There is a fair bit of discussion going on in the blogosphere over the recent announcement by Judy Rebick, pictured here in a characteristic pose, i.e., screeching into a microphone, that she no longer supports the Green Party of Canda, because of comments made by its leader, Elizabeth May, concerning abortion. Rebick, you see, is the Lucy Van Pelt of the left-wing fringe in Canada in that she is crabby, bellicose, believes women are superior to men, falls back on some very topsy turvy reasoning to prop up her beliefs, is shameless in bullying her cronies on the left into accepting her ex cathedra pronouncements on abortion and other issues of the day. One gets the impression that the Green Party must be in despair now that it has been declared anathema by Rebick. Somehow, I expect the Green Party folk will carry on, stand by their leader, Elizabeth May, and still fail to win any seats in Parliament in the next general election.

The Carleton University Students' Association voted not to extend funding to campus groups opposing abortion. It seems the intent is to stifle the thoughts and opinions of those on campus who oppose abortion. This is unfortunate in that a university's mandate is to promote intellectual freedom. Whether you are opposed to abortion or not is a matter of personal conviction, but everyone has a right to make up their own mind on the issue and express their thoughts and opinions freely. Students who oppose abortion have as much right to organize themselves on campus as do students who favour free choice on abortion. My own thoughts on the matter of abortion I will keep to myself, but as a librarian, I am disturbed when I see efforts to stifle freedom of thought and of expression, particularly at an academic institution such as Carleton University, which is publicly funded and has clubs on campus representating a broad range of interests, both ecclesiastical and secular, including such controversial topics such as abortion. I sincerely hope that either the current membership of the Carleton University Students' Association or a subsequent membership will reconsider this decision and undo it.