Not that the Cons haven’t made more than a few strange jumps in recent weeks. Dumping the traditional television debates. Agreeing to keep Elizabeth May from alternative debate venues like the Munk School (the Harper government gave that group $9 million in federal funding; I’m sure there’s no connection). Proclaiming that we haven’t slipped into another recession — even though we have. Retaining sanctions against Iran, yet still hoping for some of the Ayatollah’s business. All gobsmacking stuff.
But comparing Stephen Harper to Jesus? Even John Lennon would have to admit that’s a little weird.
A lot of people wondered what Wai Young, the Conservative MP who gave us the apotheosis of Steve, was thinking when she spoke to parishioners at Harvest City Church two weeks ago.
Was the Lord speaking through the MP for Vancouver South, offering divine revelation? Was it a case of excited delirium? Perhaps it signalled the dawn of a new political class: Charismatic Conservatives. Or maybe Wai was just setting a new low for sucking up to the boss, hoping someday to get a chauffeur-driven car of her own.
Sorry, Wai — the case for Steve being Christ-like is not compelling. It’s like comparing Donald Trump to Mother Theresa, or John Baird to Gandhi.
For one thing, Steve was born in a hospital, not a manger. For another, I think you would agree that Jesus Saves, while Steve spends and spends and spends. Seven years to record a balanced budget of his own — and even then he only managed it through the tawdry tactic of robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Jesus could feed the multitudes with a few loaves and fishes. Steve needs the federal treasury and $8 billion of taxpayers’ money to buy a measly election.
Instead of turning water into wine, Steve pollutes it.
While Jesus got around in sandals and on the odd donkey (for special occasions like Palm Sunday), Steve’s transportation of choice is a bullet-proof SUV that looks like it belongs to Darth Vader.
Jesus had disciples who later went on to great things. Steve had accomplices who found their way to court with astonishing regularity. Instead of Mathew, Mark, Luke and John, Steve had Arthur, Peter, Bruce and Dean — confidantes and advisors who were persons of interest to the police. Some even made it to the handcuff-and-shackle set. No wonder Steve wants to build more prisons.
And then there are all the character differences between Jesus and Himself. Jesus believed in forgiving people and turning the other cheek. Steve believes in turning the other screw and being cheeky.
As for forgiveness, Steve believes that vengeance is his, no matter what the Lord sayeth. Just ask Helena Guergis, Mike Duffy or Tom Flanagan. Never mind the New Horizons probe and all those NASA snaps of that frozen meatball on the edge of our solar system; Flanagan was the first to orbit Pluto after raising the ire of Steve. Jesus forgives. Steve consigns trespassers to the outer darkness.
The story of the life of Jesus was told as the gospel truth. The story of Steve has been written with lies, half-lies, taxpayer-funded advertising and revisionist history, some of which was hidden away in those massive omnibus bills.
My favourite was when Steve brought a bill into force retroactive to before it was actually passed by Parliament. Why? To make illegal activity by the RCMP — shredding documents from the gun registry — legal after the fact. It wasn’t exactly parting the Red Sea, but it was pretty high on the brazen scale. Jesus would never even own a shredder.
Jesus believed in sharing. Steve believes in sharing too — but only with Conservative voters. By the numbers, his government directed 83 per cent of infrastructure funding to Conservative ridings. Jesus was a man of the people. Steve is a man of some of the people.
And then there’s the question of helping the needy. Jesus healed the sick, made the blind see and the lame walk. Steve cut $36 billion from Canada’s health care system, cut off health services to refugees, and never did come up with a new health accord.
Jesus kicked the money-changers out of the temple. Steve kicked suspected unbelievers out of a Conservative political meeting.
Jesus pointed out the hypocrisy of punishing miscreants because no one is without sin. Steve has made a career out of casting the first stone — and through constant practice his aim is improving. Stephane Dion, bulls-eye; Michael Ignatieff, bulls-eye; Justin Trudeau … lots of bull so far, but too early to add another notch to Steve’s six-gun. Steve’s guiding principle falls short of the Christian benchmark; he believes in doing unto others long before they can do unto him.
Jesus lived by the Ten Commandments. Steve lives by his own set of Ten Un-Commandments. We’ve already covered lying. What about murder — the biggest of the big ten thou-shalt-nots? Jesus was a peacenik. Steve is a warmonger. In fact, there is no power he likes to exercise more than rocket-launching, bomb-dropping and troop dispatching — Afghanistan, Libya and now Iraq. He likes it so much, in fact, that he doesn’t appear to mind that Canadian Forces risk training neo-Nazi militias in Ukraine.
Jesus would have applauded the nuclear deal with Iran, peace being vastly preferable to war. Steve dissed the deal. With our embassy in Tehran already closed, all he could do was announce that Canada would keep its sanctions in place against Iran. Once again, Canada stands outside the circle of great powers as they try to solve the world’s problems with words, not weapons.
Then there’s the vision thing. According to a sign that appeared at the Toronto March for Jobs, Justice and the Environment on July 5, the Lord’s original plan was “to hang out in the Garden with naked vegetarians.” When that didn’t work out, it turned into peace on earth and goodwill to all men and women.
Steve’s plan was to turn Canada into Alberta.
But not to worry, Ms. Young — even though Jesus would have been bummed out by Bill-C51, he will forgive you for the nonsense you spouted in his house.
Now Steve … that’s another matter.
Original Article
Source: ipolitics.ca/
Author: Michael Harris
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