| Many who consider themselves pro-life are actually
pro-State: they want more power for the government to prosecute those who
seek or provide abortions.
Family
Research Council President Ken Connor compared the daily destruction
of human life in abortion clinics to the loss of life that occurred in the
Sept. 11 attack:
"On September 11th, we were horrified as we watched the
destruction of more than 3,000 innocent human lives. In an instant, our
government responded to protect the country from further loss,"
Connor said, in a news release. "But the sad reality of American
life is that more than 4,000 children die every day in this country at
the hands of abortionists and the government does nothing to
intervene."
Andrea Lafferty, of Traditional Values Coalition, meantime, issued a
challenge to the Church.
"While many people say they oppose abortion, a lot of people are
looking the other way, and the Church is looking the other way,"
Lafferty said. "The Church needs to be talking about this issue
with its young people, with singles' groups, with parents' groups,
urging parents to talk to their children about life."
Harry
Browne writes:
| Every day you spend trying to get government to do
something about abortion is a day wasted, a day that could have
been spent doing something effective – such as working for
less-restrictive adoption laws, encouraging private educational
efforts to show young women the alternatives to abortion,
repealing the income tax so that parents will have the time to
teach their children values that will minimize teen-age
pregnancies, and repealing laws that shield people from the
consequences of their acts.
Every day you spend trying to get government to do something
about abortion is a day playing at fighting abortion –
showing off for the anti-abortion fans, but achieving nothing.
Government will never change people's hearts and minds, but you
can change people's minds if you're willing to work at it. |
Because I am a libertarian and oppose laws against abortion I have been
called an "anarchist." Actually I believe in MORE government
than those who support "the government." I believe
in self-government.
The vast majority of Americans oppose the vast majority of abortions
performed in America, according
to all polls. This should be the source of social power needed to
effectively end abortion without fines or prisons.
Here's how self-government works to protect the life of the
unborn better than the federal government:
Rather than being met at the door by jack-booted gun-wielding federal
anti-abortion authorities, mothers contemplating an abortion should be met
at the door by voluntary
associations of friendly parents who will offer to pay expenses,
shelter mothers from abusive "boyfriends," provide caring
hospitality, parenting classes, values education and other works
of mercy which will help the mothers carry their baby to term and
avoid killing a human being.
But even before this need arises, self-government operates to prevent
unwanted pregnancies and cultivate a positive value for human
life.
Families: Parents who are not victims of government schooling
and who have been trained to appreciate America's pro-life values can pass
these values on to their children. Constant
reminders from the earliest ages that human beings are created by God
with unalienable rights is the soil in which homicidal weeds are less
likely to grow. Children steeped in pro-life views will inevitably pass
these views onto their playmates, and should be encouraged to do so.
American parents have always been careful to know who their children play
with, and always make an effort to meet the parents of their children's
playmates and invite them to learn more about our God-given rights.
Employers should not hesitate to hire single mothers who
struggle to make ends meet, and substitute generous pay for government
welfare. Lunchtime Bible studies and employee training sessions can pass
on America's pro-life values. Personal encouragement increases job
performance better than an impersonal workplace, and may result in
opportunities for preserving the life of the unborn.
Landlords should use their relationship with tenants to
cultivate respect for life through respect for property; the
two are not unrelated. Weekend classes in property management, concern
for the environment, and household budgeting can be required of tenants in
rental agreements. These sessions provide opportunities to stress the
importance of human beings created in the Image of God, and their role as stewards
of the creation.
Teachers should pass on pro-life values to their students, even
in classes that do not directly teach social and cultural subjects. Like
the Apostles (Acts
5:29), teachers should defy court
orders prohibiting a discussion of American values before and after
school, and at lunch.
Media sources which propagate pro-death values should be
boycotted. Americans should patronize movies, television, plays, concerts,
and other events which transmit American values. Americans should invite
neighbors to neighborhood reading circles in which great pro-life
books are read and discussed.
Merchants and business owners can join all of the above in a
more negative but essential social function: ostracization. Parents can
disinherit, landlords can refuse to rent, teachers can expel, media
sources can give unfavorable publicity, and merchants can refuse to sell
to those who kill children. All of these groups can boycott doctors who
kill children.
Professional organizations such as the AMA and the ABA
should penalize members who kill human beings.
If 90% of all abortions are opposed by 90% of Americans, then the lives
of these 90% are being controlled by pro-abortion forces who wield the
power of "the sword": the 90% have been coerced into silence and
inaction. Cultural transformation begins with Liberty and self-government,
not the iron fist of the federal government.
It is only because Americans are no longer self-governing that
they appeal to "the government" to use armed force against those
who seek abortions.
More ideas: Building
a Culture of Life: A Call to Respect Human Dignity in American Life
| back to: Abortion |
I appreciate your comments
Do you disagree with me?
I will thoughtfully, prayerfully, respectfully and
personally respond to your criticisms
email: comments@KevinCraig.US |
|