- Submitted by Gareth
Sunday 25 May 2014
Formatting problem with this blog
Perhaps you've noticed that there are occasionally extraneous texts that appear across the Just Living blog at the oddest intervals, and outside any of the template parameters. I've tried my best to solve the problem of why that happens, to no avail. Sorry.
Speaking Up for LGBTQ Rights
United Church of Canada Moderator Gary Paterson's blog has a post focusing on the need to speak for LGBTQ Rights. Here are some excerpts:
What is it about homosexuality that seems to rile up so many Christians, as if this were something that was about to destroy the world? Seems to stir up far more passion than issues of poverty, war, or climate change. It turns out that playing the “homosexual card” and stoking the fears of a “gay agenda” (i.e. “They’re taking over the world!”) often leads to the most successful religious fundraisers in the United States; that troubles me!
...
In the last few weeks we have seen the reaction to World Vision’s decision in the U.S. that married gay couples were “acceptable,” or, at least, could be hired to work for the organization. Reactions from various evangelical churches were swift and condemning; some denominations leapt into the fray, telling their membership to immediately stop all financial support, even to the point of reneging on commitments to support foster children. Faced by the power and pressure of money, World Vision reversed its position within two days, and ate humble pie; it was not a pretty sight.
...
I am so grateful to be part of the United Church, where last August we celebrated 25 years of recognizing LGBTQ people as full members of the Body of Christ, of the church. Sure, our denomination is not perfect, and there are times and places where prejudice still rears its head; but it’s changing, and it continues to get better, more just, and inclusive. I want this news to make the headlines, at least on occasion, so that the world, the “spiritual but not religious,” the great and growing numbers of the “un-churched,” don’t think that what they hear and see in the headlines is the sum total of a Christian understanding of homosexuality. I want them to hear our message about acceptance and affirmation – “There’s a place for you!”
You can read the article by clicking here.
What is it about homosexuality that seems to rile up so many Christians, as if this were something that was about to destroy the world? Seems to stir up far more passion than issues of poverty, war, or climate change. It turns out that playing the “homosexual card” and stoking the fears of a “gay agenda” (i.e. “They’re taking over the world!”) often leads to the most successful religious fundraisers in the United States; that troubles me!
...
In the last few weeks we have seen the reaction to World Vision’s decision in the U.S. that married gay couples were “acceptable,” or, at least, could be hired to work for the organization. Reactions from various evangelical churches were swift and condemning; some denominations leapt into the fray, telling their membership to immediately stop all financial support, even to the point of reneging on commitments to support foster children. Faced by the power and pressure of money, World Vision reversed its position within two days, and ate humble pie; it was not a pretty sight.
...
I am so grateful to be part of the United Church, where last August we celebrated 25 years of recognizing LGBTQ people as full members of the Body of Christ, of the church. Sure, our denomination is not perfect, and there are times and places where prejudice still rears its head; but it’s changing, and it continues to get better, more just, and inclusive. I want this news to make the headlines, at least on occasion, so that the world, the “spiritual but not religious,” the great and growing numbers of the “un-churched,” don’t think that what they hear and see in the headlines is the sum total of a Christian understanding of homosexuality. I want them to hear our message about acceptance and affirmation – “There’s a place for you!”
You can read the article by clicking here.
- Submitted by Bob
Canada's $207,000 oil sands ad: Putting a price on deception
From the Globe and Mail
This business column by Eric Reguly appeared in the May 10, 2014 Globe and Mail "Report on Business". As we pick up our Saturday Globe, we usually are rather quick to deposit the Report on Business on the recycling pile (not sure that's a good idea or not). This time the headline of the column by Reguly caught Kathleen's attention. In the print version of the May 10 Globe and Mail, the secondary headline (on the continuation of the article on pg. 6) was: "If Canada were responsible, it wouldn't blow small fortunes on deceptive ads". We both found it interesting to find an article with this editorial position in the business section of the Globe. The article begins like this:
The ad in The New Yorker is pretty, if not quite arresting. The full-page photo on the inside back cover – prime real estate in the United States’ leading upmarket magazine – features a pristine river meandering through a lush mountain valley, untouched by humanity. It is not a tourism ad. It is designed to convince influential Americans that the Keystone XL pipeline is environmentally safe, even desirable.
What is clever about the ad is not the photo; it is the headline and the succinct lines of copy beneath it. They are slick pieces of propaganda Рmisleading without being outright lies. Of course, advertising is all about propaganda. But this ad is unconscionable because you, the Canadian taxpayer, paid for it. The rate for a full-page ad in that location, according to Cond̩ Nast, publisher of The New Yorker, is $207,000 (U.S.).
You can read the entire article by clicking here.
This business column by Eric Reguly appeared in the May 10, 2014 Globe and Mail "Report on Business". As we pick up our Saturday Globe, we usually are rather quick to deposit the Report on Business on the recycling pile (not sure that's a good idea or not). This time the headline of the column by Reguly caught Kathleen's attention. In the print version of the May 10 Globe and Mail, the secondary headline (on the continuation of the article on pg. 6) was: "If Canada were responsible, it wouldn't blow small fortunes on deceptive ads". We both found it interesting to find an article with this editorial position in the business section of the Globe. The article begins like this:
The ad in The New Yorker is pretty, if not quite arresting. The full-page photo on the inside back cover – prime real estate in the United States’ leading upmarket magazine – features a pristine river meandering through a lush mountain valley, untouched by humanity. It is not a tourism ad. It is designed to convince influential Americans that the Keystone XL pipeline is environmentally safe, even desirable.
What is clever about the ad is not the photo; it is the headline and the succinct lines of copy beneath it. They are slick pieces of propaganda Рmisleading without being outright lies. Of course, advertising is all about propaganda. But this ad is unconscionable because you, the Canadian taxpayer, paid for it. The rate for a full-page ad in that location, according to Cond̩ Nast, publisher of The New Yorker, is $207,000 (U.S.).
You can read the entire article by clicking here.
- Submitted by Gareth and Kathleen
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