Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Attacking Church and State
During the first five years of the current Christian fundamentalist regime in the US, we heard much mention by neoliberals of the need to maintain separation of church and state. What we did not hear much of, however, was the need to curb the disproportionate powers of both.
Presently, in Canada, the government is systematically dismantling First Nations through so called "self-government treaties." We also see increasing evangelical activities by Christian and Muslim activists in the South Pacific, Mexico, Sub-saharan Africa and in Central Europe.
If the traditional cultural systems of indigenous peoples are to survive being undermined by these interventions of church and state, we, as humanitarians, are going to need to address both of these institutions and the threat they pose to freedom and democracy worldwide. The evils they continue to perpetuate demand more than a tepid response.
Presently, in Canada, the government is systematically dismantling First Nations through so called "self-government treaties." We also see increasing evangelical activities by Christian and Muslim activists in the South Pacific, Mexico, Sub-saharan Africa and in Central Europe.
If the traditional cultural systems of indigenous peoples are to survive being undermined by these interventions of church and state, we, as humanitarians, are going to need to address both of these institutions and the threat they pose to freedom and democracy worldwide. The evils they continue to perpetuate demand more than a tepid response.
