were not always sensitive to those who do not share our beliefs. Consequently, a new era of sensitivity has evolved and it has required some changes for everyone.
It is plausible to suggest that protesting cases such as this Human Rights Tribunal ruling is nothing more than sour grapes from Christians resistant to change.
I suggest it is much more serious than that. It is yet one more example that people of all faiths and those of no faith have not yet learned how to live well together. Those of no faith often continue to be viewed as the enemy by people of faith and people of faith are often labeled as intolerant if they engage in any public display of their faith.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Those of us who embrace faith must understand that faith is a personal choice and that those who choose not to embrace it ought to be respected in their choice.
Conversely, people of no faith need to get off the high horse of being offended every time people of faith express themselves in religious ceremony and respect their right to do so.
The current brouhaha enveloping this Human Rights ruling has set back the cause of peaceful coexistence significantly.
This Christmas, I encourage people of the Christian faith, people of other faith traditions and people of no faith to unanimously embrace the message of love and peace central to Christmas. Admittedly we may do so for differing reasons, but let’s do it.
As I celebrate the birth of My Saviour this Christmas I do so proudly. I believe in Him deeply and ultimately. However, I also recognize that when I celebrate my beliefs outside my own home or place of worship I need to do so with a sensitivity to those who do not share my persuasion.
If I manage to do that well, and if those of other persuasions are reciprocally sensitive to the reality that Christmas is a vitally important time for millions of Canadians and grant us the privilege to observe and celebrate this holy event, I think peace on earth, at least in Canada might become a reality that can never be achieved by Human Rights Tribunals.