Archives for December 2009

I love this: One lone American Senator (Democrat Ben Nelson of Nebraska) may, all by himself, jam Barack Obama’s gigantic health-care reform bill because, he says, “As it is, without modifications, the language concerning abortion is not sufficient”.
It doesn’t matter what you think of the health care bill, or what you think of abortion, or what you think of Nebraska. What matters is this: There are still politicians in this world who stand up for their principles, even against their own party. Sure, it’s annoying (hello, understatement) to those who want that bill passed, but that’s the way representative democracy works, and it beats all the alternatives we’ve ever tried.

[cross-posted to Breakout Network]

** I will add, for this site, that this example also gives something for Canadian pro-lifers to look up to. See, Sen. Nelson’s stand may not last. He may change his mind, or there may be some compromise he’ll find acceptable. I don’t know. But at least this episode shows that there are a few politicians there who are openly and stubbornly pro-life, and who never miss a chance to act on those beliefs. It’s a democracy so many times they lose. But sometimes they win, too. And regardless of the final scorecard, what matters is living according to your conscience. Got that, Canadian politicians? Now get to it.

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The cynical side of Andrea adds: He may be waiting to declare his position because he can be bought. That doesn’t void what you are saying Brigitte, in that he may prove to be the lone vote on which the whole thing falls. But it doesn’t necessarily mean he did so on principle. Could mean no one offered to scratch his back in just the right way.

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Brigitte is sorry to admit that Andrea wins to one: And it’s not because I don’t like it when Andrea wins, but I was hoping for something better. Well, pfft. He caved.

David Suzuki compared inaction on climate change to slavery. on the CBC, with Evan Solomon. Here’s the excerpt:

SOLOMON: You talk about 2006. But the CBC has obtained documents that raise questions about the government’s ability to even meet that 20 percent reduction from 2006 levels of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. Today the environment minister, Jim Prentice, he did stick by that goal. But there is word that they’re thinking about giving the oil sands perhaps a different break on that.

SUZUKI: Of course.

SOLOMON: And in fact, what’s your view on that?

SUZUKI: Of course. Well, you know…

SOLOMON: And by the way, they’re saying because it is, by the way, because the oil sands creates jobs, creates money that is transferred to other provinces, and that’s their notion of the balance.

SUZUKI: You know, that’s what they used to say in the southern states. We can’t give up slavery because it’ll destroy our economy and slavery gives us jobs and we have to have slave runners and all of that. Some things you do because they’re right. And you know, the problem is…

SOLOMON: But David, just for the record, and I know you’re passionate, but is comparing this to slavery, is that fair, to demonize the other side like that?

SUZUKI: We’re talking about the fate of all of humankind and the kind of future we’re going to leave for our children. Yes, I think this is criminal what’s going on now, to act as if the economy. Remember, the economy is a human- created construct. It’s not a law of nature. You know, some things like gravity and the speed of light, you can’t do anything about that. We can’t do anything about the fact that we’re animals, and if we don’t have clean air, clean water, clean soil, clean energy and biodiversity, we’re dead. So, surely to goodness that should come before anything else.

I am currently reading Somaly Mam’s The Road of Lost Innocence, her memoir as a sex slave in Cambodia in the late 20th century. I’m almost half-way through it, the poor girl is not 20 years old, and already she’s been raped more times than I’ve had frappucinos in my entire life. And savagely beaten. Repeatedly. And degraded. And killed inside. Because she was simply considered a piece of meat that could be bought and used at the discretion of others. This book makes me shake with fury at the injustice of it all – the fact that countless other girls, some as young as five years old, are RIGHT NOW being used as sexual slaves (sold as virgins then sown up then sold again as virgins then sown up again, etc). And David Suzuki would have us believe that not acting fast enough for his taste on climate change amounts to treating human beings the way Somaly Mam was treated?

Shame on him.

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Andrea adds: Suzuki has established in different forums that he is prepared to make outrageous statements that he hopes will remain unchallenged. I heard he walked out of a Toronto talk radio station once because he got offended. Apparently the host asked a critical question (how shocking). In short, I have come to see Suzuki as a kind of petulant mini-tyrant. Perhaps he and Diane Francis could room together or something.

A story about pro-life clubs on campuses being shut down or otherwise curtailed.

In May last year, the Canadian Federation of Students—representing 500,000 students from 80 campuses—passed a motion encouraging members (including the UVic society) to deny resources and club status to “anti-choice organizations” and promising financial support should that result in legal action. But conflict over whether student unions have the right to shut down anti-abortion clubs has long simmered on campuses across the country. The student association at Capilano University was ordered to grant status to a pro-life club after the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal found pro-life students had been victims of discrimination. Student unions at McGill, Guelph, Lakehead, York, Carleton and other universities have also attempted to shut clubs down. And in 2008, the University of Calgary charged student members of a pro-life club with trespassing after they refused to remove graphic images from campus.

If wearing a niqab does roughly nothing to stop men from sexually harassing women, what, pray tell, is the point of wearing one?

And no, I’m not talking about Diane Francis. It’s me I’m slightly concerned about. I’m on a jogging kick and so I head out to hit the trails daily now with my iPod. Very Nike commercial-esque if you ask me. As I go, I listen to music. And who can help but sing along to some of these hits. I’m the jogging, singing backup for Boney M. (Long time ago in Bethlehem…) Good times.

Then this morning I got into the office early and started the day by singing carols loudly over the phone to my nieces. I’m told that I got a standing ovation or the rough equivalent thereof from a baby who is not yet quite standing.

The thing is I am quite enthusiastic about some of this music. So an early question (not the first one, but an early one) when I Meet my Maker will be Why such enthusiasm, but very little talent?

Musings for the morning.

A call for men to be men.

I’m tempted to believe that this is an ad campaign cleverly directed towards women, who tend to buy pants for the men.  Please, someone prove me wrong.

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Andrea adds: Whether this is for men or women, it works both ways. I felt inspired reading it. And that is something I have never, ever said with regards to an ad before. Well done, Dockers!

ProWomanProLife is up for a “Pro-Life Unity Award” over at the Pro-Life Blog Awards. Please vote for us! And while you’re at it, you might consider casting a ballot for Big Blue Wave, nominated in the Best Pro-Life Apologetics category.