Wednesday, January 28, 2009

a letter to the President

There is a piece of legislation called the Freedom of Choice Act that I believe every one of us needs to know about. It is a bill that President Obama promised to sign into action if he were elected. In fact, in a speech to Planned Parenthood, he said it would be the first thing he would do in office. I had heard of it in passing, but it is only recently that I did some research and became informed of exactly what the Freedom of Choice Act entails. Please click the link to read about in greater detail, but in a nutshell, I will simply say that it is a bill that would eliminate state restrictions on abortion, allowing every state in the country to perform abortions until the age of viability (at 20 some odd weeks). After that point, late term abortions could be performed for the health of the mother. This would reverse all legislation that has been put in place to limit abortions in our nation.

I really don't know everything I can do to make my voice heard, but I am starting with what I can do. I am writing a letter to President Obama that I am sending to him, my congressman, my senators, and my local newspaper. Will it ever get read? Maybe, maybe not. But even if no official eyes ever see it, I must do what is in my power to do to be a voice for the babies who don't have one.

Here is my letter.

Dear President Obama,

It is no secret that the abortion debate rages strong in our country, as opposing sides square up, unyielding and polarized in their views. Yet when I look at all the players, pro-life and pro-choice, one common denomonator is impossible to deny. Everyone participating in the discussion is alive. That one fact unites us, whether we like it or not, by placing us in the elite group of the born. It is by means of this special status that we are afforded all the privileges we enjoy, things like living and breathing, feeling and thinking, voting and legislating. And while we didn’t do anything to earn this status, it’s unimaginable for us to operate outside of it.

Perhaps if we lived in a universe where that was not the case, the abortion debate would be markedly different. Imagine, for example, that you were a fetus equipped with full mental capacity. Imagine your awareness and knowledge were the same as that you currently possess. Now imagine that you as a fetus must vote on the legality of abortion. But with one little catch: you don’t know which choice your mother will make if abortion is an option.

Would you be willing to sacrifice everything you’ve experienced in this life, your family, your career, even the presidency itself, for your mother’s right to choose? Would I be willing to do the same? A thought provoking scenario, certainly, but one that is strictly theoretical none the less. An exercise in imagination, but nothing more.

The debate will no doubt continue to rage as the Freedom of Choice Act is brought to the table, but no matter what the outcome, one thing is for sure. The debate will always be lopsided. After all, the people involved in the discussion will without exception approach the issue from the vantage point of being alive.

A thoughtful citizen,

Angie Luce
Memphis, TN

18 comments:

Brianna said...

That is great! It is so sad that all these poor babies voices go unheard. Glad to see someone else standing up for what is right. I actually just posted a blog on this very subject. If you get a chance listen to the song on my page it is truly amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0EOWYJf9dg

Anonymous said...

YOU GO GIRL! Awesome letter

Rebecca Harber said...

Angie I just had a big debate about this on FB the other day. This subject just makes my heart ache. I find it hard to understand why people do not view abortion as murder. Everyone says it is the mother's body and she can do whatever she wants to with it, but I beg to differ. It is a child she is destroying not her body. I seriously do not understand abortion and I never will. I've been meaning to post about this and now I think I will. Do you mind if I link to you so people can read your letter to the President?

Angie said...

Sure, you are more than welcome to link to the letter. Awareness of what this is and all the implications is so important, and anything that will help inform is fantastic.

tn_lizzie2000 said...

Wow, wow, wow! This deserves publicity!

Thank you for sharing your eloquence and wisdom.

I pray that God will prepare hearts to read this!

Jessica said...

Great job on the letter.

I found this site too:

http://www.fightfoca.com/

lovinsanta said...

I thought I read where he already signed this into law. Maybe I'm wrong and it is just coming up for him to sign, but I sure hope he gives it more thought.

So sad that these babies are not given a voice because they are not listened too. I hope you are the voice.

Thanks.

Heather

Angie said...

he did sign a bill releasing gov't money for overseas abortions, but that was something separate from this bill.

Rebecca Harber said...

Thanks Angie. What he just signed was releasing the funds which in turn uses our tax money to pay for abortions even if we disagree and voted against abortion. We now have no choice but to pay for something that we do not agree with.

Trudy said...

Beautiful words and perspective. We just went to the Walk for Life West Coast in SF. I posted a video by Eduardo Verastegui (from the movie "Bella") on my blog. It is graphic but we must never forget what Abortion truly is. If we do, it will continue. Thanks for inspiring us to do something.

Lindsey said...

I was amazed by your letter, a scenario I hadn't ever considered before. I LOVE it. I would like to link you too.

Five Musgraves at Ten Oaks said...

Your unique "what if" scenario is very intriguing . . . and I pray will make others realize the self-centeredness of the abortion rights advocates! Could you post this on fb? That way we could share it and pass it around! God Bless you today :)

Anonymous said...

Great letter! Life is a gift given from our Creator; it should not be our choice to end it if convenient...

Anonymous said...

Great letter. You said it all I could not have said it better myself.

Cathy said...

I love the letter, please don't stop being the most important voice.

Elise said...

Your argument is really juvenile and laughable. If you want to fight for this cause, be intelligent. Letters like this cause all of us to lose credibility. More harm than good . . .

Finally, don't even pretend for one second that you understand what it is like to be in the position that many women are in. Fall to your knees and ask God to forgive you for being judgmental.

Angie said...

Elise,

I wish you would have left an email so that I could have written you personally, but I will leave it at this. I never want to come across judgemental toward the women who make the choice for abortion. If nothing else, my time at the crisis pregnancy center has given me deep compassion for the truly difficult situations that these women find themselves in. I will never judge a woman or reject her for that choice. But i will also always push for legislation that limits abortion. I believe strongly that I can hold both views consistently.

Angie

Anonymous said...

Do you realize how controlling you are? Why do you want to control others and limit what they can and cannot do? Your faith does not give you the right to choose for others.

I find that the conservative Christians of this country only want power and control over others. What is your fear? What are you afraid of? Are you afraid others may ENJOY their lives more than you do? Where will it end? If you get your wish that abortions are illegal, what will you try to manipulate and control then?

When you constantly try to oppress people from living as they chose, you will be met with resistance.

This isn't about unborn babies, this is about your need for power and manipulation.

Vicky