Jesus was a refugee

In the past year or so, in this space, nothing has enraged the so-called “Christian Right” more than my suggestion that Jesus Christ was a refugee

It rendered them apoplectic. It enraged them. Some days, I spent lots of time blocking these “Christian” trolls who would go on to vote for Trump. 

Trump, who is the closest thing we’ve had to an anti-Christ in my lifetime. Trump, who is the literal antithesis of Christian philosophy. 

Anyway. After the week we had – and this being a Sunday – I want to reassert that view. Namely: Jesus of Nazareth was truly a refugee

The unstoppable force of refugees fleeing to Europe has in various places hit the immovable object of an attitude that there is no room at the inn. Spaces are filled. Migrants should be kept out, in order to preserve jobs, health and welfare services. In an environment of austerity, where economic cuts have hit people hard, this cold-heartedness in part derives from a deep sense of insecurity.

At this time it is worth remembering that Jesus of Nazareth is in the Bible presented exactly as one that would be rejected by such European countries: a refugee child.

The reason these “Christians” so vehemently oppose the notion that Christ was a refugee?

Because they’re not really Christians. 


War

…is coming: that’s still an opinion. But Trump’s nation will be fully alone when it is waged: that’s not opinion – that’ll be the fact. 

Full story here.

China military official says war with US under Donald Trump ‘becoming practical reality’

War with the US under Donald Trump is “not just a slogan” and becoming a “practical reality”, a senior Chinese military official has said.

The remarks were published on the People’s Liberation Army website, apparently in response to the aggressive rhetoric towards China from America’s new administration.

They communicated a view from inside the Central Military Commission, which has overall authority of China’s armed forces.


This is our government – acting (finally) like a sovereign government

Here:

Canada will increase its funding to international organizations that provide abortion-related services after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order blocking American funding for those services.

“Women’s rights is too important for us to make a compromise on that.” – Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister for International Development, on whether the Trudeau government is fearful of angering Trump.

In an interview with As It Happens guest host Helen Mann on Friday, Minister of International Development Marie-Claude Bibeau said the Liberal government would support a Dutch-led initiative to fund international programs supporting women’s reproductive health.

“I think that restricting the access to abortion does not reduce abortion. It only increases the number of unsafe abortions and it endangers the lives of women,” Bibeau said.


Holocaust remembrance day

Is today. 

And, today – more than on many other such days – remember that the Shoah began with hateful words, first. 

And then – as now – too many said nothing, because they didn’t want to attract the anger of the Beast. 

“Never again” should mean just that.