Amongst the many differences between the United States and Canada one that I hold most dear is our unique separation of church and state coupled with our more secular society.
Our American cousins seem to be heading down a road forecast long ago - "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross."
We see this daily with news of America politicians such as Palin and Bachmann, Bush and Pat Robinson.
While it is true that Canada has had religious leaders turned politician (Tommy Douglas, E.C. Manning and others), only a few have attempted to add strident populism and xenophobia to the mix and those have disappeared.
In the United States a politician, it seems, must demonstrate his religious adherence; in Canada, even our present prime minister, Stephen Harper, shuns overt display of his "born again" convictions.
Biblical law, as desired by some fundamentalist Christians, is little different from Sharia law favoured by Muslim fanatics. Both are advocated by extremists; both are dismissive of the rights of others.
Churches in the United States have taken a more political role than in Canada. How they have determined that Jesus would declare war on Iraq, favour banks over consumers, and be against social security, universal medicare and welfare programs (and pro-guns) is well beyond me as is their violent anti-abortion fringe.
The Americans constantly brag of their freedoms. It seems to me that their political system is so distorted by religion that freedom is a word that does not apply. Americans claim freedom; Canadians have it.
Social norms have a way of migrating over our border with the USA. This is one import we most certainly do not want. When religion comes into politics, freedom loses.
Willow C. Arune
