Open debate in public space

Over the last few weeks there have been concerns raised over our right to advertise in the public square. The mission of Lethbridge Pro-Life is to proclaim the inherent value of human life from conception until natural death. Our advertising has always reflected that message in a loving and positive way. The Charter 2(b) right to freedom of expression guarantees the ability for every Canadian to share his or her message. This allows us to have a civil debate about many issues, abortion being one of them.

The author of a recent letter claims that because abortion is legal, there should be no more debate about the issue. If that truly were the case, all our country’s original laws should still be standing. Thankfully, this is not how a free society operates. Democratic governments allow open discussion on moral issues in the public square. Recent surveys indicate that the majority of Canadians oppose sex-selective abortions. Would it not make good sense to have a law that prevents people from terminating a pregnancy simply because they are not happy with the sex of their preborn child?

The writer also calls into question the accuracy of the ad, stating that the preborn may or may not feel pain. Opinions aside, these ads contain a shocking, but scientific truth: the preborn feel pain by the age of 20 weeks! Since abortion is legal in all nine months in Canada for any reason, abortions are currently performed on preborn children who feel pain, like the one pictured in the ad. Many countries limit the timeline on abortions so that they are never performed on preborn children who feel pain. Would this also not be a good law to enact in Canada as a step in recognizing the value of all human life?

The recent letter seems aimed at preventing pro-life citizens from participating in public debate, marginalizing them along with their values, their beliefs and their rights. We must not promote the mentality that people cannot listen to opposing viewpoints without being offended. Truth and the laws that are based on truth are more important than feelings. The scientific truth is that the preborn are humans who feel pain and need laws protecting them since they cannot defend themselves.

Duane Konynenbelt

On behalf of the board of Lethbridge and District Prolife