The Beauty of Belief

Get Outlook for Android From: J Birch Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2020 1:03:19 AM To: justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca <justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca>; Chrystia.Freeland@parl.gc.ca <Chrystia.Freeland@parl.gc.ca>; dujarric@un.org <dujarric@un.org>; GlobalOttawa@globalnews.ca <GlobalOttawa@globalnews.ca>; news@skynews.com <news@skynews.com>; tips@GlobalTVBC.com <tips@GlobalTVBC.com>; contact.nbcnews@nbcuni.com <contact.nbcnews@nbcuni.com>; Oprah@oprah.com <Oprah@oprah.com>; Sky.Today <Sky.Today@sky.uk>; HaveYourSay <haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk>; jedmiston@nationalpost.com <jedmiston@nationalpost.com>; jason.kenney@parl.gc.ca <jason.kenney@parl.gc.ca>; cmcgarrigle@postmedia.com <cmcgarrigle@postmedia.com>; birch403@outlook.com <birch403@outlook.com>; mac@macnet.ca <mac@macnet.ca> Subject: The Beauty of Belief (Opinion)

Hey Everyone, I was reading a story about a possible hate crime to a mosque in Edmonton and how the person allegedly shouted obscenities during Ramadan. Ramadan to many is a time of reflection and service to one another and the community, it is a holiday of peace. This is why its so distressing to hear that someone would do this on their most holy holiday. It would be as sacrilegious as if someone interrupted midnight mass at Christmas or Passover celebrations. We are a nation of nations, each of our beautiful hearts adding to the collective expression of who we are as individuals, a society and as a people. Each of us deserves to practice our peaceful beliefs in peace without worry of hate or harm. Each holiday, each belief, is just as sacred and deserves the respect and recognition it is rightfully due. We must all stand for one another to preserve the fundamental freedom of the human condition, the right to believe. None have the right to take your beliefs from you and you have no right to take anyone else's belief from them. As long as they are not hurting themselves or others they deserve the same freedom of belief we all deserve. We as people, organizations and nations are better than hate or intolerance and we must rise above together and believe in one another. I believe in you. To the entire Muslim community I would like to wish you and your families a Happy Ramadan, I hope this year is filled with many blessings. “You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is like an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” ― Mahatma Gandhi Stay Safe, Stay Sanitized and Stay Supportive, John Ames Birch @johneames2