Pro-Compromise

It’s an ongoing debate, but both Pro-Life and Pro-Choice groups have ideas I agree with.

I believe that life is precious and we should do all we can to respect and preserve it.  I also believe that freedom of choice is not only a right but a great blessing.

I also believe both groups could work on improving a few things.

The Pro-Lifers could tone down their graphic ads and shock tactics and focus more on offering help and counseling to expectant mothers who may be considering terminating a pregnancy because they don’t see any other options.

The Pro-Choicers could encourage women to make smart choices – like choosing to not use substances that impair judgment, choosing to use adequate birth control, or choosing to reserve intimacy for loving and committed relationships where a baby would be a blessing, not a burden.

I am against abortion, except in the rare instances when a mother’s life or sanity is at risk and competent medical advice urges termination.  After serious contemplation, a woman has the right to choose to save her life.

Does that make me Pro-Life or Pro-Choice?  Or something else.  Pro-Compromise?

During this time of Remembrance, I hope we will acknowledge that terminating life can have long-lasting physical and emotional consequences.  If abortion is here to stay, we need better regulation and education, more positive alternatives, honesty and accountability, and increased counseling.

We live in a great country, so let’s find a great solution – even if that solution means compromise.

Celebration Times

We just finished two of my favourite holidays, Valentine’s Day and Family Day.  Two days to celebrate love and togetherness.  I can get on board with that.  I just wonder who decided to put them so close on the calendar.  Why not spread the love throughout the year?

I know some holidays are anniversaries of historic dates – like Canada Day and Remembrance Day – that shouldn’t be changed, but why do we have to stick to dates chosen centuries ago for strange reasons?

Like Halloween.  I’d rather not pretend that spirits have easier access to the mortal world on October 31^st and choose a bright, warm day for a dress-up party so we don’t need to fit costumes over snowsuits.

A few extra holidays would also be nice, like in January.  New Years hardly counts.  It’s more a day to recover from the night before and mourn the end of the holiday season.  We need a “We Made It Through January Day” at the end of the month.

It would make more sense and foster national unity if all the provinces celebrated holidays on the same day and everyone had the option of taking those days off work.

I’m glad we celebrate Thanksgiving at harvest time rather than as a kickoff to the Christmas season.  And even though Jesus wasn’t born on December 25^th, I think observing His birthday then is a nice way to end the year.

It sure is great to have so many things to celebrate!

Choose the Right

Remembrance Day approaches and once again we take time to show our appreciation for those who fought the evil regimes which threatened to destroy our freedom.  We won!  We’re free!  And we’re grateful.

At least we should be.  The freedom they purchased with their lives enables us to make choices.  Every day.  We’re free to vote, free to complain, free to go to school, free to choose our employment, free to attend church, free to write things that anger others.

As we’re reminded often, we all have the right to make our own choices.  But the bigger question is:  Are we making the right choices?  What are we doing with the freedom we’ve been given?

What constitutes a “right choice” will depend on the person making the choice and his or her circumstances, but we would do well to remember this time-honoured truth:  Every choice has a consequence.

Consequences can be good or bad, immediate or delayed, minor or catastrophic.  They can affect one person or millions.  They can be easily foreseen or a surprise.  But while we are free to make choices, we are not free to choose the consequences of those choices.  I can choose to stay up ‘til 1:00 a.m. reading, but I can’t escape the possible consequence of being tired the next morning.

Thus, instead of telling each other repeatedly that we have the “right to choose”, wouldn’t it be better to help each other “choose the right”?

How can we know what is a right choice?  We read.  We think.  We pray.  We discuss our options with those who care about us.  We make pros and cons lists.  We study history and the experiences of others.  Then we weigh the information carefully and follow our hearts and consciences.

And we remember that, like those who chose to fight for our freedom, the best choices aren’t always the easy ones.

Free To Choose Freedom

It’s getting colder but I don’t want to wear a hat; if I catch pneumonia I’ll just blame the government.  Or maybe I’ll call the town office and yell at someone.  I can do those things because I’m free.

Some would say that freedom is “doing whatever we want”.

Imagine if we had no traffic laws and everyone drove however they wanted.  Before long we would be confused, delayed, frustrated, or dead.  That doesn’t sound like freedom to me.

Some laws, regulations, guidelines, or commandments may initially appear to hamper our freedom but they actually safeguard our ability to make future choices.

This week we will remember those who defended the freedom we enjoy in this great land.  Those people fought on the ground, in the air, and on the seas.  Many died, and many returned home with memories they wished they could forget.  But they were successful in their quest; those who threatened our democracy were crushed and our freedom was preserved.

Why did they hunker in miserable foxholes, or shiver in frozen cockpits?  So I could watch horror movies, ogle pornography, drink myself into oblivion, or waste hours surfing the Net?

Yes.

But that’s probably not the best use of my freedom.  Neither is yelling at town workers or refusing to wear a hat.

Those we remember each November fought to keep us free.  How we use that freedom is now our responsibility.  Will we make choices that keep us – and those around us – as free, and safe, and happy as possible?

Observing a minute of silence this Friday will be easy.  Truly honouring our veterans and fallen heroes by making choices to better ourselves, uplift others, and strengthen our communities is the challenge.