Why do a majority of Canadians want abortion back in the criminal code?

Canadians, thanks to our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, have certain rights.  Almost all, however, are not absolute.

We have the right to assemble, provided it is peaceful.   We are protected from search and seizure, unless the grounds are deemed reasonable.  We have freedom of expression, but it is limited in that we can not exercise that right if it promotes hatred.

By and large, Canadians are okay with this.  Being a mature democracy most citizens recognize that very few things in this world are absolute, except for death and taxes.

Maclean's magazine's most recent issue has an article about Canada's most contentious absolute right, abortion.  It details a legal case about which I was not aware, Regina v. Ivana Levkovic. The case reportedly involved the discovery of the body of a newborn baby girl on an apartment balcony after the accused had vacated the building and was no longer residing there.

The legal fun centered around what to call the 'baby', for the simple reason that pathologists were unable to determine whether the 'baby' had been born alive or dead.  This is important because in Canada a 'baby' has no standing in law until it is fully emerged from its mother, and alive.  

Canada's Supreme Court reserved judgement on the case just two weeks prior to parliament voting on a motion to study at what point human life begins.  As pretty much everyone knows, that motion was defeated.

Anyone who is interested knows the history, Canada has been the only western democracy in the world without any restrictions on abortion for going on 25 years.  Abortion was removed from the Criminal Code when our Supreme court ruled in favour of Dr. Henry Morgentaller in the case of R. v. Morgentaller:

"The precise point in the development of the fetus at which the state's interest in its protection becomes 'compelling' I leave to the informed judgement of the legislature".  

That was written by Bertha Wilson, considered one of the most progressive and liberal of Supreme Court justices.  Justice Wilson left it to our elected officials to determine that point.  Canadians are still waiting.  

The Maclean's article cites an Ipsos Reid poll done just this past July that says 60% of respondents, and 62% of women, would support legal restrictions on abortion during the last trimester.  

That's a pretty significant majority of Canadians, a lot more than any of our governments ever get elected with.  And why do they support putting abortion back in the criminal code?

I think cases like R. v. Levkovic are the reason.  Or the story from 1996 about a pellet gun being fired into a womb in an effort to kill an unborn fetus/child/thing.  Thankfully cases like these are rare, but sadly they do happen.  Laws are made, not for the majority of law abiding citizens, but for an incredibly small percentage of the population who engage in activity the majority considers criminal.  

Most Canadians are reasonable, we recognize that individuals should have rights and freedoms, but we also recognize that these rights don't always have to be absolute.  Abortion is a taxpayer funded medical procedure after all, and as with all things paid for out of the public purse, Canadians are entitled to their opinions.

You can read the full article here:  THE RIGHT WORDS

Beyond The Power of Your Subconscious Mind - Book Review

Before undertaking to read and review C. James Jensen's book, 'Beyond The Power of Your Subconscious Mind', I had already read many books of a similar nature, titles like 'The Magic of Believing' and 'The Secret'.

I had already formed the opinion that people are very much like ice bergs, that what we perceive as our potential is but a fraction of the power that lies below the service.  In human beings that potential rests within the subconscious, and whether its used actively or passively, its power is immense.

We're all using it every day.  Sometimes we use it actively by imprinting a message of health, wealth, happiness and prosperity. More often though we use it negatively by letting ingrained and programmed feelings of doubt limit and keep us from achieving our true potential.

Mr. Jensen has updated a 50 year old book by Dr. Joseph Murphy: The Power of Your Subconscious Mind.  Obviously the world has changed a lot in the past half century, but the message of the original book and the updated version by Mr. Jensen represent what I consider to be universal truths.  This new book however brings new light on the subject and includes information that was not yet available to the original author.  

Fifty years ago we didn't yet have the ability to measure things like the frequency of human brain activity, now we do.  Not only that but we can measure and quantify at which times our brains are most receptive to receiving messages, messages that can overwrite all the negative programming that was ingrained in us at an early age.

- What's wrong with you?

- You never do anything right!

- All good things must come to an end.

Parents unknowingly are handicapping their children every time they repeat negative bromides like these.  We all know people who have achieved more than others despite a seeming inferiority.  I'm sure everyone knows of at least one person who has overcome obstacles to achieve success.  Obstacles can come in many forms, maybe a lack of education or the absence of financial resources.

Why do some people succeed despite lacking in areas such as finances and education, while others who have all the advantages still fail?  

I put it down to one thing, belief.  But for belief to truly work it has to have taken root and flourished, not just the conscious mind, but in the subconscious mind first and foremost.

C. James Jensen's book will help those dedicated to tapping the hidden power deep within themselves.  This is one of those books you will likely want to go back to time and again.  Old habits die hard, and old personalities die even harder.  By using and applying the teachings of 'Beyond the Power of Your Subconscious Mind' over and over again I truly believe that anyone can make a marked change in any and all aspects of their lives.  

Full disclosure as always, I received zero compensation for the writing of this review.

To order a copy of this book you can visit: Amazon.

November 11th - Did you remember

The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

Did you remember?

Did you take a minute or even just a moment to reflect on all the Canadians who have gone to war and didn't come home?

Did you think of the children who've waited for a mother or father, a brother or sister, to return home, who are still waiting?

Did you take time to reflect and possibly offer up a prayer or an affirmation that perhaps one day human kind will find ways other than armed conflict to resolve their most serious differences?

Remembrance day isn't a day to glorify war, its a day to reflect, to honour sacrifice, and to hope that someday all nations will join together and put an end to war.

I remember, I won't stop.  I will pray, and I won't stop.