The Morgenthaler Decision -- the Supreme Court judgment that decriminalized abortion in Canada -- is 20 years old this month.
On the eve of the anniversary, the indomitable Dr. Henry Morgenthaler talks to The National Review of Medicine:
Q - Canada's current government is, shall we say, ambivalent about abortion. Are you worried they might try to restrict access?
A - They're not ambivalent, they're hostile! Yeah, I was worried about the Conservatives coming to power, but although they are known to be hostile I don't think they will risk alienating 80% of Canadians who believe in freedom of choice.
Hard to believe that, less than a generation ago, women had absolutely no choice.
Which is why Chief Justice Dickson wrote:
Forcing a woman, by threat of criminal sanction to carry a foetus to term unless she meets certain criteria unrelated to her own priorities and aspirations, is a profound interference with a woman's body and thus a violation of her security of the person.
Incidentally, the illustration is from henry, a documentary by Dara Bratt. It had a limited theatrical release here last year. It deserves wider distribution, especially this month.
Morgenthaler went to prison to defend our reproductive rights and our dominion over our bodies.
This should be a big media deal.
Let's see if they even notice.
A tip of the cloche to Lilith Attack.
Well, hooray!!! Antonia's new dog appears to be viable but that's more than we can say about many of Canada's unborn.
Posted by: johnnykap | January 14, 2008 at 09:10 PM
May Dr. Morgenthaler live a long, happy life.
And I hope we'll safeguard the freedom that was fought by him and by others.
In spite of Canada's New Government(tm)
Posted by: ...pat. | January 14, 2008 at 11:03 PM
Morgenthaler risked so much to do what he thought was right, it really was heroic.
As far as the anti-choice movement is concerned, it isn't clear to me how we would be a democracy and not a fascist state if women were denied access to safe and legal abortions and forced to bring unwanted pregnancies to term.
Posted by: sooey | January 14, 2008 at 11:50 PM
Sooey, W risked so much to do what he thot was right (the Iraq War), that I'm sure you consider his actions to be equally heroic.
Posted by: johnnykap | January 15, 2008 at 08:28 AM
How so? He went from being a joke to being the War President and winning a second term - by starting the War on Terror. Morgenthaler went to jail, had a heart attack, lost money...
Posted by: sooey | January 15, 2008 at 12:46 PM
Come on Sooey! Whassa matta you?
Bush risked his ... um ... er ... ah ... some of his afternoon naptime.
Yeah that's it.
Posted by: Antonia | January 15, 2008 at 12:59 PM
Afternoon naptime. That's pretty funny, Antonia. Because Bush is stupid and a dullard and needs to take naps in the afternoon. I wonder if Bush would even understand that that was an attempt at humor by you, specifically using sarcasm. I hear he's more into fart jokes so he probably wouldn't get it. On account of how he's so stupid. And everything.
Posted by: johnnykap | January 15, 2008 at 01:19 PM
Wow. That was easy.
Posted by: sooey | January 15, 2008 at 03:24 PM
No kidding. I think we converted JohnnyKap. Oh frabjuous day. The girls haven't lost their touch!
Posted by: Antonia | January 15, 2008 at 05:14 PM
The world you two live in!! I wonder where Art Deco is...
Posted by: johnnykap | January 15, 2008 at 05:26 PM
Actually, Art Deco has fallen slightly out of fashion again but I don't care. I still love it and consider the few really good French Art Deco pieces I have as investments over the long haul.
Posted by: Antonia | January 15, 2008 at 07:38 PM