‘... and no religion, too’

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I watched protests over the weekend marking the first anniversary of the horrendous Hamas terrorist attack on Israeli settlements on October 7, 2023 that resulted in the ongoing war. On Saturday, streets in cities across the world were filled with multitudes waving Palestinian flags, pleading for an end to the year-long war; and on Sunday, other large groups waving Israeli flags were pleading for their hostages to be returned from Gaza.

This all came against a backdrop of bombs being dropped on Beirut in retaliation for Hezbollah firing rockets into Israel. The demolition of Gaza and its people continues every day, amid signs that the Middle East is on the edge of a wider and deeper war involving Iran. This current religious conflict in what is often called The Holy Land, pits followers of Islam against those who adhere to Judaism, whose cohorts in far-off America supply vast quantities of weaponry. The lamest of lame ducks in today’s Oval Office, and many other politicians who authorise huge shipments of lethal weaponry to Israel, profess to be devout Christians of various denominations. They are from both major political parties, and all refer to their religious icon as the Prince of Peace, believe it or not.

As I watch the craziness around the war-torn world, a song plays on a never-ending loop on the Wurlitzer jukebox inside my head; it was John Lennon’s 1971 classic, Imagine. The melody is very simple, as are the lyrics, which says in part : “Imagine there’s no heaven, it’s easy if you try. No hell below us, above us only sky. Imagine there’s no country, it isn’t hard to do; Nothing to kill or die for, and no religion, too.”

Then I remember that in January, Canada’s former Prime Minister (PM) Stephen Harper made a highly publicised trip to Israel, where he was heralded as that country’s best friend. His large entourage included about a dozen Canadian rabbis and one priest; the trip’s highlight was when the PM had a bird sanctuary named after him in Israel’s Hula Valley. You couldn’t make this stuff up, especially as he and his wife had turned the official mansion in Ottawa into a cattery since taking up residence. The couple supplied forever homes for forsaken furry felines, who are natural enemies of feathered creatures; so no bird sanctuary was possible around 24 Sussex Drive in Ottawa.

Then at an official reception in Tel Aviv, the PM performed his party trick. He was an adequate pianist who liked to sing Beatles songs, although his vocals were not always pleasant for those listening. He performed Hey Jude, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife appeared to be enthralled. Have often wondered if PM Harper would still be regarded as Israel’s best friend if the song of choice that evening were John Lennon’s altruistic anthem advocating agnosticism, sending the message: “...and no religion, too”.

BERNIE SMITH

Parksville, BC

Canada