Cornwall ON – After 18 years serving the Cornwall community, the Cornwall and District Immigrant Services Agency (CDISA) will be closing its doors on March 31st, 2011.
This has been an extremely difficult decision for the Board of CDISA to reach. Since its origins,
CDISA has been a grassroots organization building its programs based on the needs of the immigrant community in Cornwall rather than on the funding available. That commitment to the Cornwall community has ensured that CDISA has found creative ways to continue to support immigrants as they integrate into Cornwall.
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Over the last few years the federal government’s investment in settlement services has shifted. In particular, there has been a redirection of funds for settlement services to larger, more institutional organizations, like libraries and school boards.
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The most recent funding changes announced in December 2010 will find potentially 35 fewer settlement agencies in Ontario. As we all know change is part of life. The Board considered all of its options at this time and has decided to close its doors. In the last three months of CDISA operations (Jan. – March 31st 2011), two programs will continue to be operating: From Learning to Earning Women (F.L.E.W.) and Cool Art by Cool Kids. CDISA is working with community partners to ensure clients are referred to Cornwall Immigrant Resource Centre (CIRC) for settlement services and to Job Zone d’ Emploi for employment services.
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CDISA has been a community within a community and there are a number of key people and organizations that need to be acknowledged as CDISA begins to wind down. The founding mothers of CDISA Chris Francis and Sarala Gill (who is still on the board)
have been a grounding force for the organization and kept the group continuously focused on the real needs of immigrants in our community.
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It has been a great honour to work with the clients of CDISA. As you can well imagine, it is an amazing experience to work with people who have chosen to make Canada and Cornwall their new country and to help them learn about how to bring their gifts, talents and resources to our community.
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The staff and volunteers of CDISA demonstrated what sheer determination, open hearts, great skills and enormous knowledge can create. We want to specifically acknowledge all of the volunteers, including previous board members and the dedicated staff group,
with special recognition to the last staff group: Sarah Maynard, Carmen Romo and Girlie Mombay and Penny Bateman. We especially wish to thank Ms. Sophia Reyes-Leger, Executive Director for her dedicated and long-standing commitment to the Agency.
CDISA will leave a legacy. In its fourteen years in existence, CDISA provided:
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-settlement services to over 12,000 immigrants;
-developed and delivered the well respected Cross Cultural Diversity Training program;
-assisted over 1000 clients with employment assistance;
-ran children camps and art programs;
-delivered anti-racism and multicultural presentations in elementary and secondary
schools;
-provided Interpretation services;
-offered Literacy and Women related projects.
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CDISA’s community events have included the Trailblazers awards and Multicultural picnics and Christmas parties. The efforts of CDISA earned Cornwall the title of “ideal city for newcomers”. You will notice in the list of accomplishments that we often reference our work in relation to the community agencies we have worked with as service partners; including the library, the schools, the employers and social and health service organizations that wanted to learn how to make their agency and workplace a better place for immigrants. We thank you for working with us to make Cornwall a stronger, more cohesive community.
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We are working closely with the relatively new CIRC and other organizations to carry this responsibility forward. We believe that CDISA has left a high standard that they will no doubt reach. The closure of CDISA leaves the Cornwall community with a void but also with a great responsibility: the work of advocacy for and on behalf of immigrants in Cornwall will rest with the entire community of Cornwall. Each one of us, as community members, will need to be vigilant in recognizing and making the best use of the gifts that immigrants bring to Cornwall. We need to continue to strive to make the Cornwall community a welcome home for newcomers and to continue to grow and challenge ourselves to embrace the diversity of our community.
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CDISA has been blessed to have the privilege to work and serve this community since 1992. As part of our annual Multicultural Trailblazers award gala on March 3rd, we will be celebrating the history and legacy of CDISA, in addition to recognizing immigrants
who have made outstanding contributions to Cornwall in ten specific community areas.
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The Board of Directors of CDISA
Linda Geisel, Supervisor of Resident Services, Glen Stor Dun Lodge
Bernadette Clement, Lawyer with the S.D.G. Legal Clinic and City Councillor
Patrick Swift, B.A, B.S.W., Consultant
Shawna Spowart Sergeant, Cornwall Community Police Service
Sarala Gill, Retired Nursing Teacher, St. Lawrence College
Hana Abi Tarabay, First Generation Immigrant, Stay at Home Mom
Gorden Lanctot, Supervisor, The Children’s Aid Society of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry
Safdar Chaudhry, Corporate Financial Analyst (Corporation of the City of Cornwall)
Sebastian Drugea, Constable, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Hopefully this is something that we will see more and more throughout the communities in Canada. This money needs reallocated . The white uni lingual male, as of Feb 2011 is OFFICIALLY a minority in Canada. High ranking government officials working in health care and social assistance have already gotten these stats.
Canada is a country that needs to help everyone not just the abundance of immigrants and refugees we are letting in, in order to balance our population.
Sometimes Canada is like that mother with five kids who can’t support herself now but next year she’ll have another mouth to feed.
I say “Let’s give Canada back to Canadians and not to the minorities”. When ALL Canadians have a job then we can consider immigrants to fill positions left unfilled!
This is a sad development.. Canada needs more and more immigrants to replace the growing number of boomers who are retiring. This may not have been so during the recession but it will be so within the next few years.
Harry we are all minorities; even you. We all came from somewhere and compared to insects we’re a distinct minority that use up far too many resources 🙂 This country was built by immigrants and there’s nothing wrong with someone wanting to go to a new place and get a fresh start and opportunity.
My hat’s off to anyone that is that determined to try. In stressful times people seem to take their angst out on those that can defend themselves the least. And I think a lot of the issues that “some” have with immigrants come from those who created circumstances for immigrants instead of simply helping society allow them to play as positive role as possible in their new country.
Canada needs more and more immigrants to replace the growing number of boomers who refuse to have children, and choose abortion! Last time I checked the United States was the only country in the West that had a positive birth rate. The death of the family is result of such ungodliness. Some countries can not now reverse the trend, so they turn to immigration( Britain, France, etc.). That means that their culture is doomed! Doomed to be taken over slowly by other cultures. More immigration and we will end up like Muslim Europe! I am not singling out Muslims per se, but they are the most aggressive in their colonization of the West – soft Jihad! The door to taking over Canada is multiculturalism! Canadians are the only ones that believe in multiculturalism. Ask a Muslim, a Hindu, Buddhist, etc. Ask them if they believe in multiculturalism? Back in Egypt, Pakistan, and even Afghanistan! I can see it now ( and I am no prophet) – Canastan!
Tom did you just debate a point without using any scripture? Are you slacking or progressing? 🙂
Canada needs to make more babies, plain and simple.. but alas, some want to favor immigrants and give all sorts of benefits off the get-go, while the people that built this country, that worked here all our lives, get meager pensions that don’t cover anything.. Would be nice if the average family here in Canada could afford to make babies instead of working our @$$es off just to be able to live a sub-par life..
And wow, good on tom for once not quoting scripture to try to explain how the world really works..
Admin – you are an idealist. Define idealism – “the practice of acting according to one’s ideals, regardless of circumstances” (Collins Dict.). If immigrants only brought in – “wanting to go to a new place and get a fresh start and opportunity”, “…simply helping society allow them to play as positive role as possible in their new country” that would be a commendable goal. Amazing ideals! But go to Britain and to France, and to most of Europe, and see what their “ideals of multilingualism” has got them. And Jamie, you honestly believe if we continue in the same trend as Europe (which we are doing), we will not become “Canastan”? Are we taking about “ideals” or just being plain stupid, at worse a fool! Is that not what most Eastern cultures thinks of our Western culture? If there is nothing wrong with our Western culture, why are they trying to replace it?
Tom I am not a fan of the current practice of Multi-Culturalism. My family like many others came to Canada at the turn of the 20th century. Like many others they suffered their way into Canada and in spite of the challenges succeeded in many ways with one of my cousins even becoming a VP at Hydro Quebec which was quite an accomplishment in their corporate culture.
My dad told me stories of growing up in that Duddy Kravitz part of Montreal with street fights and gangs. Until the 70’s parts of Montreal were still restricted to certain races and religions.
I also got to spend part of my youth in the US and going to school there was very different than here in Canada. The culture was different. As a child of the 70’s I went from Disco to Bob Seger in one year. To toxic fashion to Levis.
I think what this comes down to is that you can’t be afraid of change. Our culture will change no matter what laws are put in place to stop change. If one group of immigrants have more children then down the line their share of the population will be larger.
We have values in this country. Do you really think that the values of your generation were the values of Canadians 150 years ago? They evolved. Immigrants that came to Canada changed them; maybe not as dramatically as the values you fear, but they did change. Immigrants change a culture, but a culture also changes them.
What I noticed as a kid in the US was there was essentially one culture where I was, American, and you had to fit it and find your way there.
As for Europe, many of their problems have been created by racism at a cultural level. If you essentially force immigrants to live together in ghettos due to economic and cultural stigmas then you get France.
This continent was built on immigration. We should look back at what worked for us in the past and what doesn’t work for us today and find solutions. I can assure you they are there and btw, there isn’t as much immigration as you think. Where are the new immigrants going to come from? We need better plans to help grow healthier families here in Canada, but guess what? That will probably cause our taxes to grow 😉
“Immigrants change a culture, but a culture also changes them” – your idealism is working over time again! This statement is just not true, in light, of the developments In Europe. To deny these developments is a form of denial, or just wishful thinking, but the facts are there – wake up!
And for all you Scripture lovers -“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight. Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men” (Ps 9:17-20).
There are two main reasons for the development in Europe:
#1 – God is turning Europe over to Jihad because of her ungodly ways – “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God”. God is using Islam to punish “Christian Europe”!
#2- In the Muslim eyes, the West has always been a culture of ungodliness. First, in it’s religion – Christianity, and secondly, in her practice of ungodliness and unrighteousness. To the Muslim Sharia law is the only solution. Christianity teaches liberty of conscience, but such is not found in Islam. Whatever way your present Islam it is always – force submission by the sword! World dominance and world in enslavement is the only goal of the Muslim ideology. Coming into a new culture will never change such a ideology! It is never integration, it is always colonization. Understand the difference?
What will prevent the formation of “Canastan”? ” Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ (Act 20:21). May the gracious God of Heaven give us the grace to do just that, before it is to late.
I think when centres like this are closed a community suffers.
-settlement services to over 12,000 immigrants;
-developed and delivered the well respected Cross Cultural Diversity Training program;
-assisted over 1000 clients with employment assistance;
-ran children camps and art programs;
-delivered anti-racism and multicultural presentations in elementary and secondary
schools;
-provided Interpretation services;
-offered Literacy and Women related projects.
This is just some of what was lost in this community but multiply that by 35 for a provincial view. Those that posted the opinion that this is a move in the right direction have no idea the services this centre provided.
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But to address some of the other opinions expressed here;
It is an irrational fear to think that Muslims are going to over take Western Culture or that “soft jihad” is going on by aggressive “Muslim colonists” and that they have already taken over Europe and we are next…….Canastan?
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I understand where this fear comes from though, as it is perpetuated propaganda by the fringe media and passed lips to ear by the ignorant, intolerant and ill informed.
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In Christianity there are approximately 2 billion followers in 34,000 “separate” Christian groups and over half are independent churches with no desire to affiliate with any other sect or main religion.
Yet most of us, when we say Muslim we are lumping 1.5 billion people all into one group when the Muslim religion is just as fissile as Christianity. In fact like Christianity there is a lot of friction among different Muslim groups and the reason they immigrate is to get away from religious oppression, to be free to choose the religion (or not) they want and have the right to practice it…..is this not the basis of our Western Culture religious freedom?
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As for Muslims taking over the world……or just Europe;
4% of Europian population is Muslim and could grow to about 6% by 2020 and if present imigration and birth rates stay steady it could be 10%.
But it won’t because Muslims don’t actually have more babies than other populations under the same circumstances. Declining population growth rates are not restricted to native populations. Immigrants from Muslim countries experience a faster drop in reproduction rates than the larger European population.
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It is worthy to note that 80 per cent of these Muslim imigrants are not religiously observant, so they are better defined as secular citizens who have escaped religious nations.
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Ignorance and in tolorance leads to fear, hatred and racism but Knowledge is power!!!!
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Bob – being misinformed is all part of the plan – welcome to the club! And yes, where is you documentation? All these % and all? Everyone knows that one can make numbers say what they want – polls, statistics, etc. Are you asking us just to believe you, because Bob said it? Are You? Hmmm, sounds fishily to me! The blind leading the blind, or just willful ignorance? Do you ever watch or listen to the News? For example what the BBC News has aired about the Muslim efforts to take over of Paris, and London? All right wing propaganda – fear mongering? Right?
Ever notice how religion, especially fundamentalist religion always plays into the xenophobic tendencies that so many people have?
Furtz – you are now sounding like the good Bishop of Alexandria awhile back! Go to Holland, Denmark, and parts of Paris, and especially London – and hear the Islamic cant – “British soldiers burn in hell” – this was a not so peaceful demonstration on Remembrance Day (Armistice Day), when many Muslims burned poppies! And you call this fear of strangers?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/8126357/Muslims-clash-with-police-after-burning-poppy-in-anti-Armistice-Day-protest.html
Where is your documentation, Tom? Where are the documented statistics to back up the “take over” of Canada by Muslims or that we are actually trending in that direction?
Where for that matter are the population statistics to back up your claim that Europe is already over run and the present political leanings are towards Muslim religious rule?
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The statistics and information I gave you is out there on the web for all to see (I posted the links in the past and you ignored them) so you don’t have to take my word for it, and likewise don’t just repeat the propaganda being fed to you by the “like minds of misinformation”, but go and look up the population and immigration stats and make up your own opinions.
Then get back to me on your claim of “soft jihad” conspiracy theories.
I know it’s a scary thing to you Preacher, but the world is changing. People of all cultures and religions are migrating all over the planet. The vast majority of these migrants are pretty reasonable and adaptable, but sadly, a small number are intolerant fundamentalist nut-bars such as yourself.
Bob – Here are two links just for you.
http://myislamwatch.com/2009/02/24/another-great-piece-from-mark-steyn.aspx
http://myislamwatch.com/2008/10/07/frank-gaffney-on-the-muslim-brotherhoods-soft-jihad-agenda.aspx
Tom, enough with the hyperbole!!! Sometimes demonstrations are not peaceful, but neither was it a violent protest. Muslims protesting the occupation of their countries by US/British forces does not support your theory of a “soft jihad” or the take over of European nations by radical Muslim groups.
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Let’s put this “Poppy burning” protest in perspective!
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“……….began to break the windows of a government-owned SAQ liquor store, including with a trash can, near the intersection of Stanley St. In a flash, dozens had jumped through the shattered windows and were looting the store…….
……..Bottles were thrown at police. Around 11:30 p.m. truncheon-wielding riot police cleared one intersection using horses and tear gas……..
……huge crowds wouldn’t go away, and became more hostile to the police, chanting obscenities and throwing beer bottles at them.”
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The above are excerpts from a Toronto Star article May 2010 headlined:
HOCKEY JOY TURNS TO VIOLENCE IN WAKE OF CANADIENS’ VICTORY
http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/nhl/article/808672–hockey-joy-turns-to-violence-in-wake-of-canadiens-victory
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We all better watch out, according to Tom’s logic the Habs fans are perpetuating a “soft jihad” soon there will be no more Leaf fans or Sens fans……we will all be forced to follow Hab-shira law and soon we will only be allow to cheer for the Habs!!!!
I know it must be scary for you Preacher, but the world is changing. People from all cultures and religions are migrating all over the planet. The vast majority of them are reasonable and thankful for the opportunity to have a peaceful and prosperous life in their new country. Sadly, a few of them bring their religious intolerance (like yours) and cultural feuds with them. Kinda like the Scots and Irish who came here a hundred or more years ago.
Tom it’s not only Muslims that have a high birth rates. Certain Orthodox religions do too. At the turn of the last century many governments complained about the high birth rate of Catholics in the US.
To me is simply smacks at its worst as racism and it’s best simple fear of the unknown or of change. The more people integrate cultures the better we all are. I think part of the multi-cultural experiments of the 70s through to today is that multiculturalism somehow became a form to keep immigrants to our country from fully integrating.
Using your own rhetoric, if it’s God’s will for other groups to be fruitful and multiply far more than the status quo in our neck of the woods who are you to argue? What are your solutions? (As if a solution was needed?)
Be a good neighbor. It’s that simple.
hopes you allo this information to be posted
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-3X5hIFXYU,
So Smee what action do you want as this video you posted suggest? Also, if you’re happy to sell the country to China by the rampant use of its products what do you propose is an issue with muslims in North America? If you had zero immigration and a low birth rate what do you think would happen to our country or any country?
To me this again sounds more to be about racism than anything else.
Admin, when it comes to immigration, people get very defensive and forget the big picture. I often find myself talking to people about this subject and even more often reminding people, as you are, how this country was brought together.
Some people will never get passed what they were taught by their grand-parents and for some, their parents. Unfortunately, racism still exists…
Just wanted to let you know that I get what you’re saying… lol
Thanks Vin! Most people do. I think it’s good though that we can talk about it openly. I’m also grateful to be in Canada as things are much worse in other countries.
To expose the well documented intentions of a culture as Islam is racism. To expose the the well documented intentions of the Green party is racism. To expose the well documented intentions of Communism is racism. To expose the well documented intentions of a fundamental baptist preacher is racism.
I guess we are all racist. We all need to stop it, you hear! There goes my racism again.
my gosh and again offering an opinion without the use of scripture. Kudos to you Tom! And you make a very valid point. I think racism exists everywhere; it’s to what degree?
For example would you not shop if the owner of a store belonged to a certain ethnic group? I hear that a lot in this world. Would you not hire someone because of their affiliations or religion? Race? I had one customer tell me that if I bought a membership to their political party they’d advertise more with us.
Yes, in 2010 this happened. The beautiful thing about we humans is that none of us are perfect. Nobody. And we have a terribly bad track record for living together in peace and harmony as history is littered with blood.
It’s about what kind of future we want, and how we want to live in that future. If you aren’t happy about the birth rate do something about it. Make babies or find ways for people to make babies.
my gosh – slang for My God. Remember Jamie – Exo 20:7 “Do not misuse my name. I am the LORD your God, and I will punish anyone who misuses my name”.
Our future – Canastan! Then we shall see racism at it’s prime!
Holy Jumpin’ Jesurs, Jamie!!! You’re heading to the hot place now, for sure.
Not sure how it relates but I don’t think multiculturalism does anything in the end but spread racism. It creates ghettos and puts foreign ideas on the same level playing field as Canadian ideas. If you think the foreign ideas are superior or equal – go there. The American melting pot idea does have some advantages. Spending a nickle on multicultural activities does upset me when so many of our own First Nation reserves have so much difficulty getting clean water. Harper cut funding to the arts, small publications, the census and he wants nine billion dollars worth of prisons. Orthodox religion will demand large families and white girls will take the pill or get an abortions. It’s not hard to see the future…better be nice to the immigrant kids.
As a society, we are in a period of rapid change that is having a dramatic impact on people’s understanding of the world and their place in it. Cornwall is a perfect example of this; the factories and factory-culture that was the foundation of the community’s traditional identity are gone. Whole families have been forced to rethink their understanding of the world and their place in it. The skills that were once highly valued, skills people built their self-worth around, are often not transferable to the types of jobs now available. Folks who had previously made a decent living are being forced to choose between jobs that society tells them are “lower class” or face the daunting prospect of retraining. They are forced to endure paperwork, line-ups and interviews. These are people that have been good community members their whole lives, paid their taxes, coached little league. It doesn’t seem fair that, after all of that, they should be in such a position.
It would be perfectly natural for someone in that spot to be frustrated if they felt the opportunities they deserved were going to people who haven’t been part of the community as long as they have, and also don’t believe the same things they do, don’t eat the same the same food they do, and speak English or French with an accent, when they’re speaking those languages at all. If there are any jobs to be had, after all, they should go to people who have always been part of the community. The services we pay for should go to, and be provided by, “real” community members. If there aren’t enough jobs to go around, then we probably shouldn’t be accepting immigrants in the first place.
While this is a completely understandable viewpoint, it is also short-sighted. Jobs aren’t chairs in a room, with a fixed number that can only accommodate a certain number of people. Jobs are the product of innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, and the provision of skill sets, resources and incentives to the companies that already exist in the world. Cornwall landed StarTek, for instance, because of the availability of bilingual workers in the community. For a community to attract new businesses and grow its economy, it needs to provide the opportunity businesses are looking for.
That means more workers, which means a growing population. That means the availability of often complex skills sets, which included familiarity with the wants and needs of various global marketplaces. It means providing an environment businesses feel will be complimentary to their practices and provide their employees with access to the cultural resources that will keep them happy, fulfilled and productive. These are all contributions which immigrants can and do make to our communities. Again, if I look at Cornwall, it doesn’t take long to come up with a list of community leaders that have made profound contributions to the City that were born overseas.
Since its foundation, the the Cornwall and District Immigrant Services Agency (CDISA) has done a stellar job of helping immigrants adjust to their new home and become productive members of our society; the loss this agency and its services comes as a blow to not just to Cornwall and area’s immigrant community, but to the broader community as well. It is a sad irony that the services that indirectly help strengthen our economy are the first to be cut as a response to current economic woes.
Without the services of the CDSIA, it will become that much more difficult for Cornwall’s immigrant community to overcome the challenges they face, and maximize their contributions to our society. As the City continues to adjust to its new reality, there will continue to be cause for “traditional” Cornwallites to view newcomers with suspicion.
The only way Cornwall can reach its full potential is for its diverse communities to support each other, make the effort to understand each other, and learn from the best of which each has to offer. I know there are individuals living in the City that will find new ways to provide transition assistance to new immigrants; I would encourage all Cornwallites to think of how they can support such initiatives. It won’t be easy; it is, however, necessary. As, barring Armageddon, we are all going to be living together for a long time, it makes sense to learn how to work and play together, as well.
Craig Carter-Edwards : the economic card is not really the issue here. Sure, who would not want to come to the West and raise one’s standard of living? Really, the issue is religious ideology! Jamie is a blindsided idealist when he writes -“The more people integrate cultures the better we all are…”. Yes, he is right in one way, but who is going to integrate? We must be reminded that there is a big difference between a “melting pot” vs. a “toss salad” cultural goal. Immigrants that come to Canada are not expecting to integrate in to society. Are they? To do so would undermine the whole goal of multiculturalism. Plus most immigrants do not want to integrate – to do so would mean they would lose their cultural identity. One’s cultural identity exerts a much stronger influence then any economic or social benefits that a country like Canada could offer.
It is an issue of loyalty. A matter of religious ideology! When I became a Canada citizen, I swore allegiance to the Queen. Why is it for some immigrants that are coming into Canada that such a pledge of allegiance, they want to do away with it? Is it like a lot of Canadians, who have no time for the monarchy? I don’t think so. I had no problem understanding this pledge, as it pertains to the culture I came from and to the culture I was now entering – Judeo-Christian. But for many immigrants, if not all, their cultural identity is wrapped up in their religion. To ask them to change, to adapt, to integrate to a new culture, is asking them to change, renounce, or even compromise their religious convictions. I can come to Canada and reap the economic and social benefits, but don’t expect me to change the way I think about God and the way I worship Him. This is the pluralistic society that we live in. By the way, pluralism is only allowed in the West! Think about it?
Some might say that Canada’s culture is not Judeo-Christian. They are wrong, through we are fast becoming more and more un-Christian culture day by day. And many are not expecting immigrants to fit in to our culture, but immigrants are not about to change, they are working on changing us! One immigrant at a time! Canastan, here we come!
One has to be blind as a bat not to see what is going on in Europe, in Australia, and many other parts of the world, as to the Muslim issue. It is not that I have personal hatred towards any Muslim, for the reason to use them as an example, but it is for what the Muslim believes, and the way that Muslim refuses to integrate into any society that is not ruled by Shaira law, that they are a prime example to consider in the danger that multiculturalism has brought to our nation.
That is why “racism” is really not the word to describe this reaction to Islam. Muslims like to use the race card in the West to promote their agenda – Islam. And we in the West are foolish enough to buy into it. We can’t and won’t understand that religion to some people is far more important then the almighty $$$$$, and living a life of prosperity – “eat, drink and be merry”. We are not use to seeing people who live by their religious convictions in the West. The Muslim is not going to change to accommodate the Western society’s cultural norm – which is by the way debauchery! By immigration, by maintaining their religious convictions and ideology, our culture will eventually be taken over and replaced, just by the aspect of the birth rate of most Muslims, which is a form of soft jihad. It is populate, colonize, and never integrate! It works!
What are we to do? There is only one thing that can change a religious ideology that is opposed to a Christian culture, and that is the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Appeasement will never work. Compromise will lead to certain doom. One’s religious ideology will carry the day. It always has, and always will! May the good Lord have mercy on us in this dark day! Rom 1:16 -17, ” For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith”.
Tom thanks for the propaganda links you posted to back your hyperbole that Muslims are over taking the world, but I have yet to see any statistics to back up this myth you (and many others) believe about Muslim immigration and birth rates.
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As I said before; why not search out good information and base your opinions on truth, instead of repeating the ill informed or fear propaganda of others.
For example you seemed to be enchanted by the opinions of right wing commentators like Mark Seyne who gathers his information from the London Times owned by Fox News mogul Rupert Murdoch (undisputed king of the right wing mass media propaganda).
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I urge you to get information from other sources and then make up your own mind.
Here is an article by Martin Walker, he holds a variety of positions including being a senior scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C., a senior fellow of the World Policy Institute at the New School for Social Research in New York, and a contributing editor of the Los Angeles Times’s Opinion section and of Europe magazine. Walker also is a regular commentator on CNN, Inside Washington, and NPR.
http://www.wilsonquarterly.com/article.cfm?aid=1408
“….according to United Nations projections” – ha, ha, ha! Bob you have to do better than that! There is an old Biblical saying found in the Holy Scriptures that comes to mind – Joh 1:46 “And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see”. I say to you Bob – “Can there any good thing come out of the United Nations?” Sorry, I won’t “come and see”! I will stay un-informed, if you don’t mind.
Craig Carter-Edwards, that is one of the most intuitive understandings of Cornwall I’ve read. Your sentient observations are of great clarity. Why aren’t you my MP yet? Yeah, we need you.
Sorry admin but you would have to produce evidence that the video I provided a link to does in fact provide evidence of an inherent superiority of one race over another or as you put it racism. Besides
All the video states that the Muslim people in time will out number the other races. What think is important is if we as a non Muslim people do not get back into the bedroom Canadians, Americans as we know it to be shall be non existent.
It will be a form of extinction which we will permit out of our own compassion for other people. Or it is like the British tried to do to the Scotts, bred out of existence.
Smee I don’t think there’s much you could teach me about….”messaging” I could be wrong, but thanks for exactly positioning where the video takes us as you just outlined.
Preacher Tom, as someone who appreciates scripture, here are two quick quotes for you:
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34)
“Verily, those who believe and those who are Jews and Christians, and Sabians, whoever believes in Allaah and the Last Day and do righteous good deeds shall have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” [al-Baqarah 2:62]
If I take the one quote from Matthew, top, and I look at the history of Western colonization and the spread of Christianity, it would be very easy for me to level the same blanket accusations about Christianity that you are currently directing towards Islam. If I take the one quote from the Koran, I could make generalized statements about Islam as being the only Abrahamic religion that says, “Jews and Christians, we all believe in the same God, and so we’re all going to the same place.” Neither would be accurate; generalizations as broad as that are completely meaningless.
You have a tendency to make sweeping statements about “immigrants” and “Muslims;” the reality is a bit more complex. Islam, like Christianity, is not a wholly united religion. Within the umbrella of Islam are various sects and points of view. Iranians are rightly proud of their Persian heritage, which is significant to their national identity. They don’t get along so well with all their Islamic nation neighbours. Across the Muslim world, there are differences in sect, in resource access, in politics. There certainly is no Muslim “hive-mind” leading the charge in a conspiracy to take over the West. The fact that Western society colonized and forced its opinions on others could certainly lead to a collective consciousness of guilt, and a fear of payback.
You can’t talk about “what’s happening in Europe” without providing any context. That can include religion, certainly, but must also include geography, history, politics, economics, and the prevalent social views – racism has always been present in Europe, and right now, intolerance is on the rise and leading to unnecessary conflicts. European countries are affluent, especially in relation to their neighbours; North Africa immediately to the South, the Middle East a short trek away across the Bosphorus. If I live in Morocco and want to seek out better opportunities for my family, it’s far easier to get to Spain or Italy than it is to, say, Japan. Plus, due to Western commercialism, I have a better feeling of what to find when I get there. If it happened that North Africa was primarily Shinto, then I’m sure there would be a backlash against a Shinto invasion, although that would neglect to consider the long history between North Africa and Europe that goes back millennia. There doesn’t seem to be concern coming out of South America about a global Muslim threat against Christianity; that’s worth considering.
If we, as a society, paint any group – religious, ethnic, whatever – with one brush and say “we don’t like you because of x,” we can expect the same response we would give should the positions be reversed. And that gets us nowhere. The reality is, every single person who comes to Canada is just that – an individual, with all the hopes and dreams of any individual. They can have differing religious views and are welcome to practice them; they can have different political views, and be free to voice them.
That is the beauty of Canadian multiculturalism; everyone is not only allowed, but encouraged to be true to themselves and their beliefs. They are allowed to pursue the same opportunities as any other Canadian; have a job, raise a family, help shape our ever-evolving country through participation in the political system. You don’t have to agree with everything your neighbor says, you don’t have to believe in every institution we possess (Tom talks about the Crown, but he could easily talk about public healthcare, funding for Catholic schools, or support for organizations like CDISA). What is the responsibility of every Canadian is to respect the right of others to different opinions, and respect for our democratic process.
If you feel, as Preacher Tom does, that the norms of our society equate to debauchery, you are free to express your views and advocate for government to address it. You can fume about the current Prime Minister or current Premier all you want if they don’t listen, and register your voice on Election Day. The price you pay for these rights is the knowledge that not everyone’s going to agree with you, and you’re not going to get your way all the time.
Tom is right to suggest that nowhere else in the world is there a system quite like ours. In fact, there are a lot of folk out there who want to see our system fail. Canadians have chosen the difficult, frustrating path of compromise; everyone makes concessions, but as a result, everyone has the same opportunities. It’s not a perfect system, but I would argue that it’s the best system of the world. If we can make it work here; if we can put aside blood-feuds, if we can accept differences, embrace commonalities, and find ways to build on our strengths rather than dwell on our weaknesses, then it can work anywhere.
Craig Carter-Edwards: “Canadians have chosen the difficult, frustrating path of compromise; everyone makes concessions, but as a result, everyone has the same opportunities” – why must we sacrifice our Christian heritage for the gain of others, and the ultimate demise of our culture? In choosing the “path of compromise” is that just saying that we have no back bones – that we are nothing but peace loving spineless jellyfish? So noble a cause, you see, to be so tolerate. All the world looks upon us as a leader in peace. There is a big difference between being a peacemaker and peace keeper (Matt.5:9). Canada has failed in both!
And by the way – Jews, Muslims, and Christians do not worship the same God! Jews, and Muslims deny the deity of the Son of God, and they reject the full atonement accomplished by God’s authorized Saviour while on the cross. They reject His resurrection and salvation by faith through grace. One can not say they know God or even to be at peace with God and still reject such divine revealed truths. These are not just points of truth (dogma) that can be ignored or eliminated. You might embrace this pluralistic mindset, but God doesn’t. Not at all! Act 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved”.
Also one must make a distinction when it comes to labeling Christianity. Church history has been dominated by the Roman Catholic church. It is wrong to include all Christians into her fold. What the Roman Catholic church has done in the name of Christianity, she will personally answer for. For her judgment is coming, even as the book of Revelation declares – Rev. 17,18.
To justify Islam’s jihadist mindset, in the light of the atrocities of the Roman Catholic church in the name of Christianity is lame, at best. To blame the Western world for it’s use of colonialism in days past as a justifiable reason for Music victim mentality is doubly lame! It just comes to show that you neither understand Biblical Christianity, nor the mindset of Islam.
Tom said, “Also one must make a distinction when it comes to labeling Christianity. Church history has been dominated by the Roman Catholic church. It is wrong to include all Christians into her fold. What the Roman Catholic church has done in the name of Christianity, she will personally answer for. For her judgment is coming, even as the book of Revelation declares – Rev. 17,18.
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Tom you lump all Muslims together and make no such distinctions when it comes to Islam but you think we shouldn’t label all Christians as the same?
The 1.3 billion Muslims and their religion is just as diverse as Christianity.
Don’t you think that is just a little bit hypocritical? I do, and not very Christian.
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You laugh at UN stats yet you bow to the likes of false prophets like Mark Seyne??? Interesting, but like I said don’t take my word for it or the UNs, go and do some real research and crunch the numbers for yourself.
http://www.migrationinformation.org/datahub/comparative.cfm
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Christians Jews and Muslims all pray to the same God. Muslims and Jews are direct decedents of Abraham and pray to his God the one true God.
Jesus was a Jew and he and his followers (that means you) also pray to Abrahams God.
You can give God all the personalities you want he is still Abrahams God and the one that you all pray to.
It’s good that you folks keep the preacher busy stretching his brain and writing long-winded posts. The more time he spends doing this, the less time he spends accosting people on the streets.That is a good thing.
Bob – being the descendants of Abraham does not get you special favor with God. You must do the works of Abraham. And what are the works of Abrham? To believe and receive Messiah Jesus!
“They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word” (John 8:39-43). I will not set to prove this, that Abraham believed in the coming Messiah. The Apostle Paul does that in Romans 4. Read it for yourself. But I will say this –
It is not being a descendant of Abraham that saves, but faith in God’s chosen Messiah – the Lord Jesus Christ. Gal 3:6 – 8 “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed”.
Bob, explain to me the significance of these three verses:
#1 – Joh 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”.
#2 – 1Ti 2:5 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus”.
#3- Act 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved”
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And after you done that answer me this – How can a Jew and a Muslim say they worship God when they reject the the Lord Jesus Christ as Messiah? How can they say God receives them, hears their prayers, when they right out reject His Son as Lord! (Now don’t be tempted to reject the authority of God’s Written Word).
“Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent”(Joh 6:28 -29)
My last crack at this one.
Tom, you’re trying to have it both ways. If you believe your point of view is the right one, then you know Judgement Day is coming, and all those, like yourself, that have accepted and received Jesus will live happily ever after; the rest of us won’t. Whether the whole world converts to Islam, Scientology, or all turn atheist doesn’t matter; this world is transient – it’s the next one that matters.
If that’s what you believe, then devote yourself to that belief completely; you’ll sleep better not having to worry about what’s happening in our temporary, secular world. If, however, you aren’t so certain Armageddon is approaching, you can lower your blood pressure by finding constructive, not adverserial, ways to promote your thoughts on culture and society. You’ll find that if you’re willing to consider the idea that someone else might have a valid point, the favour will be returned.
I guess Craig, you would give the same advice to the Apostle Paul – right!
Don’t stop now Craig. Keep the preacher occupied, and a lot of people will be thankful.
I wouldn’t worry too much about going to hell for now, unless you’re buying the preacher’s line.
“will find potentially 35 fewer settlement agencies in Ontario”
“relatively new CIRC and other organizations”
Seems to me there is still an abundance of plural going on in the country to offer or provide support from many organizations. Perhaps this will help our fabric to be woven together better, and allow resources to pay the debt & deficit while helping ALL people in need.