Monday, March 3, 2008

I've been blogging just not here...

I've been desperately trying to give my vegan blog some love even though I've yet to re-acquire my beloved camera. That and I've been trying to determine the order of topics to be discussed - 1. Weather 2. Church issues 3. American foreign policy - does that sound good? Well I thought so initially but now I'm not so sure... but I'm going to try and tie them altogether.

I've been reading Naomi Klein's, Shock Doctrine - and I realized that while I'm familiar with a lot of it - I wasn't as familiar as I believe I or even we should be, in the sense that while she is writing to support and by extension enrage as specific portion of society by vilifying the US's foreign policy (rightfully so) and demonstrating that socialism just like democracy and well all forms of government can lay the ground work for power distortions and ultimately dictatorships of varying degrees. These ruler-ships occur when power is concentrated and there is money to be had at the expense of an undereducated overly government supported people - where there is an idealist relationship between government and people, grave events happen.

On my way to Donald's yesterday to pick up ingredients for the best darn vegan brunch ever, this thought came to mind - I wonder how many people can name the other September 11th's that US foreign policy brought into fruition? Then as I was lost in thought, as is common a couple with a child passed me - dad with dreads and facial piercings and mom dressed with the jeans, dress and sweaterish combo - very East Vancouver ghetto-ish were we live - but that had me thinking about the Church. In that Tenth is growing due to a surge in young adults and newly married not families, now granted Vancouver is one of the most expensive places to live but I wonder if for the sake of luxuries we are abandoning our city? Now maybe because I'm left leaning who knows but I would love to live in East Vancouver with my family however that looked for two big reasons: ethnic and societal diversity. But I know many in the Christian community are concerned that such an environment would serve to function as Sodom and Gomorrah did for Lot's family - too much temptation - I would disagree - I believe our closed minded, almost xenophobic Church structure is more of a risk. To believe that because you live in Surrey, Maple Ridge or Abbotsford that your kids are more likely to turn out "good" - just go look at the kids the private schools in those areas pump out...

Well that's enough out of me today I promise less dry more humor filled blogs - but right now I'm off to get this day started.

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aletteke/484287096/ - the tree don't look like that quite yet, but give it one week of sun and all the cherry blossoms will be out...

3 comments:

Shawn said...

I told you the only thing you have to understand to understand US foreign policy is imperialism. Once you understand imperialism then US foreign policy will make sense, atleast it did for me.

Anonymous said...

I don't think that tenth is particularly suburban. Some evangelicals in Canada (which, in this country, evangelical and suburban are almost completely synonymous) are very tied to the isolationism and control of the suburbs, but I'm not sure that could ever fly in Vancouver. We are too diverse already - with most churches having two or three ethnic churches meeting on their premesis and a rainbow congregation. We are also known for our eco-density - ie we have a reverse downtown now, to the point that planners are worried that we will have too many people in the downtown so that businesses won't be able to find space.

I don't think we ever need to worry that the cities will be abandoned... in fact - then they wouldn't be cities. ;)

GF Girl said...

What I meant was that I worry that suburban life is touted as the Christian way to do things - get away from the sinful cities - where as I believe there should be more families, and especially young couples opting not for luxuries but urban living as to be impactful on the communities around them and as well grow in their knowledge and in turn be able to contribute to social justice movements...