Editor:
In the 1860’s American Civil War — the abolition of slavery became U.S. law.
This month is the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights doctrine becoming U.S. law — not just the right not to be a slave — but the right to interracial marriage and full citizenship rights in America.
In 1973, Supreme Court U.S.A. decided in favour of women’s rights of reproduction.
Despite many millions dedicated by the Conservative Right Movement to overturn this decree, it is still law 41 years later.
China’s 1980s decree of ‘one child per family’ resulted in bias for boy children.
This preference resulted in female infanticide practiced on a national level.
Today, 30 years later, 140 million adult males have no wives. This was a government doctrine — recently ended.
In the 1960s Canada, Dr. Henry Morgentaler, (survivor of the Nazi death camps) spent time in jail for having the courage of his convictions to change women’s health care laws.
In the 1970s “bubble zones” were established around legal clinics providing abortions.
Women using these services were harassed, as were staff.
Clinics were burned and bombed, and doctors were gunned down, at home and at work, as recently as 1992 in Vancouver.
Where was their right to life?
Many of our parents fought World Wars for freedom to vote, and determine our destiny.
Many women ‘suffragettes’ fought for women’s right to vote in the early 1900s.
Many of my generation fought to have some rights over our reproductive organs and futures.
Our daughters can make decisions with councillors, family planners and health care professionals.
Neither government dictate, nor fervent religious ardour stopped back alley terminations and desperate measures to end unwanted pregnancies.
Thankfully, pro-life billboards are replaced, inciting family discussions while driving — reminding us how far we’ve come from manipulative government doctrine, and dangerous fervent religious ardour.
Our daughters now have full citizenship rights to exercise.
This is no matriarchal society, rather the evolution of society through difficult times.
“Judge not lest ye be judged.”
Sybil Carter
Williams Lake