By 1870, there were close to two million Germans living in Russia. For the most part they lived in self-governing colonies, exempt from taxation, military service and other obligations of Russian citizenship. They had their own German language schools, regulated their own affairs and kept apart from the Ukrainian and Russian people. Is it any … Continue reading How Mennonite became an ethnic label rather than a religious one – Part three
Canada
The solution for the Indian problem
I first wrote this article some years ago. Indian is no longer a politically correct term for Canada's indigenous population but due to the historical context I thought it best to leave it as I wrote it. Starting in 1701, the British government made treaties with the Indians living in Canada. They were open-ended arrangements, … Continue reading The solution for the Indian problem
Canada Day musings
When I was a boy there were hardly any indigenous people to be seen in most parts of Saskatchewan. We knew they were out there somewhere, safely confined to Indian Reservations. Times have changed, indigenous people are making a place for themselves in the economic, cultural and social life of our province. The current Lieutenant-Governor … Continue reading Canada Day musings
It’s two’sday!
Today's date, written as all Canadians used to write it (day-month-year), looks like this: 22-02-2022 But U.S. influence has crept in and prompts some of us to write it month-day-year: 02-22-2022 Having two styles of notation can be confusing, especially for days from 1-12. For instance, what day and month are meant by 09-02-2022? The … Continue reading It’s two’sday!
White winter morning
This morning our world looks somewhat like this. Oh well, at least the days are getting longer. Not so you'd notice it yet, though. Image by Pixaline from Pixabay It is -32° C outside, there is a fresh layer of pure white snow on the ground, 15cm of it. I have cleared the steps and walkways, plugged the … Continue reading White winter morning
My Reading List
Here, in no particular order, are the books which I am currently reading, books that I have begun and intend to finish. The North-West is our Mother. The story of Louis Riel's people, the Métis nation. copyright 2019 by Jean Teillet, published by Harper Collins. (This is Métis history written by a Métis.)Beyond Order. 12 … Continue reading My Reading List
Remedy for election fever
There is an election in Canada today; I will not vote. I am a citizen, I am qualified to vote, but I am also a citizen of the Kingdom of God and that citizenship is much more precious to me. There has been a lot of anger, a lot of divisive emotions stirred by this … Continue reading Remedy for election fever
My current reading list
Your Life is a Book - How to Craft & Publish Your Memoir, Brenda Peterson & Sarah Jane Freymann- Kobo e-bookEveryone has a story to tell. However, most of us are not naturally endowed with the ability to select the parts that may be most interesting to others and how to tell them without appearing … Continue reading My current reading list
Why reverends should refrain from making public policy pronouncements
Image by torstensimon from Pixabay The Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, in a recent speech to the British parliament, was highly critical of Canada for over-ordering Covid-19 vaccines. He said that we have five times what we need in the pipeline. The view from this end of the pipeline is quite different. The pipeline ran dry … Continue reading Why reverends should refrain from making public policy pronouncements
But they are different from us
When I was a boy I read historical novels by Canadian and English writers. The hero was always English, honest, brave, generous and kind. Other people were shifty-eyed, dishonest, traitorous scoundrels. As I was an English Canadian, I accepted this as self-evident truth. Later I learned to read French and found historical novels in that … Continue reading But they are different from us
Flatlander Faith 