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On Being a Citizen and a Believer in God

© Stefan Crisbasan

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which is part of the Canadian's most powerful law, the Constitution, states in its first lines: " Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God...." This recognition influences our morals and values.

In the New World of promises, what the western civilization had achieved for humanity comes to a question whether its final goal it is achievable. The emancipation of man on an individual basis does not leave too many places for the community life. Individual happiness as well as the community must be observed. If this balance it is not respected, many social contradictions arise. We strive to achieve happiness without realizing that it is "our" happiness, not "mine." The individual life has to be shared in the life of the community. This is fundamental for the society. My happiness is realizable as far as the happiness of my neighbor is also possible. If this is neglected, overall unhappiness will be established in the life of the person or/and of the community.

The modern society is oriented towards individual happiness. The race for happiness made us to forget about one another.

Let us look at other nations, which in spite of their material poverty are rich in culture; they know to live in happiness while being poor. Nowadays, the euphoria to acquire as much wealth as possible is not good. The promises that we get for a better world turn to be just for a few. Is not everybody worthy of being happy in this earthly life? Is this life here on earth such a punishment, that you cannot have what you need to survive? No, this is not what we have from this life. We can experience everything that is on this earth, with the condition that it does not become dominant in our life. Everything is for us, and we have the duty to preserve it as a gift from God: nature, society, peace, faith etc.

Let us look at the American way of life. In some respects I tend to accept that Americans are right, but I refrain from giving a final absolution. It is just an appearance. We hardly can perceive a better society, other than that which we have, letting someone else to decide for us what the day of tomorrow will bring. The American way of life it is not that much acceptable for the cultures that know through long experience that the society is not so easy made. Even Canada cannot go this way. Canada has a good sense of community. It knows the values that a healthy society should have. Democracy for Canada means return to the values of compassion and solidarity, within its identity.