MLAs should keep religion out of politics

Mr. Curley, as one of your constituents here in Rankin, I am dismayed by the personal religious comments you made on Jan. 26, 2005 on a CBC North TV newscast.

As my elected representative (actually by acclamation) it was totally inappropriate of you to give your personal religious views speaking in the capacity of MLA for Rankin Inlet.

You represent all people in your riding. Not everyone shares your personal religious views. Religion and “state” must and should be kept separate in any government. Nunavut and Rankin Inlet are part of Canada and we Canadians pride ourselves on being a multicultural, tolerant society. This is why we have a Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Mr. Curley, again, Nunavut is part of Canada, no exceptions.

Last week saw the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz where one million Jewish men, women, and children, handicapped people, gypsies and, yes, homosexuals, were viewed as less than animals and were mass-murdered, tortured, experimented on, and worked to death by the Nazis during the second World War. This crime against humanity happened because the Nazis thought that they were a more superior people and race than the above-mentioned people.

It all started when one person started putting down another person who was different and thought themselves better than the other person in question. All the wars in the world are caused by the intolerance of people who do not share their race, culture, religion, and are envious of others’ resources. We are all human beings worthy of respect and tolerance. We are all beautiful in our own way. Have we not learned anything? Will we ever?

Johanne Coutu-Autut
Rankin Inlet