Immense bravery when compared to some politicians

By Letter to the Editor on May 23, 2018.

Re: “It’s hard to make any sense of some arguments,” May 19

I can’t discern if Mo Cranker’s comment is tongue-in-cheek or his heartfelt opinion. I appreciate that he asks sharp, pointed questions of the pro-life side of the debate, but I don’t believe the answers are as black and white as he suggests. Nor do I believe the pro-life position is altogether wrong. I think it is unfair to attempt to negate the pro-life perspective in this manner. There are loving, thoughtful, compassionate, heart-centered people on the pro-life side of this discussion.

What I would love to see and be part of is a discussion with people from all sides of this issue, in a spirit of “seeking to understand” each other and also being fully accepting of the knowledge that God is, to quote Papa from The Shack, “especially fond of each and every one of us.”

It is sad that women and girls who have had an abortion and those who work in this area of health care cannot safely be part of such a public discussion out of fear for their personal safety, being cruelly judged and ostracized, being deemed sinners, being treated like criminals and ending up as outcasts, unworthy of respect and love.

At a time when she is especially vulnerable, sad, grieving and terrified, someone who has undergone an abortion is forced to run the gauntlet of accessing a very public clinic, while being publicly condemned, vilified and threatened.

What extraordinary grace and courage each and every one of these glorious women and girls musters to walk this path, when in so many cases, she is utterly alone. #iknowhername

Contrast that with some of our elected representatives, those who are charged with governing, serving and protecting our citizens. People like my region’s MLA Drew Barnes, his leader Jason Kenney, and the rest of the UCP caucus, who don’t have the cajones to even have the conversation, let alone the courage to walk these women’s paths.

Colette Smithers

Medicine Hat

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