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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1987-06-10, Page 17From the Minister's Study THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 1987. PAGE 17. No simple solutions but we must take action BY REV. DOUGLAS J. ZEHR BRUSSELS MENNONITE FELLOWSHIP The lead editorial of last week’s paper caught my attention. I agree with the editor that in a very complex world, most of us like simple solutions to even the biggest of problems. Perhaps it has something to do with our instant-demand mentali­ ty. We have instant pudding and mashed potatoes. We have a host of automatic time-saving devices ... microwave, etc. and remote control. I arrive at home at 12:10 p.m. and expect my lunch at 12:11 p. m. We expect that if something is wrong with our bodies, the doctor should be able to immediately fix it ...no delay ... no wait. Television tends to teach us that most situations should be resolved or dealt with within an hour. Likewise, we expect that the government should be able to solve all of our problems in a matter of moments too. Give us a quick fix to increase the value of our dollar, to BLAKE Business Sci“k □ Directory Fast Efficient 24 Hour Service $4 TURN YOUR SCRAP INTO CASH!! WANTED CARS & TRUCKS ALL MODELS & MAKES DELIVER IN YARD OR WILL PICK-UP McCreery Auto Wreckers Highway No. 86 9 miles West of Listowel. decrease the unemployment fi­ gures and the consumer price index. It is easy to lose sight of the fact that others may be adversely affected by the very things that are good for me or that I think are good for me. I was reminded of this as I jotted a letter to my Provincial Member of Parliament who also happens to be the Minister of Health. As I thought about my concern, I needed to come to terms with the realization that on every issue that surfaces, whether at Queen’s Park, or within the Ministry of Health, there are individuals and groups who for some good reasons, come down on different sides of the issues. That must often put our politi­ cians and decision-makers be­ tween a rock and a hard place. It almostgoeswithoutsaying that they are forced to act in the ways which are most expedient rather than the way that is most moral or just. Surely there must be a better way to make decisions than to be forced into a decision because of favours that need to be paid, large lobby groups with vast resources or fanatical extremists. You may have guessed by now that my concern had to do with the Health Minister’s announcements to the effect of being in favour of Dr. Powell’s report regarding abortion here in Ontario. The Ministry of Health is now moving towards more access to abortions, streamlining of abortion proce­ dures and research into abortion techniques. I know that my solution to the problem would be too simplistic. My heart is broken when I read the statistics of the tens of thousands of lives that have been mercilessly cut off immaturely. But it is also broken by the apparent need that is representedby the many voices calling for more access to abor­ tions. Somehow there is a need to meet these needs as well. Personally I have a high view of the uniqueness and value of all human life. I recognize the fetus as human life from the time of conception. I believe that it is a bearer of the image of God. I would seem to me that abortion is the poorest kind of birth control that we CALL RAY 887-9186or 887-6800 could support. I would want to recognize the legitimate voices of those in favour of choice in this matter. I am certainly one who believes in the freedom of choice, particuarly on issues of conscience. Now we are between a rock and the hard place. As proponents of choice, we need to think about responsible choice. I would grant that there may be some circumstances that circumvent this issue, but the majority are acts of convenience. Blyth Christian Reformed Church HIGHWAY 4, BLYTH Rev. Roger Gelwicks Worship Services 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Sunday School 11:00a.m. The Church of the ‘‘Back to God Hour” and “Faith 20’ ’ Back to God Hour 10:30a.m. CKNX, Sunday Faith 20 5:00a.m. weekdays, GlobalT.V. ALL VISITORS WELCOME 291-4159 or 335-3314 That, to me, is not being very responsible. For as ‘advanced’ and ‘sophisticated’ as we want to be in our society, I think we could afford to direct some of our energies towards the choices which sur­ round conception control. It is time we all become advocates of acting on behalf of all human life at all stages of development and to creatively develop, notalternative techni­ ques of abortion, but alternatives to abortion. DURA-WELD WELDINGREPAIRSAND CUSTOMFABRICATING INCLUDING -loader buckets................$385.00 -lawn tractor tailers ......$195.00 -shop crane/hoist ..........$465.00 -calf creep feeder...........$325.00 Rammeloo Rest Home • Room available •24 hour care [nurse on staff] • Home cooked meals •$22.00 per day WHERECANYOU DO BETTER? Bus. 523-9478-Res. 523-4533 John ELLIGSEN ELECTRIC Ltd R.R. 4, Walton 345-2447 Farm, Commercial & Residential Wiring Also pole line construction Phone887-6594after6p.m. Ward & Uptigrove Chartered Accountants Listowel 291-3040 Mitchell 348-8412 R.B. Karcher, C.A. C.D. Newell, C.A. R E. Uptigrove, C.A. C.W. Brouse, C.A. R.H. Loree, C.A. G.J. Martin. C.A. R. C. Roswell. 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