JAWL has a point. To a point.

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Dylan Thomas

The Poems of Dylan THomas, 1952

I was somewhat chastened after reading Mr. Loman's post asking us not to shoot the messenger. It is true that Senator Ruth deserves respect for her past work. It is also true, as the Mound mentions in the comments that progressives are capable of being carried away by blind partisanship every bit as much as the Harpoids. (Although I still like the True Blue conservative tag. I will reapply it to a more deserving candidate when he/she inevitably comes along.).

Being aware of the Senator's rationale for the warning leaves me uneasy for a different reason.

“If you push it, there will be more backlash,” said Ruth, who fears that outrage will push her boss, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, to take further measures against abortion and family planning – abroad, or maybe even in Canada. “This is now a political football. This is not about women’s health in this country.”

Caving in to bullies never gets you anywhere. It does nothing to defend those who can't defend themselves. And it leaves the bully emboldened when the next opportunity comes. JAWL is correct that her heart is in the right place. She doesn't want to see the So-Cons provoked into taking more draconian action. The other, and likely more successful, path is to raise hell about the changes. Make people aware of the implications. Force Harper to do more to placate his base. Expose him as the incipient tyrant he really is.

I began the post with a beautiful, if predictable, choice of a poem. I will end it with an ugly truth of relevance to this subject.

Britain and France had to choose between war and dishonour. They chose dishonour. They will have war.

• To Neville Chamberlain in the House of Commons, after the Munich accords (1938)

P.S.: I mucked around with the fonts in this for 15 minutes. Long story short. Blogger sucks. If you are frustrated reading this , please accept my apologies. (Especially P).

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