Respect life
Vincent J. Hammerl
Originally published 02:50 p.m., October 4, 2007
Updated 02:50 p.m., October 4, 2007
October is “Respect Life Month” and many in Emporia, around Kansas and throughout the United States will be given an opportunity.
This opportunity is for the faithful to participate with their own gift of life to remind those who have become numb to the needs of the unborn, poor and the elderly that we can do something. The something is on Oct. 14 and it’s a Life Chain from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at White Memorial Park at West Sixth Avenue and Merchant Street in Emporia.
This Life Chain is a peaceful and prayerful public witness of pro-life Americans standing for one hour and praying for our nation and an end to abortion. It is a visual statement of solidarity by the Christian community that abortion kills children, more than 60 million since Roe v. Wade became the law of the land, and that the church supports the sanctity of human life from the moment of conception.
For more information call Dan Vehige at (620) 342-2651.
MelissaE (anonymous) says...
Hmmm. No thanks. I don't think I'd be welcome since I don't believe in God. Maybe if this opinion wasn't another "church interfering with state" issue, I could take it to heart. Or maybe not.
I wonder how many of the "pro-lifers" are FOR the Iraq War. Or the killings in Darfur. Or how many of these "pro-lifers" turn the other cheek when someone, not from their church, is in need.
I wonder if you can still be a "good Christian" and be pro-choice......
M
October 4, 2007 at 3:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
netloafer (anonymous) says...
Belief is not a necessary condition. For example, writer/lecturer Christopher Hitchens doesn't believe in God (he's recently written "God is Not Great"), but he is pro-life. In so doing is he violating the doctrine of separation of church and state?
I've met Nat Hentoff, a writer for the Village Voice, who is not a believer, but still supports the pro-life cause. He's publicly expressed a pro-life point of view. In so doing is he violating the doctrine of separation of church and state?
I wouldn't expect those who are opposed to the pro-life position to be there at the life-chain, whether they believe in God or not. Belief in the sanctity of life is what should be propelling anyone to participate.
I'd also like to think that people of good will from whatever disciplines would have the freedom to peacefully assemble and express their points of view without being labelled religious bigots.
Or has it come to the place where those who disagree with the pro-life views declare that those who express their pro-life views have now violated the doctrine of separation of church and state?
What's next for pro-lifers? Criminal sanctions for exercising their first amendment rights?
October 4, 2007 at 4:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
netloafer (anonymous) says...
Kstrebuchet
I understand. The issues revolving around abortion are difficult/agonizing. We are on opposite sides of the issue, but I don't think should preclude civility and respect.
After all the years, I actually think the country is moving to the center on this issue. The extremes are being rejected and more and more people are coming together to find alternatives that are better.
October 5, 2007 at 7:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Netloafer,
I hope you are right about the country moving to the center of the abortion issue. Pity all the abortion clinic doctors and nurses that were murdered by pro-lifers. I hope when you people get together for your "life chain" that you remember those who were murdered. Say a prayer for their families too, would you?
October 5, 2007 at 7:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
netloafer (anonymous) says...
Create
I won't be at the life chain. I'm walking in the Emporia Memory Walk that afternoon. It's aim is to raise funds to support Emporians who have been touched in one way or another by Alzheimers or its sister diseases.
I will, of course, pray for anyone who has a family member who has been murdered.
October 5, 2007 at 8:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Weltha (anonymous) says...
I do believe in God. Thats my choice. I'm not trying to put my beliefs onto anyone here by saying this. JMO and it has nothing to do with my religion or lack there of. Murder is murder. It doesn't matter if the being is born or not. To me it doesn't matter if in war time or not. Abortion and War are TO ME just a way to murder legally. I don't agree with abortion. I don't THINK I could go through with it myself even in the case of rape. Until I am put in that situation I can't for sure say yes or no. If someone else doesn't think abortion is wrong thats there choice. I can't say I don't care I do but its not my place to make that desition for them. Adoption seems like a good choice. It may make me seem wishy washy?! I'll give my view you give yours. But... I feel like it should be I believe what I want, you believe what you want and we'll just have agree to disagree. I don't have time to sit and debate. Well I do but usually just don't want to mess with it. LOL
October 5, 2007 at 10:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Flips (anonymous) says...
I personally would not have a mate if my husband's birth Mother would had chosen abortion instead of adoption!!!!!!!
I agree with you Weltha------& JMO some times things are sooooo close to my heart & feelings so strong-- I can't debate them!
October 5, 2007 at 1:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LilJHawkFan (anonymous) says...
To the first person that commented on this article, I want to tell you something:
"Pro-life" is a term that means simply that you do not believe in killing a baby that is growing inside of a mother. It means that you would prefer that they have the baby adopted to a family who would like to take care of the baby. It means that you choose life over death of an innocent child whose existence is a gift from God. I will agree with you in that the term is wrongly worded. It however has nothing to do with the war in Iraq, and this article has nothing to do with the war in Iraq.
October 5, 2007 at 1:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
But lilJHawkfan, what about all the abortion doctors and nurses murdered by pro-lifers over the years? JUST TO MAKE A POINT!!! Or does all this only have to do with fetuses? I guess I don't understand how you define the term "life".
October 5, 2007 at 4:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
netloafer (anonymous) says...
Kstrebuchet
No, I was saying exactly the opposite. While I don't agree with your view, I don't harbor any personal animosity whatsoever I think we can discuss things like this and find room to act in a civil manner, whcih I think we have.
I was pointing out that the issue sometimes brings on agonizing choices.
I've debated the issue on campuses on the east coast and found that we could butt heads without being buttheads.
October 5, 2007 at 6:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
netloafer (anonymous) says...
Create
Since you've mentioned the point twice I;d like to respond. From the time of the Roe v. Wade decision until 2001, 10 abortion doctors were murdered and another seventeen were targets of an attempted murder. In each instance it was a crime and I believe that each instance was punishable to the fullest extent of the law.
I wanted to make that point clear because you seem to be hinting at the idea that we pro-lifers dance with glee when something like that happens. We don't. These criminal acts, perpetrated by lawless people, dishonor what I believe firmly is a worthy cause.
Having said that, what is your feeling about the millions of unborn children who have been aborted since the Roe v. Wade decision? Since the law has legalized it I cannot say that abortion is a criminal act. But I can certainly say that I believe that it is an immoral act. In your view, is abortion on demand a moral act or an immoral one?
October 5, 2007 at 6:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
netloafer,
I believe that abortion should be a last resort if the mother's life is in jeopardy, for example, and only then in the very early term. But the main point here is that there is choice involved. These days, however, mothers' lives are rarely in jeopardy with all the medical technology and knowledge we have.
Also, I think a woman or girl should have a choice if she has been raped. The law says she has a choice.
I don't believe in using abortion as birth control either. I believe that if a woman does not want to keep the baby, she should opt for adoption. Unfortunately, too many don't opt for adoption, and raise mistreated children instead.
I'm sorry I won't answer your question about whether it is moral or immoral. It's much too complex an issue to put to a yes/no opinion. It is an act of choice in a society that has decided to decriminilize it. Sorry I wouldn't simplify my answers.
Also, while you yourself may have not jumped with glee when abortion doctors and nurses were murdered, many did. Their faces were all over the televised news. I read their signs. Many cheered. I just hope that the people who have this life thing in the park remember those who were murdered all in the name of "life".
October 5, 2007 at 7:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Weltha (anonymous) says...
treb- " I was talking more of when maybe the mothers life was is jepordy" Thats where my wishy washy that I mentioned comes in. I'm torn on that issue.
create-"Also, while you yourself may have not jumped with glee when abortion doctors and nurses were murdered, many did. Their faces were all over the televised news. I read their signs. Many cheered. I just hope that the people who have this life thing in the park remember those who were murdered all in the name of "life"."
I agree with the whole statement.I just needed to pull this part out and comment. You have to stop and realize these are the "Fred Phelps' " of this issue. More times then not these are people who go out on their own just so they can take it to far. Sorry, I can't think of the word right now for these horrible people. These are the type of people who make any movement examples "pro-lifers" "Religous people" as whole look bad.
Is zealot the word I'm looking for? Maybe not....
October 9, 2007 at 10:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
You're right, Weltha. I think the word you want for describing these people who take it too far is "extremist." Rudolph (something) comes to mind right away as someone who bombed abortion clinics. Anyway, you are right about how extremists make it look bad for ordinary citizens who just want to make their opinions known en masse.
Not that this is an excuse, but I am a product of the Vietnam era when demonstrations got so dangerous that I wouldn't go into town because that meant exposing my two young children to some pretty scary tactics used by demonstrators at the main gates of three different bases where we lived during that time. Crowds can get out of hand so easily.
October 9, 2007 at 11:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Weltha (anonymous) says...
Thank you create. I really haven't a clue as to why I just could not think of that earlier. As soon as I hit post it came to me. Oh well atleast people got the point I see. I thankfully didn't have to deal with Vietnam protests or really any other for that matter. I am truely sorrry that you or anyone else had/has to go through that.
October 9, 2007 at 12:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )