HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR MARY

Catholics all over the world celebrate the birthday of Mary, the Mother of Christ, on September 8th. It seems to me that today is a good time to dispel a few myths about Mary and the way Catholics behold her. Catholics do not worship her despite the centuries old rabid rumours to the contrary. It's true that they love her but they know that her Son Jesus is the one they worship and obey - together with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. They see Mary as quite a bit more than the beautiful lady in the blue and white robes, lovely long hair, smooth skin, a kind face etc. Catholics recognise Mary as the young girl who was asked by the Archangel Gabriel to be the Mother of God. This spotless maid saw the suffering she would endure but said Yes" in a flash, hence "Be it done unto me according to Thy Word." Imagine the awe at having to raise a child such as Jesus. Imagine bearing the barbs of those who whispered "Fiddle de de" when confronted with the truth that this was a Conception by the power of the Holy Spirit. In this, the strength of St.Joseph is seen. How many men would have accepted the Virgin birth theory? How many would have endured the flight into Egypt?
Can any of us, Catholic or otherwise, come close to imagining the agony and the strength of soul she showed when confronted with the suffering of her Son? The scourging at the pillar, the crowning with thorns, that agonising walk to Calvary, the sound of the nails, that one last caress when Jesus was taken from the Cross. I don't think so. Mary kept to the background all her life yet she remains the most the most well known and loved woman in history - through humility and obedience. No wonder Catholics love her. Happy Birthday Mary.

Lies, damned lies! And then there's politics.

When it comes to the most basic human rights, what's the difference between the Conservatives, the Liberals, the New Democrats and the Bloc? If you answered "The colour of their ties.", you're right.

We have had it amply demonstrated that the Prime Minister isn't the bravest person in the world when it comes to the dirty A word. His way out is to ignore the body count when it comes to dealing with an inconvenience like an unwanted pre-born child. (This from the one with the moral courage to stay away from the Olympic Games to make a statement when it comes to human rights.) A couple of little suggestions for him to ponder.

The issue won't go away. It won't. Might as well face up to the bitter truth. We know, in the silence of our hearts, that abortion is wrong. That's why we have the exhortation "Don't tell my mother that I'm an abortionist. She thinks I'm a piano player in a whorehouse." Might as well face up to the fact that ignoring the issue won't go away for another reason. As the late and great Charlton Heston stated, "Neutrality always helps the aggressor, never the victim."

One more reason. Those of us who maintain that killing is wrong - those of us who are squeamish when it comes to snuffing out the life of an innocent little baby -are in it for the long haul. Furthermore, we vote.

Speaking of voting, we have giggled at the Christian Heritage Party for years. Guess what, it has never wavered on the issue. Maybe the CHP is not the simpering pack of Bible thumpers we thought it was. What have we got to lose?

Changing one's vote isn't easy. Makes me think of something I heard from Ron Gray, the Leader of the CHP. (I'm paraphrasing) When the last ones in the group turn around and change direction, they become the leaders of the pack. How about it you pro life prisoners of the other parties? Want to be a leader? Turn around.

I have a bad taste in my mouth...

I have a bad taste in my mouth and it's not just from the meat. The CEO of the Maple Leaf plant in Toronto has fallen on his sword and taken the blame for the outbreak. However, have enough - or any - questions been asked regarding the condition of livestock before it meets its demise so that it can grace the lunch pails for students and workers everywhere? When animals are not happily grazing, what conditions do they live in? When they go to the animal killing fields, what conditions grace their final journey? When they are slaughtered, same thing. To ask farmers and breeders to account for a reasonable standard of hygiene is often seen as kicking the sacred cow in the rump. We had a field day blaming the operators at the Walkerton, Ontario water filtration plant when there was an outbreak resulting in several deaths with many more probably to come. Rightly so. However, what investgations were carried out concerning the waste from nearby farms - waste which could easily find its way into the water supply? Let's have a real investigation.

Beauty and the Veil

Calling all you wonderful nuns out there. There's a new kind of contest in Modragone, Southern Italy. A beauty contest with a difference. Don't know what the prize is. Tea with the Holy Father?

Sounds inviting.

COMING TO A BOOKSTORE NEAR YOU

It seems that the late Pierre & Margaret Trudeau's little boy Alexandre - or Sacha as he is fondly called - is geared up ready to submit the transcript of his "labour of love", a history and expose of China. Hope he mentions the hundreds of Chinese who have been thrown onto the street so that their houses can be torn down to make way for hallowed institutions such as Starbucks etc. (Who wants to go without a cup of gourmet coffee in protest?). I wonder if he'll have space to advertise the off the rack body parts provided by hapless prisoners for anyone with the cash to buy them. (How about it selfish and naive Westerners?) Will his sense of a blend of gentility and bravado allow him to mention the millions of innocent pre-born babies who are savagely murdered and the baby girls who are drowned at birth?

Dealing with this stuff must be a burden so, for a little relief, Sacha baby has launched a nasty attack on our soldiers in Afghanistan. Nice. He seems to think they have nothing better to do than fight the Taliban and drink Tim Horton's.

Let's not be too hard on the Trudeau boys. Consider their immediate lineage - plus the fact that they might still be in mourning for another icon - Fidel Castro.

Good things grow in Ontario - not.

There is a move underfoot to penalize doctors who refuse to carry out procedures which seriously violate their consciences. Those who don't believe in taking the lives of pre-born babies or dispatching the old or terminally ill will pay the price. Just to save time, doctors can be forced to jump the gun and remove organs before life actually ceases. All this in a Province led by a Premier who loves the "I am a Little Catholic song." Prepare for the mass exodus of doctors to the U.S. or other Provinces

History Majors

One of Canada's greatest mediocrities, the CBC, featured an interview by one of its beauties, a high profile dolly, with an entertainer. The said entertainer remarked that Lenin had once said that power comes out of the barrel of a gun to which the lady responded "But he also said "Give peace a chance." Take comfort taxpayers, that this is another example of your taxes and mine at work.

QUID EST VERITAS - WHAT IS TRUTH?

Welcome to my corner of the web. I've returned to blogging after a brief hiatus but have returned to report on this and that as it interests me. The title is to be taken seriously - I want to survive! Return often to see my daily blurbs.