I AM PRO-LIFE

I am pro-life.  I will never be convinced that killing babies is a good thing.  The brutal elimination of millions of innocent babies is heartbreaking, gut-wrenching and unacceptable.  Just hearing any detail about abortions (including the latest story of Planned Parenthood selling baby parts) makes me want to curl up in a ball and cry my eyes out. 

It really bothers me that every four years, the latest liberal politician running for President reaches out to women to assure them that their right to kill their unborn babies will be protected.  As if murdering babies is of utmost importance to all American women.  The miracle of life that grows in a woman’s womb is something that should be revered, honored, respected, and cherished.  So how did we get to the point in America where politicians win elections by assuring women they’ll be able to continue killing their babies? 

Without going into biological details that I’m sure everyone already knows (though some like to ignore), I firmly believe that innocent human life should be protected and respected, regardless of what stage that life is in.  I am horrified that our country is ok with choosing a stage of human life – the most important stage – and discarding it like trash. 

What if one day our country chose another stage of human life and decided it was ok to eliminate life at that stage?  Teenagers?  Elderly?  Why is it okay to kill humans at one stage, but not another?  Why did our country decide that the beginning stage of human life is worthless?  It seems only logical that the first stage of human life is also the most important.  Yet more than 3,000 unborn babies are killed each day in America.  They’ll never know the American dream, because apparently the new American dream is the ability to legally have your unborn baby ripped from your womb and discarded like trash. 

A baby growing inside a woman who doesn’t want that baby is just as alive and important as a baby growing inside a woman who does want her baby.  There is no difference in the “aliveness” of the babies.  People have come to believe that their own personal feelings about the life growing inside them dictate whether it’s actually a life or not.  Rationalization does not equal truth. 

Remember the story of the pregnant woman in Colorado that answered a Craigslist ad and got her baby cut out of her stomach?  Everyone who heard that story was shocked and horrified.  But what if there was a follow-up story that the woman didn’t want her baby and was going to get an abortion anyway…?  Would everyone who initially felt shocked and horrified turn around and decide it wasn’t tragic after all?  That kind of about-face would be very hard to justify.

Many pro-choice advocates claim it’s acceptable to kill an unborn baby because they aren’t “viable.”  They rely on their mother to live, so it’s really up to the mom whether the baby should live or die.  This argument contains no logic.  Have you ever heard of a newborn baby feeding itself, walking to Target to purchase diapers, swaddling and clothing itself, scheduling its pediatrician appointments, etc?  Newborn humans are the most vulnerable and helpless of all mammals.  We are completely dependent for quite some time.  In fact, a baby’s first 3 months is often called the 4^th trimester, since they are so dependent on their mother.  So should the abortion argument still apply to newborns, infants, and toddlers?  Babies rely on their parents to survive, so it’s up to the parents if they want to kill their baby…? 

Another point regarding “viability”.  According to this argument, human life that is helpless on its own should not be protected, and it’s acceptable to kill the most helpless of our species.  So what about people receiving life-saving surgeries and treatment?  Their lives are dependent on medical professionals, so does that mean their life is meaningless and someone can decide to just kill them because they’re 100% dependent on someone else to survive?  Why do we even bother saving people from burning buildings?  They’re helpless so they’re worthless, right?  I’m just following the “logic” of pro-choice advocates.

Many people love to compare humans to the animal kingdom, especially in instances of mass killings.  Animals are so much more kind and loving.  They certainly don’t go around killing their own species like humans do.  Well in that same thought process, animals certainly don’t go around ripping their own offspring from their wombs and killing them by the millions. 

Abortion is a war on babies and women.  It amazes me that “reproductive health” is referenced when promoting abortion.  Really?  It’s reproductively healthy to reproduce and then kill that offspring?  Obviously it’s not healthy for the baby, and it’s definitely not healthy for the mother.  Many women live to regret their abortions.  They bear deep emotional and many times physical scars.  For some women, that abortion in their past will never leave their mind.  And sometimes, that abortion in their past makes future children impossible.  It turns out that when it comes to the “reproductive health of women”, abortions can make it difficult to conceive again, or to carry to term.  What a devastating thing to do to women, and to claim it’s a women’s rights issue. 

Our society (more specifically – liberal politicians and abortion profiteers) encourages women to kill their unwanted, unborn babies.  Why aren’t we encouraging life instead?  Wouldn’t that be a better reflection on our society, to promote and cherish life instead of death?  Why aren’t we incentivizing and encouraging women to carry their babies to term and give their babies up for adoption?  I think a lot of people would be much more comfortable with their tax dollars funding initiatives that respect life and offer women options and opportunities for themselves and their babies.  Whether it’s education, prenatal care, and assistance in the beginning of the baby’s life, or whether it’s adoption assistance. 

I mention tax dollars, since tax payers are revoltingly forced to partially fund Planned Parenthood.  Of course there are already charities and non-profits in place with pro-life missions, and I am all for private organizations doing this kind of work instead of the government.  But as much as I love small government, I love life more.  I’d be willing to have tax payer money fund pro-life initiatives, because human life is worth it, and so is America’s soul.

In the heartbreaking cases of rape and incest, abortion is not a humane option.  A woman who survived rape is already traumatized and scarred for life.  Having her offspring (yes, it’s her offspring, not just the rapist’s) ripped from her body and discarded like trash can only serve to traumatize her further.  That baby becomes the rapist’s second victim, and the woman is victimized a second time.  Some women choose to raise the baby that came from rape, and others choose to give that baby up for adoption.  I’m not saying any of these options are easy, but they are the most humane and compassionate.  Tax payer money would be much better spent assisting these women and their babies, rather than contributing to death.

Responsible birth control, without the fallback option of a quickie abortion, is what our country needs.  The absence of an abortion option would greatly reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies, I firmly believe this.  All women should have access to affordable birth control options (which they already do – condoms included).  In the case of an unwanted pregnancy, there are millions of people that would love to adopt.  And in the rare case of pregnancies that threaten the life of the mother, those are heartbreaking and personal medical decisions for the mother and father.

Just some final thoughts on how our society has descended to this point.  Abortion has become a game of semantics and rationalization.  Babies are not called babies by the abortion profiteers – they are fetuses.  A woman getting an abortion calls her baby a fetus.  A woman who is happy about her pregnancy calls her baby a baby.  No one throws a “Fetus Shower.”  No one registers at Fetus’s R Us.  No one happily announces their pregnancy by saying, “I’m excited to announce that I have a fetus in my uterus!”  No woman shows off her growing Fetus Bump in cute monthly photos. 

So how does our society get away with stripping babies of their right to life?  Call it a fetus, question its viability, claim it’s not truly a life until it breathes oxygen.  Do everything possible to rationalize abortion with semantics.  Make women believe that somehow, their own personal feelings about the life growing inside them dictate whether it’s actually a life or not.  Somehow this wordplay has taken root in our society, and it’s a very successful way of getting people to ignore reality.

Abortion is not a necessary component of society, but many Americans have become convinced that it is.  History will look back on us and judge us harshly.  I’m on the right side of this issue, the side that respects human life.  The side that looks at an ultrasound and marvels at the miracle of life, with the same sense of awe and wonder as when I first laid eyes on my newborn baby.  What side are you on?

Rainbows and Bigotry

I think we can all agree that refracted light has had a pretty big week.  From being splashed across profile pictures far and wide, to lighting up the White House, rainbows haven’t had this much free publicity since that double rainbow guy on YouTube. 

Based on social media, you’d think that America held an election and Gay Marriage won a popular vote – by a landslide.  But like all things on social media, appearances are deceiving.  And the afterglow of the gay marriage ruling is as fleeting as all the rainbow filtered profile pictures now being changed back to non-rainbow selfies.  I think this change in societal norms is important enough for open discussion without fear of being labeled a bigot.

“Bigot: A person who is intolerant toward those holding different opinions.”  I think it’s important to reference the definition of the word, because words and their definitions are becoming meaningless in America.  The word bigot is being used by people who fit the definition 100%, in order to label a large group of people who do not fit the definition at all.  

I have only noticed one group of people acting like bigots since the gay marriage ruling, and those people are pro-gay-marriage.  I’m not saying that everyone who is pro-gay-marriage is a bigot, but I’ve definitely noticed that a lot of them are.  Or at least the vocal ones are.  I have read so many hurtful, hateful, sarcastic, intolerant things said towards Christians and the general population of people who oppose gay marriage.  These hateful things aren’t being said to “gay-bashers” – they’re being said to people that have the “opinion” that marriage is between one man and one woman.  Most people with this “opinion” don’t hate gay people.  Yet there are pro-gay-marriage supporters wishing death to people who oppose their views.  Slightly bigoted maybe…?

People using hateful words towards traditional marriage supporters are ironically calling Christians bigots in the midst of their bigoted rants.  And it’s hard to take someone seriously when they tell Christians (and all opposed to gay marriage) to go kill themselves, and finish their rant with a phrase like, “Love wins.”

On the other hand, I haven’t heard or read one word of hatred or intolerance from people that are against gay marriage.  I’m sure it’s out there, but I haven’t personally come across it.  I have seen many blogs and articles from Christians or people opposing the gay marriage ruling on a Constitutional basis.  I haven’t read any hateful words.  I have read words of love and / or tolerance towards gay people, just not words of tolerance towards the redefining of marriage. 

It’s hard to keep up with words and their constantly changing definitions these days.  But based on these recent observations, a bigot is apparently someone that expresses love and / or tolerance towards a group of people but opposes their opinions.  And conversely, spewing hatred and anger towards someone who doesn’t share your opinion doesn’t make you a bigot.  Also – a rainbow filtered profile picture assures your non-bigot status, no matter what hateful words come out of your mouth (or your keyboard).

Bruce Jenner is a Man with Serious First-World Problems

I wonder how Caitlyn Jenner dealt with menopause?  It was probably no big deal for him, since he’s been pregnant so many times - everything’s a cakewalk after that, am I right fellas?  I mean, no one understands what it’s like to be a woman quite like a man wearing makeup.  I just hope he remembers to get yearly mammograms.  Which again, should be a piece of cake after having yearly OB exams most of his life.  He’s probably just glad he’s not having his period anymore!  Just when I thought we lived in a society where being a woman is NOT defined by makeup, cleavage, and long hair, along comes Bruce Jenner to prove us all wrong.

Ok, let’s be serious.  Bruce Jenner has a serious case of First-World Problems.  He is simply a man that wants to look and dress like a first-world woman.  I am not usually on the “offended” train that is so popular these days.  But I am highly offended that Bruce Jenner thinks he can call himself a woman.  Why are we not hearing more outrage, especially from women?  I thought we were supposed to think of women as more than just sex symbols.  More than just boobs, hair, makeup.  More than surface appearance.  Women are amazing creatures, truly.  Beyond the most amazing aspect (the ability to grow a baby in their womb and bring a life into this world), women are special and different.  Different from men.  I know I’m stating the obvious, but apparently it’s not that obvious any more.  

As women, we had the displeasure of experiencing that first awkward menstrual period.  Those couple embarassing moments in school associated with having a period.  And then we get to deal with that monthly friend every month for decades (sometimes accompanied by cramps, back pain, mood swings, etc).  And then of course yearly OB exams - not fun.  And then the random pregnancy scare.  And then the biological clock - crap, can I still have kids?  Should I have kids?  Maybe I don’t want kids?  Will I be a good mom?  Perhaps a decision to not have kids - maybe getting your tubes tied.  Maybe you have a heartbreaking miscarriage.  Or maybe you find yourself in a place and age in life where you simply can’t get pregnant, even though you desperately want it more than anything else in the world.  And then of course there’s pregnancy.  And childbirth - the best, most amazing thing on this planet.  Motherhood.  Breastfeeding.  Then later in life - mammograms, hysterectomies.  Heartbreaking cancers of the many beautiful things that make us female.  All of these things, and all of the emotions and happiness and heartbreak that go along with these things, are things that only women can truly understand.  Sure, men are effected by things that happen to the women they love.  But it’s not even close to what women go through and feel.  

Every woman is special, unique and different from one another.  Yet we do share a common bond because we are women.  Deep down, only women can understand women.  A man can’t simply put on makeup, a corset, high heels, hair extensions, do a few surgeries and hormonal treatments, and all of a sudden call himself a woman.  It’s insulting to women everywhere.  Why can’t we just call this what it is?  A man that wants to look and dress like a woman, but who is most definitely a man.  He can’t swoop in and claim to be a woman.  Women own that privelege.  Not because we’re mean and we don’t like to share.  Because it’s a biological, scientific fact.  

We live in the best country in the world, where we have so many freedoms.  Whatever this man decides to do in the privacy of his own life - fine, whatever.  I personally think he’ll live to regret his surgical decisions, and I think one day he’ll look back on the stress and emotional upheaval (that will likely never go away) that he put his kids through (publicly I might add), and he’ll wish he hadn’t done it to them.  But it’s his decision.  We can think he’s a bad father and grandfather (those titles imply that you no longer put yourself first), and we can think he has psychological problems as much as we want.  But he decided to start dressing and acting like a woman, and in this country he is free to do whatever he wants as long as it’s legal.  But why must we as a society then praise, honor, revere him - AND buy into his delusion that he really is a woman?  I’m really confused by that.  Many people in this country think he’s a hero for doing this.  The concept of heroism has apparently taken a dive in our society.  But then again, many people in this country think that what he’s done shouldn’t be praised and enabled on a national level.  These people (the majority I am willing to bet) have been successfully silenced by the very vocal people telling us that we’re horrible, hateful bigots for thinking Bruce Jenner is indeed a man.  A man who just wants to look and dress like first-world women (namely, his step-daughters).

You’re either someone who is all about science, someone who is all about religion, or a mix of the two.  Either way, a man calling himself a woman and expecting people to believe that he’s a woman, doesn’t jive.  Had Bruce Jenner been born and raised in a third world country, surrounded by men and women that wore very similar clothing (no corsets, high heels, makeup, dresses, hair extensions, etc), would he still have this supposed innate need to wear high heels…?  We all know the answer is no.  I wonder if any men in Uganda are plagued by the intense desire to wear lipstick and hair extensions…

If one day I start telling people that I think I’m a penguin, I feel like a penguin, and I want to start transitioning to a penguin, I truly hope the people in my life will intervene.  If not for my sake, then for my daughter’s sake and my husband’s sake.  And definitely for the sake of my mother, who gave birth to a precious baby girl, NOT a penguin.  And if they can’t stop me from dressing and acting like a penguin, then I truly hope my story remains private, and not splashed across national television as if what I’m doing should be respected and praised.  

There are people in this world that do some pretty weird stuff in their private lives.  They are free to do so.  And if they decide to make it public, we are free to think it’s pretty damn weird.  So I hope that one day, we’ll stop being forced to accept weird stuff on a national level.  And if it’s continually forced on us through every media outlet imaginable, I hope we have the voice to call it like we see it, and not be afraid to do so.  I don’t think I’m a bad person for feeling this way, even though I’m sure thousands of people will condemn my “opinion” that Bruce Jenner was born a man and is still a man.