houseofchaos
Member
Hi all,
I ask that you please read this post from HSLDA Canada, "Time to Turn up the Pressure in Alberta", and respond if you are willing. We are looking for support from across North America to keep this legislation from being passed.
http://www.hslda.ca/blog/time_to_turn_up_the_pressure_in_alberta?year=&month=&page=1
Blessings,
Gaeleen
Rachel
Member
I read the article. I understand how alarmed you feel; I would, too; but it makes me a little uncomfortable as a citizen here, to interfere in another country's sovereign representative gov't., unless I were a Canadian citizen living here.
I personally would be miffed if Canadian or British citizens (except for Linda!), etc., started calling my representative to complain about our legislation. We're on one continent, but we are two sovereign and separate nations and your legislators are still following the exisiting law; if they start acting out side the law, then that's different-I'd call then.
I would think they (these statist politicians) certainly wouldn't listen to we Americans anyway and it may even strenghten their resolve that they are in the right if we call in massive protest. I don't know that we may do more harm than good.
Your new PM is the most conservative that ya'll have had in a long time; didn't he gain a majority in the election? So your Parliment is turning more conservative (by ya'll's standards). Can you call the PM's office? What his his position on this?
Unlike our president who shouldn't get involved in legislative events while they are being deliberated (though he does), your PM has more legislative powers, is that right? Perhaps calling his office would be more productive than calling these progressive liberals who are more "enlightened". Is this legislation supported by these newly elected members? Surely some of them can be swayed away from the "dark side".
Is there another organization that I could contact to lend support, in addition to HSLDA, that would lobby on your behalf in place of calling your legislators?
What about the media up there? What are they saying?
I'm sorry you're having to deal with this,
Rachel
missingtheshire
Member
Gaeleen, I understand what Rachel is saying and tend to agree, oh and thanks Rachel for giving me a little licence:))) I appreciate that. Being a British citizen and with the close relationship Britain and Canada have, I will tender some support - we are after all in the same Commonwealth...so I will support this. I am so grateful that Canada finally has a good solid conservative governement in Prime Minister Harper, he does have some dark forces to deal with but it is a step in the right direction and he should support the right to homeschool I would hope. Not quite sure how everything works from province to province there, but hopefully your country is on the right path, unlike some of us who seem to be heading into a wasteland. Good luck and I will visit HSLDA and see what I can do in my own small way. Stand firm, that is all any of us can do, if it is worth having, it is worth standing for no matter what.....
Yeah, as a Canadian I agree that I don't think the Americans should be calling. In fact, as it is Alberta, and although it is concerning to other provinces, I really only think an Albertan should be calling.
And just to let people know... Education is a Provincial matter - so it is the Alberta Legislature, not the Federal Government that matters here. So it is Premier Alison Redford to be discussing, not PM Harper. It isn't a surprise that the Alberta government is the Progressive Conservative party (I think it has been for decades, hasn't it?)
Rachel
Member
You're welcome Linda! I'm making you honorary citizen-you and MP Daniel Hannan.
Yes, if I were a British/UK citizen or in another county within the Commonwealth, I would gladly call for the reasons Linda mentioned above.
I will be praying for your situation that freedom will prevail; it's regressing here, hopefully you'll shine up there and this will be defeated. Perhaps those here will see the slippery slope framework that were allowed in the past (hate crimes legislation for example) up there and see what happens eventually when we allow encroachment.
Rachel
houseofchaos
Member
Education is indeed a provincial matter. If the bill is passed, it will be extremely difficult to have it changed. The federal government has nothing to do with this.
The office of the Premier and the Education Minister are keeping track of how many people are calling for change to the Bill. Since HSLDA and the Alberta Home Education Association feel it would be of value to have folks across the continent in support of this, I just wanted to pass it along.
Thank you to all who are moved to pray.
If you feel this is not something you wish to be involved in, I most certainly understand.
But I would encourage those who are willing to please prayerfully contact the Minister of Education, and also the premier. It could make a world of difference for Albertans.
Rachel
Member
Thanks for clarifying about the Premier versus the PM in this situation.
I would however, encourage those in the other provinces to call their own Premier, representives (or whatever you call them)in the local gov'ts and clarify their positions on this so you know where they stand and THEY know that YOU know where they stand; so you won't have this creeping up on the other provinces, too.
It may be helpful to Albertans if they know that there is support from other provinces and also that the gov'ts. of Alberta know that other provinces aren't necessarily going to be in agreement with this, though it is ultimately a provincial situation. It's one of those things where you may have to consider moving to another province.
Kind of parallel to New York school system versus Texas; New York is out-of-control progressive whereas there's more hope in Texas, though the whole Federal system needs to be abolished,-but I digress. When NY school system does something crazy, it's imperative that New Yorkers call, but it's helpful for the powers-that-be in NY feel pressure from other folks from other states as well speaking against oppresive gov't., even though they aren't obliged to them, but it does shed light and if you can shed light, the creatures of darkness scatter.
Just my 2c.
missingtheshire
Member
Thanks Rachel, I wish Daniel Hannan was the British PM he is a wonderful man. We have a somewhat progressive PM in Cameron and his loony left coalition partners the Lib Dems...
I would encourage all Canadians to support and stand with those in Alberta, because this progessive thinking spreads and all are at risk if we do not stand together. I am aware that not everyone wishes to be political but I think the day is coming when we will all need to stand and be counted or freedom will cease to exist. I ask you all to remember this poem:
They came for the Communists, and I didn't object - For I wasn't a Communist;
They came for the Socialists, and I didn't object - For I wasn't a Socialist;
They came for the labor leaders, and I didn't object - For I wasn't a labor leader;
They came for the Jews, and I didn't object - For I wasn't a Jew;
Then they came for me - And there was no one left to object.
- Martin Niemoller, German Protestant Pastor, 1892-1984
Homeschooling is a blessing we should not allow to be taken from us. I am at the end of the homeschooling journey, and my girls are old enough that no-one can do anything to us anymore...however I will stand for the rights of every family out there who wishes to school at home and for anyone whose rights are being threatened. It is not the time to be isolationist, it is time to make everyone aware that freedom is not free, it has to be fought for and protected. When we say it is not our business, what happens when we want support for our freedoms, no-one will be there....Europe was in the depths of that darkness once, I for one will do my best not to allow that darkness to stand again. So I actually think we should support our Canadian sisters and brothers.....if we don't we may well be sorry.
Rachel
Member
Yes, other statist politicians in other provinces will be empowered by this legislation, as will Alberta even more-so for future consideration, if there isn't blowback from others of like-mind in the rest of Canada and the entire Commonwealth.
missingtheshire
Member
Read this poem and understand why we must stand together for freedom and for the right to homeschool. When we bury our heads in the sand and we ignore the plight of others we will one day be sorry, because no-one will stand for us. It takes courage to stand, but stand we must. The right to homeschool is a wonderful thing, I think on reflection we should all support Alberta in this struggle, we are fellow homeschoolers, we should stand.
A poem by Pastor Martin Niemoller, Berlin, 1939.
Niemoller was a pastor in the German Confessing Church
who spent eight and one-half years in a Nazi concentration camp.
First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out--because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the communists
and I did not speak out--because I was not a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out--because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me--
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Niemoller's address to the U.S. Congress
The exact text of what Martin Niemoller said,
and which appears in the Congressional Record,
October 14, 1968, page 31636 is:
"When Hitler attacked the Jews
I was not a Jew, therefore I was not concerned.
And when Hitler attacked the Catholics,
I was not a Catholic, and therefore, I was not concerned.
And when Hitler attacked the unions and the industrialists,
I was not a member of the unions and I was not concerned.
Then Hitler attacked me and the Protestant church --
and there was nobody left to be concerned."
We have seen dark days in Europe, please don't think we cannot see those dark days again when freedom ceases to exist, it can happen here in the US, and you are well on the way to that happening. We should never be silent on things that are important, we may not agree with everything or everyone, but if they are in the right we should stand. I am not Catholic, but I will stand in front of a Catholic hospital if they try to shut it down, I will stand for any faith, because all faith has a right to exist, and if you don't then Niemoller's poem will be right yet again....We need to hold our freedoms and our liberty close and protect those who are challenged. End of my rant....:)))
missingtheshire
Member
My first post did not seem to go through, so I rewrote and sent it again, so you will likely see a double post, sorry about that, but I did add a little to the second from Niemoller's speech to Congress.
houseofchaos
Member
Thank you so much for your wisdom and support. I pray that it will move others to the same convictions - for all, in all situations where freedoms are threatened.
Rachel
Member
Are there other organizations in Canada, besides HSLDA, that can be encouraged to fight in this endeavor?
houseofchaos
Member
Alberta Home Education Association can and is. But the reality is that the people must stand up for freedoms - the politicians and bureacrats are supposed to serve the people, not the other way around.
missingtheshire
Member
Well said Gaeleen....
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