Choosing Death Over Life
By Francisco Gonzalez

The "March for Women's Lives" was a peculiar term for a demonstration that actually advocated choosing death. Interestingly, the rally, held in Washington, D.C. on April 25, altered its name twice. First, it was billed as the "Choice March," then as the "Freedom of Choice March," and finally to the more broadly based theme, "March for Women's Lives" was adopted. Apparently, the "pro-choice" movement is losing the ability to morally stand on its own and has been forced to make allies with interest groups that have some common goals.

This year's march was organized to follow the protests against the IMF held the previous day. Anti-globalization demonstrators, gay rights activists, anti-war protestors and the entire anti-Bush crowd all made appearances in the "March for Women's Lives." At times, it was difficult to tell them apart.

The pro-abortionists were there in full force. A college-aged "pro-choice" activist sort of set the tone: "My mother had an abortion. She aborted what would have been my sibling. But, given how poor we were when I grew up, it was good. Another sibling would have made it that much harder for my mother to provide for me. In fact, my family was so poor, my mother should have aborted me too!" Some of us thought we had heard it all - but she clearly set a higher standard. She wished she was dead, had never existed, clearly stating the movement's choice of death over life.

One sign that I saw several times at the procession read: "We are the future abortion providers. Med Students for Choice." I remember when young people used to want to be doctors to save people's lives. Is that not after all the hallmark of the Hippocratic oath? The demise of our culture of "life, liberty and happiness" has gone so far as to enter even a career field that is supposed to be filled with the caretakers of life.

Gay rights advocates were heavily represented in the procession. For some reason, they have become increasingly more hostile to traditional social norms as that society has become more tolerant of them. Yet, it is perhaps understandable. The union of two homosexual people, however in love they may be, does not produce life. In fact, one pro-life activist observing the rally, questioned why homosexuals were walking in a pro-choice march. Do not many say they want families? How else could they obtain children? Instead of seeing adoption as a pro-life alternative to the termination of a pregnancy, gay activists (the least likely to face the "choice" of abortion) preferred to join in a protest that was anti-war, anti-U.S. imperialism, and most notably, anti-Bush.

Some of the other visible signs included: "Keep Bush out of my bush," "Abort Bush," and most surprisingly, "Imagine if Barbara [Bush] had a choice." Apparently, abortion has become the "quick fix" to all their problems - even for their differences with the President.

Indeed, pro-choice activists have every reason to be upset with the President. Since taking office, President Bush signed a law banning the procedure known as partial-birth abortion. He has also denied federal funds for overseas abortions, money that typically goes to family planning clinics that provide abortion counseling. In addition, Bush withheld nearly $100 million in payments to the United Nations Population Fund, which promotes abortion as an alternative to pregnancy internationally.

Another popular slogan used by many of the pro-choice activists on their day for "reproductive rights," was "pro-life and pro-choice." But, while pro-choice activists claim "women's lives depend" on abortion being legal, they fail to respect another set of human beings whose lives depend on abortion being just the opposite. Since Roe v. Wade, over 43 million fetuses have been aborted in the United States alone. That more than trumps the statistic that one sign claimed: "Over 80,000 women have died worldwide due to illegal abortions." It would have been more helpful to learn the number of women's lives abortion has purportedly saved.

Unfortunately, much of our country and much of the world have been consumed by the culture of death. Thankfully this plague is not a terminal disease for the culture of death is in remission. The reason this demonstration was termed the "March for Women's Lives" was to broaden its support. On a Sunday afternoon, about 700,000 people of various anti-Bush groups joined forces to "March for Women's Lives." The message was clear: they are frightened that President Bush is going to destroy the "rights" women have enjoyed during the past thirty-one years to destroy their children.

Despite the hundreds of thousands of supporters for "choice" that turned out on the mall on April 25, the pro-life movement is the side gaining momentum. Ten years ago, 67 percent of our nation claimed to be "pro-choice." Today, that number is down to 54 percent. And, unlike the "Vietnam-era" protestors that are still marching to the beat of the old fashioned feminists' drum, the pro-life side is dominated by youth. If the trend continues, the next generation may see a nation where all may enjoy life, liberty and happiness, including the most vulnerable.