WASHINGTON/OTTAWA — In this episode I connect with Grace Jin Drexel in Washington, as she pleads for the release of her father — and, almost in spite of herself, becomes a target of the same regime that imprisoned him.
"I ask her finally, what message does she think her father would share with Americans, Canadians, and listeners across the free world now, if he could reach them on this podcast?
Her answer is to think not only of him in a jail cell, but every person now living in China, restricted from speaking freely."
Freedom of speech is a right that everyone should hold in the highest regard and even here we are fighting for it daily against those that believe it should be censored but not in ways you think. Hate speech or whatever you want to call it is something that none of us want to hear but even silencing that would erode the speech we all agree with. You can do what you want with free speech but remember it’s not free unless speech from those we disagree with is allowed too.
Isn’t that the point, that many North Americans seem to discount it or ignoring altogether. Free speech, backed with facts not rhetoric, and without malice, just opinions based of knowledge, should not be suppressed. And subsequent consequences should not include “fear of living your life”.
Yes, there will be opposition. That is inevitable. We will never think completely alike…we are human beings…not robots…at least for now.
Grace reminds me again of the incredible courage and resilience of those who resist tyranny in the name of love.
Be loving. Prayer is real: Simply filling our minds with thoughts of love and hope, extending, those thoughts to theirs, I believe makes a difference for the giver and the receiver. It keeps us aware.
Be fierce. Hold our government leaders accountable for human rights above money-making--which could have made all the difference.
Looking at you Henry Kissinger, Pierre E. Trudeau and Junior Justin 'Potato', (with your 'basic admiration for the dictatorship in China,') Jean Chrétien, and the current PM Carney; George Bush, Sr. and Bill Clinton to name a few characters in the cast of thousands who chose to ignore suffering in order to make deals and build their 'Power Corporations'.
Grace is an eloquent guest who brought her father's story to life. The fact that Xi Jinping allows good people like him (and so many others) to suffer in prison is unacceptable. Western leaders should require their release as a prerequisite for any meeting.
The CCP has excuses for religious intolerance, but under the Ye-Xi clique it can be boiled down to the deployment of a capture strategy against businesses, educational institutions, media, diaspora groups, and relligion. Time for all of it to come to an end.
Free speech…..such as preaching … a religion…..any religion should be based on fact.
But… you will argue this pastor was using the Bible as FACT. Should we accept writings such as the gospels in the New Testaments,…. written . Verbatim…. by unknown sources hundreds of years after the alleged event….. as truth? I don’t think tape recorders were in existence 2000 years ago to “record” ….. word for word….. what Jesus or his disciples…..allegedly ….. “SAID”!
It appears to me Comrade Carney and his commie Liberals…… don’t give a crap about truth. When one is aware of the “fine print” in some of their recent terrifying Bills…… they will……. as what has taken place in the UK…stat throwing people in jail for publishing or preaching the truth.
So…… is Canada’s “dictatorship”…. any better than Conrad’e Carney’s Liberal rule?
Free the pastor,…. let him re unite with his family… but out of China that doesn’t accept “questionable” truths….. such as the Bible.
Free speech in Canada…. for sure. Hopefully when these Liberal commies go kicking horse balls down the road…. a new government will … hopefully ….JETTISON these bills/laws
Anyone with a heart can feel sorry for their father .. in prison,… in China!
Hell, his only “sin” is that of preaching the Christian doctrine.
However, ALL preachers/ teachers etc… of religions are the tools for brainwashing the masses
.China… as other countries are well well aware that fact and are a danger to government rule.
The portion of the Uyghurs in China that are “terrorists”….
are a good example of the danger of preaching… brainwashing the masses..
But… you will argue… that this pastor was preaching Christianity ….which is a message of “peace and goodwill”. To that I say…. sure as hell wasn’t that way at one time…… being the bloody Crucades.
"I ask her finally, what message does she think her father would share with Americans, Canadians, and listeners across the free world now, if he could reach them on this podcast?
Her answer is to think not only of him in a jail cell, but every person now living in China, restricted from speaking freely."
Freedom of speech is a right that everyone should hold in the highest regard and even here we are fighting for it daily against those that believe it should be censored but not in ways you think. Hate speech or whatever you want to call it is something that none of us want to hear but even silencing that would erode the speech we all agree with. You can do what you want with free speech but remember it’s not free unless speech from those we disagree with is allowed too.
Very poignant and topical article.
Freedom of speech is our first and last freedom. Without it, there are no others.
Yet Canadians appear willing to accept the myriad and relentless Bills aimed at eliminating this freedom.
Where is the real opposition? Where are the pitchforks and torches, literal or figurative?
Or is acceptance of these Bills merely the whimpering acceptance of the sheep to this death of a thousand cuts.
Isn’t that the point, that many North Americans seem to discount it or ignoring altogether. Free speech, backed with facts not rhetoric, and without malice, just opinions based of knowledge, should not be suppressed. And subsequent consequences should not include “fear of living your life”.
Yes, there will be opposition. That is inevitable. We will never think completely alike…we are human beings…not robots…at least for now.
Thank you, Sam, for this moving interview.
Grace reminds me again of the incredible courage and resilience of those who resist tyranny in the name of love.
Be loving. Prayer is real: Simply filling our minds with thoughts of love and hope, extending, those thoughts to theirs, I believe makes a difference for the giver and the receiver. It keeps us aware.
Be fierce. Hold our government leaders accountable for human rights above money-making--which could have made all the difference.
Looking at you Henry Kissinger, Pierre E. Trudeau and Junior Justin 'Potato', (with your 'basic admiration for the dictatorship in China,') Jean Chrétien, and the current PM Carney; George Bush, Sr. and Bill Clinton to name a few characters in the cast of thousands who chose to ignore suffering in order to make deals and build their 'Power Corporations'.
Grace is an eloquent guest who brought her father's story to life. The fact that Xi Jinping allows good people like him (and so many others) to suffer in prison is unacceptable. Western leaders should require their release as a prerequisite for any meeting.
The CCP has excuses for religious intolerance, but under the Ye-Xi clique it can be boiled down to the deployment of a capture strategy against businesses, educational institutions, media, diaspora groups, and relligion. Time for all of it to come to an end.
Christine….. right on. I agree with you totally.
Free speech…..such as preaching … a religion…..any religion should be based on fact.
But… you will argue this pastor was using the Bible as FACT. Should we accept writings such as the gospels in the New Testaments,…. written . Verbatim…. by unknown sources hundreds of years after the alleged event….. as truth? I don’t think tape recorders were in existence 2000 years ago to “record” ….. word for word….. what Jesus or his disciples…..allegedly ….. “SAID”!
It appears to me Comrade Carney and his commie Liberals…… don’t give a crap about truth. When one is aware of the “fine print” in some of their recent terrifying Bills…… they will……. as what has taken place in the UK…stat throwing people in jail for publishing or preaching the truth.
So…… is Canada’s “dictatorship”…. any better than Conrad’e Carney’s Liberal rule?
Free the pastor,…. let him re unite with his family… but out of China that doesn’t accept “questionable” truths….. such as the Bible.
Free speech in Canada…. for sure. Hopefully when these Liberal commies go kicking horse balls down the road…. a new government will … hopefully ….JETTISON these bills/laws
Anyone with a heart can feel sorry for their father .. in prison,… in China!
Hell, his only “sin” is that of preaching the Christian doctrine.
However, ALL preachers/ teachers etc… of religions are the tools for brainwashing the masses
.China… as other countries are well well aware that fact and are a danger to government rule.
The portion of the Uyghurs in China that are “terrorists”….
are a good example of the danger of preaching… brainwashing the masses..
But… you will argue… that this pastor was preaching Christianity ….which is a message of “peace and goodwill”. To that I say…. sure as hell wasn’t that way at one time…… being the bloody Crucades.