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The Economist takes note of the world’s missing women in a manner not unlike my story called Canada’s Lost Daughters.

Must say I never expected this from the Economist. Neither would I expect their insertion of a poignant picture of little pink shoes.

Watching CBC. At 9 pm. Kids in the Hall. Just had a longish segment showing a man playing a woman having an abortion. But the baby lives, and the abortionist raises the baby.

Even if it wasn’t crass and vulgar on a topic near and dear to my heart, I would still say, this is one not funny show.

We really mean it.

Have a look at this – from a 1952 Planned Parenthood pamphlet:

My, how things change…

I should start this post by saying I’m not advocating for teen motherhood.

But I will say that this article about how timing in our culture for mothers is all wrong struck a chord with me. And I’ve recently been having lots of thoughts about how this extended childhood we sanction in our society is ridiculous. People turn 40 and still live as if they were 14, albeit playing video games in their own basement instead of their parents.

Teens can be very capable. We coddle them in our culture. They could be out and about contributing much earlier than we let them. Or than I did, to be very blunt, by pursuing many multiple very important degrees.

Now I can see how one would not win big on the lecture circuit with this point, highlighted by the Globe’s Leah Maclaren of all people, but based on the ideas of one Hilary Mantel who I know not. But not wanting to be outdone on the unpopularity file, I will say this. If teens are going to be moms and dads, they should get married first.

(This moment of political incorrectness was brought to you courtesy of the one who thinks Sarah Palin actually is an advocate for women. Know your source, they say, know your source.)

…I post this link about the Sarah Palin event in Calgary.

Tee hee.

_______________________

Brigitte does not wish to be outdone: So I’m posting this. Some days it’s good to be a girl.

What a horrible tragedy:

TORONTO — In one of two fatal GTA fires Sunday, a Toronto dad handed his baby son to a visiting neighbour — then gave his life in a desperate bid to find a second child in the family’s North York home.

Toronto firefighters waded through heavy black smoke and pulled the man and his 12-year-old daughter from the second floor of their 1 1/2-storey postwar Kemp Square house shortly after 3 p.m.

Neither had lifesigns, but Toronto Fire District Chief Stephan Powell said paramedics revived the girl.

This man was a hero. May he rest in peace.

Big rally against further liberalization of abortion in Spain over the weekend. The news article definitely pits mom against child in a battle of rights, which is a misperception we must struggle to correct.

But check the last line of the report, which is what caught my interest:

Currently, Spanish women can also end a pregnancy if their physical or psychological health is at risk. In practice, the last category has been used to justify the vast majority of abortions – of which there were 112,000 in 2007.

Spain apparently has a restrictive law, but 112,000 abortions annually nonetheless. Spain has a population of about 45 million. Canada has no law, a population of about 33 million, and about 110,000 abortions annually (we can’t know for sure since the stats are so poorly kept and many clinics don’t file.)

So legal changes may result in exactly the same position when it comes to lost lives…if unaccompanied by cultural heart change.