Don't Mind the Elephant

Gillary Massa, renowned Israel-hater and free speech trumper, has again proven her ignorance and arrogance in this letter to the editor. Do read the whole thing but here are a few quotes:

The Centre for Bio-Ethical Awareness and its Students for Bioethical
Awareness front group at York University are wrong again. These groups organize
events disguised as debates in their campaign to eliminate women's access to
legal medical abortions in Canada. Student unions have an obligation to uphold
the rights of their members, including access to medical services.

I didn't realise abortions were performed on campus, nor of any underhanded scheme by anyone to not only speak about abortion but to actively ban it. Hhmmm....

At no point has the York Federation of Students tried to stifle free speech
or freedom of association.

But she has, that is why the student group in question can't get funding.

It has made the legitimate decision to take a position that is representative of
the majority of its membership who believes that reproductive freedom is a right
for all women in Canada. This right should not be eliminated based on the moral
opposition of a few.

These statements are presumptious, arrogant and foundless. One would think that she would research things before printing something that would be challenged openly by those on and off campus. Was she aware of the current public opinion on abortion and who holds it? Was she aware that there are those who hold pro-abortion opinions on campus who actually want Students for Bio-ethical Awareness to speak? Did she even ask?

What Miss Massa does not understand is that she and a handful of others are actively preventing a group from speaking, period. By assuming that everyone agrees with her obvious pro-abortion stance, as well as her refusal to accommodate the opposing side, and that there is a minority who feel a particular way, Miss Massa displays her arrogance (and ignorance) for all to see. Miss Massa also has the typical paranoid streak one sees in pro-abortion activists. Some believe that even speaking about abortion will ban it outright. Perhaps, but maybe not. Aren't laws are needed? Maybe if she had listened to an opposing voice she may have picked up that information. Miss Massa and a handful of others don't realise that there is no vast conspiracy, only a student body wishing to present their case to the public. If the media coverage means anything, they have.

On a brighter note, the complaint against Maclean's magazine has been dismissed. I guess fringe groups can't tie people up with frivolous charges.