The 10th Annual “Walk for Life West Coast” took place in San Francisco on Jan. 25. It was a great success.
Begun in 2005 with some 7,500 people participating, it’s estimated the “Walk” this year had 50,000 people of all ages and religious beliefs in attendance.
It’s always held on the weekend closest to the anniversary of Roe v Wade, the Supreme Court ruling legalizing abortion – 41 years ago this year.
At that time, the usual rationale of the pro-abortion mantra was that what was in the woman wasn’t a “baby,” it was just tissue. It wasn’t alive, wasn’t human, wasn’t worthy of concern.
Essentially, if you wanted it, it was a baby; if not, it wasn’t, so getting rid of it was OK.
That really presented problems for obstetricians, who traditionally said that if a woman was pregnant, the doctor really has two patients: the mother and her unborn child.
In the 41 years since the ruling, it’s estimated that at least 55 million babies have been intentionally killed by their own mothers. It’s a procedure this country considers legal.
It’s an interesting thought that if a mother intentionally has her own baby killed in her womb, it’s legal.
But, if a person attacks a pregnant woman and kills her unborn, the attacker can be prosecuted, and could be charged with murder.
Essentially, our law says, if you want it, it’s a baby.
If you don’t, it’s not a baby, and it’s legal to kill it and throw it away.
The pro-life supporters Saturday came from all over California and more than six other states, visibly supporting their belief in the sanctity of the life of the unborn.
Dolores Meehan, co-founder of the event, told me the Walk affirms the right to life from conception to natural death. She said it’s nonsectarian and nondenominational. The common thread among the participants is a respect for life – all life.
There were Catholic priests and bishops there, along with San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordelone and two Anglican bishops, including Bishop Eric Menees.
Rev. Clenard Childress Jr. was there, speaking to the fact that a majority of abortions involve the killing of black babies. He has called it a black genocide.
It’s not surprising that not everyone in San Francisco likes having such an event in the city.
Local media virtually ignore it.
In the early years of the event, Planned Parenthood commented that they were horrified that those people would “have the nerve to do this in San Francisco.
One year, city supervisors voted 10-0 to plan a rally and celebration of the legalization of abortion.
When Gavin Newsom was mayor, he and the supervisors were so antagonistic that it stimulated pro-abortion protesters to cause major disruptions. It didn’t hurt Newsom politically – he’s now lieutenant governor, with aspirations to higher office.
Since then, the Walk has been peaceful and pro-abortion protesters number fewer than 100.
This year, S.F. Supervisor David Campos and six others, presented a resolution objecting to the banners (legally) hung in the city inviting participants to the event.
The banners said “Abortion hurts women,” and the speakers at the program before the Walk supported that: Survivors of abortions – yes, some babies do not die and grow to adulthood. Other speakers were women who’d had abortions and suffered regrets and sometimes, physical consequences.
There were people who help women find adopting families for their unwanted children so they can avoid an abortion, and there were ministers from all religions who counsel people before and after abortions.
Before Roe, women who got pregnant and regretted it had to go to abortionists who did their work out of sight of the law. Those who could afford it went out of the country. Others resorted to a variety of self-induced abortions – that’s where the phrase “coat-hanger” abortion came from. Not a pretty picture for the mother or the unborn.
That was also the day of the “shotgun wedding,” a daughter gets – as they used to say – “knocked up,” and Daddy forces the guy to marry her.
With Roe, that’s pretty much gone out of style, and so has the “coat-hanger” solution.
As one young woman who supports abortion on demand told a radio reporter in San Francisco today, “It’s important women have a choice … a coat hanger will not be my only option.”
Of course, it never was the only option, but it was a quick, down-and-dirty way to get rid of the evidence that the woman in question didn’t know how to say “no” and mean it – and the guy didn’t care.
Frankly, it’s a story as old as mankind.
Every time I hear all the politically influenced talk about the high cost of contraceptives for women who want sex but not a baby, and all the talk about the need for abortion and the ongoing arguing about who should pay for this extra-curricular activity, I’m reminded of a former talk-show host friend of mine who had the solution to the problem at the lowest cost.
According to him, the best birth control device is a dime.
A dime? Yes, that 10-cent coin.
The woman should put it between her knees and keep it there.
Think about it.           Â
Follow Barbara Simpson on Facebook.
Media wishing to interview Barbara Simpson, please contact [email protected].
|
