January/February 2009

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It is interesting to look back on articles which I have set aside as background material for my messages to you.  I’d like to write today about heroes.  David Warren awarded his “Man of the Year” title to Sarah Palin, in his last article in the Ottawa Citizen in 2008 (you can read his article on his website,  www.davidwarrenonline.com/index.php?id=955.  Sarah Palin is an American heroine, and the American media’s mistreatment of her and the values for which she stands are rousing rank and file “hockey moms” (and others) from around the United States to stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with her values.  They’ve even formed an internet-based association, complete with membership and interactive chat space and blogs.

As for Canadian heroines, you’ll read the article about Linda Gibbons elsewhere in this issue of REALity.  Linda is a real Ontario-based heroine.

But closer to home — my home at least — I’d like to talk about an unsung Canadian heroine from Vancouver whom I have always admired: she is Sissy von Dehn, a nurse and long-time member of REAL Women.

In November, 1996 Sissy attended a meeting of the Vancouver Status of Women which was advertised as “open to all women”.  However, when she and another REAL Women member, Peggy Holland, arrived at the meeting, they were barred from entering the meeting and the door was shut on them.  With presence of mind, Sissy and Peggy had brought a camera and photographed the closed door.  Five feminists emerged from behind the door and attacked the REAL Women members in the hallway, throwing Sissy to the floor and piling on top of her while trying (unsuccessfully) to get hold of her camera.  When Peggy tried to assist Sissy, two of the feminists grabbed her by the arms and she also fell to the floor.  They both suffered bruises and a broken camera as a result of the attack.  (See REALity Jan/Feb. 1997, p. 11, “Zero Tolerance – Feminist Style, Beat Up the Opposition”). 

In March 1997, Sissy and other members of the REAL Women chapter joined the International Women’s Day (IWD) Parade in Vancouver, which again was advertised as being “open to all women”.  In view of their past experience, Sissy and the others took the precaution of advising the Vancouver police of their intention to march in the parade.  The police showed up in droves, giving fine protection to our stalwart pro-life/pro-family women who carried signs which read:

Abortion:  A Violence Women Can Stop	Violence Begins in the Womb
Families Are Women’s Most Precious Asset	IWD IS Against Women
IWD 97 Celebrates Pro-Life Nurses Moving Forward Together	IWD Discriminates Against Women

These were messages that the IWD Committee didn’t quite have in mind! (See REALity March/April, 1997, p. 12, “International Women’s Day – Vancouver Style”.)

Sissy also purchased a house next to Vancouver’s abortion clinic called “Everywoman’s Health Centre”.  Sissy covered her house with pro-life messages to inform the women entering the abortion clinic, much to the alarm of the abortionists.  The house also served as a rest spot for the picketers outside the abortion clinic prior to the imposing of the Bubble Zone law by the B.C. government.

More recently, Sissy handed out brochures explaining about the BC Bubble Zone Legislation inside the Bubble Zone itself around an abortion “clinic”.  Workers at the abortuary had called police to complain that someone was in their precious Bubble Zone distributing copies of the very legislation which created the zone.

Sissy was merely handing the information to passersby inside the zone informing them they risked arrest under the legislation if they even so much as discussed the subject of abortion. Many took her handout and expressed dismay at the situation. One person, obviously a clinic staff member, took a handout and went into the facility. Shortly thereafter two plain clothes Vancouver police officers arrived and went directly into the building, emerging 45 minutes later to speak with Sissy. They informed her that she was not breaking the Bubble Zone. They added that the clinic workers were upset she was handing out the brochures on the Bubble Zone.

This is ironic because these are the very people who insisted on the draconian legislation in the first place and now they’re upset when someone informs the general public of its existence!

In early September, BC's Court of Appeal upheld the Bubble Zone law as being minimally invasive of someone's freedom of speech and freedom of expression.  Now the clinic workers themselves are upset when pro-life volunteers like Sissy inform the public of this law.

Truth be told, the legislation is actually supposed to be posted on all entrances to the abortion facility but has never been posted despite a court ruling to the effect.   Perhaps the workers are embarrassed by having to publicly identify their location and business?  Perhaps they prefer to continue carrying on their morbid work away from public scrutiny?

Vancouver police have assured Sissy that she can indeed inform people when they are inside the 50-meter bubble zones without fear of being arrested.   She promises to continue to do so – and she will!
 
Sissy and the others are Canadian heroines.  May their stalwart, resolute witness inspire another generation of Canadians to stand up for what they (and we) believe in.

Until next time!

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