Letters
Show the Truth and the March for Life
Regarding the recent March for Life and the letter published in the June issue of The Interim I would like to offer another perspective. I have been actively involved in pro-life work for 16 years and have attended each of the "March for Life" events in Ottawa. It is a privilege to gather together with the MPs and many others and declare that all human life is valuable and worthy of protection. I was, however, very concerned and disturbed by the presence of the Show the Truth demonstration this year. Not everyone responds positively to graphic displays like this. During the many years that I have been a pro-life speaker I have found that most teachers, pastors and youth leaders are very reluctant to invite pro-life educational presentations into their schools and churches. The reasons are always the same: they are concerned that the information will not be presented graciously and most of all that the audience will be subjected to graphic and disturbing images. It takes years of liaison to earn their trust and only one negative experience to destroy that trust.
We are not islands in the pro-life movement. What one the does impacts all the others. I believe that unsolicited, graphic displays in the presence of young children is inappropriate and inconsiderate whether the images are truthful or not. Many participants were upset. When I addressed my concerns to the organizers of the event and to Show the Truth both responded that the display was not present by invitation and that they had in fact been asked not to participate in the March. It is important that we choose our opportunities respectfully and our approaches wisely.
Martha Jones
Orleans, Ont.
Adult not embryonic stem cells
For the non-elected staff at the Ottawa Research Institute to get grants of million of dollars, to do their own thing "in the still-controversial field of stem cell research" shows that the OHRI thinks that "might is right." Most taxpayers oppose experimenting on embryo stem cells because the scientific fact is that we are dealing with human life. Slow down OHRI and be aware of the fact that most taxpayers are in favour of research on adult stem cells but are totally opposed to research on adult stem cells. Are ya listening?
Rita Curley
Ottawa, Ont.
Hope is in our youth
Logic is something abortionists and their supporters necessarily fear and hate. Therefore, it was with joy that I noticed the relentless logic of the two Fr. Ted scholarship award-winning essayists, Sheena McMullin and Stephen Tardif (June Interim, p.10). It appears these two have futures not only as solid pro-life activists but also as writers - an excellent combination. Thank goodness they are on our side.
Lise Anglin
Toronto, Ont
Wasn't Canada a Christian nation?
I find it scandalous that 83 per cent of Canadians claim to be Christians and at least 51 per cent believe we should be governed by Christian principles yet only one per cent vote for Christian Heritage Party that espouses Bible principles and is 100 per cent pro-life. In this recent federal by-election where 3 CHP candidates ran, each one of them came dead last hovering around the one per cent mark, in their respective constituencies.
Even CHP leader Ron Gray could only garnish 320 voters in Calgary Southwest (known as part of Bible-belt), losing out to former United Church moderator (who publicly denied the Deity of Jesus Christ) Bill Phipps who represented the NDP.
I guess even Christians are more concerned about being politically correct than being biblically correct. Does anyone still believe that Canada is still a Christian nation? Does anyone still wonder why Canada is not experiencing a "God-sent revival"?
Harry De Boer
Wyoming, Ont.
Chretien's social peace
Jean Chretien seems to like a good fight and is now in the middle of one with Paul Martin. However, despite his aggressive nature and the fact that he is a self-described Catholic, he has called for social peace on the issue of abortion. Apparently it has been settled and those of us pro-lifers who keep raising the messy subject about 115, 000 abortions a year (2.5 million since 1969) are expected by him and others to shut up and stay out of politics. Big bad Jean doesn't seem to mind the blood of thousands of unborn babies flooding and staining the hospitals and so-called clinics of our nation just so long as we have "social peace." What brand of peace is this anyway?
Paul Vandervet
Brantford, Ont.
