When it comes to social issues, I'm actually very liberal on some issues, pretty moderate on some issues, and very conservative on others. While I am a Republican, I'm also a libertarian (small l), and I do believe that a person's right to pursue happiness should not be impeded, regardless of the moral objections, unless he is infringing on the rights of others. While limited government does refer to restraining government from becoming a "police state", it also means limiting it on the right, from being a "morality police state".
I am just as passionate about what I believe on social issues as anything else. But I am infinitely more careful about expressing those views and the way in which I express them. I wish this were true of everyone. All too often, I find myself angry and/or hurt by the way that debates go on about social issues. I'm not talking about just on capital hill or in hollywood, but among friends. When friends disagree about trade embargoes, deregulation, budget deficits, etc, they aren't attacking the foundation of a person's soul. But when someone makes malicious statements about the social values of their friends, it strikes a much different chord. It becomes very personal, especially on the two hottest button third rails in Politics...Abortion and Gay Rights.
For the purpose of this blog, I'm going to discuss the Abortion Issue. I will start by saying that there are very few things in my life that have as much moral clarity on as I have on this issue. I am completely at peace with my soul, with my creator, and with my fellow man about my views on life. One of the reasons for that being that I have searched my soul thoroughly, and pain-stakenly examined the issue. I've spent time talking and really listening to people who are on the other side. I've questioned myself, questioned my position, and questioned those who believe as I did. I've done research, examined the stages of gestation, read books, articles, blogs, and op-eds. I've also walked with friends through their painful choice when they had an unplanned, ill-timed pregnancy. I've rejoiced with some of them on their delivery days, and I've comforted some on their termination days. I know, from these experiences, that the pro-choice side has valid reasons for their views. I know that they have good intentions, and believe they are on the right side. I wish they would acknowledge that we on the pro-life side do too. Unlike the death penalty, were i torturously flip-flop back and forth, I am completely, 100% sure that I am on the right side of this issue. That is not sanctimony, its just moral clarity. If others disagree, that is their God-given right, but it is settled in my soul.
I don't speak about it much because I have so much respect for the people in my life who are on the other side of it. I don't want to hurt or offend people I care about, who may have had an abortion, who may regret it or may not, either way, I don't want to spit in their face with my own opinions. I will gladly explain, defend, or champion my views on the matter, but not at the expense of the feelings of the people I care about. If I could go back in time to only having 20 people on my facebook, then it would be different, but that is not the case.
I'm gonna lay out a few of my views and observations on this issue. Its hard to read words on a computer and understand tone, but please read this with a genuine tone. The questions are not meant to be sarcastic. The statements are not shouts. I am passionate, but I do not write this with a harsh tone.
What I don't understand is why people who are pro-choice are so negative and nasty about pro-lifers. Sure there are some pro-life people who act crazy, but the average person that you know who is pro-life does not stand out at clinics with rifles. Why am I called "anti" choice? I don't call myself that, I call myself PRO-life. I'm not against choice. Why can't I be called by the name i choose for myself? I don't call them "anti-life".
Also, why is it a conservative view to want to protect the weakest and most defenseless among us? I thought that was a liberal stance? Why aren't more liberals outraged that people, for profit, are denying rights to the unborn? Save the trees, save the endangered species, but abortion is ok up to 20 weeks? even farther in the opinions of some? Black babies account for over 40% of all abortions, but Blacks are only 11% of the population. Does that not make any liberals sick? Why is it ok to terminate a pregnancy later term if the child is disabled? Don't disabled people deserve the same rights as anyone else? As far as women's rights, believe me, I don't want to limit women's rights to do anything. Women are absolutely equal to men, under the law. This simply goes back to my earlier statement about the rights you have not infringing on the rights of others. I cannot wrap my brain around the idea that a baby who moves, thinks, has a heartbeat, sucks her thumb, etc, does not have the same rights as her mother to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I don't want to see back ally abortions. I don't want women to stick hangers inside them. I don't want women to abort their children. But its not a valid argument against a law to say that banning something doesn't stop people from doing it. If it were, then we should decriminalize identify theft, all theft, murder, espionage, embezzlement, etc.
But regardless of my views on this issue....I wish that people who disagree with the pro-life stance, will take a moment to consider the other side, and to at least give us the benefit of doubt that we believe that way for the right reasons, even if you think its the wrong view.
Awesome post! Never before have I been so convinced that I am on the right side as well. It took a miracle, aka Aiden, to convince me. I totally agree with your stance about keeping the opinion and views of others in mind, but not going overboard. I also agree with you about those who are pro-choice. It always seems like they are attacking those who don't agree with them. Or that they feel those who disagree are ignorant, which is not the case at all.
ReplyDeletethank you so much for the comment!
ReplyDeleteI don't understand how something as pure and beautiful as wanting to protect a defenseless baby is turned into something vile. Holding Lily, I remembered when she was only 14 weeks or 20 weeks, and now she's...a beautiful newborn. There is nothing I am more sure of than knowing every child has the right to live. Somehow that gets turned into an attack on women, or an endorsement of back ally hanger abortions. That makes me sad and sick.
Our side never gets any respect from the other.
Love it. It's not all black and white to me, though. I've examined, re-examined, changed, changed back, and changed again my feelings on the topic. I used to be super-pro-choice and belligerent about it until the topic truly touched my family. That's when I realized that I truly do believe life starts at conception. That's when it gets a little murky to me, though.
ReplyDeleteSee, I have a problem with the government being in my doctor's office. The government's only job in my doctor's office is to make sure conditions are safe and sanitary. Until the child is viable, it is a parasitic life, and it is, in my opinion, a decision among the parents, the doctor, and God, and neither I nor my government need to intervene. I feel the same about euthanasia. I do not believe the government should have the choice.
So I call myself pro life and pro choice. I hope people choose life, and it makes me sad when they don't, but I'm not going to force my morality on anyone via laws. I think that defeats the purpose of a free country.