“If you don’t have any enemies, you’re probably not doing anything worthwhile.” –anonymous
I’m not sure that this quote is universally applicable, but I stumbled across it recently and realized it profoundly relates to the pro-life movement. I am immensely proud to be pro-life, and believe that women deserve better than abortion with all my heart [for the reasons why I believe this, do some browsing on the rest of this website!], and I’ve been thinking lately about how difficult, yet how necessary, it is to be unapologetic about your pro-life beliefs.
Now, I am a people pleaser. Not to the point of being walked all over, but I like it when everyone is comfortable and happy. I’m somewhat of a “equalizer”, you could say, especially in social situations. I like bringing two sides of a room together. I love having lively debate. And usually, this personality trait works great for me. Friends always elect me to be the one to ask directions from a stranger, or interfere in a dramatic disagreement, and I’m always happy to do so! After all, you can work just about anything out with a nice, civil, discussion, and everyone can leave feeling happy, right?
Well, when it comes to abortion, it’s not always easy. Armed with the facts that I am sure could convince anyone, and the compassion to meet each individual where they are at, I enter purposefully and confidently into dialogue about this issue. The roadblock comes about halfway through when I realize once again that I cannot defend the pro-life position and please everyone at the same time. I almost always reach a point where my view is not in agreement with the view of the person I am discussing with. I could just let my people-pleasing habit kick in and let the conversation fizzle out until we both feel comfortably lukewarm again—OR I can bear the temporary discomfort to share what I know about abortion, and why I truly believe that it is our generation’s Holocaust.
Indeed, we cannot be apologetic about where we stand, whether in our conversations, or our facebook statuses. This is a lesson I am learning more and more as I work in the movement, and I realize that some people are not going to like me simply because they know I want abortion to end in this country. Being anti-abortion is not as cool these days as being anti-sex trafficking. Still, I cannot be embarrassed to stand where I do: defending the 3,000+ voiceless babies who die every day.
A pre-born human being is indisputably a human person. Abortion is killing a human person in the womb. And, with facts, truth, compassion, love, and justice on our side, we have nothing to apologize for. Be proud to be pro-life!
By: Catherine Phillips, 2012 Missionary for Life
