Reflections on Easter Sunday 2025

 "Easter is the demonstration of God that life is essentially spiritual and timeless."

- Charles M. Crowe

From 1001 Ideas That Changed the Way We Think (2013)

"The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances."

- Robert Flatt

From What is God Waiting For?: Understanding Divine Delays in Your Life (2006)

Today is Easter Sunday.  It is also the last day of the Jewish Passover.  For Christians and Jews, it is a time to celebrate hope and freedom, no matter the dire circumstances in the world.  Allow me to be frank.  I am a baby boomer and I have never experienced such trying times before in my life.  I was born well after the darkest days of World War II, when France fell to the Nazis and London was bombed during the Blitz.  Now in the 21st century,, there seems to be a resurgence of fascism and the extreme right around the world.  How could so many have forgotten the evils of Hitler and Mussolini and Imperial Japan?

It is 2025 and the United States is smack in the middle of the fight against fascism and authoritarianism posed by Donald Trump and his supporters, many of whom claim to be Christians.  However, Trump's policies are the very antithesis of Christ's teachings.  His immigration and refugee policies are cruel and vindictive, not to mention his contempt for the rule of law, his misogyny, his racism and his spreading of hatred.  His policies flout Christian tenets as set out in parables such as The Good Samaritan.  They do not advocate for the poor and disadvantaged.  Trump's false god is money.  

Pope Francis has strongly condemned the Trump administration's mass deportations policies.  Vice President JD Vance, supports Trump's immigration policies, as does Mike Johnson, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.  Vance is a convert to Catholicism, and Johnson is an evangelical Christian and a Christian nationalist.  How can they square their support of Trump's policies with the teachings of Christ.  The so-called Christianity of the far right gives Christianity a bad name.  Christianity teaches social justice.  Trumpism is definitely not social justice.  Christ spread a gospel of love.  Donald Trump preaches hatred and discord.

Meanwhile, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has declared an Easter truce in the Ukraine.  Both sides have blamed the other for breaking the truce.  However, it should be pointed out that a truce would not have been needed in the first place if Putin, a war criminal, hadn't invaded Ukraine in February of 2022.

Love will triumph!

Happy Easter!

Now let the heavens be joyful,

Let the earth her song begin;

Let the round world keep triumph,

And all that is therein;

Invisible and visible,

Their notes let all things blend,

For Christ the Lord is risen

Our joy that hath no end

- Saint John of Damascenus

From The Congregational Hymn Book: Psalms and Hymns for Divine Worship (1881)

- Joanne

RFK Jr., Trump, measles and fluoride

Robert Francis Kennedy Jr. has sold his soul for a powerful position in the Trump administration.  Thanks to his allegiance with Trump, he is now the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services.  His father, who was a man of integrity, would be ashamed of his son's conduct.  RFK Jr., born January 17, 1954, was just 14 when his dad was slain in Los Angeles by an assassin's bullet.  The late Bobby Kennedy fought for civil rights and social justice.  Sadly, his namesake has made a Faustian deal with a wanna-be dictator.

RFK Jr. is a big proponent of eating healthy foods, as a health secretary should be.  He laments that Americans are too obese.  To his credit, he has been very vocal about that.  Not so long ago, Michelle Obama did the same thing.  When she was First Lady, she launched her "Let's Move" campaign, which tried to combat childhood obesity by promoting healthier eating and physical activity among kids.

The former First Lady's campaign had mixed results.  Combatting obesity is a daunting task, especially when both children and adults are glued to their computers and cell phones.  Furthermore, it is difficult for lower income families to afford healthy foods.  Fast foods are far less expensive.  Maybe if the Trump administration would stop making cuts to programs that help struggling families, low income earners would be able to afford healthier foods.

RFK Jr. deserves credit for promoting healthy diets, except that he has aligned himself with Donald Trump, a man who is not exactly known for eating healthy foods.  Trump has made no secret of the fact that his favourite foods are steak, meatloaf and burgers.  Although he avoids coffee, alcohol and the dough in a slice of pizza, he  enjoys consuming fast foods and sipping diet cola. It is not surprising that he is overweight and unfit.  I wonder why RFK Jr. doesn't tell his boss to pursue a more healthy diet and to exercise, although that wouldn't make any difference to Trump.  Trump would never give up fast food or exercise.  He won't even walk on the golf course.  He rides a golf cart all the time.  

How can RFK Jr. promote healthy eating when the president is setting such a poor example?  How can he tell people to avoid McDonald's when his boss delights in eating cheese burgers and sipping soft drinks?  It's a monumental task, like circling a square.

Trump feasting on McDonald's food.

RFK Jr. is an environmental lawyer.  Yet, he has supported a man who thinks climate change is hoax.  How can he reconcile his concern for the environment with Trumps promotion of fossil fuels such as coal, his "Drill baby drill!" slogan, his removal of environmental regulations, his statements that wind turbines, which he calls "windmills," cause cancer?  How can someone who truly cares about climate change work for a man who shows no concern for the environment?

Then there is RFK Jr.'s anti-vaxxer beliefs.  He is also a proponent of conspiracy theories.  This is a man who has talked about worms eating his brain.  This is a man who has spread false claims for years.  For example, he has promoted the theory that the preservative thimerosal, which has mostly been phased out of modern vaccine formulas, seems to be instrumental in a rise in autism cases..  In 2006, Kennedy wrote in Rolling Stone and Salon magazines that the government was aware, but "knowingly allowed the pharmaceutical industry to poison an entire generation of American children."  Certified health organizations, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and others, have debunked RFK's Jr.'s claim.  They were unable to find any credible link between vaccines and autism.

Is it any wonder that there has been a sudden outbreak of measles in the United States and Canada when it was once thought that the childhood disease was a thing of the past?  Some parents have been avoiding the vaccine for fear of their children becoming autistic. 

 On April 6, 2025,, RFK Jr. attended the funeral of the second child who died from the West Texas measles outbreak. The child was an unvaccinated 8-year-od girl.  Kennedy wrote on social media that he was in Texas to team up with the state's heath officials with the goal of preventing the spread of the highly contagious respiratory virus.  He noted that "the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine"  However, just a few hours later, Kennedy praised "extraordinary healers" Dr. Ben Edwards and Richard Bartlett, "who have treated and healed some 300 measles-stricken Mennonite children with aerosolized budesonide and clarithromycin."  

Edwards and Bartlett are controversial figures.  Both have reportedly promoted alternatives to vaccines to treat disease.  The truth is that if the Mennonite children had been vaccinated in the first place, they wouldn't have contracted measles, and they wouldn't have needed healing from the likes of Edwards and Bartlett.

Kennedy Jr. has also been taking aim at fluoride in public drinking water, much to the dismay of scientists and dental health organizations.  They have warned that such a move would be disastrous.  It would prove detrimental to public health.  

Kennedy disagrees with the opinion of experts.  He thinks he knows better.  He has supported claims that fluoride contributes to several physical and mental health issues, including ADHD, hypothyroidism and lowering of IQ.  Dentists and epidemiologists have argued that his claims are scientifically unproven.  They contend that removing fluoride from water systems could have an adverse affect on public health.  In fact, Brett Kessler, president of the American Dental Association described Kennedy's claims that fluoride is harmful and unwarranted as a "myth."  "When government officials, like Secretary Kennedy, stand behind the commentary of misinformation and distrust peer-reviewed research, it is injurious to public health," he said. 

During a recent visit to Salt Lake City, RFK Jr. declared that fluoride "should not be in our water."  He praised the state of Utah for passing a first-ever ban on fluoride in public water.  The ban takes effect next month.  "I'm very, very proud of this state for being the first state to ban it, and I hope many more will come," he stated.  

The health secretary didn't stop there.  After the news conference, he informed the Associated Press that he will tell the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to cease recommending that cities and states add fluoride to public water systems.  Fluoridation is not mandatory by law.  How many will have to suffer tooth decay and cavities due to the removal of fluoride before the madness of RFK Jr. ends?  How man children will die form measles?  

SOURCES: Independent, "RFK Jr. praises anti-vaxxer hours after attending funeral for 8-year-old who died from measles," by Julia Musto, April 7, 2025; USA Today, "RFK Jr. to go after fluoride in tap water as dentists warn of disastrous health impacts," by Cybele Mayes-Osterman, April 19, 2025; Wikipedia

- Joanne

Blue Jays finally sign Vladdy. Is it enough?

 
So, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. isn't going anywhere.  According to MLB insiders, the 26-year-old slugger and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a lucrative 14-year, $150 million US deal.  It's the largest contract in franchise history  According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the deal has no deferrals, a signing bonus and a no-trade clause, effectively making Guerrero a Blue Jay until the age of 40.

The Vladdy signing is good news for the team, but you'll have to excuse me if I don't rush to congratulate Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins for finally getting the deal done.  They don't deserve any medals for doing what they should  have done long ago.  Why wasn't Guerrero locked up sooner?

Better late than never, of course, but the deal should have been done a few years ago.  Instead, the Jays left Vladdy in limbo while they the chased the impossible dream.  They pursued Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto, even though those two were never going to come to Toronto.  The Jays should have concentrated on signing on Vladdy because he wanted to remain in the city.  Shapiro and Atkins are fortunate that they managed to come to terms with Vladdy at the 11th hour, but they would have been able to pay him less had they signed him earlier.

Perhaps the last minute deal was made out of desperation on the part of Blue Jay management.  The Vladdy signing saga was becoming a distraction.  There was going to be constant speculation about where Guerrero was headed in free agency.  The uncertainly was upsetting the fan base.  There was concern about the future of the team.  With Vladdy gone, fans feared that there be years of rebuilding. 

The signing of Vladdy does not solve all the Blue Jays' problems.  They still do not have enough power hitting.  Management has paid too much attention to defence and not enough to offence.  The Jays won't be able to really contend until they hit more home runs.  The long ball isn't everything, but it sure helps. 

Now that Vladdy has been signed, where does that leave Bo Bichette?  He seems likely to pursue free agency, but will the Vladdy agreement influence the shortstop to stay?  Even if Bo wants to remain in Toronto, the Jays may not be able to afford him after paying all that money to his teammate.  Bo's future is another question mark for a team that has too many question marks surrounding it.  However, at least the team has settled things with Vladdy.  That's a start.

- Joanne

Prime Ministers of Canada Quiz

 
On March 14th, 2025, Mark Carney was sworn in as Canada's 24th prime minister.  If you  think you know your Canadian history, why not take this quiz on Canada's prime ministers.  Good luck.

THE GREAT CANADIAN PRIME MINISTERS QUIZ

1.  To date, who was sworn in as Canada's youngest prime minister?

A.  Stephen Harper

B.  Joe Clark

C.  Kim Campbell

D.  Alexander Mackenzie

E.  Justin Trudeau

2.  Who was Canada's prime minister during the darkest years of the Great Depression - from 1930 to 1935?

A.  Louis St. Laurent

B.  Arthur Meighen

C   William Lyon Mackenzie King

D.   R.B. Bennett

E.  Sir Robert Borden

3.  Who was the only Canadian prime mister born in British Columbia?

A.  Kim Campbell

B.  John Turner

C.  Paul Martin

D.  John Diefenbaker

E,  Brian Mulroney

4.  Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister, was born in Glasgow, Scotland.  Did he speak with a Scottish accent?

A.  Yes, he spoke with a Scottish accent.

B.  No, his family moved to London, England when he was five years old, so he spoke with an English accent when he left England at the age of 19.

C.  His family immigrated to what is now Kingston, Ontario in 1820 when he was five years old.  So, he did not speak with a Scottish accent.

D.  His family moved to Wales when he was five years old, so he spoke with a Welsh accent when he left Wales at the age of 18.

E.  None of the above.

5.  Who was the only Canadian prime minister to win a Nobel Peace Prize?

A.  Pierre Trudeau

B.  William Lyon Mackenzie King

C.  Louis St. Laurent

D.  Sir Robert Borden

E.  Lester B. Pearson

6.  Louis St. Laurent was Prime Minister of Canada from 1948 until 1957.  What was St. Laurent's nickname?

A.  Lucky Louis

B.  Uncle Louis

C.  Liberal Louis

D.  St. Lawrence

E.  None of the above

7.  W.L. Mackenzie King's Liberals defeated R.B. Bennett's Conservatives in the 1935 election.  What was the slogan King used in that election campaign?

A.  King and Country

B.  Canada's King

C.  Conscription if necessary, but not necessarily conscription

D.  King or Chaos

E.   A better Canada

8.  R.B. Bennett was the 11th Canadian prime minister.  What do the initials R.B. in R.B. Bennett stand for?

A.  Richard Bedford

B.  Robert Bradshaw

C.  Randolph Byron

D.  Raymond Barkley

E.  Russell Blake

9.  Two Canadian prime ministers have died while in office.  Sir John A. Macdonald died of a stroke on June 6, 1891, while still in office.  Can you name the other Canadian PM who died while in office?

A.  Sir Charles Tupper

B.  Arthur Meighen

C.  Sir John Sparrow David Thompson

D.  Louis St. Laurent

E.  William Lyon Mackenzie King

10.  Which Canadian prime minister proclaimed that the 20th century would be Canada's century?

A.  Sir Robert Borden

B.  Sir Wilfrid Laurier

C.  Arthur Meighen

D.  William Lyon Mackenzie King

E.  Sir John A. Macdonald

11.  Which Canadian prime minister owned Irish Terriers?  He named his dogs "Pat."

A.  Pierre Trudeau

B.  John Diefenbaker

C.  Joe Clark

D.  Brian Mulroney

E.  W.L. Mackenzie King

ANSWERS

1,  B       

Joe Clark in 1979

Joe Clark was born High River, Alberta, on June 5, 1939.  He was sworn in as prime minister on June 4th, 1979 at the age of 39.

2.  D.

R.B. Bennett was prime minister during the most difficult years of the Great Depression - from 1930 to 1935.  Bennett was born in Hopewell Hill, New Brunswick.  He retired two years after his party was hit by a crushing defeat in the 1935 election.  He then moved to England where he served as a member of the British House of Lords as Viscount Bennett, from 1941 to 1947.  On June 27, 1947, R.B. Bennett died of a heart attack in Surrey, England.  He is the only Canadian PM not buried in Canada.  In 1935, during his time as Canada's prime minister, the Bank of Canada and the Canadian Wheat Board were created.

  

3.  A

Kim Campbell was the first female Prime minister of Canada and the first to be born in British Columbia.  She was born on March 10, 1947 in Port Alberni, B.C.

4.  C

Sir John A.'s family immigrated to what is now Kingston, Ontario in 1820 when he was five years old.  So, he did not speak with a Scottish accent.

5.  E

Lester Bowles "Mike"  Pearson won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for devising a peacekeeping formula that settled the Suez Crisis of 1956.  Pearson was a successful diplomat.  In 1945, As Canada's Ambassador to Washington, he played a significant role in establishing the United Nations.  In 1948, he became Canada's External Affairs Minister in the government of Louis St. Laurent.  Pearson became leader of the Liberal Party in 1958 and Prime Minister of Canada in 1963  He led the party through two minority Parliaments.  He resigned as party leader in December 1967 and Pierre Trudeau was chosen to succeed him as Liberal Leader   Although Pearson never led a majority government, it was during his time as PM that the Canada Pension Plan was introduced, the distinctive Canadian Maple Leaf flag officially replaced the red ensign (February 15, 1965) and the Canada-U.S. Automotive Agreement  (Auto Pact) was signed (January 1965).  Lester Pearson died in Ottawa in 1972 at the age of 65.

6.  B

Lous St, Laurent's nickname was Uncle Louis.  St. Laurent was instrumental in building the St. Lawrence Seaway in co-operation with the United States.

7.  D

In the 1935 election, W.L. Mackenzie King's Liberals used the slogan "King or Chaos."  The Liberals won a majority government, defeating R.B. Bennett's Conservatives.  The central issue was the economy , which was still in the depths of the Great Depression.  

8.  A

The initials R.B. stand for Richard Bedford.

9.  C

Sir John Sparrow David Thompson, Canada's fourth prime minister, died while in office, on December 12, 1894.  Thompson, a native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, suffered a heart attack at a luncheon at Windsor Castle in England.  He had just been sworn in as a member of the Imperial Privy Council by Queen Victoria.  As a measure of respect, the British government sent his body home to Halifax in a battleship.  He was 47 years old at the time of his passing.

10,  B

On October 14, 1904, Sir Wilfrid Laurier boldly predicted that the 20th century would be Canada's century.  In a speech at Toronto's Massy Hall, Laurier said the following: "Let me tell you, my fellow countrymen, that all the signs point this way, that the 20th century shall be the century of Canada and Canadian development . . .. For the next 100 years, Canada shall be the star towards which all men who love freedom and progress shall come."

11.  E

Mackenzie King and dog "Pat"

W.L Mackenzie King was Canada's tenth prime minister.  He served as PM for three terms - 1921-1926. 1926-1930 and 1935-1948, and he led Canada through World War II.  A lifelong bachelor, King was a solitary man, and quite eccentric.  After King's death, the public learned that he had visited mediums to try to communicate with Laurier, FDR, his diseased mother (Isabel Mackenzie), and others.

In 1924, a six-month old Irish Terrier was given to King as a gift.  The dog became his constant companion.  He named the dog "Pat," the same name that he would call the two other Irish Terriers that he owned following the original Pat's death.  King doted on "Pat" and according to accounts, he believed that the dog was inhabited by the spirit of his late mother.  The first "Pat" lived for 17 years and died in 1941  The second Pat was acquired in 1941, but only lived for six years.  The third "Pat" survived Mackenzie King's death in July of 1950.

- Joanne Madden