Random excerpts from David Warren
I’ve been behind on my reading of one of my favourite columnists, and I’ve missed a few gems it seems:
- From November 14th, regarding the new guidelines for immigrants: Our Queen is an Englishwoman, and so what? She has a house in London, and so what? She has a house in Ottawa, too, called Rideau Hall, and she is resident at Quebec, through her lieutenant-governor, in the same way representatives of the French Crown were resident in Château St-Louis. The system of representative government has evolved, but could do so in the way it has only thanks to such continuities. And when we look around the world, we have every reason to be thankful.
Ditto, the emphasis on our military.
This should have nothing to do with political faction; stressing Canada’s “healthcare system” had far more to do with that. Our freedom is founded in Canadian sovereignty, and we have every reason to be proud of what our soldiery have done, and must do, to preserve that. The protection of the realm is any government’s highest secular priority. The provision of social services can never be. How wonderful to see a big lie corrected, in the general direction of the truth.
- From November 14th, regarding the value of history: One of the things that built our civilization, and has contributed to every other great civilization, is reverence for the past. With its extinction comes the extinction of the civilization itself: it loses all of its moorings.
In this case, the mooring we have lost is the deep understanding that human beings are fallible, and that human beings “in the mass” are dangerously fallible. That the truth is something which exists outside of us, not something we can ever vote on. That, “the voice of the people” is something we should, in sanity, instinctively distrust.
- From November 29th, regarding the value of history: Elsewhere in the world, in many countries where they are minorities instead of majorities, Christians are actively persecuted. From what I can learn, this is the case in most countries where Christians are a minority. It is not as if our Western “secularization” were a response to some planetary trend, to soften public expressions of religious sentiment, for the sake of peace and quiet. To the contrary, especially in the Islamic world, but even in predominantly Hindu India, state sponsorship of religious identity has been dramatically increasing.
Against this background, it is incumbent upon Christians, everywhere, and as ever, to ignore intimidation. As the old parable goes, do not hide your lamp under a basket, but use it to cast light all around. Do not hesitate to make an example of yourself, or if need be, to be made an example of.
So let me return to where I began, with the beginning of Advent, the new liturgical year. It is a time of renewal, even if it is called that in pulpit clichés; a time to consider whether one is going to live next year, the way one lived last year. An appropriate moment to make resolutions and intentions; a hinging moment, to be sealed with prayers.
To my fellow Christians, and indeed to my fellow religious of all faiths and all sincere and humble callings: Let us not be intimidated by the tyrants of this world!
In particular, that last bit is excellent advice, especially in this day and age of “Season’s Greetings” and “Happy Holidays” being the customary — the only, really — greetings one hears. (What season, exactly? What holiday?) It is, or has become, a profound act of rebellion to wish someone a “Merry Christmas” (or a “Happy Christmas,” if you happen to be English).
So why not have a go at it this year?
Steyniac 401th « Free Canuckistan! (December 11, 2009, 4:00 pm).
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