Di-lemm-a

Presented to me at two separate times from two of my siblings, are a humorous look at the dilemma that is to be a Mennonite. (which is what our parents were raised)

The first is:

The definition of dilemma? Give a Mennonite an expensive bottle of liquor.

The second:

Free beer.

Now well enough that I find it funny even if that's not really my point. The point here is the question of what is the more important ethic. Do you drink against your belief? (speaking from a traditional MB perspective, not that I support this position) Or do you waste what has value?

Making a complete jump in thinking we look at Paul Martin. (This is where my friend Gerry will beat up on me.) What an ethical dilemma it must be governing a country, and to have a requisite ethic presented to you by the governing body of your faith. This can be presented in many fashions such as, he has to allow for what the Canadian people want and therefore his faith has to take a back seat.

Now I am not one to suggest that legislation of faith, to our fellow countrymen is a good idea. If anything I directly feel that is it counter-productive. I therefore would not welcome Paul Martin imposing his (Christian) ideals on us through legislation. But again we are at his dilemma. How do you support abortion, and remain a devout Catholic? How could you possibly operate in a system where your constituents direct you in one way and your faith directs you in another.

If you are a Mennonite, you eventually dump the liquor down the sink. With the understood risk of offending the one who gave it to you. With the understood implication that it may cost you something more.

There should be no morals for sale here.

The likely scenario that the Mennonite does anything other, would denote that he is a hypocrite. He cannot give it away, he should not keep it, and really should not drink it.

What the actions of Prime Minister state, when He says that he is personally opposed and yet must take the stance of pro-choice, is that his morals are for sale. If he does not stand up for what the believes, he either does not believe it, or he is so spineless that he should not be in the position of power that he is.

To the offence of man rather than the offence of God. What should we do? The parallel of the Mennonite breaks down here, for there is stark difference between drink and abortion. I would never mean to indicate that the Mennonite here has a dilemma that is founded in scripture. For him it is a question of personal ethics. For the Prime Minister, it is something far beyond. It is a question of the world versus the church. In his case one that his church has not made ambiguous in the least. A stance that I support fully as I believe my church does also.

Interestingly the choice that Paul Martin made here should be just as much a warning to his supporters as his detractors. It states unequivocally that it does not matter what ethic, what moral, or what faith he has. It does not matter what the truth is or what the desire of the people really is.

His credibility is for sale.