Finding Harmony - Canada's New Governance Philosophy
The story of the formation of the Haudenosanee, aka the Iroquois Confederacy, can be a great model for uniting the many 'special treatment constituencies' warring in the bosom of our single state.
Please read this brief outline of Deganaweda’s Great Peace-- the Kia ëneri Kowa. These tribes hated each other, but saw the benefits of joining together - creating a 'whole' that indeed was greater than 'the sum of the parts'.
That's fine for then, but how Should we live in the 21st Century?
The lives of the French, English, Irish, Scottish, German & Autochthonous forefathers/mothers of Canada in the 1600-1800's were guided by a set of moral, ethical and spiritual rules.
These rules they and their neighbours learned from their parents and grandparents. Everyone knew the rules, knew when they were kept and knew when the rules were broken - an eviably simple time.
Today, that same set of rules, would be difficult to re-introduce, impose or even suggest as 'the rules' for every Canadian. But a common set of immutable rules, that everyone subscribes to, is a necessary component of a nation.
Right now, Canada IS a country, but NOT a nation. By design or (bad) luck we're a mixed bag bunch of 'immigrants' who all think we're from the best heritage and have huddled in population centres of other 'immigrants' who think the same things as we do (or at least close).
I submit for your consideration,
If we don't decide on a set of guiding principles, then how WILL we know what's right, what's not-quite-right, what's wrong-but-forgiveable after a fine and what so wrong it needs punishment?
Ah, the government and the Courts.
Yes, that's worked well recently .... apart from the government initiatives and upper Court decisions that seem to defy precedent and common sense.
Ah, the Constitution and the Rule of Law.
Yes, I take it you are personally quite familar with both -have a dog-eared copy at home no doubt- and you personally can tell when someone holding a position of great authority is bending, twisting, distorting or dis-obeying the Constitution, or the great traditional 'body of Common Law'?
No, eh?
Hmmmpf ... what'll we do? ... Stumble along and hope nothing TOO terrible is foist upon us while we're not quite paying attention? or has it happened already?
Thomas Paine, famous US patriot stated " The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance"
Have YOU been vigilant? Do you have a benchmark or yardstick to gauge when something's gotten out of whack? Would your neighbours agree with you, even if you were right?
Two Final Points with frogs in both.
Frog in a well. Sees everything, knows everything inside the well, but beyond the well .... ?
Frog in a pan of water that is placed on a heat source ... gradually gets cooked.
Please read this brief outline of Deganaweda’s Great Peace-- the Kia ëneri Kowa. These tribes hated each other, but saw the benefits of joining together - creating a 'whole' that indeed was greater than 'the sum of the parts'.
That's fine for then, but how Should we live in the 21st Century?
The lives of the French, English, Irish, Scottish, German & Autochthonous forefathers/mothers of Canada in the 1600-1800's were guided by a set of moral, ethical and spiritual rules.
These rules they and their neighbours learned from their parents and grandparents. Everyone knew the rules, knew when they were kept and knew when the rules were broken - an eviably simple time.
Today, that same set of rules, would be difficult to re-introduce, impose or even suggest as 'the rules' for every Canadian. But a common set of immutable rules, that everyone subscribes to, is a necessary component of a nation.
Right now, Canada IS a country, but NOT a nation. By design or (bad) luck we're a mixed bag bunch of 'immigrants' who all think we're from the best heritage and have huddled in population centres of other 'immigrants' who think the same things as we do (or at least close).
I submit for your consideration,
the North American Autochthonous Peoples'
Ten Commandments
(I've found these same words in three different arrangements and include links to all three, but present this one because I had to pick one)
Remain close to the Great Spirit.
Show Great respect for your fellow beings.
Give assistance and kindness wherever needed.
Be truthful and honest at all times.
Do what you know to be right.
Look after the well-being of mind and body.
Treat the Earth and all that dwell thereon with respect.
Take full responsibility for your actions.
Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good.
Work together for the benefit of all mankind.
.
and I'll suggest that if we could live by these rules, we'd all be better off.
.
If we cannot, then what rules ARE we following?
.
WHO will decide how we live?
If we don't decide on a set of guiding principles, then how WILL we know what's right, what's not-quite-right, what's wrong-but-forgiveable after a fine and what so wrong it needs punishment?
Ah, the government and the Courts.
Yes, that's worked well recently .... apart from the government initiatives and upper Court decisions that seem to defy precedent and common sense.
Ah, the Constitution and the Rule of Law.
Yes, I take it you are personally quite familar with both -have a dog-eared copy at home no doubt- and you personally can tell when someone holding a position of great authority is bending, twisting, distorting or dis-obeying the Constitution, or the great traditional 'body of Common Law'?
No, eh?
Hmmmpf ... what'll we do? ... Stumble along and hope nothing TOO terrible is foist upon us while we're not quite paying attention? or has it happened already?
Thomas Paine, famous US patriot stated " The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance"
Have YOU been vigilant? Do you have a benchmark or yardstick to gauge when something's gotten out of whack? Would your neighbours agree with you, even if you were right?
Two Final Points with frogs in both.
Frog in a well. Sees everything, knows everything inside the well, but beyond the well .... ?
Frog in a pan of water that is placed on a heat source ... gradually gets cooked.
posted by Walk a Kb or Two in my cassins | 7:43 pm
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