Monday, August 22, 2005

Pence on Life

This post is a thinly veiled plug for Mike Pence. The intro portion is my take on the right to life especially as regards abortion.

Even as a small child I was steeped in pro-life views. Once a year the Michigan Right-To-Life organization held a rally at the capitol in Lansing. My parents never missed that event until we moved far away from Lansing. Every year they packed me, my twin and my two older sisters up and took us to the rally. We would stand there outside the capitol building -- it was usually raining -- and listen to speech after speech. I could never see the person giving the speech being a small child to begin with and in a crowd. The eery experience of standing in the rain listening to a disembodied voice talk never bothered me too much. But I was always hungry and hoped my parents would take us out for burgers afterwards. When my twin and I were a little older we went to an event remembering the 25th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. We had to stand in a line up of children, representing the aborted lives from each year since the court case's decision. There was even a pregnant mommy for the current year. I felt honored as I stood there with Maria. We were some of the fortunate, our parents chose life.

I do not blame everyone or even anyone who has had an abortion. We have all done wrong, including myself. I also realize that much of the literature out there and the words of doctors tell us that what a woman carries inside her womb is nothing but tissue and not a human life yet. It is deceit, and perhaps one must lie to oneself to believe it. But at the same time I am saddened that people are deceived like this.

One of my profs explained it best when he pointed out that the only certain line a person can draw for the beginning of life is conception. Any other line is arbitrary. Think on that for a moment, you must have some sort of evidence if you decide that the second trimester is where life begins. You must have some reason based upon your scientific findings if you say that implantation in the euterus is where life begins. Only conception is a clear solid line drawn regardless of someone's idea about life. I know, it coincides with my belief, but that is not the point. That is because I believe that "all men (=humans) are created equal." The word created means that from the moment that all the components were there that would make that a human it is equal to all other humans. Those components were there at the moment of conception. Equality is, necessarily, not the subject of this post and I may address in a future post.

Here are Congressman Mike Pence's words addressing the subject of stem cell research before Congess a few months back. It has given me another reason to support Pence. He asks that we regard the sanctity of life for two specific reasons: the overall moral repugnance of creating a life only to destroy it and the wrongness of forcing millions of people to fund something they are against. Pence's words prove his pro-life views. He speaks against something more perverse than abortion, but it is obviously because he believes that all humans have a right to life.

In another statement Pence addressed the death of Terri Schiavo. He argued that her life was taken wrongly. In order to combat what happened Congress should ensure that others in like situations cannot have their lives taken without due process of law. Pence upheld both the Constitution and the right to life.

Finally, he argued for the Laci Petersen Act in a gentle and non-threatening manner. But he still managed to put in a firm say for life.

Three more reasons why I support Mike Pence.

Abortion is a highly controversial issue. If someone wishes to argue with me on it, it would best be done in private. You may disagree with my post, but if you put something rude and obscene on my website I will delete comments and make necessary amendments to change anonymous commentary. That is just a small admonition that I hope will not become a reality.

4 comments:

Erin said...

Esther, I have rarely, if ever seen abortion argued against so well. Way to do a good job. It further pushes me to look into the grassroots movement for Mike Pence and help become a part. Let me know what I can do to spread the word. Thanks for being so concerned about human life. It gives me hope. :)

tully said...

If I use obsenities, its only because you stole my thunder. I'm saving the a-bomb (abortion) for a month from now, but I'm a little bit scared to discuss it. The moral question, indeed, is where one draws the line between life and non-life. Scientifically, life must begin after the joining of two gametes into a zygote. It is simply when two become one- at conception. Mario Cuomo recently argued against this view, saying that the Catholic Church does not neccessarily argue such, but as a Catholic, I am disgusted with his lies. Theologically, we celebrate the immaculate conception of Mary as the beginning of a life bare of original sin, therefore the life begins at conception. If you believe in the immaculate conception, you will agree!

Anonymous said...

indeed,there is no more clarion voice in politics for the Right to life than Mike Pence.He is truly a pro life hero and champion of the cause.If this man runs for President I will do whatever it takes to get him the nomination.You guys should also check out his CASE FOR LIFE speeches.They are classics.

Anonymous said...

Thoughts to ponder:

Genesis 2:7 "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."

I think, from that, we can also draw a "certain" line at first breath.

Also:
Exodus 21:22 -- "If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow (i.e. the woman does not die): he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.
21:23 And if any mischief follow (i.e. the woman dies), then thou shalt give life for life...."

So it seems that God makes a differentiation between a fetus in the womb and a breathing human.

Just things to think about when refining your position on a very sticky issue.

Good luck!