Editors, the Gauntlet,
Re: "Our very own House of Lords" June 7, 2001
I want to help clear up some misunderstandings you have about the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The Charter says that "Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law." This is a historical truth. The fathers of confederation established Canada upon these principles. The purpose was to establish a higher supremacy than any individual human being, thus protecting us from the tyranny of any specific human philosophy. You may not personally appreciate these principles but they are the principles the country were founded upon and it is because of these principles that basic human rights and freedoms are upheld in this country. I would challenge you to find a country whose constitution is founded on atheistic principles that has a good human rights track record.
The implication in your article is that God refers only to Christian beliefs. The cartoon illustration of christ greatly contributes to this misunderstanding. Christians, Jews, and Muslims all believe in the God of the Old Testament. Muslims may use the Arabic word "Allah", Jews may use the Old Testament Hebrew word "YHWH" (pronounced Yahweh, or by some Jehovah) but the reference is to the same God. Thus your statement that "the Charter recognizes one religion and its doctrines as supreme to all the others" is obviously wrong. The vast majority of Canadians who practice a faith have no difficulty accepting this preamble to the Charter.
Finally, I am thankful for the principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law upon which the Charter of Rights and Freedoms was based. These principles allowed you to freely and without fear write the article you did, and they also allow me to respond.