Abortion: We are not Americans

Is Quebec subject to American Supreme Court decisions?

To hear a few days, anyone can imagine.

They pretend to believe that the reversal of Roy vs. Wade will have an impact on our side of the border, where the right to abortion will also be weakened.

Quick reminder: Quebec is not an American state.

Abortion

Where did this belief, shared by so many people, come from? About a serious problem: I’m talking about our mental Americanization.

In recent years, for a variety of reasons, we have become accustomed to projecting ourselves into the social and political categories that make up American life, as if we were living their national life by proxy.

We are more passionate about American politics than Quebec politics. We often project ourselves into their social discussions when they leave our discussions.

As a result, we often confuse American society with our own.

We saw this especially during the George Floyd affair in 2020, when some were convinced that the question of racism in the United States arose in the same way as in Quebec, and that the situation of communities needed to be mobilized. From immigrants here to black Americans.

It is a great forgetfulness, but this forgetfulness transmitted by the media distorts our understanding of ourselves. All of which led to a debate over the goofy theory of systemic racism.

And exactly the same thing is happening today with the question of the right to abortion.

It was also compromised in Texas and Missouri. And in many other states.

But that doesn’t make sense in pretending to be in Quebec! We have enough problems without having to artificially add one of us.

Accuracy: We are not the only ones to respond as Americans.

In France, where the right to abortion is recognized and not questioned by any political party, the Presidential Party also incorporates it into the Constitution following a decision by the US Supreme Court.

In other words, France plans to amend its basic law in response to a decision on US domestic policy.

It is better if we stop being in the wrong country and reconnect with our own reality.

Yet we can draw a general reflection from what is happening in the United States.

Today, it seems better to respect judges and tribunals – and even more so the Supreme Court.

Courts

Finally, we note that the courts are political actors. Their decisions are theoretical. They are not more impartial than the elected assemblies.

Last point: The only reason why Quebecars hear about abortion politically from time to time is because of their involvement in the Canadian Federation, which forces them to surrender to negotiations that make Western Canada their own.

If they do not want to hear about it again, they know what to do.