(Peter Paul Rubens. Massacre of the Innocents, detail of a mother and child. [Source])
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(Peter Paul Rubens. Massacre of the Innocents, detail of a mother and child.
[Source])
I've been receiving several e-mails asking me to participate in an "Empty Red Envelope Campaign" against abortion. First I'll give you the full text of that request, so you can decide if you want to participate. But after I'll explain why I have reservations.
Dear Friends,
Please send a red empty envelope to:
Prime Minister Stephen Harper
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6
and to your MP at the same address.
This is postage free!
On the back, write the following message:
"This envelope represents one child who died because of an abortion. It is empty because the life that was taken is now unable to be a part of our world. Responsibility begins with conception."
We will mail the envelopes out March 31st, 2009.
Put it in the mail, and send it. Then forward this e-mail to every one of your friends who you think would send one too. I wish we could send 3 million red envelopes, one for every Canadian child who died in the womb before having a chance to live. It may seem that those who believe abortion is wrong are in a minority. It may seem like we have no voice and it's shameful to even bring it up. Let us show our Prime Minister and the world that the voices of those of us who do not believe abortion is acceptable are not silent and must be heard.
Together we can change the heart of the Prime Minister and save the lives of millions of Canadian children.
Thank you
Red envelope
[Source])
There are so many things wrong with this "Empty Red Envelope Campaign" that I'm not sure where to start! I should at least list the positive aspects of this campaign: (1) the intention is very good, and (2) the means used are morally acceptable. Now, some negative aspects:
3.1) Why are we asking a democratically-elected Prime Minister to change something he was elected for? Stephen Harper has always been very publicly pro-abortion. During all his election campaigns, he always clearly said he would never do anything to stop abortions, and a majority of Canadians voted for him. Are pro-lifers stupid? If you saw someone first set their house on fire, then send an empty red envelope to the Government begging them for shelter, what would you think?
3.2) Vandalizing the mechanisms of Government is not a good way to improve the Government. Clogging the mailboxes (physical or electronic) of the few feedback channels we do have is not a good idea. See Section 3 of Electronic Petition, or Democratic Vandalism?
3.3) Campaigns that keep pro-life forces dis-united won't help us stand. Suppose 1000 pro-lifers individually send empty envelopes to the Government. So what? Now imagine those same 1000 pro-lifers sending 10$ and their address to one really good pro-life organization. All of a sudden, you have a 1000-name petition, with a professional spokesperson and a budget to get the Media's attention! See United We What?
3.4) Stephen Harper is the effect, not the cause. Imagine if fifty years ago, Stephen Harper had started an election campaign by saying what he believes today. (Remember that in Canada, as we speak, anybody can kill any unborn child for any reason, from conception until the left foot of the baby leaves the birth canal. And Stephen Harper has repeatedly declared he would never "re-open that issue".) The plain truth is that fifty years ago, no Canadian political party would have accepted Harper as a candidate, let alone as Prime Minister! Actually, I think he might have been lynched by a mob of angry passers-by!
And yet, as we speak, Stephen Harper is considered an acceptable politician. What happened in those fifty years? What caused the Canadian society to change so much? I claim there are many causes, but the main one is the corrupt Catholic clergy. That is a big claim, but I have much data to back it up. See The Promotion Of The Culture Of Death By The "Catholic" Clergy.
3.5) Irrationality isn't the best way to defend one's position. The only argument provided against abortion by this campaign is that pro-lifers "believe abortion is wrong" (see above). That is about the stupidest argument imaginable! After all, Nazis believe killing Russians is fine, many Muslims believe blowing up schoolbuses filled with children will earn them Heaven, many silly persons believe the horoscope in their daily tabloid, etc.
For the love of God, competent pro-lifers can rationally and logically demonstrate that abortion is wrong!
Etc., etc...
A few days ago, I was reading an excellent letter by Mr. Royce Dunn, (the Director of the Life Chain effort) who was quoting Clenard Childress, an Afro-American Baptist pastor. I simply could not agree more:
The pew cannot do what the pulpit is supposed to do
We pro-lifers need to stop promoting efforts that are individual, secret, disorganized, inefficient, self-defeating and aimed at the wrong persons. Yes, we need to "shake some people up" with our efforts, but those persons are the clergy who are supposed to be pro-life, not the politicians who have been elected on a pro-abortion platform.
Anyway, if you still decide to participate in this campaign, at least please add this at the back of your envelope:
Some pro-lifers disagree. See: www.inquisition.ca/en/serm/banc_eglise.htm
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