“Right to ALL Life”
I’ve written on this topic before but felt like I wanted to re-visit it after having a conversation with a close friend. He was deeply troubled, as he knew I was, that he continued to see ongoing protests against abortion by many “Right to Life” groups. He said it troubled him so deeply not because he felt that abortion was OK but that so many people spend thousands of hours going on TV and radio show talk shows, or write books and articles and march in protests speaking out about the “sin” of taking human life. Their message is always about the sacredness of life and the fact that all unborn babies should always be protected. My friend and I agreed that we felt that those who follow this ideology seem to be out of touch with the core of their own unrest.
Personally, I have always been outspoken against abortion but have always been baffled by those who are outspoken about this issue while at the same time are almost always pro-war and pro-death penalty. To me this has never made sense. Those who follow the movements with the title “Right to Life” or “Pro-Life” label seem to be totally out of touch with the meaning. If they called themselves an anti-abortion movement, than I would honor and respect that but if they align themselves with the “pro-life” or “right to life” movements, than I say they need to reevaluate what their cause is truly about.
Is it life they are trying to protect? If they are pro-life than I ask, “Why are you not standing out in front of court houses and prisons protesting the death penalty or standing in front of the White House protesting the war currently being waged in Iraq and Afghanistan? Am I missing something here? I’m thinking that pro-lifers are not truly seeing the whole picture.
Most proclaimed “pro-lifers” would say that their feelings are rooted in either their political or religious beliefs or sometimes even both. If it is because of religious beliefs, I feel they are truly missing the point of Jesus words who said, “Love your enemies and do not return evil with evil.” Of course an unborn baby has never done anything wrong or caused any pain to society so maybe this is why they feel justified in their fight. But don’t the words of Jesus connect that if you are pro-war and pro-capital punishment than you are missing his core message? Somehow, I feel it does not jive with his words if you feel it is right and just to exterminate a convicted criminal or wage war against another country that always ends in casualties of both soldiers and innocent civilians.
I was traveling in Central Florida a few weeks ago and saw an assortment of large billboards on the highway that were dedicated to the pro-life message. Every billboard showed a big picture of an unborn baby in the womb. One showed a fetus that included a quote which read, “At 20 weeks, a fetus can feel pain.” I immediately began to think, what about a bomb or a gunshot in war? What about a lethal injection or electricity going through a human beings body that ends their life by the death penalty? Is the pain somehow different?
As Bill Cosby screams out, “Come on People,” I’m right there with him. It doesn’t make any sense at all. I encourage you to take a deeper look at what the issue of “Right to Life” really means. Realize that you can’t compartmentalize human life where some lives are valuable and to be protected while other’s lives are expendable, whether you might feel it justified or not. It is my hope that you will take a deeper look and ultimately use your voice to protect ALL life. Peace out.
Jack Bloomfield is the co-founder and executive director of One Planet United, Inc., a non
profit 501(c)3 organization.
One Planet United's mission statement is: To bring unity and understanding to all people through
experiential and educational programs, projects and resources.
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