Queen's Alive

"Echoes of the Holocaust" Wednesday Evening!

2011-03-14T19:52:00.000-07:00

"Echoes of the Holocaust - Is Abortion Comparable to Genocide?"
Wednesday, March 16 · 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Biosciences Complex, Queen's University, Room 1101

Queen’s Alive proudly presents Stephanie Gray, Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Bio-ethical Reform. Her discussion, ‘Echoes of the Holocaust’ compares abortion to various human rights violations throughout history.

We encourage members from both the pro-life and pro-choice communities to come out to this thought-provoking discussion, and participate in the Q&A that will follow Ms. Gray’s presentation.

A note on Step...hanie and CCBR:

Stephanie Gray is the co-founder of the Canadian Centre for Bioethical Reform, and is recognised across North America as one of the best pro-life thinkers and debaters. Her activism has spread light about the issue of abortion internationally, and changed minds at large.

CCBR is widely recognised as one of the most active (and controversial) pro-life organizations in Canada, due to their use of graphic imagery to expose and confront the reality of abortion. If you've heard of a pro-life controversy over exposing abortion in the last few years (trucks in Calgary, debates being shut down in multiple Universities, students being threatened or arrested), CCBR has been at the forefront.

She is the woman that pro-choicers were afraid to debate, so don't miss this opportunity to see one of the brightest minds in the pro-life movement in action!

Pro-life in the truest sense!

2011-03-11T19:21:00.001-08:00

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose/ By any other name would smell as sweet." Well,

I hate to disagree with Shakespeare, but in certain cases, a name really does matter!

The pro-life position is given many names. I’m sure everyone has heard pro-lifers referred

to as “anti-abortionists” or “anti-choice,” but are these titles really accurate? First, let’s

look at “anti-abortionists.” Whenever pro-lifers are pegged with this title, it is usually a

misconception of the movement. Now, of course abolishing abortion is one of our top priorities.

There are over 40 million babies being dismembered in their mothers’ wombs every year,

worldwide, from abortion, and this issue must be given proper attention. But the pro-life

movement is concerned with other important life issues as well, such as embryonic stem cell

research, assisted suicide, euthanasia, etc. So, whenever pro-lifers are given the title “anti-

abortionists,” they are being misrepresented… we stand for so much more!

The second title is less accurate, and has a negative connotation: “anti-choice.” I guess the idea

is that pro-lifers are opposed to the “pro-choice” view, so therefore must be “anti-choice.” But

are “pro-choice” advocates really in support of choice in all circumstances? Are “pro-choice”

advocates pro-choice when it comes to drunk driving, rape, incest, murder, and genocide? I’m

sure they would quickly state that they are not. Obviously, “pro-choice” advocates are not pro-

choice on all issues. Therefore, the “pro-choice” label, and hence the “anti-choice” label, cannot

be quite accurate, unless placed in the context of some choice. So, when it comes to the choice

of a mother to have the child in her womb dismembered, I will happily say that I am “anti-

choice,” and “pro-choice” advocates can say that they support this choice. However, using the

term, “anti-choice,” to generally refer to the pro-life movement is unfair and inaccurate to say the

least.

So, why “pro-life?” We’re pro-life because we believe in the protection of all human life from

conception to natural death. It is an accurate and precise title for the movement… why would

anyone try to change it? Perhaps that is the question to be considering.

Rachel Helferty

Events Coordinator

Queen’s Alive

New York: Pro-Life Poster Taken Down

2011-03-08T15:19:00.000-08:00

Thursday evening, a large poster mounted by pro-life organization Life Always, was removed from a billboard in SoHo Manhatten, New York due to complaints. The poster had the words “the most dangerous place for an African American is in the womb” written above a photograph of a young African American girl. The poster, half a mile from one of New York City’s three Planned Parenthood abortion clinics, also had Life Always’ website thatsabortion.com posted on it.
The city council acted quickly on the poster: it had only been up for two days before removal. The Wall Street Journal reported that African-American Brooklyn Council Member Leticia James, said the poster was an “affront” to all women. “It borders on racist, but all good people of conscience should be offended,” said James.

Tricia Fraser, mother of the girl model told NY Daily News that she was unaware that her daughter’s photograph would be used to portray this message, although she knew it would be used for advertising, and she was devastated to see the poster. “I’m happy that it’s [being taken down], but at the same time I’m concerned that they can use that image again.”

Life Always says in a released statement that it “strongly disagrees with Lamar Outdoor's decision to remove the billboard in Soho, but the billboard's message holds true, and truth has a place in the public square.”

Life Always also points out that in 2009, 59.82 percent of black pregnancies in New York City ended in abortion, and that twice as many African-Americans die as victims of abortion in the United States than from AIDS, cancer, violent crimes, heart disease, and accidents combined. “During Black History Month, we celebrate our history, but our future is in jeopardy as a genocidal plot is carried out through abortion,” said African-American Life Always Board Member Pastor Stephen Broden.

This censorship, coming just months after the arrest of five pro-life students at Carleton University for their GAP (Genocide Awareness Project) display, is a reminder of the stakes the pro-life cause have been raised to in North America. The pro-life movement needs to continue to break the silence and use our freedom of speech to get our message out. So much of the pro-life movement depends on educating people on life issues. If we do not continue to advocate for freedom of speech and raise our voices to defend the unborn, we will be silenced.

For more on the poster, read Rebecca Millette’s article at http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/pro-life-ad-yanked-from-soho-ny-site-after-complaints

- Catherine Helferty

Justin Bieber says: “Keep your baby, baby, baby ohhhh!”

2011-02-21T17:49:00.000-08:00

Justin Bieber talks Sex, Canada and Abortion

This just in: Canadian teen and global pop icon Justin Bieber has given the world a new outlook on his smash hit “Baby”. As many of you may have already heard, Bieber recently expressed his pro-life views in an interview with an editor from The Rolling Stone. When asked about his views on the issue, Bieber replied, “I really don’t believe in abortion … it’s like killing a baby”. Even when questioned about abortion in cases of rape, Bieber holds firm to his views: “Um. Well, I think that’s really sad, but everything happens for a reason. I guess I haven’t been in that position, so I wouldn’t be able to judge that”. I have included a link with further details from the interview for those of you who are interested in reading more.

Not only has this statement caused many pro-life individuals to come down with a serious case of “Bieber fever”, but it has created national waves and a great deal of criticism towards Bieber. As a pro-life university student, I have experienced first hand the judgment and disapproval from others for expressing my views in a country and academic environment that supposedly fosters the right to free speech and expression of opinion. This makes it difficult at times to stand up for what I believe in and whole-heartedly support the fundamental right to life. Therefore, I commend Bieber for confidently expressing his views on an immensely sensitive topic, and for doing it in the global spotlight. Not only will this spark a nationwide discussion on the issue of abortion, but it will get the younger generation thinking about the issue as well. I think any attention is good attention when it comes to the issue of abortion, and Justin Bieber just brought it to a whole new level. Thank you, Justin, and keep fighting the good fight!

Mary Stephen
Vice President – Queen’s Alive

Bakesale Results!

2011-02-13T12:44:00.002-08:00

Thank you to everyone who participated in the bake sale at St. Joseph’s Parish. We raised $240.00 for the pro-life movement at Queen’s University. Rest assured that hearts will be opened with these donations. We truly appreciate the endless support and generosity!

- Zuza

Blog Updates!

2011-02-13T12:44:00.001-08:00

For those following us, we are reviving the Queen’s Alive blog! Along with updates about upcoming events (which everyone is welcome to attend), we also have a few new additions. Firstly, we are beginning a weekly blog post about various life issues, written by various members of Queen’s Alive. Secondly, we will post links to various articles/videos/current events pertaining to the pro-life movement for your interest. Lastly, we will post survey results from our outreach tables. Make sure you have a look!

- Zuza

Pro-Life Apologetics This Week

2010-10-26T06:38:00.001-07:00

Starting tomorrow, Queen's Alive president Zuza Kurzawa will be conducting several pro-life apologetic sessions to train members in defending the rights of the unborn and defeating the cynical arguments of the pro-choice crowd. All sessions will take place in Nichol Hall 232 at the following times:

Wednesday October 27: 7:30 p.m.
Thursday October 28: 7:00 p.m.
Friday October 29: 5:00 p.m.

All sessions will last one hour, and you only have to attend one. This is an excellent opportunity to brush up on your apologetics! Be sure to attend!

Arrested Pro-Lifers on Michael Coren Show Tomorrow!

2010-10-20T14:13:00.000-07:00

From Rebecca Richmond at NCLN:

This Thursday October 21st, the Michael Coren Show will discuss the arrests of pro-life university students at Carleton University as well as discrimination and censorship in general on Canadian university campuses. Theresa Gilbert, NCLN President, and myself will appear on the panel with Ruth Lobo and James Shaw, two of the Carleton students who were arrested. Jose Ruba, of the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform, will be joining us from the Calgary studio.

The Michael Coren show airs on CTS (click here for the list of channels). It will air at 6 p.m. and again at 2 p.m. the following day. The episodes also can be found online after their airdate.

Be sure to watch!

Zuza Kurzawa - A Response to the Critics

2010-10-20T07:35:00.000-07:00

Zuza Kurzawa, the president of Queen's Alive, has issued the following personal statement about the recent controversy over her comparison between abortion and genocide:

Although many were supportive of at least our right to speak (if not the cause), I anxiously awaited the inevitable objections from some of my peers.
“They deserve to be arrested because the content was offensive; it has nothing to do with free speech” or “they clearly don’t know what genocide is if they compare it to abortion”.

My predictions were correct. But as per usual, the personal attacks are based on assumptions.
Notice how rather than ASK why we think comparing abortion to genocide is justified, many prefer to assert that we’re insensitive and wrong? And I know the person reading this who disagrees with our view probably just clenched their fists and said “because you are wrong!”

GAP has been displayed all over the world many times; do our opponents not realize that if we could not reasonably defend why the comparison is valid, we wouldn’t put up the display?

Outraged by the comparison to the Holocaust, Queen’s Hillel requested that I formally apologize to the victims of genocide. I am sorry that the innocent continue to be exploited. I am sorry that this world is dominated by the perverse notion that the stronger can take advantage of the weaker. But we are fighting against that.
And so I would likewise request an apology for assuming that I don’t understand genocide. I will respond to their appeal to emotion with my own, and then later present concrete reasoning defending the comparison.

Firstly, I was born in Poland. This past summer I returned to see family and friends. One of the places I had the opportunity to visit was Auschwitz. Chills went down my spine with every step as I looked up and down the narrow corridors and into the cells. To think, only some decades ago, unimaginable horrors took place within these walls. How humbling it was to know that someone’s humanity was stripped from them, right where I was standing. How humbling it was to realize, my family members died there.
Up until his recent death, not a day went by where my grandfather did not allude to the horrors he witnessed in his childhood. If you come to Poland, I can show you the ridge where Gdansk was first attacked; it is 20 minutes from my home. I can describe to you the hundreds of memorials my grandfather showed me, that commemorate the innocent lives lost during the occupation. Together, he and I brought candles and flowers to the graves of those who lost their innocent lives. My grandfather engrained the impact of injustice into my heart, that when I see it, I cannot help but speak out.
Shame on you, for being so arrogant, and assuming I don’t understand injustice.
Have you considered that maybe it is YOU who does not?

A man of honour my grandfather was. Until his death he often spoke out against the tyranny of the powerful, especially in respect to the unborn child. He was pro-life in every respect and it was he who brought the comparison alive for me. I will concretely justify it in a moment, but before then I repeat:

How dare you all assume that we do not understand injustice? Why would you not think to ask for a clarification, rather than continue making assumptions? The fruit of ignorance is often injustice.

If my witness is insufficient, I implore you to accuse Dr. Alveda King (the niece of Martin Luther King Jr.) of being insensitive. For being a pro-life advocate who often attends GAP displays, she could not possibly understand injustice. I DARE you to assert that.

Here ends my appeal to emotion.
Although a modest account (novels could be filled with this), here is the reason behind the comparison as presented by organizations like the CCBR.
I will start off by defining genocide and then draw points of comparison between the Holocaust and abortion.

What is genocide?
“The deliberate and systematic destruction of a national, racial, religious, political, cultural, ethnic, or other group defined by the exterminators as undesirable”
(Webster’s New World Encylopedia 1992)

Comparison 1: The denial of personhood
- “The Reichsgericht itself refused to recognize Jews as ‘persons’ in the legal sense (German Supreme Court, 1936)
- “Canada does not recognize the unborn child as a legal person”
(Canadian Supreme Court, 1997)
Comparison 2: Victims seen as a burden
- The Nazis saw the elderly and the disabled as ‘useless eaters’ and were not fit to deserve life, and thus considered a burden
- Sick, disabled, and simply ‘unwanted’ unborn children are considered a burden on society
Comparison 3: Sheer volumes killed
- 6 million Jews, 5 Million others
- 42 million children die in abortion every year

The reason why this claim is justified is because abortion intentionally destroys an innocent life. It is systematic (1 in 4 pregnancies results in an abortion, and in Canada for all those who didn’t know, it is legal through ALL 9 MONTHS). And lastly, the target group are specifically the unborn.

The expected objection here would be that you still can’t compare the two because ‘a fetus is not a human’.
What an embarrassing objection for any Queen’s student. I’m positive that passing grade 4 science was a pre-requisite for University. The basic principal of Biogenesis affirms that the unborn are, and can only be, HUMAN. What is in the womb is alive, whole, and human. Although it changes in size, level of development, environment, and dependency, these changes are not unlike those experienced throughout the course of our lives. You may go to argue that although human, it is not a ‘person’. Re-read a couple lines up, in 1936, neither was a Jew in Germany. Subjective claims about personhood do not trump objective claims about the scientific principles of human development. But my intention here is not to give a thorough account of pro-life apologetics; we have Queen’s Alive for that. This piece is primarily to defend the comparison.

Although this was a modest account for why our comparison is justified, it emphasizes the most important comparison – that in all circumstances, the fate for the targeted HUMAN group is systematic death.

That being said, I humbly request to clarify the misleading statement Queen’s Hillel wrote that we compare the ‘annihilation of the entire Jewish people to a right of women to control their bodies’. We do not compare the choice to kill millions of innocent Jews to the choice of whether a woman will or will not get a haircut, a piercing, or a tattoo. We do however compare the choice to kill innocent Jews to the choice to kill an innocent human child. I do not like constructive ambiguity; it breeds ignorance.

I apologize for anyone who misunderstood our intentions. If you are left unconvinced, ask questions guided by reason, not simply your passions.
We realize the images are hard to look at, especially for post-abortive women. But what ends up happening (and this we can attest to through experience) is that many post abortive women come and stand with us, because their experience is something that they would not wish on anyone. Consider the work of Silent No More for example. The point of GAP is not to single out post-abortive women, but it is to make EVERYONE think about the issue in a framework they may not have considered before.
So to close, a final note on the images: the reason why we use them is because they are all we have. Apart from the inspiring testimonies from abortion survivors (look up Gianna Jessen for example), the unborn have no voice. Images are the only way to adequately show injustice.

Repeating the words of Martin Luther King Jr, “America will not reject racism, until America sees racism”, Dr. Alveda King follows by saying: “America will not rejection abortion, until America sees abortion”.

Zuza Kurzawa
President, Queen’s Alive

Silent Day of Solidarity Tomorrow

2010-10-18T18:24:00.000-07:00

Queen's Alive will have a team in the Biosciences Complex tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. handing out red tape and pamphlets for anyone interested in participating in the Silent Day of Solidarity. This involves covering your mouth with a piece of tape with the word "LIFE" written on it and remaining silent throughout the day in solidarity with the hundreds of unborn who are silenced daily. Every participant will be equipped with pamphlets to explain what you're doing to those who ask.

Just stop by if you're interested!

Video: Carleton Pro-Life Students Arrested

2010-10-04T17:45:00.000-07:00

This is a video of tuition-paying Carleton students being arrested on their own campus for "trepassing" because the university did not agree with their point of view or approve of their material:

This is an absolute travesty. Something is deeply wrong when a public university can so blatantly censor opinions it disagrees with. Who gave the university administration the authority to advance a particular political or moral agenda? Are Canadian taxpayers aware that our publicly-funded universities are being turned into finishing schools in political correctness?

Queen's Alive salutes the bravery, fortitude, and conviction of these pro-life students. As free expression on university campuses in Canada continues to erode, there will be even greater need for such heroism in the future.

Shocking: Carleton Students Arrested for Pro-Life Display!

2010-10-04T11:28:00.000-07:00

Carleton "University" re-affirmed its third-rate status today by openly suppressing free expression on its campus. The University called the police on its own students, having them arrested for "trespassing". The students were participating in a display called the Genocide Awareness Project, which uses graphic images to compare the atrocity of abortion with other historical atrocities.

This is censorship of the most blatant kind, and is completely irreconcilable with the spirit of a liberal education characterized by free inquiry and expression. No justification can be offered for arresting students on their own campus for expressing their views. A real university isn't a place of indoctrination. These images of young men and women being arrested for expressing their views should be the cause of deepest shame for the entire Carleton community. The cowards in that university's administration have gone beyond more subtle forms of suppression and have stooped to the level of forcibly shutting people up in order to impose ideological conformity. Even if you don't agree with the position of the protesters, it's sickening to consider that students at a Canadian university aren't free to express themselves.

Shame on the administration of Carleton University! May these images be distributed far and wide. This can't be allowed to set a precedent on Canadian university campuses. We have to stop the rot before free expression for pro-lifers disappears everywhere.

Queen's Journal Editorial on Maternal Health Initiative

2010-06-05T07:05:00.000-07:00

The Queen's Journal has published an editorial chastising the government for its failure to export abortion to the developing world.

It's incredible how the most humane terms can be used to justify the most profound evil. While they speak of "rights" and "aid", they really advocate a form of neocolonialism which assumes that it's our place to control the growth of foreign populations. Lands which have been exploited by the West for centuries are now smugly told to stop having babies.

In this case, abortion targets not only the most vulnerable human life in the womb, but also the most exploited and neglected populations in the world. Be sure to leave a comment on the Journal's website:

No Abortions Abroad

National March for Life!

2010-05-07T10:48:00.000-07:00

The National March for Life is quickly approaching! It will run from Wednesday, May 12th to Friday May 14, with over 20,000 people expected to attend.

The major event will be a mass protest on Parliament Hill at noon on Thursday the 13th, followed by a march through the streets of Ottawa at 1:30. The Campaign Life Coalition website has the full schedule of events. If you plan to attend, make sure to RSVP on the facebook page.

Please consider attending this march! The abortion issue has recently re-entered the public consciousness due to the debate over the government's maternal health initiative. We need to show the country and the political elites that there is a strong pro-life voice and that this struggle constitutes the true human rights movement of the 21st century.

No Abortion in Canada's Maternal Health Plan

2010-04-26T17:45:00.001-07:00

In a good step forward for the pro-life cause, the federal government has announced that it will not be including abortion coverage in its G8 maternal health plan. Instead of focusing on a procedure which kills an unborn child and devastates the mother, the government is taking the novel approach of actually focusing on health care:

No abortion in Canada's G8 maternal health plan

It seems, however, that they're coming under very heavy criticism. There are hordes of Canadians who buy into the sophistry that a woman has the "right to choose" to kill her unborn child. This sort of argument would be laughably superficial if it weren't accepted by such a great number of people. Hopefully, this announcement will help bring the abortion issue to the fore so that people will be forced to confront the horror and violence the procedure involves. We must use this as an opportunity to bring this issue to light, so we can put an end to this grave and ongoing violation of human rights.

Please rate and leave comments on the CBC story. Right now, they're leaning heavily toward the nutters and the sophists.

Bill C-384 Soundly Defeated!

2010-04-21T20:35:00.000-07:00

Euthanasia Bill Defeated in Canada 228 - 59

Great news! Bill C-384, the private member's bill that would have legalized euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada was strongly defeated by a vote of 228 to 59 today! Thanks to all of you who wrote to your MPs in opposition.

New Executive!

2010-04-06T18:14:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the 2010-2011 executive committee, elected at Monday's Annual General Meeting:

President - Miss Zuza Kurzawa
Vice-President - Miss Mary Stephen
Secretary - Miss Catherine Helferty
Treasurer - Mr. Edward Woolley
Fundraising/Support Coordinator - Mr. Andrew Krol
Events Coordinator - Miss Rachel Helferty
Media Coordinator - Mr. Paul Griffiths

We're looking forward to a highly successful 2010/2011 year and thank you all for your excellent work this past year!

Abortion Issue Comes Back to Life

2010-03-30T16:27:00.001-07:00

Here's a link to an excellent essay in The Globe and Mail, answering the question of why the issue of abortion hasn't gone away and why the pro-life movement both in the United States and Canada is gaining ground:

The abortion issue comes back to life

The comment section is especially interesting, and demonstrates why professor Carter Snead of Notre Dame says that when compared to pro-choicers, "since the late 1990s, pro-lifers have seemed more reasonable in tone and substance.”

This is a matter of fundamental human rights. To kill an innocent human being is a grave violation of these rights. It should be no surprise that fewer and fewer people are willing to stand by and let it happen.

The ancient Romans exposed their infants. The Carthaginians sacrificed them to the gods. We kill them in the womb and sanctify this violence by calling it "choice". It's time for our civilization to emerge from the stone age.

Michael Coren: Reactions to pro-life talk

2010-03-25T16:20:00.001-07:00

Michael Coren has penned another column, this time for Canada's pro-life newspaper The Interim, about his talk at Queen's University which is well worth a read. It contains a thought-provoking story at the end which is sure to make people think:

Michael Coren: Reactions to pro-life talk

Michael Coren's full talk along with question-and-answer period can be viewed here:

Michael Coren - Abortion: Canada's National Shame - Part 1/9

Ann Coulter Discovers Cult of Censorship at Canadian Universities

2010-03-24T17:19:00.001-07:00

Disclaimer: This post is a defense of freedom of speech on Canadian university campuses, not an apologetic for Ann Coulter.

Ann Coulter, currently on her Canadian speaking tour, has discovered the intellectually stifling and repressive culture that has become very prevalent on Canadian university campuses in recent years. Her speech last night at the University of Ottawa had to be canceled due to protests, recalling similar cancellations of pro-life events at McGill and St. Mary's.

'Free speech in Canada leaves much to be desired': Ann Coulter after event cancellation

People who react to occurrences like this by saying that they disagree with Ann Coulter and find her "hateful" and "offensive" are entirely missing the point. We understand that you disagree with Ann Coulter and find her offensive. So do most Canadians.

However, in a mature society which places real value on free expression, there would be no question of whether or not she should be "allowed" to speak. It goes without saying that people are allowed to speak, no matter how much we disagree with them.

Unfortunately, the hyper-privileged youth of today see university campuses as "safe spaces" where they have a right not to encounter any views with which they disagree. When their sanctity is violated by some speaker who offends them, they call on the university or the state to protect them from this "harassment". Truly, there is nothing more removed from the spirit of the university than this infantile insistence on intellectual uniformity.

University of Victoria Attempts to Silence Pro-Life Club

2010-02-10T07:19:00.000-08:00

The student union at the University of Victoria is backing a petition which would strip its pro-life club, Youth Protecting Youth, of club status. This would deprive the club of access to university space and resources:

UVic's pro-choicers up the ante against pro-life club

The ludicrous excuse being offered by Veronica Harrison, the chairperson of the UVic Student society, is that complaints of "harassment" have been received. "Harassment" is of course pro-choice parlance for coming into contact with an opposing position and getting upset. It speaks to the quality of education at the University of Victoria that no one seems to bother to check the dictionary before making such serious accusations. For their benefit, and the benefit of the pro-choicers who visit this blog, here is the definition of harassment:

"to disturb persistently; torment, as with troubles or cares; bother continually; pester; persecute."

or

"to trouble by repeated attacks, incursions, etc., as in war or hostilities; harry; raid."

Unless pro-lifers at UVic are chasing down pro-choicers, following them home, making obnoxious phone calls, or spamming their in-boxes, only a liar or an ignoramus could accuse them of harassment. Simply because you've seen a poster you don't like doesn't mean you've been harassed; what an astonishingly privileged world these people live in, when they believe their rights are being violated if they see or hear something with which they disagree!

Pro-choicers, listen carefully: human beings have rights, and we won't stop defending those rights because it makes you upset. If you don't like what we have to say, suck it up and oppose us in the realm of ideas; invite pro-choice speakers, put up posters, and present your argument intelligently.

Michael Coren: Rebels Without a Clue

2010-02-06T12:56:00.000-08:00

Michael Coren has penned a column about his recent talk at Queen's! You can read it at the following link:

Rebels Without a Clue

The Silenced Scream - Ethan Rabidoux

2010-02-04T21:10:00.000-08:00

Here's a link to the documentary which Jacob Mantle mentioned during Michael Coren's talk last week:

The Silenced Scream

The topic is the suppression of pro-life campus clubs at Canadian Universities.

Michael Coren - Abortion: Canada's National Shame

2010-02-01T22:01:00.000-08:00

Michael Coren's recent talk entitled "Abortion: Canada's National Shame" has been uploaded to Youtube!

"Queen's Alive presents noted broadcaster, author, and columnist Michael Coren speaking on the subject of abortion. Mr. Coren makes a reasoned but impassioned defense of the rights of the unborn against the outrage of abortion-on-demand."

There are nine parts to this video in total.

Thanks!

2010-01-28T19:56:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all who attended the event, and especially to Mr. Coren for putting on a challenging and thought-provoking talk. The evening was a great success!

We'll be uploading a video of the talk shortly!

General Meeting

2010-01-22T21:37:00.001-08:00

Queen's Alive will be having a general meeting this coming Monday, January 25th, at 7:30 pm.

The meeting will take place in Goodes Hall room 353.

The final phase of advertising for the talk by Michael Coren will begin, so we'll be distributing posters to all the members to place around campus.

Great Pro-Life Ads

2010-01-19T21:06:00.000-08:00

Here's a fantastic series of pro-life ads, sure to provoke thought:

Abortion: Canada's National Shame

2010-01-13T13:46:00.000-08:00

On January 28th, noted broadcaster, author, and columnist Michael Coren will be speaking at Queen's University on the subject of abortion and the current state of Canadian law. Mr. Coren will make the case against abortion in defense of the rights of the unborn.

Please invite your friends to this event! It's a great opportunity to get the debate going on campus. Please join the event's facebook page:

Abortion: Canada's National Shame

Meeting Today

2009-11-11T11:39:00.000-08:00

Dear members of Queen's Alive!

I'd just like to remind you that our next general meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 11 at 7:00 PM in Macintosh-Corry Room D 207.

Hope to see you there!

For Life!

Emilie
President, Queen's Alive

Reply to Letter in Queen's Journal

2009-10-28T17:10:00.000-07:00

The Executive Committee of Queen's Alive has composed a response to the letter from Paul Tye published in the Journal recently:

RE: Offensive Tactics

From Mr. Tye’s letter, it is clear that our club’s purpose and mission have been grossly misunderstood. Therefore we would like to clarify our position in general and the purpose of the Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity in particular.

Queen’s Alive is one of over thirty pro-life campus groups across Canada. One of our greatest concerns is that unlike other countries such as Ireland and France, Canada has no legislation regulating abortion, thus allows abortion through all nine months of pregnancy. Our primary mission is to promote dialogue on issues such as abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research.

The Silent Day of Solidarity is just one of the many events we hold each year. Its purpose is to “educate others about the plight of the innocent children we are losing every day”. Students do this by wearing red duct tape with the word “LIFE” written on it over their mouths and handing out pamphlets containing Canadian information and statistics about abortion. We choose to give up our voices on this day each year for those who will never have one. We want to take this opportunity to clarify that this event was by no means intended as an “arm band campaign”, though some participants did choose to wear the piece of red “LIFE” tape on their arms.

We invite everyone to discuss this critical issue of human rights with appropriate civility, and to avoid all forms of misrepresentation.

The Queen’s Alive Executive Committee

This response has not been published in the Journal. However, a letter from our Treasurer has been:

Irrational rhetoric

Dear Editors,

Re: “Offensive tactics” (Oct. 23, 2009).

In his letter to the Journal, Paul Tye assailed members of Queen’s Alive who participated in the Silent Day of Solidarity. Mr. Tye completely misrepresented the event, which was not intended as an “arm-band campaign” of any kind. Any connection drawn to the Holocaust comes entirely from him.

Although he speaks of reason, Mr. Tye refuses to make any rational argument, instead taking recourse entirely to ad hominem attacks. He howls that those who publicly defend the rights of the unborn are “moralistic,” “crazy,” “childish,” and “infantile,” which is all well and good rhetorically. However, for the sake of the rational discourse which Mr. Tye claims to cherish, I’d ask him—and those who share his views—to make an argument defending the killing of innocent human beings that doesn’t amount to saying pro-life advocates are “anti-woman.”

Mr. Tye concludes his letter by mentioning Christianity, as if the recognition of human rights were something unique to the Christian community. In fact, the conviction that every human being has intrinsic worth that cannot be destroyed or discarded is a fundamental criterion of decency for every person, Christian or not.

It’s those who ignore this grave and ongoing violation of human rights who should be ashamed, not those who expose it.

Paul Griffiths
Comm ’10, ArtSci ’10

Jose Ruba Silenced at McGill

2009-10-08T21:51:00.000-07:00

This will be of interest to our members, especially after we successfully hosted this same talk at Queen's. Jose Ruba attempted to do the same at McGill just a couple days ago and this is what happened (There are 19 parts to the video in total):

These shameful attempts to stifle the truth are truly characteristic of a movement which is utterly cynical and intellectually corrupt. There is no rational argument to be made for the pro-choice side, only the shouting of ridiculous slogans and the suppression of free speech.

I'm glad we go to a proper university, at which the free exchange of ideas which characterizes a liberal education endures. The intellectual cowardice on display in this video is truly astounding.

Email Choose Life (chooselife@ssmu.mcgill.ca) and express your solidarity.

"Echoes of the Holocaust" - Jojo Ruba

2009-09-22T20:51:00.000-07:00

Jojo Ruba's talk entitled "Echoes of the Holocaust" is fast approaching. Contact your friends and spread the word about this exciting and controversial event which is sure to ignite the campus of Queen's University.

The talk will be held on Wednesday, September 30th at 7 p.m. in Dunning 12.

For more information about Jojo Ruba and the Canadian Centre for Bio-ethical Reform, go to: http://www.unmaskingchoice.ca/ (warning: graphic images)

Welcome!

2009-09-18T08:31:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the new blog for Queen's Alive!

For years, Queen's Alive has been defending the right to life at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. From the instant of conception to the moment of natural death, every human being, without exception, is entitled to a set of fundamental human rights. The right to life is the most essential and basic of these. Recent legalization and growth in abortion, euthanasia, and other life-destroying activities is gradually eroding this human right.

This blog will help to update the Kingston and Queen's communities on our efforts to communicate this conviction through pro-life speakers, demonstrations, and community outreach. Here are some upcoming events:

September 22-23, 2009 are "Clubs Days" at Queen's University. We will have a display for Queen's Alive and will be giving out pamphlets in an effort to involve new students! If you are interested in helping out, please email Emilie Bruno, president of Queen's Alive, at queens.alive@gmail.com.

September 25-27, 2009 is the NCLN Symposium. We're looking for first-year students to go to this fantastic conference! We will ensure that your costs of attending/travel are covered, so all that's required is a bit of enthusiasm! The website is: http://www.ncln.ca/symposium.php?id=1

September 30, 2009 Guest speaker JOSE RUBA of the Canadian Centre for Bio-ethical Reform is coming to Queen's University campus! This is a great honour for us and a fantastic opportunity to expose others to the movement. The talk will be held at 7:00 PM in Dunning Rm. 12. Please invite anyone and everyone! We'll be advertising this event on campus for the next few weeks.

October 4, 2009 is 22nd annual Life Chain, which happens across Canada and the United States. We will be joining the Campaign Life Coalition in front of the hospital on King Street between the hours of 1:45-3:00PM. This is a peaceful demonstration and details can be found on the website: http://www.lifechain.net/

The tentative date for our next general meeting is October 14, 2009.