How-To’s of Citizen Action
Canada
is seeing “revival” in the concern and actions
of ordinary Canadians.
Men, women, and young people across the nation
are beginning to realize the importance of participating
in the democratic process.
Politics
is how we relate to each other in our society.
It’s about leadership.
The policies and laws we have in our democracy
are decided by the people – unless the people
are not involved.
Then our laws and policies reflect the decisions
of a non-representative
cultural elite.
If we are not involved in choosing our leaders
and policies, we abdicate our influence to those who are.
What
should we as social conservatives and morally concerned
citizens do about the “state” of our state?
Some would say pray.
Some would say to avoid politics.
The apathetic don’t say anything.
But as citizens we have rights and responsibilities.
The right to be involved should be treasured; the
responsibility to be involved must be exercised.
“Only
a few years ago it might have seemed heretical to imagine
evangelicals mobilizing to influence politics and society,”
said Brian Stiller, former Executive Director of EFC.
But as we watch the disappearance of the moral
basis of our society, people of faith-based morality and
common sense principles are realizing that their influence
is necessary.
The
June, 1997 federal election saw an increase in the number
of professing Christians running for political office.
This should be an encouragement to us.
It is essential that people who hold moral beliefs
become actively involved in leadership and direction for
our society.
Politics,
because of the lack of moral and righteous influence,
is viewed with negative skepticism in the minds of many
people.
In a recent poll, only about 20% of Canadian said
they trust their political leaders.
Why?
We lack leaders whose character is based on integrity,
honesty, justice and love.
As
for politics, when it’s broken – fix it.
Involvement is the first tool to “fixing it”.
It has been said that “apathy is the glove
that empowers evil.”
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