You Shall Know the Truth!

Someone has wisely observed that a politician thinks only of the next election, but that a statesman thinks of the next generation. At this mornings (Tuesday, March 17) Manitoba FCA Breakfast in Niverville, we were privileged to have two Manitoba MLAs share with usKelvin Goertzen (representing the Steinbach constituency) and Ron Schuler (representing the St. Paul Constituency). As these men shared the implications of Bill 18 in the Manitoba Legislature, it became clear that these were true statesmen, and that they are not thinking of their own benefit, but that they are laying their careers on the line for something that they truly believe in that will affect not only us but the next generation. For us to accurately reflect a heart of love for all people, without respect of persons, we must truly oppose bullying, intimidation, threats, violence, or the persecution of any human being, regardless of their beliefs, including their beliefs about sexual orientation. The problem, however, is that there is a militant movement afoot in the world today which wants to define bullying very subjectively, and without an objective yardstick to measure subjective feelings and whether what one feels, and what one believes about those feelings are one and the same. Our world is filled with hurt people, and hurt people keep hurting others. Yet the more mature one becomes, people should be able to say anything that they want to us, and we do not take offense. That is a mature person. God Himself is so secure in His identity that people curse Him every day, and yet He loves the people who trash-talk Him, even when they misunderstand Him. He doesnt get bent out of shape just because what people believe about Him is untrue. What we have in Canada today, however, is a movement which gives people a right to take legal action against anyone that they even perceive to be attacking them, but yet consider it a human right to make ad hominem attacks on others because of their beliefs. So if we do not stand up for anyone who is under personal attack simply because of their beliefs, we are not honouring the rights of all human beings to believe as they choose. Belief, by its very nature, is a personal choice, not something which the state can legislate. Here are a few things in Bill 18 that Kelvin and Ron pointed out that I would like to pass along to you at this time: 1. How is bullying defined in Bill 18? Bullying is defined as that which is intended to cause, or should be known to cause fear, intimidation, humiliation, distress or other forms of harm to another persons body, feelings, self-esteem

It is the word feelings here that is entirely subjective. Kelvin pointed out that on this basis, they bully one another every day at the Manitoba Legislature, because things are continually said which are hurtful in the heart and mind of another. We all continually run into situations where we feel misunderstood and misinterpreted, but that does not give us a right to lay charges every time that our feelings get hurt. We tend to get hurt when our own heart is broken, and we can then easily take offense, and see everything through the lens of our own hurt. Through that lens, it is easy to often misinterpret what another person meant, and if we are to mature, we need to talk about these things, but it is no protection against bullying to try to legislate it, because this is a heart issue. So rather, things should be brought out into the open, and brought to light, where both sides are willing to try to understand what is in the heart and mind of another. I realize that people who feel powerless are often reluctant to speak up, and this is a problem, and it needs to be corrected. The point is, however, that it will not be corrected through legislation, but through cultivating a culture of more open, transparent and respectful relationships on principle that every human life has dignity, worth and value on a basis that is inalienable and inherent, from a source that is greater than the state. The state cannot legislate human rights, because what the state gives, the state can take away. What one government legislates, another government can de-legislate. Those rights are not inalienable, and therefore they have no basis in our humanity. If we fail to acknowledge that Someone who transcends the state designed us, and defines our identity, then we are left to define ourselves, and have as many definitions as there are beliefs. 2. What are the characteristics and forms of bullying that are described in Bill 18? Bullying, characteristically takes place in a context of a real or perceived power imbalance between the people involved and is typically, but need not be repeated behaviour that may be direct or indirect, and that may take place in any form of expression, including written, verbal or physical So the definition of bullying can include a remark that was given just once, and the context of a power imbalance can be either real or perceived. That means that somebody can perceive that they have been insulted just once, and based on this legislation, the law can be interpreted that they can call another person a bully based on subjective feelings. Is this good legislation? Is this definition and

characteristic of bullying adequate to give the perceived guilty party an opportunity to reveal his or her true motive and intent? 3. What type of student activities and organizations are promoted in Bill 18? There is no option here, but there is a must as to what type of activities and organizations must be promoted: A respect from human diversity policy must accommodate pupils who want to establish and lead activities and organizations that promotethe awareness and understanding of, and respect for, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, and use the name gay-straight alliance or any other name that is consistent with the promotion of a positive school environment that is inclusive and accepting of all pupils. Notice again here, that there is no choice, but a school must not simply accommodate but actually promote a respect for all sexual orientations. It is amazing as to why, in this legislation, sexual orientation is not even defined, and yet it encompasses all sexual orientations. Sexual orientation is based on feeling. This embraces far more than homosexuality and heterosexuality. Bi-sexuality is a sexual orientation. Pedophilia is a sexual orientation, and those so oriented will use the same arguments to defend their rights. Bestiality is a sexual orientation. A school must specifically be open to promote all sexual orientations and gender identities, and if this means anything, it also means the right to bash Christians who hold the belief that faithful, monogamous heterosexuality within marriage is the only sexual liaison that reflects the created order of humans as male and female who are able to be fruitful, and multiply in families that are both cross-gender and cross-generational. A society made up of relationships that cannot produce children has no future, because our children are the future. Recognition of this reality of nature is sadly lacking in Bill 18. Further, it is also very telling that there is one belief system, and one belief system only that is singularly named for special protection and promotion, and that is gaystraight alliances. Even in a faith-based school, one must then allow groups which promote gay lifestyles to organize themselves in such a way that promote beliefs which are contrary to the faith foundation of the school. This does not respect the freedom of religion as it has been defined in the Canadian Charter.

We could readily agree with a gay-straight alliance if that meant that gays and straights could respect each others rights to believe as they choose, and yet make allowance to respectfully disagree in their personal beliefs. To insist that these alliances must be based on sharing the same belief system is nothing short of mind control, and an attempt by the state to control religious belief. The state has absolutely no business in dictating religious belief. It is oppressive, because once you control religious freedom, every other freedom is contingent upon freedom of belief (without malice), including freedom of speech (without hatred), freedom to express (with respect for personhood without necessarily agreement with behaviour), freedom of conscience (without external bullying), and freedom of the press in a way that is accountable, and one that can be engaged with. When something is a must, you cannot engage. You must then be controlled by anothers thought. 4. How does Bill 18 address cyberbullying? Under this legislation, schools have an expanded duty to report cyberbullying, again, as something that they must, if they become aware that a pupil of a school may havebeen negatively affected by cyberbullying, report the matter to the principal of the school as soon as reasonably possible. The problem here is that again, there is no option, and this is a heart issue which can hardly be dealt with by legislation. It must be dealt with by relationship, not by the jack-hammer of state legislation. The person reporting the alleged bullying, and the school principal, will all interpret cyberbullying according to their own religious beliefs. And make no mistake, sexual dogma is as much a personal belief as religious doctrine. On this basis, a person simply typing a verse of scripture on Facebook can be accused, in the minds of some, as cyberbullying. So Bill 18 is not what it appears to be.

One of our fellow ministers with the Fellowship of Christian Assemblies was this past Sunday evening at the Izzy Asper Jewish Campus in Winnipeg. His name is Majed El Shafie, and his ministry is called One Free World International. This man is an Egyptian, and he was severely persecuted and tortured for his faith after he became a Christian. His back was burned and bloodied, and he was told he was going to be executed, but miraculously, he was able to escape out of a window one evening, and had some support from the outside with friends that got him on to a sea-doo, on which he escaped from Egypt over the Red Sea to the Sinai, from where he made it into Israel. He was accepted as a refugee there, and from there he was given refugee status in Canada, and he now heads up a ministry called One Free World International, in which he works with people from all political parties to stand up for the freedom of all types of religious beliefs including moderate Muslims, Jews, Christians, and also gays if they are being treated unjustly, discriminated against or are being bullied. We dont have to agree with people in every area in order to defend their right to believe as they choose. The fact is that bullying anybody for any belief that they hold is morally and ethically wrong. The thing that Majed shared when I was with him on this past Sunday evening that really hit home with me was the statement that while persecution of those who believe different is wrong, the real problem is not the persecution, but the silence...It is the deafening silence that falls over us as the screams of tortured and dying Christians, Falun Gong members ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Falun_Gong ), Bahais, Hindus, dissidents of nonmainstream Muslims, and others echo in the ears of the West. In fact, he said that the biggest threat to peace in the world is not from militant Islamists so much as from moderate Muslims who know what is going on, but do not speak up. They remain silent in fear. Why is this so? Because people who do dark deeds would be greatly restrained if what goes on in the dark were exposed. Somebody has to have the courage to speak up, and to shine light into dark areas. This is similar to the fact that the thing that most empowered Hitler was not the Nazi Party, but it was the silence of the confessing church in Germany. There are people who knew what was going on, but they said or did nothing. There is a 1 1/2 minute trailer to the 1 1/2 hour video documentary that I saw on Sunday evening, March 17, that highlighted One Free World International, and the ministry of Majed El Shafie, that can be found at this site. http://www.onefreeworldinternational.org/portfolio/freedom-fighter/ You will see leaders from different political parties on there, all united in the belief that everybody needs to be free to believe as they choose to without being bullied or harassed or persecuted.

The bottom line is that these are heart issues. Hatred is a heart issue. Bullying is a heart issue. All hatred and all bullying is wrong, and yet these things are always interpreted in the heart and the mind of each individual, depending upon the lens through which one looks at life. Wherever gays and Christians are being truly persecuted just because of their beliefs, they should form an alliance, but it is an alliance which must also respect that our beliefs may be different, even though we will defend each others right to hold that view. I may disagree to the hilt what someone might say, but I will defend to the hilt their right to say it, as long as what they say is not motivated by hatred and a condescending, de-humanizing attitude. That is the mark of a mature person. I would urge anybody reading this to get on to the following web-site, and to send an e-mail to to at least the Premier, the Opposition Leader, the Minister promoting this legislation, Nancy Allan, and your own personal MLA. Please go to this site, and be informed and be involved. Every one of us has a voice to express a belief. Let there be freedom for all.

www.protectourschools.ca
--Roger Armbruster