Source: From an article in the Toronto Star by Susan Delacourt [http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/803859--aid-groups-advised-to-shut-the-f-up-on-abortion?bn=1]
In the war of words raging on the G8 abortion issue, a hefty bomb has just been dropped. The offending party, Senator Nancy Ruth, told international aid groups to “shut the f*** up” about the Harper Government including abortion in a proposed G8 women’s health initiative.
In Ruth’s defense, her fear is that, by speaking out, aid groups will see more of a backlash from the government then if they keep quiet. She stated that the issue is now a “political football” and that it isn’t about women’s health in Canada.
The question must be asked. Does this mean that women’s right and women’s issues only matter if it’s Canadian women involved? Shouldn’t we be working to promote the ideas of equality and reproductive freedom that Canadian women hold so fundamentally dear?
Who the remarks came from is another area of concern. Ruth’s website claims that she makes a stand for women and lists a number of women’s organizations she has either helped get started or served on the board of. Ruth seems awfully proud of her ‘accomplishments’.
Not only that, but Ruth claims to be an “activist”. On her website she has put, in italics, that “As an activist, I know that change comes from lots of ideas, lots of people, lots of work & lots of volunteer time. Being inside Parliament, I know that politicians need your ideas and involvement. It’s worth the time to email me.”
On another website, section15.ca (one Ruth states she helped to found), there is a quote attributed to the Senator. It states that “Establishment women just get mad. Activists change the laws.”
As a self-proclaimed activist, Ruth should understand that shutting the “f***” up does not get things done. Being an activist actually requires the exact opposite. If Ruth is so understanding of the need for politicians to hear from the people, why should she encourage their silence?
She may have just been looking to protect women’s groups from further backlash, as she claims. If this is the case, what does that say about our current government? Should a Canadian senator actually have to sit in fear of retaliatory measures? Not only that, but should organizations devoted to equality have to sit in that same fear?
Say what you want about abortion itself, but all signs point to a government incapable of dealing with debate or criticism of its actions. It speaks to a government not above using retributive measures to ensure it maintains control. In the long run, this could turn into a lot of (unfertilized) egg in the face for the Conservative government.
Additional Sources:
http://sen.parl.gc.ca/nruth/EN/Welcome.html
http://section15.ca/
Maybe it’s just time we move past the ideology that strangles the abortion debate from anything approaching reason, and realize in 2010 with a multitude of options to prevent pregnancy that abortion really isn’t as necessary as it once was, and that women’s rights should extend more to the right not to get pregnant in the first place and in the event they do that they get the full support to raise the child if they should so choose.
Also perhaps the government is recognizing the fact that the country is almost split on the debate, and that perhaps in a democratic system people have a right to choose government policy despite what the social elite and vocal interest groups have to say.
By: David on May 4, 2010
at 2:19 pm
Very impressed with this article, Josh. Really well written and thought-provoking. You teach me so much.
By: Emma on May 4, 2010
at 6:51 pm
Except the government isn’t recognizing anything. They are telling the “people” who are voicing their concerns to be quiet and stop raising a ruckus. If anything, that goes against the spirit of the democratic system.
The issue here isn’t really abortion; the issue is the quashing of any kind of dissenting view and a complete and utter disregard for the viewpoints of others.
Both sides are guilty of it, but when it’s your job to represent the “people”, you shouldn’t be telling *anyone* to shut up. It’s undignified, and as I stated, it shows the disdain this government really has for it’s citizens.
By: joshhorney on May 5, 2010
at 8:33 pm