I am honored to have been given posting privileges here! Thank you!
As most of my readers at MommyLife already know, I spent the late 60's and early 70's demonstrating in Washington, DC on the Mall, at the Capitol, the bridges, and the Pentagon against the Viet Nam War - then at George Mason University crusading for abortion rights. Left all that behind in 1972 to explore the more recreational side of the counterculture in San Francisco.
After many detours, in 1987 I became a Christian. It was only then that I understood the sanctity of life. You have to know you are special in God's eyes before you understand that each one of us is.
Flash forward to 2006. I am published writer with 12 kids (2 married with almost 10 grandchildren) and we have all moved from the Left Coast back to Virginia. I've been blogging for a year as a way to establish more relationship with my readers. Will I go to a Blogs4Life Conference and the Right to Life March? You bet I will!
With me was my 12 year old daughter Maddy - unfortunately on one crutch because she had a biopsy on her foot the other day and it still hurts. But she said she was good to go.
I finally met Charmaine Yoest - a blog buddy - in person!! And Tim from ProLife Blogs. And La Shawn Barber. And Peter from March Together. Here they are, posing for a picture:
After Blogs4Life, we joined the throngs headed for the Mall - the expanse between the Washington Monument and the Capitol. Roads were blocked and buses were unloading everywhere with people streaming like tributaries toward the main river of marchers. Groups were identified by different color hats or scarves or the signs they carried. I was fascinated by it all.
No, that's an understatement - coming from the background I come from and being surrounded by so much goodness, health, and life I was filled with gratitude for all the good people who've kept marching for life for 33 years.
This is the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property. Their banner says, "The acceptance of abortion not only changes a person's morals, but transforms their Christian worldview into neopagan secularism."
These are members of the order Missionaries of Charity founded by Mother Teresa.
Poster with lyrics from Third Day:
There is hope for the helpless, mercy and healing,.
and love for the broken-hearted.
Cry out to Jesus
These are students from Pinecrest Academy in Georgia. They told me they come every year.
This sweatshirt is emblematic, I believe, of the hope in this generation. The number of teenagers at the March - at least 50% of the crowd - was absolutely amazing!! But not when you realize that they are the ones who will be changing our culture toward pro-life. Pro-choice people just aren't leaving the legacy numbers-wise.
Michigan loves our President. So do many pro-life people. Bush sent a taped address, as he does each year, affirming his commitment to the pro-life cause. All those conservatives who kvetch about the other things they don't like about him, could at least concede how right he's gotten this. I mean, I'm sure the March never heard boo from Clinton.
Princeton for Life. Who knew? I mean, I think of Peter Singer, who advocates a 28 day period in which parents can terminate the life of a "defective" new born. He's the chair of Princeton's Ethics Department, you know. These students have their work cut out for them.
Oh, the stage. Couldn't see anything happening there, but could hear through the loudspeakers. Note the sea of green hats in front of me. By this time it was starting to rain. Maddy's foot was throbbing. She's having her tonsils out Wednesday (this just hasn't been her month) and since I need to deliver her to the hospital in some sort of healthy state, I decided we needed to leave. The crowd was still growing as we turned away and headed to the Metro station. It was a tough call, but if I'm pro-life, I've got to do what's right by my own children.
Of course I had to get a picture of this - my favorite banner of the day. Psalm 127:3.
Would you have pegged these kids as pro-life? Remember that next time you're tempted to judge a book by its cover! I think they're kind of cute.
At any age, pro-lifers just seem a little happier than pro-choicers!
Now here's one way to get your message across - sure beats blogging!
As we made our way out, the rain was still pouring down and the crowds still pouring in. I only wish I could have stayed longer and brought you more images.
Next year, I promise.
Thank you for your work in D.C. and on the web. I prayed for all those marching for life, and I asked others to do the same at http://spaces.msn.com/members/jamiebeu/Blog/cns!1p0nXXA4sFy2bLkB5dtTFiZw!201.entry
Keep up the good work, and may God bless our country by imbuing it with the Culture of Life.
I want to be there next year!
NEXT YEAR?
What do you mean next year.
Oh yea for the victory march huh?
Jesus loves you!
Awesome Blog! I was there for the first time this year and was blown away by the magnitude of it all especially the youth mass and rally. There were 2000 people outside who couldn't get in b/c all the seats were packed!! Keep praying that we won't have to be there next year!
This past year was the second year i went on the march! it is one of the most amazing things a tennager could experience. It has really changed my outlook on life and you really get in touch with God and your beliefs. I would encourage everyone who is Pro-Life to go. Its AMAZING!..i thank you for posting to pictures to show the heart of the march!
thank you