It was 1984, and was working a trade show in Montana. Various venders had booths around the conference area. The conference was at a National Park, so traffic was slow, as attendees had their minds on seeing the sights. The last thing they wanted to do was talk to peddlers. As a consequence, vendors had ample time to talk with one another. Upon visiting with the wife of the vender next to me, I discovered that she was a history teacher. The conversation drifted into the abortion issue, or as she described it, the “choice” issue. The conversation would forever stay stuck in my memory. It went like this.
History Teacher: You don’t think that women should have the right to choose what to do with their bodies! Don’t you think that the “majority” should have their way? (Note: It was an unproven consensus at that time that the majority of American’s believed in the right of a women to have an abortion.)
DJ: I believe that an unborn life is protected by our founding documents, and “life” is the most basic of rights given to us by our Creator. As for what the “majority” might want, the Constitution was created to protect the rights of the “minority” from, what in some cases could be, the ill intended wishes of the “majority”. We do not have a pure democracy, but a Constitutional Republic, where a document protects the rights of the individual, whether the individual is in the “majority” or “minority”. The unborn are the most vulnerable of minorities.
History Teacher: I know who you are, and what you are about! You are going to get hurt someday!
She abruptly turned and walked away. I was stunned. I had to ask myself, “Where did that last remark come from?” I concluded that she was implying that I was a Christian, and because I was, my convictions were going to bring conflict and trouble into my life at some time in the future. Mind you, I was talking with a school teacher who taught “history”. Another question popped into my head, “What kind of history could she possibly be teaching if she was offended by references to the Declaration of Independence and The Constitution?” Could we not have a civil discussion? Her final comment to me came from a dark place. It was as if I had encountered something hostile, and it left me shaken.
Since that day, I have gone on to do what most Americans do, — juggle the demands of earning an income, making a home, going to church, and raising a family. Preoccupation with living “life” takes us away from what is most important, one of those being the protection of the innocent. The revelations of the Center for Medical Progress (CMP) has, once again, exposed the darkness of abortion, the abortion mills of Planned Parenthood, and the callous disregard for “life” by those associated with the movement. It is not unusual to become physically ill as I read about the harvesting of body parts from live babies, hearts still beating, as “technicians” from Stem Express begin their work. (Reference: http://www.wnd.com/2015/08/watch-abortion-video-biomedical-company-tried-to-block/) I, for one, cannot get through the videos. Officials are even caught joking about the shipping of body parts. (Reference: http://www.wnd.com/2015/08/baby-parts-harvester-jokes-about-shipping-human-heads/) To add insult to injury, our tax dollars go to help finance this activity, because our Representatives do not have the conviction to cut off the funding. All taxpaying Americans are participants by default.
What we face today is the something I faced with the school teacher in 1984, — a spiritual darkness. One can go to “youtube” and watch as pro-abortionists drown out a group of pro-lifers singing “Amazing Grace” with the chant, — “Hail Satan”. (Reference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PkZQ5C_Oc4) We have a political party and a President that openly support abortion and have been instrumental in implementing funding of Planned Parenthood. (Reference: http://www.wnd.com/2015/08/team-obama-warns-states-on-planned-parenthood/) And, fulfilling the promise of ” I know who you are, — you are going to get hurt someday,” the abortionists have threatened to sue CMP, the group who exposed this evil. Yes, I am going to call it what it is, — it is evil. It is estimated that over fifty-million abortions have been performed since 1973 and Roe v. Wade. Now we find out that there are people and companies profiting from the sale of the unspeakable.
It is imperative that Christians, and all who value life, not let this subject die through apathy and complacency. To do so will have consequences. The following are quotes from Alexis de Tocqueville, the 19th Century philosopher & historian, that seem pertinent:
“Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith.”
“Men cannot abandon their religious faith without a kind of aberration of intellect and a sort of violent distortion of their true nature; they are invincibly brought back to more pious sentiments. Unbelief is an accident, and faith is the only permanent state of mankind.”
“Everybody feels the evil, but no one has courage or energy enough to seek the cure”
“America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.”
(Reference: http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/465.Alexis_de_Tocqueville)
It is as if I have woken up from a deep sleep, and I find myself a stranger in my own country. The values I hold dear are under relentless attack. Make no mistake about it, there is a secular movement to change history, abolish any reference to our Judeo-Christian heritage, and erase Christianity from the public square. If we deny the most basic of “unalienable” rights, — that of LIFE, — given to us by our Creator, — we abandon morality, and threaten liberty. The support of “abortion” is an “aberration of intellect and a violent distortion” of our faith. So, what is the “cure” we seek. It will not be through law or legislation, but through persuasion. We must work to change the hearts and minds of those around us. The “Rule of Law” will follow. Yes, I have alienated friends and relatives over this matter. So be it! The argument needs to be made, because “If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.” I do not wish to leave my children and grandchildren anything less than a good and great country.
Here are a couple of final quotes that I hope will inspire others. I think you will know who the author is.
“For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; —” Psalm 139: 13-14
“The thief cometh not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
