Prairie Road Trip

A chance for a little wander down memory lane this week. 

The school in which I spent most of my working career is closing, finally, at the end of this week.

When I first went to Landis, in 1975, I think it was, there were about 240 students.  When I left, 10 years ago, in June 2004, we were less than 90.

I've stopped for the night, finally just inside Saskatchewan.  Some things don't change: dusty, small, prairie towns, flat, straight  roads.  Crops on display.  Hawks.  The smell of clover and canola.

Going through Alberta, the exploding size of Canmore, Cochrane and Airdrie were only too apparent.  A different fate from the town I will visit tomorrow and Saturday, after dropping in on some former teaching colleagues en route.

Still time for a little bike ride on the prairie before dark.

The Armageddon Factor - a review

The Armageddon Factor - The Rise of Christian Nationalism in Canada by Marci McDonald

The rantings of the "religious right"  in the USA have mostly been noted with mild and dismissive interest over the past number of years as an aberration that would likely always exist but at least remain on the fringes of our political system.  Most of us have frankly never thought of the so-called "Christian right" (or the religious right in general) as a significant factor north of the 49th parallel.

The author presents a well-researched and exhaustive explanation of why that viewpoint is wildly incorrect and out-of-date.  In fact, there are "evangelical Christians" in the very highest and most powerful levels of government here in Canada, including the PMO, and there is significant evidence that their religious ideology is shaping many decisions, from foreign policy to environmental concerns, specifically the current government's dismissive attitude towards climate change, the gutting of Environment Canada, funding cuts to many advocacy groups, scrapping of the long-form census, attacks against human-rights commissions and the Supreme Court, and so on.  The list is extensive and rather shocking.

In the United States, the Constitution mandates the separation of church and state.  There is no such constitutional protection in Canada.

Part of the strategy to advance their "cause", which is to establish a Christian theocracy in Canada, a government run to biblical standards, at least the standards that the religious right find acceptable, is to demonize anyone who even tangentially questions what they are doing.  They will accuse anyone who objects to their actions as being "anti-Christian bigots".

Astute observers of the American scene will recognize tactics used by Harper and his cohorts as being borrowed from the play-book of the Republican/Tea Party "alliance".  Those tactics: "...poison public debate, reducing legitimate policy disagreements to the crossfire of snide hyperbole and character assassination".  One has to look no further than Cabinet minister Vic Toews' assertion that you are "either with us or with the pornographers" and other Cabinet ministers branding anyone with environmental concerns as being a "terrorist".  This is how the game works, from their point of view.

There is much more to this story; I would encourage anyone with an interest in how democracy continues to unfold in Canada to take the time to read the book.  I don't think it would be any exaggeration to say that you need to know who the enemy is before it's too late.

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Season Opener - Mt Fisher

Over in the South Rockies, just east of Cranbrook, is a prominent, pointed peak, Mt Fisher.  I've been looking at it for a few years now and have talked about climbing it with a friend from Kimberley.

Last week, on the only nice day that week, five of us plodded up the 1500 m of elevation gain to it's tiny summit.  There were 4 retired teachers and 1 retired airline pilot.  Needless to say, the current labour difficulties between teachers and the government were mentioned, but only briefly.  There was one "energizer bunny" who set the pace.  We needed crampons and ice axes almost the whole way with steep slopes and hard snow, at least on the way up.

Views out over the valley were mostly nice although fig did roll in just as we reached the summit.  Cranbrook and area were visible for most of the way up and down.

I was a bit tired, this being the first climb of the season, but I did the climb and then spent 3 more hours driving back home after we descended.

A good day out.