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LOVE IS THE GREATEST CONQUEST A

s we study history, we see many mistakes which have been made. We also see many great successes. What creates this difference? At the core of each person, there are guiding principles. We innately know that love, kindness, humility, truth and compassion are paramount and our ability to embrace these ideals impacts the direction of the world around us. We can also choose to ignore them and focus on baser instincts. When we look back over the 19th and 20th centuries, we see that many people embraced a strong belief in conquest. They held that it was their destiny to conquer and develop the world. They idealized industrialization and militarization. Global development is not a bad thing in and of itself. When we look around our homes and public buildings, we see that it has helped to create a very comfortable way of living for millions of people. The problem comes when we forget that there are deeper and more profound values. Jesus asked, “For what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose

LESSONS IN LEARNING GERRY CHIDIAC

his own soul?” How ironic that many of those who pillaged the world did so in the name of this same Jesus. The truth is that it is not difficult to learn to manipulate the situations around us in the short-term. When we do so without taking the time to reflect on deeper truths, however we cause unnecessary suffering. All great religions and philosophies stress the importance of love. To love means to have respect and compassion, to be able to forgive. In loving, we need to seek truth and live with integrity. We value ourselves and we also value our neighbours. What is interesting is that living this way is also the path to true greatness. The leaders we most admire are those who have learned to exemplify love. We may

praise those who led conquests, but the ones we hold in highest esteem are those who embraced compassion and forgiveness. It is not difficult to look at our history and see the mistakes which were made. We are still paying the price for the crimes of colonialism. We see economic hardship, political instability, rampant racism, wars and refugees in many former colonies. We also see people dealing with the intergenerational trauma which has been the result of our conquest. It is also not difficult to see what greatness really is. ommon missionaries exposed the horrendous exploitation of the Congo Free State by King Leopold II of Belgium. Mohandas Gandhi led a peaceful revolution which caused the world’s most powerful empire to be dissolved. He also inspired Martin Luther King Jr. to challenge legalized racism in the United States. Though weapons are necessary from time to time, universal wisdom teaches us that they can only be used in extreme circumstances. The same goes for prisons.

FREE AND OPEN CANADA I t is September and our children have returned to school. Not only do schools educate, we also expect them to indoctrinate our kids on the merits of tolerance

and diversity in our free society. Many adults in the news media and general public seem to have forgotten the benefits of this inclusive education.

The Object of Man’s Creation Saturday September 28, 2019 3:00 PM - 5:15 PM

Free Admi ssion Free Dinne r

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 4180 5th Ave Prince George, BC V2L 3K6

14th AHMADIYYA MUSLIM JAMA ’AT Canada

of Latter-day Saints Prince George, BC

Moderator Christian Non-Denom.

Indigenous

Islam

Hindu Faith

Christian LDS

Baha`i Sikhism

Darlene Mcintosh

Umair Khan

Pranesh Kumar

Brock Campbell

Balbinder Deo Charlotte Wenniger

Christian Anglican

Sikhism

MarieHay

Balbinder Deo

Tajinder Singh

Yasar Ahmad V. President IMSS

Danny Legault

1-877-767-1965

@WRCC

Baha`i Community PG

Gurugobind Singh Temple Assoc. PG

R0011739171

There was a huge brouhaha over an article published in the Vancouver Sun recently. The article questioned how well very different people can actually live and thrive together in a free and democratic society. A quick check on the author Mark Hecht reveals he teaches at Mount Royal University and works to prevent child sex exploitation internationally. Hecht cited various studies and came to a conclusion I do not agree with but I am not sure that we help improve our country by shutting down the conversation. I grew up a visible minority in a closed community. Survival of the community became the highest value and, one by one, the good founding values had to give way to the “New Great Purpose” – the survival of the community and its traditions. Outsiders were considered beneath us. We were told not to be tarnished by brushing against those who did not share our traditions. The exclusion and isolation, believed necessary for the survival of the community, meant that everyone was taught by the self-appointed and appointed elders of our community to “ask no questions, see no issues, express no concerns.” Questions presented a danger to the status quo. Questions and ideas become the enemy. I remember the laughable arrogance of the most backward people in my community. The sad thing is often those people became the most influential, because lacking the freedom to dialogue about things that mattered, the loud, angry voices of the fanatics provided a feeling of self-righteousness. I left, because I couldn’t see raising my kids with that kind of worldview. In my reading of Hecht’s article, it seemed to me that he was attempting to address the issues that can and, in my case did, occur in some immigrant communities. It is interesting to read the rebuttal, by Robert Falconer, that the chastised Sun published. I can easily believe Falconer’s quoted statistic that 93 per cent of immigrants have a strong or

Demonizing others does not make us safe. We can only change the world for the better if we embrace our higher ideals. When we love and respect ourselves and others, we see that there really are ways where everyone can thrive. There is more than enough good in this world for everyone and every person has the potential for greatness. Quite honestly, this is why I have devoted my career to education. By creating an atmosphere of mutual respect, I am able to draw out the greatness in those around me. These are not just ideals; they are guiding principles which lead to success. What is true in the classroom is true in the world around us. Whether we are leading teams of thousands of people or working independently, when we hold fast to the higher human principles, we will overcome all obstacles and live to our greatest potential. — Gerry Chidiac is a champion for social enlightenment, inspiring others to find their greatness in making the world a better place. For more of his writings, go to www.gerrychidiac.com.

THINKING ALOUD TRUDY KLASSEN

very strong connection to Canada. The freedom-advocating Cato Institute has found, as I would expect based on normal human behavior, that most immigrants to Canada self-select, that is, those most eager to assimilate are the ones who apply to move here. Falconer does provide a subtle warning to Canadians: “Some have cited Alberto Alesina’s work on… the idea that greater population diversity is associated with social strife. This is true in countries with weak democracies and restricted labour markets, where the political and economic systems favour a select few.” Alesina’s subsequent works have shown that diverse populations reap economic benefits and remain relatively cohesive when everyone has a fair shot at becoming an MP or getting a job. Open societies enjoy strong trade relationships with other countries, a diversity in goods and services, and stronger workforces. Under these settings the work of integration takes care of itself, with newcomers and their children identifying with Canada and its values. In that light, the work of integrating newcomers within the fabric of Canada is less about exclusion, and more about maintaining, celebrating, and safeguarding Canadian institutions, entrepreneurship, and our open society. That last paragraph is, in my mind, our job. It is our gift to the world. Without it, without working hard to “safeguard Canadian institutions and open society,” Canada will no longer be a place worth fleeing to. Leaving my very conservative and exclusive community, along with many beloved friends and family, will have been useless. Without toleration and open discussion, we will become the very thing we hate.