Re: Pride in Canada

Jul 10, 2014

Jeff Green's July 3 editorial in praise of tolerance in Canada (Pride in Canada, Jul 3/14), which is exemplified for him by the Pride parade in Toronto, ignores the fact that there is no tolerance or protection in Canada for gay people or for any other Canadians at the beginning of their lives. Society has merely shifted its choice of which groups of people to bestow tolerance upon. It's still open season on anyone while they are in their mothers' wombs, particularly for anyone who is thought to have a disability. No diversity tolerated there.
After my father died in 1961, leaving my mother with five children, Canada welcomed us and cared for us, for which we are forever grateful. At that time all Canadians at all stages of their lives, including gay people, had the same protection from murder under the law. That blanket of protection was torn apart many years ago; in that respect the intolerance in Canada is much worse today and the situation could deteriorate further as a vocal minority seeks to legalize the killing of another large group of Canadians – those who are suffering physically or mentally - deceptively calling it “healing their pain” or “end-of-life care”.

Killing is not care.

And legalizing “assisted” suicide could directly impact the gay community as gay youth are statistically more likely to commit suicide. Or would there be suicide prevention strategies for some groups and assisted suicide for others?

Jule Koch