Like many of you, I did watch the presidential debate last night. I’ve been avoiding writing on it often, but there are times that I think that a man can’t stay silent. My blog isn’t about politics specifically though. It’s about the Christian faith. However, the two do often intersect. The way I see it, by my nature, I am a human being first. My religious heritage is next in importance as I am a Christian. My national heritage comes after that in that I am an American. Finally, my political tradition is next and in case you haven’t guessed, I am a strong Republican conservative.
I am quite concerned with this election. We have had leftist candidates before, but I don’t think we’ve ever had anyone as left as Barack Obama. If there is one issue though where we often here talk about faith and politics intersecting, it is in the topic of abortion. Fortunately, that was an issue that was raised in the debate last night.
One ironic statement made was that this should be a woman’s decision. The irony is that this reeked of a post I made recently here:
http://deeperwaters.wordpress.com/2008/09/24/i-dont-have-a-uterus/
Ironically, a lone comment there raised some points about that post I agree with. I have to agree that it is a very dumb argument, but I brought it up because we often do encounter dumb arguments and some of them are so dumb we’re not even sure how to answer them. The following is the comment that was made:
These types of discussions– arguing against a lame “uterus” argument from a woman who is an idiot and happens to be pro-choice only helps to perpetuate a trivialization of a woman’s ability to choose. I don’t think I would trust this person with any decision. Of course it seems ridiculous to trust this woman to make a decision about life. Seems like a cheap foundation to build a pro-life argument on.
Pointing to child support as a man’s responsibility is not necessarily the case, and turns the woman into a victim– who would trust such a victim with the responsibility to make a decision about life (since she clearly cannot care for a child on her own). Making an argument against choice using this ridiculous pro-choice person, and irrelevant financial and circumcision decisions is a waste. Pick a real and logically sounds pro-lifer’s argument to discuss, please.
End.
Of course, this wasn’t the only thing said by Obama last night. For the rest of what I say, I am largely in debt to Francis Beckwith, an excellent philosopher with a great book called “Defending Life” that anyone wanting to defend the life of the unborn should read. His blog at FrancisBeckwith.com called “Southern Appeal” has an article and now a response to a critic from Robert George. Who is that? Let’s see what the article says about him in description.
Robert P. George is McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University. He is a member of the President’s Council on Bioethics and previously served on the United States Commission on Civil Rights. He sits on the editorial board of Public Discourse.
I just wish to bring out some highlights. In his first essay, Robert George points out that not only is Obama pro-choice (Though I prefer pro-abortion), he is the most pro-choice candidate we have ever had and each time you think things have gone as far as they could, George assures you that they get worse. I urge all concerned voters to read the article. Robert George has done his homework.
In another article though, he responds to a critic and speaks about what Obama said related to a Born Alive Act last night. The law was seen to be inadequate and didn’t really deal with the situation as it was still a judgment call on the part of the doctor. This is why a nurse like Jill Stanek found a dying baby in a soiled linen closet.
While an act that followed at the start of the 21st century did well in D.C., it didn’t so well in the Illinois Senate. Some were concerned that abortion rights would be limited if the bill were allowed to pass. The most prominent one and the only one that actually spoke against it when it was being debated was Obama.
Even when it was changed so that there was a neutrality aspect to identity and said nothing about the legal status of a human being before birth, it was still voted down. Obama was leading the charge.
Friends. I say this because frankly, I’m concerned. Abortion isn’t my only issue when I go to the polls, but it’s a big one. I do have a dream of seeing Roe V. Wade overturned someday and I do believe that that will come about by getting people who will at least be open to the pro-life position. This is especially true with the Supreme Court where the trouble originally began.
I also think that when I vote, I want to keep in mind that there are future lives at risk. Is the next generation going to be around to see the fruit of my voting? For me, voting is an honor and a privilege. I get to take part in the leadership of this great nation that I have been blessed to be a part of. This is how the system works. Rest assured, I have no problem with abortionists going out there and making their case and wanting people to vote their way. That’s part of how the system works. All voices are to be heard in the public square and we are to debate the issue and respond accordingly.
My hope is that when you go to the polls though, if this is an issue for you as it is for me, you will have the facts there. As I have said, this is an issue for me and I don’t even enjoy writing largely in a political way, but I just don’t think I can stay silent any more.