Monday, November 10, 2008

Carving Out a Better Respect Life Position

by Charles W. Fairbanks

Over the past twenty years the Respect Life movement has won many victories in Congress, state legislatures and in the all-important Senate Judiciary Committee.  On the threshold of the Age of Obama, we need to define the movement more accurately so that we can carve out a bigger and better position for future victories.  To do that, we must move toward a comprehensive position of what we stand for, not just what we oppose.

Welcome to the Age of Obama.  How do you like it so far?  The early days of the new age promise to be disastrous for the Respect Life movement.  One of the highest priorities of the new regime is passage of FOCA, which would undo almost everything that has been accomplished by the movement.  Another high priority is the reversal of President Bush’s executive order protecting fetal stem cells. 

With these threats - and others - looming behind the chaos of the financial crisis, we have to redouble our efforts.

As a movement, we must carve out a bigger and better Respect Life position to connect with the general public and with policy makers.  We must articulate what we stand FOR, not just what we stand against.  Among other things, we must make clear that we advocate:

1.) A healthcare system that does not ration healthcare.  Healthcare rationing takes place in nations with socialized medicine such as Canada, France and the U.K..  Because of rationing, people are not provided healthcare.  Rationing presents a threat to human life.

2.) Support for our special needs brothers and sisters.  Governor Palin helps to bring this issue to the forefront through the power of her example.  Her son Trig is a special needs person that lights up the Palin family’s life.  If we take care of our special needs citizens, the threat to their lives will be greatly reduced.

3.) Stem cell research that is done in an ethical manner.  Stem cell research produces cures and treatments for disease that threaten human life.  We draw the line, however, at fetal stem cell research.  Fetal stem cell research has not produced any cures or any beneficial treatments to speak of, and is in and of itself a grave threat to human life.  President-elect Obama will decide in his first days in office whether to reverse President Bush’s ban on federal funding for fetal stem cell research. He can do so with the stroke of a pen.

4.) Strong punishment for crimes of violence and protection for victims of domestic violence.

There are millions of great pro-lifers in America.  America is a pro-life nation.  Given the current political situation, we must all redouble our efforts by boning up on pro-life issues so that we can be even better advocates for Respect Life issues.