6 ~ Wednesday, November 29 , 1989 - North Shore News INSIGHTS Golden chance to please both sides on abortion! THE MOST assinine piece of legislation since William the Conqueror ordered wives who nagged their husbands to be dunked in the village pond comes before Parliament this week. The Mulroney government’s abortion bill outrages both sides in the ongoing battle. For Pro Lifers it prescribes no protection for the fetus at any point between concep- tion and birth. For Pro Choicers it denies the woman's right to make her own decision about an abor- tion — she must still get a doctor's OK. The old law, struck down by the Supreme Court, protected doctors by making a committee responsi- ble, in theory, for approvals. Under this new bill every individu- al medic is on the hot seat. Ex- cessive OKs — citing ‘‘danger to physical or mental health’? — could bring Dr. Yes a jail term. Dr. Heary Morgentaler is no longer alone! Pro Life practitioners (who run no such risk, of course) are a mi- nority, but still fairly numerous. It follows that women stuck with one may opt to switch to a Pro Choice DR. HENRY Morgentaler 00 longer alone. doctor — which is precisely how the latter might become overloaded with approvals which could invite an eventual criminal rap. Whichever side you are on, two points about the abortion issue are clear. Firstly, that it’s UNSOLVABLE by legislation, because the possibil- ity of a compromise satisfying both factions is non-existent. Every recent poll shows the coun- try broadly split between Pro Life and Pro Choice, the latter with a small edge. So ANY law is doomed to invite defiance by one side or the other, thereby diminishing respect for all law. The Tory bill could almost be called a work of genius —~ calculated to invite de- fiance by BOTH sides. Secondly, the record since the former law was annulled in 1988 suggests that Pro Life’s ‘‘abortion on demand’’ warnings are largely groundless. A woman set on hav- ing one will have it whether legal or not — in the latter case even at the risk of injury or death. But meanwhile, doctors and nurses in the trenches of the abortion war are virtually unanimous that no woman ever HAPPILY undertakes the operation and that many suffer an aftermath of severe mental trauma. Abortion, to many, is morally wrong. But as a social problem it’s a good dea! more self-regulating than Pro Life zealots would have us think. Which, no doubt, is why 54 per cent of Canadians in a re- cent poll favored NO abortion law at all. Promised a free vote, numerous MPs of all parties are reported to agree. VANCOUVER county court decision suspen- ding the sentence of a 33-year-old man con- victed for a sex offence against a three-year-old girl on the grounds that the girl was ‘‘sexually ag- gressive’’ is morally barbaric. Crown is quite rightly appealing the decision. Left to stand as precedent, the decision heralds a dangerous erosion of the rights of children and victims of sexual! abuse. The man in question was babysitting the girl and, according to testimony noted, was tired and under the influence of alcohol at the time — an easy mark for any seduction-minded three-year-old. In communities throughout the province, including right here, social agencies struggle to salve the scarred psyches of child victims of sexual abuse. Nationally, one in four females will be sexually abused by age 18. The emotional healing work is a painful and lifelong process. It requires the unconditional support of an empathic and enlightened community at large. fudicial findings such as the one handed out last The message seems ta piven certain factors, i(s OK for men to abuse, and that kids should know better. The decision also negates the efforts of (hose who work to prevent sexual abuse and to mitigate the destruction wrought by such inci- week are regressive. dents. be that, Whether there are enough of them to kill the bill and free the government to concentrate on problems it has some faint hope of solving we won’t know for a while. But just this once it’s their golden chance to please — for a brief moment — both Pro Life AND Pro Choice! eee SHORT TAKES: New president of the West Van Unit, Canadian Cancer Society is Sean Srowne, supported by treasurer Ruth Hempsall, assistant treasurer Helen Ross and fund-raising chairman Jim McNaughton. Their Christmas wish list, incidentally, includes a much needed electric typewriter — if you can help, please contact the Unit at 925-1952 .. “*Preschool and daycare — is there enough for the 1990s?” is a question of lively interest to all working parents. Elen Woodsworth leads a public forum on the subject tomorrow, Thurs- day, Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m. in Seycove School, 1204 Caledonia, North Van ... North Shore Museum curator Terry Lewis is seeking a volunteer to help there from I to 4 p.m. each Wednesday —- call 987-5618 for further info ... They're after your blood in Cap Mall Friday, Dec. 1, at the 2-8 p.m. Red Cross bloed donor clinic — while you gift-shop, give the Christmas gift of life ... And hap- py 30th anniversary today, Nov. 29, to North Van’s William and Verna Smelovsky. eset WRIGHT OR WRONG: That gentlemen prefer blondes is arguable. That blondes prefer gentiemen is not. NEWS photo Mika Wokafield CHRISTMAS WISH lists of long ago!...North Shore Museum curator Terry Lewis with a 1920s monkey push toy — one of a fascinating collection of playthings from the past on display at the museum until January. | FRING MINGTCR aN | SUIRONEY AUROST O6TD SOVIET GCONOTIIC REFORMS it aero Goon. Publisher Peter Speck Display Advertising 980-0511 Managing Editor Barrett Fisner Ciassified Advertising 386 6228 ; Ale; Hewsraom 985-2131 Associate Editor Noel Wright Disinbunon 986-1337 Advertising Director Linda Stewarl Peeditrest! fe Subscriptions 986-1337 SUNDAY + WEURESDAY © HMItAY Fay 985-3227 Wednesday fuday a Press Lit and distributed unsob|ted matendat inctudiga “t wrath snuud Ge doCcompanieg Dy iy envelope haere : GEES YRNOW MGA. WISN HAS COME UP WITH THIS TERA IDEA... 1199 Lonsdale Avenue. North Vancouver, BC V7M 2Ha §9,170 (average. WednesJay Friday & Sunday) North Shore owrme-- MEMBER SR"s Entire contents 7989 North Shore Free Press Ltd. All tianis reserved.