Thirty Pieces of Silver

[gmchale]

Mar 21, 2008

Giving that this is written on Good Friday it is appropriate for Christians to reflect upon what price will they pay for Truth and Freedom.

Throughout human history there have always been those who pay a price for Freedom while others are more than willing to receive payment to maintain the status quo. I was struck by a story in the Regional News last week titled, Council muzzled by 'blood money'. With this story being printed so close to Easter I couldn't help but draw some parallels to the Life of Jesus.

Jesus was betrayed by one of his own disciples in return for 30 pieces of Silver. Jesus was arrested, beaten, tried and sentenced to death even though he had committed no crime. At his trial before the Roman Governor, Jesus stated to Pilate, "I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

"What is Truth?" Pilate asked.

Of course the reply the world has always had about Truth is somehow Truth is not to be so Black and White or not so factual but open to interpretation. Throughout history Truth is a matter of perspective and not something that is absolute. Those who claim the Truth or those unwilling to bend to the current age are subject to open rebuke by those in positions of power.

It was not the average person who seized Jesus but the people in positions of power who arrested him.

The Great Injustices of society are not overcome merely by writing a few letters nor complaining at the local coffee shop. Women didn't get the Right to vote merely by asking for it nor by waiting for Justice to come to them. Blacks didn't gain Freedom throughout the British Empire by writing a few letters or hoping that one day Whites would see their plight.

No Jew would be alive today if men of Good Heart didn't rise up to defeat such a Great Evil.

Wherever there is Injustice there are people making a profit from it. There are those who are in positions of power who could, with a single command, bring an end to the Injustice but choose not to. There are those who know Right from Wrong but remain silent. There are those who would speak out but are paid off. Throughout history people who should act are merely paid off with 30 pieces of silver.

What is the price you will pay for Truth and Freedom or should I say how much will it cost to pay you off.

Haldimand Council had NEVER shown any true compassion for those suffering next to DCE. They play political lip service to the public while being paid off by the McGuinty Government. For Haldimand Council the 30 Pieces of Silver amounts to 8 Million Dollars.

That is the price that Mayor Trainer, Councilors Grice, Sloat, Bartlett, Dalimonte, Ricker and Boyko put on the suffering of Sam Gaultieri and many other residents of Caledonia. Haldimand Council was elected to serve the people not McGuinty. They were entrusted by the people to serve the public and not their own political careers.

Where has Mayor Trainer been since her re-election? She spoke out strongly in 2006 but has been almost completely silent since she was re-elected. Was she re-elected to be silent?... I think not.
Where is Councilor Grice who promised to be a voice for the people? He had a public meeting a full year ago and NOTHING since. Prior to Fantino's threatening email Councilor Grice was at almost every public event but… now he is rarely out to anything.

What about Boyko who sits on the Police Service Board? What steps has he taken to pressure the OPP to restore Law & Order? Nothing expresses the reality of Mr. Boyko's failures than the words of Lawyer John Findlay at a council meeting a few months ago when he stated to Mr. Boyko, "You could stay home and leave a potted plant in your chair for all the good you have done."

The Mayor and each Council member know what is Right and what is Wrong. They are well aware that the OPP have not only refused to enforce the law, refused to obey the courts but also actively suppressed the people of Caledonia.

Those in power must always choose between the People and their Power. They can choose between showing true Compassion for those in need or maintaining the status quo. They can decide whether they will speak out against the Injustice or whether 30 pieces of silver ($8 Million) will buy their silence.

What the Mayor and each Councilor hopes is that when they receive their 30 pieces of silver that they can then use it to buy your silence as well.

Will 30 pieces of silver get more residents in the North part of Caledonia to forget about those in the South? Will new lights in Dunnville cause more people to forget that families living on 6th line still live in fear? Will a few pieces of silver given out to certain businesses cause them to remain silent?

Throughout history, the majority are more than willing to profit from the suffering of others.

Now let's be clear, most businesses in Caledonia have suffered as well and therefore it is quite easy to understand how they could convince themselves that their share in the 30 pieces of silver is justified – as repayment for their suffering.

But remember why it is given… to ensure your silence.

In 2006 the OPP and Government repeatedly promised people that if they just sat back in silence and gave a few more weeks for negotiations then everything would be over. In 2007 the OPP worked as both the mouth piece and strong arm against anyone who spoke up and Commissioner Fantino himself actively spoke out against the Federal Government – something clearly McGuinty wanted done. Endless money was spent by Fantino for one overall reason… to intimidate and silence people.

2008 will be the year of the '30 pieces of silver'.

As the Government is faced with endless lawsuits and public pressure the only option left is simply to buy people's silence. A few pieces of silver here and some over there and maybe, just maybe, people will remain silent. There is always a price for Truth and Freedom and always a price many are willing to accept to remain silent.

Was the title Council muzzled by 'blood money' in the Regional News accurate?

The better question is, does someone have to die before the Mayor and Councilors finally start publicly supporting the people of Caledonia?

The answer to this question appears to be Yes… people have already almost died and the Mayor and Council are given 30 pieces of silver for their silence.

Throughout history, rarely do people in positions of power come to the aid of the average person.

[markalanwhittle]

As I recall that $8 million was for lost economic activities due to the ongoing controversy created by the fact that the Aboriginal population has decided to not spend their money at any businesses in Caledonia.

Tourism is in the tank for the same reason and the Dalton McGuinty governments response is to pay for more tourism ads to try and lure outsiders into downtown Caledonia where the businesses are suffering quite the losses without the economic benefit and spending power of the Aboriginals, about 30% of their gross sales.

And what's the point of speaking up when it consistenly falls on the deaf ears of the arrogant Dalton McGuinty Liberal government? At least John Tory has stated something that's doable instead of the endless acts of appeasement and "30 pieces of silver" he doles out to those that look the other way. On that we certainly agree Gary.