It seems that so much of what is discussed in the abortion debate has a central focus of either retaining or overturning Roe v. Wade. Many casual observers of the life issue believe that if Roe v. Wade is overturned, then abortion would be outlawed in the United States. Of course, the truth is that if it is overturned, then each state will decide the fate of the unborn. Instead of one huge battle for restrictions on abortion, there will be 50 smaller fights. In general, if Roe was overturned now, there would be 16 states that would attempt to protect abortion rights, 22 states that would significantly limit abortion, and 12 states in the middle. Just because there are states that seemingly would restrict abortion, there is no guarantee that it would happen. The pro-choice movement is a powerful force in this country, and they will stop at nothing to further their cause.
On many issues in our culture, the courts have often been the deciding factor, even overturning the will of the people. If state legislatures are able to restrict abortion, that decision will almost surely be contested in the courts. One by-product of having the states decide is that the issue will be in the news more often. Many Americans who rarely think about abortion, will now be prompted to face what the unborn really is.
What's the solution to this situation? Of course, people need to keep fighting for the dissolution of Roe v. Wade, with outstanding pro-life individuals and groups doing that on a daily basis. But while this is occurring, we still lose approximately 3,500 babies a day to abortion in the United States. To have an immediate impact to reduce abortions, it seems that a more effective way is to fight the battle from the bottom up. It all starts with the hearts and minds of the people involved in the abortion decision. The woman who is considering having the baby aborted and the father of that child need to be reached at their core. When their hearts and minds are convinced that what is being killed is a human, then the rest of the pro-life fight will be easier. If they keep the child, then their story will have an impact on their peers and beyond. There will be new converts to the pro-life view, especially in the youth, because one person's mind and heart were changed. With the vast networking that they have on the internet, the pro-life message can spread like wildfire.
Currently there are many groups focusing on the youth in America to choose life. Groups such as Students For Life In America, Justice For All, and many pro-life organizations in high schools and colleges help promote the cause. Recently, the organization Stand True had a pro-life day of silent solidarity in 4,700 campuses across America. These grassroots efforts for the sanctity of life will also be effective down the road legislatively and judicially if and when Roe v. Wade is overturned. If Roe v. Wade is not overturned, then at least the number of babies killed by abortion will be reduced.
I have added your post to Genocide in the USA
There is a war going on in the US which is killing innocent life. People who love animals and work to prevent cruelty to animals seem unaware. The news media who publishes claims of POWs being unfairly treated rarely brings up the word. People concerned over drunk drivers don't discuss it. Yes I am discussing the war on the unborn, which has taken millions of lives.
Monte
You say,"To have an immediate impact to reduce abortions, it seems that a more effective way is to fight the battle from the bottom up."
I agree totally. We came to the same conclusion here in the United Kingdom a while back. Our politicians are mainly pro-abortion. The legal and political battle must continue but there is another way, as you rightly suggest.
we are having great success in the High Streets of town centres in Britain with a new approach to pro-life...
See what we are doing at www.created4life.org
And read my blog "30 Oct 08 Pro-life campaigners, are you still alive and kicking?
http://created4life.org/weblog/?p=29#more-29
Saving lives, one by one, is repeatable if pro-lifers are willing to get out there.
Please let others know what we are doing and help us to do more. Thanks so much.
Alan
Director, Created4Life
I wholeheartedly agree with you Monte and I highly recommend Created4Life's ministry. I also recommend sidewalk outreach outside abortion centers: 40 HOURS FOR LIFE EVERY WEEK OF EVERY YEAR AT EVERY KILLING CENTER UNTIL ABORTION IS ABOLISHED.
Sidewalk counseling is "reaching out" to mothers and fathers, who are contemplating or planning abortion, to offer them information that they have a need and right to know. It is conducted by way of conversation and literature. It is done with love and out of concern for unborn children who are in danger of being deprived of their God-given right to be born into the world and for their parents, especially mothers, who are in danger of being severely harmed in numerous ways. It's not about trying to close down an abortion mill, it's about saving a child from certain death and his/her parents from certain harm, one family at a time.
For more information, commentary, resources, and ministries that you could join, visit Children Deserve Birth and Sidewalk Counseling.
The problem with pro-life is that it has the wrong idea about the opposite side. It is not called, "Pro abortion", it is "Pro-choice" and you can guess why. Pro-choice movement supporters never tell you that you HAVE to get an abortion, all they want is to keep the option open and let the parents decide. The religious groups in this country do not have the power to take away choice from individuals anymore. Seperation of Church and State cannot abide it. You all say that the State should keep out of your definition of marriage, yet you do not keep out of the State's definition of life. You hold a double standard. Even the pro-life movement is flawed by its own supporters (80% of which are male and will never have an abortion). Do you not see the horrible flaw in your logic. If God really wanted abortion to be outlawed, would he have let it go so far as to be legal in his "chosen country". No, he would have simply influenced it from the start, especially if you follow the Old Testament verbatim.
Do yourselves a favor and realize that the Pro-life movement will never rise again, will never gain any kind of foothold in the US (a country that prides itself in freedom and choice)and let go of your superstition and intolerance. Do us all a favor and stop embarrassing yourself in front of clearly more rational and educated people.
It's your stereotypes and intolerance of pro-Life people that will make the Pro-Life remain. This is also the fact that the young generation are more pro-life than previous generations. Also, Roe v. Wade is the basic epitome of the federal government forcing its will about abortion in the populace.
Pro-Life people exist in many backgrounds. They are Phds and poor people. They exist among the North and even in the West Coast. Also, abortion eliminates the choices the unborn can make. It ends possibilities in life therefore abortion is anti-choice. Humans are by laws limited in their activities constantly. Also, the Pro Life movement here and abroad consist of way more than 20% of solely females. No sane person in a religious group desire a theocracy. We just want individual rights to extend to those who can't speak for themselves. Also, the seperation of church and state doesn't exist in the Constitution. The Constitution outlines that the government can't establishment a religion while permitting the free exercise thereof. Also, haters of pro-lifers have no right to infringe our free speech rights and they won't intimidate us at all. Also, it's an oxymoron to say you're pro-choice, but want it to continue since abortion cancels out choices.
Many of the same ones lecturing folks on choices are the same ones hating health care choice, educational choice, gun choice, and other choices.
Abortion is the action that is the epitome of destroying unborn baby's body parties being anti-choice.
Nobody who claims that 80% of the pro-life movement is male should claim to be an educated person.
How about this. Abortion is currently already illegal in all 50 states. Abortion is murder (the killing of innocent life) and murder can never be legalized! Roe v. Wade was a court decision (courts don't make law!) that applied to Roe v. Wade only. What we need is to find one brave attorney general or governor or president (imagine that) who would ignore Roe and prosecute the murders. I recommend that you all go look at theamericanview.com and read the articles about abortion. I especially recommend "Standing Between the Butcher and the Baby" by Scott Whiteman. See what Michael Peroutka would have done his first day in office if he had been elected president. We don't need to overturn Roe, we don't need to try to restrict abortion, we need to prosecute!