Mrs. Danielle Smith, leader of the Wildrose party of Alberta (WRP),
Do my 'conscience' rights include the right not to believe that we are having this discussion in 2012? As an instructor and researcher by profession, I can't imagine a situation where my 'conscience' would tell me to not include a particular study into my analysis or to not provide my students with information on a particular element of language. Laziness, maybe. Personal feud with a fellow researcher, plausibly. But not my 'conscience'.
This kind of 'conscience' rights debate is the path to very serious social problems. If our 'conscience' decides who gets medical treatment or a marriage license or a loaf of bread in a store, then we are not living in 2012 Alberta. This 'conscience' would soon turn out to be a cover for all sorts of racist, ageist, sexist, nationalist, elitist etc. bigotry.
If one believes that his or her 'conscience' says that same-sex couples are immoral and birth control is evil and it is this 'conscience' that first and foremost dictates their actions, maybe they shouldn't be working with people. Maybe they should find a job (wo)manning a polar or lunar outpost.
Best,
AM
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You've nailed on the conscience bit. It's a cover for all kinds of just plain evil. It's good to see you blogging again. I prefer your posts rather than you tube stuff.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Red. Yes, I'm trying to blog regularly again. The YouTube is just to draw attention to my radio show on Leduc Radio.
DeleteExcellent letter, Artem. It scares me how some people may take conscience rights to the extreme and thus jeopardize the rights of others to make informed decisions regarding their own health and well-being.
ReplyDeleteThanks, my Anonymous reader =) It's good to see feedback.
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ReplyDeleteEveryone has the right to think whatever they want to think, but no one has the right to discriminate or to hold back service because you don't agree with a particular law. Imagine a store clerk refusing to sell cigarettes to customers over the age of 18 simply because smoking offends her sense of morality. Obviously this store clerk is not going to have a job for very long. If you can't perform your duties because your conscience is bothing you, then it is up to you to resign, or you can wait to be fired. Take your pick.
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