While it is vital that we all pray and fast for a peaceful resolution to Russia’s illegal incursion into Ukraine, we must not take our eyes away from that other dictator waiting in the wings, watching to see what the free world will do while he eyes the sovereign nation of Taiwan.

I appreciate our governments taking a stand and imposing sanctions on Russia, but these sanctions will already have been calculated into Putin’s plan. As much as they give the impression that the West is doing something, they cannot achieve much because internal resistance in Russia is virtually non-existent due to oppression on one hand and the support Vladimir Putin enjoys from a significant portion of the population. Moreover, China, Putin’s ally and fellow dictatorship, can easily provide what our sanctions halt.

For the past two years, China has become even more of a surveillance state – thanks to help from companies like Google and Microsoft – and has intensified its oppression and persecution of people it deems unacceptable – Christians, Falun Gong practitioners, the Uyghur minorities, as well as the people of Tibet. 

In the formerly free city of Hong Kong, China has broken every promise it made in the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Citizens have been jailed without cause, including multimillionaire and prominent Catholic Jimmy Lai, newspapers are forced to close, and anyone who even dares to think differently or deviates from the line of the Chinese Communist Party is forced to leave their home, if they are able to leave.

While the world has been quick to condemn Putin and Russia, governments and media have been relatively silent to China’s abuse on human rights, freedom, and dignity of human persons.

When it comes to China, the world appears to be going on with a business-as-usual attitude. We continue to trade with them, educate their young people, and even give them the honour of hosting the Olympics. All while Chinese citizens are jailed, harvested for organ transplants – for commercial gain – or killed.

 Russia and China think according to the gospel of Lenin. They respect brute force and view sanctions and negotiations as a sign of weakness. The Russian incursion into Ukraine is a case in point and one that will have long-term consequences on the entire world. And in many ways, China is an even more significant threat to the world because of its greater economic clout. 

If we continue to think only of economics – Russia’s oil and gas, and the toaster ovens, cell phones, and computers we can get so cheaply from China – it may be too late when we finally wake up to China’s naked ambition.

Patrick May
Vancouver


For some people it’s a total surprise, while for other it’s not: a war has started. Europe is in shock and there is a chance of a world war.

Russia wants to show power and the U.S. has for decades relied on getting involved in wars to bolster its economy.

Since nobody offers any reasonable ideas what to do about this situation, only prayer will help us now.

Yes, individuals and families are praying for peace, but we need to do more.

Praying the Rosary daily, even twice daily, in churches and communities is something we can do.

We have been given assurance from above that prayer can help divert disasters.

May God protect us and our beautiful world.

Marianne Werner
Vancouver


It seems a desecration to even comment on suffering from the safety and comfort of a home thousands of miles away, but it may be worse to be silent.

 What Vladimir Putin is doing is truly monstrous. But it is a fallacy to believe that all others are on the side of the angels. Western nations have fertilized, seeded, and watered enmity with Russia. There were 16 NATO nations after the Soviet Union came apart. The U.S and allied states promised there would be no NATO expansion toward Russia. Today there are 30 member nations, several of them on Russia’s doorstep. Putin pulls the levers in this war which the West has played a leading role in creating.

Many feel that more weapons and bomber jets are part of the solution and that reinforcing Ukraine’s military power will be a good thing. There is a better way. It is not by increasing Ukraine’s weaponry. There was no shortage of weapons in the Second World War, and millions were killed.

Despite the enormous courage and sacrifice shown by President Zelenskyy and his citizens, it is impossible to attain peace, preserve life, and have Ukrainians remain in their homes by using or acquiring the same weapons possessed by Putin. Only nonviolence and noncooperation have the power to defeat warmongers without destroying ourselves and others.

It involves growing the march of unarmed citizens that we witnessed while Russian soldiers shot over their heads and backed away. It involves growing the evident humanity of some Russian troops. It requires the bravery of the man who jumped on the advancing Russian tank to wave his nation’s flag. And it involves the last full measure of sacrifice for some because there is no risk-free option in opposing evil.

We who watch from a safe (so far) distance must take action that requires of bravery on a lesser scale. Is it worth the lives of Ukrainians that Western nations abandon our self-righteousness especially in our political postures and negotiations? Is it worth their lives that we assume some humility and open a space for peace that recognizes wrongdoing on the part of the West? A space that allows for the Russian administration to avoid shouldering our culpability on top of its own?

To this end I will fast the first three days of April. What a powerful message it would send to Russia if leaders on this continent and in Europe were to publicly proclaim a fast in humility and acknowledgement of our own culpability. That would be as powerful as a fleet of F-35 jets but also be a force for healing and peace rather than for hate and destruction.

Do we have leaders with the courage and love required for that? Call for it and let us discover. Meanwhile there is endless work to be done in providing humanitarian assistance.

Dr. Brendan Martin
Langley


Re “Camino de Whistler,” Jan. 31:

Building a new church and pilgrim destination reflects hope and joy for the potential spiritual impact of Whistler’s stunning surroundings.

Congregational members served in the construction of the existing church. Our Lady of the Mountains is our church of nearly 30 years, our sacred space, intentionally designed to promote inclusivity and openness to the entire Whistler community and serving as a beacon of hope to all without distinction. The symbolism of “go upwards friend, go upwards” is symbolically significant, but to go outwards is more important, reminding us that community makes church, not the structure.

To suggest that our church is not proper, is not truly a sacred space, and should be replaced is to flatline its purpose and meaning for those who laboured to make that dream come true. Here we have celebrated Mass, encountered God, received the sacraments, baptized new family members, witnessed weddings, held funerals, mourned the loss of loved ones, gathered for potluck dinners, hosted bishops, and welcomed the world of visitors every weekend.

Our beautiful space, after 10 years of planning and fundraising, is the foundation of our parish community. Why do we need a new church? We are a divided community over that conclusion.

Jeanette Callahan and seven others
Whistler

  

I found Colleen Roy’s Feb. 14 article “How the hypnotists take over” offensive. She cites 200 years research in the field of “mass formation psychosis” and implies that 20 to 30 per cent of Canadians appear to be in mass psychosis because of repeated messaging regarding COVID over the past two years, that a further 40 to 60 per cent appear to be following them, and that the remainder have the voices needed to break through the propaganda “holding the other people imprisoned.”

I wonder if she counts herself among the latter while I, as a triple vaccinated and regulation compliant person, am one of the poor souls taken in by the so-called propaganda.

 Provincial public health doctors are leading the response to the pandemic. They are scientists and base their response on science. Doctors do their best with the information they have, which often changes. We rely on doctors’ expertise. I have had three operations with general anesthesia, and I put my life in the hands of the surgical teams. All kinds of things could have gone wrong, but I needed to rely on their expertise.

It is up to us to discern the truth and have faith that God leads all of us, and not a select group. Worse is holding ourselves up as those in the minority who know the truth and have to lead others out of delusion.  

The Bible teaches us to “Test everything; retain what is good.” As letter writer Bob Scott said in the same issue, he prays “you too will meet God halfway and get vaccinated.” 

I say amen to that. 

Margaretha Smits
Vancouver