Disability Advocates and the Right to Life

by Elizabeth Tanguay

I have been an avid follower of LifeSiteNews for quite some time now, and there is always something interesting going on with regards to the pro-life position.

Take Baby Isaiah from Edmonton, for example:

Young Canadian Parents Fighting Hospital to Save Their Baby’s Life

If you don’t want to read the article (which is quite good, by the way), I’ll sum up the case for you. When Isaiah was born, he suffered severe oxygen deprivation to his brain due to his umbilical cord wrapping around his neck. The doctors predicted he would never gain consciousness, and if he did, that he would be severely disabled for the rest of his life. However, he defied the doctors’ predictions: he has opened his eyes, arched his back, moved his feet and arms, and is improving. Now the parents are in a fight for this small child’s life because the doctors want to take him off the ventilator that is keeping him alive. And they refuse to carry out routine blood tests and procedures to find out exactly what is wrong with Isaiah. The parents don’t even have access to their baby’s medical record.

The worst part of all this: it has happened before in Canada.

Baby Isaiah’s Case Part of a National Trend Say Advocates for the Disabled

Thankfully, the parents appealed to the judge, who granted Isaiah 3 weeks for a medical assessment by experts to determine whether or not the doctors’ decision is justified.

Baby Isaiah Granted Another Three Weeks for Medical Assessment

And the nice thing with LifeSiteNews is that they even provide contact information to key people to be able to advocate for this baby, which I strongly encourage you to do. He shouldn’t be denied life because of his probable “disability”, especially since his parents clearly want to do everything medically possible so they can keep their child.

Don’t say that too loud.

by Rebecca Richmond

In class this morning I was chatting with the guy who sits next to me about school and mentioned the fact that I was heavily involved with a club on campus. When asked what club, I replied, “Ottawa Students for Life. The pro-life club on campus.”

“Careful. Don’t say that too loud,” he warned with a smile.

Why? Because the class we were in was Feminist Theories, a third year Women’s Studies course I’m taking as an elective. I’ve spent a good portion of my year in classes related to gender issues and even when the class isn’t related, I tend to gear my essays towards life and women’s issues.

That conversation should not have taken place. It should be perfectly natural for me to broadcast my pro-life affiliations and beliefs and to not attract stares, angry glances, and cold or hostile words. But in any sort of course related to women’s issues, and in many other disciplines as well I’m sure, this isn’t the case.

Please believe me when I say that I don’t consider all women’s studies students to be intolerant or belligerent and there are, I’m sure, a few pro-lifers among them.

My point is that a pro-life position is generally considered antithetical to a pro-woman or feminist position. I, however, believe the opposite. I believe that being pro-life is to be pro-woman. I could articulate my viewpoint further, using plain speech or even feminist jargon but I’ll let you hear it from Andrea Mrozek, the founder of the popular blog prowomanprolife.org. (see the ad at the top of our blog).

I will say this, however. On January 28 1988, the Supreme Court of Canada strikes down Canada’s abortion law as unconstitutional, leaving in its wake a vacuum of law. Now women across Canada are taught to believe that this is a simple procedure that won’t hurt or have long term consequences. This vacuum of law has rendered women vulnerable to the pain, the physical consequences, and the emotional bereavement that abortion can carry with it. It has made discrimination against fetuses for any reason legal, including gender (sex-selective abortion) and developmental (abortion of developmentally challenged and handicapped individuals).

It’s time for society to speak up. Women deserve better.

Are you a Wilberforce?

by Amanda Hennessey

In 1759 the abolitionist William Wilberforce was born.  Wilberforce is an amazing example of someone who stood up for what he believed to be right even when all around him disagreed. Today we can remember him as a model of a man who battled for human rights. Just as abortion today, owning slaves was socially correct and a freedom of choice.

As a student at the University of Ottawa, I wish to take the example of William Wilberforce and apply it to my own battle against the human rights atrocities of today. I plan to do what I can to spread the truth even when eyes are closed to it. The killing of children has become such a “normal” topic and I fear many do not realize this debate is still alive. My hope is that by speaking up we may convince others of the mass murders going on daily, and let all people know that abortions are not accepted by everyone. I ask you, the reader: are you doing all that you can to be a warrior against abortion? Take courage from the story of William Wilberforce, and the idea that one courageous person, strong in his or her beliefs, can make a difference!

“Am I not a man and a brother?”
– William Wilberforce (1759 – 1833)

Surveys and Feedback

by Dante De Luca

My dear people,

Once upon a time, there was a call center. The people at the call center would phone people all over the country during their supper-times to request that they fill out surveys. I myself was once one of them, and one thing I learned is that most people absolutely hate and despise filling out surveys. However, I am a heartless promoter of survey-filling-out, and I am here today during your supper-time to try to convince you to fill out another survey.

You are probably saying to yourself right now, “I am a busy person. Busy people do not fill out surveys. Therefore, I am not going to fill out this survey, Q.E.D.” It is true, sometimes it does seem that one has no time for trivialities such as survey-filling-out. However, it is obvious that you have time for such things as reading blog posts like this one. Surely filling out the survey is a much better use of your time. It does not even take very long; it took me only about fifteen minutes at 45 wpm, including download and upload time.

Furthermore, it is not as though we were unwilling to bribe you to fill out the survey. Indeed, we are willing to give you a grand tour of Parliament courtesy of Mr Gilman, our resident Parliamentary tour guide and Vice-President. Further, we also have a Chapters gift card which we are willing to give to somebody who fills out the survey. The exact amount on the gift card has not been determined yet (evidently it is a surprise, but I guarantee it will be ≥ $5). As of now, your chance of winning is approximately 6.25%, which is quite good. However, we will not be able to accept entries for this draw after February 5, because we will be choosing a winner on that day, which event you may witness if you attend Andrea Mrozek’s lecture.

The rules for filling out the survey are simple. First, you use the link below to download the survey in .doc (Microsoft Word) format, or you can email me and ask for an alternative format if you prefer. Second, you open the file in your favourite text editor, and answer the questions. You may highlight, underline, or circle your chosen responses, or delete all the other choices, as you like. It really doesn’t matter, so long as we can understand it. You may even respond using haiku if that is your preferred method. When you are finished, save it in a commonly-used format (or keep the .doc format) and email it to ottawastudentsforlife@gmail.com. Lastly, wait and see if you have won a Chapters gift card.

Therefore, without further ado, I present to you:
THE SURVEY

Pro-Woman. Pro-Life.

“So, are you pro-life or pro-woman?”  These two positions are set up as alternatives.

But are they really opposed to each other?

Friday, February 5, 2010

7 p.m.

Lamoureux Hall, Room 122

Come hear Andrea Mrozek speak about the convergence of two world-views: feminism and the pro-life position.

Question period to follow speech.

Refreshments will be provided.

Watch the video for more info:

Biology for Life

by David Beking

As a new year begins, OSFL and others will continue to passionately give a voice to the unborn. But why? What is the justification for this passion and what keeps this group going? Personally, I have spent the past four years in a health sciences program at the University in which we have focused on the biology of fetal development and the fragility of those lives.

Let’s consider a few questions: How do we define at what stage life begins and whether this fetus is a living being or just a blob of tissue? Do we define a human life by our unique DNA different from every other person? How about when the heart starts beating or when the brain is developed and can sense pain?

From Day 1 the fetus begins cell division and has all the unique DNA that will define them as a unique human being. At 18-21 days (just 3 weeks in to the pregnancy) the heart starts beating and circulating blood throughout the body. At 18 days their brain also starts developing and at day 20 they already have a mid, fore and hindbrain. By 4-5 weeks neural receptors begin to develop which gives them the ability to not only feel pain but to also sense touch, heat, light and noise. All of these characteristics that define us as humans develop in the first 4 weeks, so how can a fetus not be considered human? How can they not be given the same rights to life as we enjoy?