One Thing I Really Admire about American Politics

I read an article in the National Post today that  ripped on how Canadian politicians (liberals, specifically) will term any politics they disagree with as “American-style.”

It’s a cheap and inaccurate move to typify anything conservative as American. But for the sake of this article I will go with it and say that we could use some “American-style” politics here in Canada when it comes to the issue of abortion.

Question: if something is deeply controversial, divisive, and evokes passionate opinions on both sides of it, should it merit more public consideration, or less?

If something is deeply controversial, should it merit more public consideration, or less?

Because in Canada our politicians seem to love to take the latter. They are perfectly happy to have zero legislation on abortion, leaving it up to the mother to decide if she wants to exterminate her child up to the minute of birth.

Our politicians resist even examining our definition of a human being (a 400-year old definition) in light of modern science and all that we now know about human fetal development.

Science, people! 

Are the Canadian people really so allergic to difficult conversations? Do we really not want the abortion debate “reopened” (as though there were ever closure on abortion)? 

A friend and I were talking about the difference the other day. In the USA with their pillar rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, they recognize that liberty means the right to speak your mind freely. Contrarily, in Canada our pillar values of peace, order and good governance (whatever that means) leaves us trying to avoid controversy. It's like we prefer to keep our society like a dinner party that has no awkward conversations.

Which, frankly, is no recipe for making a country great.   

This is one area where I look across the southern border with admiration. They are not so gutless when it comes to talking about contentious issues like abortion.

For all of Donald Trump’s faults, he gutted funding for the export of abortion. He has stated that he is pro-life and has loudly supported the March for Life.

The #MarchForLife is so important. To all of you marching --- you have my full support!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 27, 2017

Can you even imagine a Canadian PM doing the same? Trudeau banned pro-life people from the Liberal Party!

VP Mike Pence became the first sitting Vice-President to speak at the March for Life. Amazing. Having emceed the March for Life in Canada I can say that there are some brave MPs and senators there but there is a notable lack of party leaders and inner-circle leadership. 

I understand that Canadians poll as being more pro-abortion than most countries, and for that I am ashamed.

Those numbers seem to fluctuate, though, and maybe with some strong, openly pro-life leaders in Canada would help.

If you are pro-life, put that at the top of your list of considerations when you vote. Be open about the fact you are pro-life.

And pray with me for the end to abortion in our country and in the world.

As a proud Canadian, I’d like to admire my own political leaders for their leadership in defence of the most vulnerable among us.

In the meantime I look south to the “American-style” pro-life discussion with envy.

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