Pro-Life v. “Pro-Life”
Is it really about life or is it just about branding?
The Abortion Dog-Whistle
Looking toward 2020, it is becoming increasingly clear that abortion will once again be on the minds of voters and in the advertisements filling our overflowing mailboxes and dominating our commercial breaks. Due to the recent resurgence of late-term abortion references in the media, pro-life groups have quickly whipped themselves, and those who align themselves with them, into a frenzy.
The clamor around abortion quickly reached a fever-pitch when President Donald Trump referenced the so-called “late-term abortion bill” that was passed in New York in his State of the Union address in early February. Conservatives in Trump’s base quickly heard this dog-whistle type call and began rallying, particularly on talk radio in New York and Virginia, railing against this horrid practice.
Never mind the fact that abortions past the 20-week gestational mark account for less than 2% of all abortions performed in the United States.
Later in the week, Trump returned again to what will quickly become a key talking-point for his impending 2020 campaign when he cited the “dignity and sanctity of innocent human life” in front of a crowd of evangelical Christians at the National Prayer Breakfast.
More Than Just Justices
Similarly, in the lead-up to the 2016 elections, it became quite clear that abortion would be one of the key issues separating the two major increasingly divided political parties. Based on conversations with my very conservative Republican friends and family, this proved to be more than accurate.
Based on a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in June of 2016, the two polar extremes of both the Democratic and Republican parties pointed to the Supreme Court appointments, which indirectly points toward the overturning or, conversely, the protection of Roe v. Wade, as the central issue for them in their choice at the ballot box.
However, the question could be asked, are they truly pro-life or are they simply “pro-life” in brand name only?
Do they really believe it or is it just a talking point or a dog-whistle?
Pro-Life?
People who align themselves with the pro-life movement, often state that they are for life. However, I would truly wonder to what extent that fight for life really stretches?
Are they really pro-life or are they simply paying lip-service to a brand name or a political party?
Sadly, some of the most conservative Republicans are the ones fighting against LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights (with abortion being on the list of these rights), and refugee rights.
A few months ago, news broke about camps being set up for migrant children at the border of the United States and Mexico. Photos began filling news headlines and nightly news broadcasts with tear-streaked faces of nameless children.
Where were those in the pro-life camp?
Instead of fighting against the injustice of parents and children being separated, they were spending their time filling Twitter and Facebook feeds with juxtaposed photos of migrant children and ultrasounds, declaring how ridiculous and one-sided this country is. Funny how that doesn’t exactly sound completely pro-life.
Those within the pro-life movement often are part of some kind of religious organization. Sadly, religious organizations have been increasingly less tolerant toward those in the LGBTQ community. Look no further than the recent declaration by the United Methodist Church against same-sex marriage, homosexuality and LGBTQ clergy.
Additionally, studies have shown that LGBTQ youth who are engaged with faith communities are more likely to commit suicide than those who aren’t. This trend has been increasingly tracked and confirmed. According to Amit Paley, the CEO of The Trevor Project,
“For 10 years suicide has been the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S., but we know that young people, specifically LGBTQ youth, are particularly impacted. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for all young people. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are more than four times more likely to attempt suicide than their straight peers, and nearly half of all transgender people have attempted suicide — many before the age of 25.”
I often wonder how the church and those within the pro-life movement justify their response toward this significant cultural crisis.
Do they see it just as a sad consequence to the “sin problem” that is the LGBTQ “lifestyle choice”? Or is it something more?
True pro-life supporters would find this crisis appalling and would be advocates for mental health support for those in LGBTQ circles.
Pro-Voice: A New Alternative
The words around the abortion debate don’t highlight how nuanced the issue really is.
Pro-life. Pro-choice.
It seems like there are only two answers to the issue, when in reality, it should be so much more.
What about, instead, being pro-voice?
There are so many voices worth hearing in this world. Listening to these voices is a way we can honor, celebrate, protect, and value the people who choose to speak.
Listen to the mother who chooses to keep her unplanned pregnancy. Lean in and hear why she made that difficult decision.
Listen to the young woman who, when faced with the choice of pursuing her college dreams or raising a baby alone, she decided to end her pregnancy.
Listen to the young man who was brought to this country illegally by his parents. Hear the trembling in his voice as he shares his hopes and dreams that all hinge on a DACA decision.
Listen to the 17-year-old boy who struggles with depression and wonders if his life is worth living. The church his parents make him attend tell him that his sexuality is an abomination and a sin. This, in turn, tells him that he is an abomination.
A pro-voice approach truly is the way we should start approaching every single divisive topic that we often disagree on.
For those on the pro-life side, adopting a pro-voice stance would allow for space to listen, to understand the decision of women on both sides of the abortion issue, and would also allow them to support and bring value to people from conception to death. This view would also allow them to begin bridging the gap between the sacred to the secular
For those on the pro-choice side, adopting a pro-voice stance would allow for space to understand, to listen to those who believe their baby is worth keeping even if it is inconvenient, to listen to those who believe that all life is sacred and that a fetus is a human being. It would also allow them to begin bridging the gap between the secular to the sacred.
Our country is divided enough as it is. Is it really worth continuing to burn bridges just to prove a point, paying lip-service to a political side or aligning with what a religious organization says?
Being pro-life is so much more than protecting the unborn.
Pro-life encompasses all of life and all walks of life.
Be pro-voice. Listen. Understand. Sympathize. Value. Celebrate our differences and find ways to come together to protect all life.
