Last Updated:Friday - 09/24/2010

WCR Letters to the Editor

Be with God, with the vulnerable ones

He is our God, the God that blesses America.

I know that "us" refers to all human beings and that we have no right to say that God is ours and not somebody else's but still it was comforting to be reminded on the third Sunday of Advent that "God is with us" means God is with the weak, the blind, the deaf, the lame, the hungry, the prisoner, the stranger, the orphan, the widow, the leper.

God is with the 55 Edmonton prostitutes charged with drug-related offences last week in a police sting in response to complaints of residents and business owners concerned about increased traffic and crime due to prostitution and drugs.

"Cleaning" the neighbourhoods meant targetting the most vulnerable. It is difficult to see how harrassing sex trade workers and jailing them is going to convince them to change their lifestyles when the root causes of prostitution - poverty and addictions - haven't been addressed.

If God is with us, we will ensure that these women have access to safe, affordable housing and the community support they need to stay off the streets, whether it is going back to school or job training.

Most of the women were denied bail and are left to linger in jail for four months, including Christmas, before their first court appearance. A lot of these women have children.

Unfortunately, even at Christmas, there isn't a lot of sympathy for them among Edmontonians.

Sometimes, I think that we Edmontonians are generous and then I see the ugly side of Edmonton as I did this afternoon while waiting for the bus.

A tall Caucasian man, fairly well dressed, came, quietly, politely, asking for a bit of change to make up for what was lacking in the change he held in his open hand for a bus ticket.

As he moved away, three men behind me began to loudly complain: "Those blankety-blank strangers, why do they blankety-blank come here, why don't they get a blankety-blank job!"

God is with us only if we are with the most vulnerable because that's where God is.

Cecily Mills
Edmonton

Gov't silences us

Our Canadian government wants to legalize same-sex marriage: the highest court of the land has now laid open the path to this government's intention.

For what it is worth, God alone knows, I, a voting citizen of Canada, say no to this change in the law of Canada.

It seems pretty obvious that I will be given no opportunity to cast my vote; another spike driven into the democratic process.

So what recourse do I have? Prayer, speaking my truth to those who can and will listen, and most of all loving all of my brothers and sisters, judge or MP, same-sex attracted or not, bigoted against homosexuals or apathetically accepting of whatever goes.

This loving part carries the greatest demand. Loving doesn't condone sin and it always demands space in my heart for the sinner.

Who is the greatest sinner? In my personal experience and from what I have read from our spiritual mothers and fathers, I am the greatest sinner. Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me a sinner.

Patrick Stewart
Edmonton

Letters to the Editor

Opinions expressed in letters to the editor do not necessarily represent the views of the WCR.

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