PUBLICATION:
National Post
DATE:
2004.05.13
EDITION:
National
SECTION:
Editorials
PAGE:
A23
BYLINE:
John-Henry Westen
SOURCE:
National Post
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Marching
for life in Ottawa
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Today's
annual National March For Life, organized by Campaign Life Coalition and
sponsored by many pro-life and pro-family organizations, will be attended by
thousands of Canadians from across the country, as it is every year. This year's
march takes place just prior to the expected federal election and affords the
opportunity to focus attention on one of the most important political issues of
our time.
The
pro-life movement is non-partisan, but sees the right to life as the most basic
of human rights, and thus only candidates who support the right to life are
worthy of support.
Most
pro-lifers are concerned about a whole host of human rights issues, such as
fighting poverty, abuse, racism and religious discrimination. However, support
for the right to life is seen as a requirement -- without the basic right to
life none of the other considerations come into play.
Both
Evangelical and Catholic leaders have spoken out clearly on the issue.
Focus
on the Family's Dr. James Dobson, likely the most popular Christian leader in
America, has asked: "Would you vote for a candidate who would support the
killing of five-year-old boys and girls whose parents no longer wanted them?
Would it matter whether or not you agreed with that politician on economic
matters or other issues? Would you get under a 'big tent' with a party that had
this one teeny weeny flaw which they might call 'pro-choice on child
eradication' within its platform? I pray not."
Pope
John Paul II has long insisted Catholics give first consideration when voting to
issues of life. And Canadian Catholic Bishop Fred Henry elucidated the Church's
position comparing the common political line, "I'm personally opposed to
abortion, but I cannot force my morality on others" to someone being
"personally opposed to child abuse" but unwilling to defend abused
kids.
The
tide is turning in the abortion battle. The younger generation is unwilling to
stomach unqualified support for abortion-on-demand for any reason and no reason
whatsoever at taxpayer expense. It is no surprise that the National March for
Life is populated mainly by young people.
The
youth of today have seen first-hand with new ultrasound technology that the
human child in the womb, is just that -- a child -- and the old lie about the
"blob of tissue" has fallen back on those who touted it as evidence of
a cover-up. The youth of today have had enough with politically motivated lies.
They know that their generation has been decimated by abortion with over 100,000
lives taken every year in Canada through the practice.
Canadian
youth have fought against discrimination, yet it is only discrimination based on
size, age and helplessness which allows abortion. The child in the womb, is yes
smaller, yes younger, and yes more helpless even than a two-year-old child, but
she is nonetheless a human child and thus owed human rights.
This
year's march will be unique. Women who have undergone abortions and suffered
from them will share their stories. Many of these women have joined a group
called Silent No More which is bucking the social pressure on women who have had
abortions to be silent about the suffering they have endured. Today, in Ottawa,
people will hear the truth about abortion and its consequences.
John-Henry
Westen, Ottawa.