Elizabeth May, leader of Canada's Green Party, clearly states her party's position in a December 22, 2006 response to Judy Rebick's open letter regarding May's convoluted statements regarding abortion.

"Is the Green Party strongly in favour of a woman's right to access a safe and legal abortion? Yes."

Because I have never given the Green Party any serious consideration, I always assumed they were the "tree hugging environmentalist PETA-type" activists. It is ironic how these types claim to "love the world" and "hate violence", unless it concerns a women's "right to choose". How can the Green Party support abortion, which is the ultimate act of violence against a human, and yet claim to be "conservationists and trusted guardians of Canada’s natural wealth" (taken from their own website)? The future wealth of our country lies with our next generation; if we continue to kill them off, where does that leave us?"

Am I personally strongly in favour of a woman's right to access a safe and legal abortion? Yes. (In fact, I am concerned that there is progress to be made to ensure access through enhancing availability of abortion providers. More work needs to be done to ensure access.) "

How does May intend on ensuring the availability of abortion providers? If she fully believes that the "interests of Canadian citizens must always take precedence", she should pay attention to the overwhelming majority that do not believe that abortion is a necessary medical procedure, especially if it means their tax dollars are paying for this "service". Does the Green Party intend to force medical students to provide abortion services? How does this comply with their respect of "diversity"? The Green Party also claims to be concerned that "Canada’s changing demographic reality will place greater burdens on our society". They should be aware, then, that Canada is currently in a negative population growth, and to overcome this , perhaps they should be looking at a system that rewards and encourages child-bearing to sustain our economy in the future. Building healthy communities and a healthy country means offering stronger support to the building blocks of society: healthy families."

As a practicing Christian, I hate being told I am not “pro-life” because I support a legal right to abortion. I favour access to safe and legal abortions as an aspect of my respect for life. As we know and your letter notes, otherwise, women will die. The status of a foetus before birth is debatable in terms of when the potential for life crystallizes as human life."

Ms. May claims the status of a fetus before birth is debatable. Science long ago established that life begins the moment an egg is fertilized by a sperm, that is at the moment of conception. There is no debate on this; it is proven scientific fact. Humans are "life with potential", not "potential for life"! And no, Ms. May, you cannot consider yourself "pro-life" if you support a legal right to abortion. Abortion is about taking a life; that's about as un "pro-life" as you can get!! You hate being told you're not "pro-life"? Maybe you should reconsider your thinking, then!

"If we could focus on what we want as a society, that might bring us closer together. We would want every pregnancy to be a wanted pregnancy and every child to be a wanted child."
I have never understood the "every child a wanted child" mantra of the planned parenthood ilk. Ask anyone who is looking to adopt a child (and can't afford a third-world county jaunt). The waiting lists to adopt children in North America are horrendous. People are going to Asia and the Ukraine because the waiting lists here are up to 7 years long! Why? Because women are being told that the baby they are carrying is a disposable commodity. We need to foster a healthy respect for life as a society, or our society will fall apart.

In their "respect for diversity", the Green Party claims to "defend the right of all persons, without discrimination, to an environment supportive of their dignity, bodily health, and spiritual well-being." Is the Green Party hypocritical in what they actually believe, or do they simply not know what they believe in? Either way, Elizabeth May has brought to light for many that this party cannot be taken seriously in their so called "respect of life".

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

I "borrowed" this from a fellow blogger on blogspot.com. It's a fun one, perfect for this time of year!! Lisa

A Little Christmas Cheer

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Egg nog, all the way!!
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Wrapped! Presents to others are always wrapped and under the tree (if I get them done before the 24th), and of course, Santa brings more for Christmas morning. Funny thing, though (as Stephanie pointed out last year), Santa used the same wrapping paper as we did for some of the gifts!!
3. Colored lights on tree or white? Tiny white lights; HUNDREDS of them!!
4. Do you hang mistletoe? I have yet to even see mistletoe anywhere...
5. When do you put your decorations up? Usually the first Sunday in Advent
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? sweet potatoe casserole with marshmallows, that I have only EVER had at the CPC banquet, and this year they didn't serve it!!! :~(
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: Opening stockings on Christmas morning!
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? what do you mean, truth....
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We open all the gifts that are under the tree Christmas eve, as My mom comes and celebrates with us. Gifts from Santa and family are opened Christmas day.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? Mostly white, red and silver, but with lots of beautiful decorations the kids have made over the years, and lots of special, keepsake ornaments.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? LOVE IT!
12. Can you ice skate? Yes, I love to skate. Okay. I used to love to skate.....I actually haven't been on skates for about 6 years!
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? My birthstone ring from Bill - one-of-a-kind with both of our birthstones in it.
14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Keeping Christ in Christmas!!15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Carrot pudding with butter sauce - I grew up having this as a kid at the grandparents', too bad I can't find the recipe!!! I haven't had it in years, but it is still my all time favorite! It was made in a coffee tin, with this really sicky-sweet sauce to pour over it, but, boy, was it ever tasty!
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Wigilia -traditional Polish Christmas eve. We have 12 meatless dishes - special foods.
17. What tops your tree? A really pretty angel.
18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving? Giving, but hey, who doesn't like to receive something, too??
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Mary's Boy Child, the Boney M version. Actually, most of the Boney M Christmas songs....and the Huron Carol.
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?? Not a big fan, unless they are used to stir hot chocolate...

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!!

For Life,

Lisa

“REJOICE!”
Well, we are almost at the third week of advent, all of us incredibly busy preparing for Christ's birthday.... I did another article for our church bulletin focussing on Advent and the tradition of the Advent wreath. Enjoy! ;~)

The name Advent comes from the Latin words, advenire (to come to) & adventus (an arrival), and refers to Christ's coming into this world. Advent is the time the Church invites us to prepare for the celebration of Christmas. We remember the anniversary of our Lord’s birth, and look to His Second Coming. We are called to prepare ourselves by prayer and works of penance, much like at Lent. If you have ever wondered how the Church determines when Advent begins, it is always the Sunday closest to 30th November, the feast of St Andrew. It is interesting to note that the first Sunday of Advent is also the first Sunday of the new Church liturgical year. I always think of the Advent song “People Look East” telling us to “make your house fair as you are able, trim the hearth and set the table”. This is not unlike what many of us do at the beginning of the calendar New Year in our resolutions to “clean up and make fair” a part of our physical lives.
Advent is a time of preparation and joyful expectation of the coming of the Lord. Many of us use an advent wreath to symbolize the advent (coming) of Light into the world. The Advent wreath, of German origin, is comprised of four candles, three candles purple, and one pink, arranged in a circle of evergreen boughs. Some wreaths have a fifth, white candle in the middle.
The gradual lighting of the four candles symbolize not only our expectation and hope in Our Savior's first coming into the world, but also in his Second Coming.
The purple candles reflect the contemplative nature of the season, and symbolize repentance. The pink candle is burned beginning with the third week of Advent to symbolize the "half-way" point in the dark time of waiting. The third Sunday of Advent is called "gaudete," Latin for "joy," which is the spiritual focus for this week of Advent. Interestingly, it also used to be known as “Refreshment Sunday”. When it was traditional to follow a disciplined fasting during Advent, Christians were allowed extra sustenance this day, often in the form of hot cross buns. (And you thought they were only for Easter!) The pink candle also stands as the sign that Light overcomes darkness. (When the first two candles are lit there are still two dark, it is half and half, but when the third is lit “Light” wins!)
There are many and varied traditions around the meaning of each particular candle. Historically, the candles have a twofold purpose: they represent the foundations of our walk as Christians, and each candle represents our ancestors in faith:
First candle: Faith - the Patriarchs
Second candle: Joy - the Prophets
Third candle: Love - John the Baptist
Fourth candle: Hope - the Virgin Mary Readings for the 3rd Sunday in Advent call us to rejoice and exult with all our hearts; God is our salvation. By counting the Sundays of Advent with lighted candles, we prepare for welcoming the One True Light. In the words of Isaiah the prophet: “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light”. Let the Advent wreath, with its’ pink candle of joy, remind us to be that joy and light to the world.