No Longer: Stille in Lande
My – how things have changed. “Stille in Land” – that was a desired state for Mennonites for a very long time.
But, in the last 24 hours I’ve had the radio waking me, accompanying me on the short trip to/from work, and the TV’s been on in the background while I get to MHSA things in the evenings. There appear to be Mennos everywhere – in far disproportionate numbers. Somewhere between 1-3% of Canadians could be Mennonites.
NEWS
News Anchors in Calgary are Doug Dirks and Darrel Janz. Contributing to CFCN regularly now are Terry Vogt and Chris Epp . On the other hand, the early morning CBC Radio show (hosted by Newfoundlander Jim Brown) features Chuck Regehr regarding business news regularly.
Today, specifically, Scott Regehr (commentating for the World Cup) showed up on CBC in the morning, as did Ernie Regehr (Peace work in Ottawa for MCC).
ENTERTAINMENT
Susie Wall of Vancouver reports to E-Canada. Greg Neufeld has been among the finalists for Canadian Idol. Well, and it’s not current, but what are the odds of TWO Canadian Idolists coming from Mennonite roots; from Abbotsford even? See Shane Wiebe from 2004. And, tonight, Nickelback made it to e-News where a fourth runner up to the American Idol show is said to be “opening” for them in an upcoming concert. In this closeup of the band, their t-shirt commentary is particularly poignant: www.landmines.org/images/nickelback.jpg
MILITARY SERVICE
Then, of course, the disturbing news that another six Canadian soldiers had been killed in Afghanistan. If I’m correct, it follows the three that just died last month. Of those nine, two had Mennonite names: Joel Wiebe (G# 677928) and now Cole Bartsch (G# 122485). Apart from their deaths in a surprising military occupation, Joel and Cole have other things in common. Both have great great grandfathers with their same surnames who immigrated to Canada in July 1875 – just 2 days apart.
Cole, in fact, is also descended from Deputy Bartsch – so well known to those who peer into Mennonite history. See: Neff, Christian. (1953). "Bartsch, Johann (1757-1821)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 5 July 2007 <www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/b37556.html>.
LINKS
- Doug Dirks: (CBC Radio: http://www.cbc.ca/newsatsixcalgary/)
- Darrel Janz: (CFCN TV: http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/HTMLTemplate?brand=generic&tf=/CFCNPlus/generic/hubs/anchorPage.html&cf=/CFCNPlus/generic/hubs/frontpage.cfg&nav=anchor&subnav=DarrelJanz)
- Terry Vogt: (Lethbridge: www.flickr.com/photos/ross2010/17912138/)
- Chris Epp (Calgary: www.christianity.ca/entertainment/television/2004/10.000.html)
- Chuck Regehr (www.cbc.ca/biznet/)
- Scott Regehr (commentating for the World Cup: ww.cbc.ca/sports/worldcup2006/features/whatson.html)
- Ernie Regehr (Peace work in Ottawa: www.iansa.org/regions/namerica/ernie_regehr.htm).
- Susie Wall (www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20051103/bio_susie_wall_051103/20051103/)
- Greg Neufeld (www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20050616/idolbio_GregNeufeld/20060619?s_name=idol2006)
- Shane Wiebe (2004 Canadian Idol Finalist: www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/idol/CTVShows/20040714/CI2-Top10-profile-WiebeShane/20040714)
- Nickelback (featuring the Kroeger brothers: www.nickelback.com/)
In kinship,
Judii
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