Mark West
Life: an American value
By Mark West
Have you ever participated in an "Average Joe" poll? An "Average Joe" poll is one in which you walk a neighborhood or a city block and you just ask people bluntly what their opinions are on certain matters of interest to you. An "Average Joe" poll of the American people quickly reveals that a majority of our society deeply values the importance of life.
Politicians are immaculate when it comes to shifting our focus away from what we value toward the issues they value that are less important to us. Life is one of those values that many politcians avoid or disguise.
I read a report on a debate that took place here in Arkansas between 2nd District Congressman Vic Snyder (Democrat) and his challenger State Congressman Marvin Parks (Republican). Parks was criticizing Snyder for opposing the Federal Marriage Amendment. Snyder said that he was personally opposed to gay marriage but that he didn't believe that the constitution should be amended to protect it. Parks remarked on how his attitude resembled that of another famous politician...Pontius Pilate...who himself was personally opposed to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ yet was unwilling to do anything to prevent it and even vainly attempted to wash his hands of it. Of course such rhetoric raised the ire of Snyder!
Yet, such is an excellent point when it comes to the issue of abortion. United States Senator Blanche Lambert-Lincoln claims to be personally opposed to abortion, but her votes tell us that she supports such an act right up to the point of delivery. Lincoln voted against the Laci & Connor Peterson bill that would protect the unborn child from attack, but voted for the Partial Birth Abortion Ban. Sounds a lot like Pilatian thinking to me! Lincoln personally opposes abortion but yet is unwilling to do anything to stop the act hoping to "wash" her hands of guilt in regard to it by saying the woman has the right to choose whether or not to kill her unborn child!
Another high-profile politician feels the same. Seems this politician and Lincoln agree a lot on all of the issues. As a matter of fact, the two have voted together 86% of the time. This other politician is Massachusetts' Senator John F. Kerry who is on record saying that life begins at conception and that he is personally opposed to abortion and would like to see it limited, yet he has voted against every single piece of legislation that would have done so. We've got a lot of politicians in Washington D.C. cut from the familiar mold of Pilate!
I believe in our Constitution and Bill of Rights. I believe in our Declaration of Independence that defines the Right to Life as "unalienable" and a "self-evident truth" endowed upon mankind by our Creator. Amendment Four protects one from having their Right to Life vanquished without due process of the law which includes, according to Amendment Six, a fair and speedy trial before a jury of your peers, representation, and getting to make your case in court. Amendment Nine says that the federal government must arbitrate in situations where the rights of individuals come into conflict, in example, the woman's right to choose versus the unborn child's right to life. Amendment Fourteen says that basically any individual due for punishment (like death) under the jurisdiction of the law of the United States is also due equal protection under the law of the United States. I am stunned that liberals want to extend this right to Guantanamo Bay detainees who we capture in war and not to the unborn children that are facing abortion. Absurdly hypocritical!
Embryonic stem cell research is also an abrogation of the Right to Life. These unborn embryos are torn apart in order to rob them of their stem cells so that they can be used to allegedly heal other people. Why such is necessary when Adult Stem Cell research is perfectly legal defies all logic. Not one shred of scientific evidence exists that proves definitively that these embryonic stem cells could be used to heal anything, whereas there is proof of the value of adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cell research is nothing more than a veiled attack on the value of life.
Our children are watching and they see whether or not we value life. As a nation, we allow abortions of the unborn and embryonic stem cell research to eliminate our youngest and weakest in order to meet our own selfish ambitions and desires. Children are learning that they are worthless and that they do not matter and such is the cause of the rebellious generations we are facing today. Children have to find their worth in a society that for thirty years has diminished the essence of their worth through abortion.
A society that values life will value that life for all of its citizens, not just select citizens. As a nation we condone the taking of the life of the unborn, those in a vegetative state, and some in elderly or terminally ill states. Why don't we value these lives? How troubling is it when those that argue for abortion argue against the death penalty? How does such a mind set have any consistency whatsoever? They favor the killing of innocent unborn children simply because of their parents sexual indiscretion while opposing the killing of killers who murdered other people at their own discretion.
Where do I stand on the issue of life?
I believe that all life must be protected. The unborn, elderly, vegetative, retarded, handicapped, and comatose. The only life that I advocate being extinguished is the life of murderers and even at that it must be on the testimony of at least two witnesses, of which I do believe can consist of forensic science. I believe that abortion should be banned, it is a disgrace to our society to lack value for the life of the weakest and most defenseless members of our society...the unborn. They have no defense and no voice, they have such cruel barbarity imposed upon them by the mothers whom are supposed to be their protectors and nourishers.
Where do the candidates stand?
President George W. Bush (Republican Party) believes that our society needs to make a place for the unborn. Every child, born or unborn, must be protected. Society should value life. No litmus test for federal judges outside of a strict interpretation of the constitution. Supports but isn't pursuing a pro-life amendment. Signed the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban into law that has been struck down by three courts. No federal funding for abortions or embryonic stem cell research. Doesn't believe our society is ready for a ban on all abortions. I give Bush an A- (10 points).
Senator John F. Kerry (Democrat Party) believes that abortion should continue unrestricted. Partial-Birth Abortion Ban restricts woman's right to choose. Federal funding for abortion and embryonic stem cell research. No criminalization of abortion. I give Kerry an F- (-1 point).
Michael Badnarik (Libertarian Party) believes that federal government has no say in the abortion issue. No federal funding of abortion. I give Badnarik a D+ (3 points).
Michael Peroutka (Constitution Party) believes that federal government should neither condone nor fund abortion. Opposes embryonic stem cell research. Abortion should be banned. I give Peroutka an A+ (12 points).
David Cobb (Green Party) believes in full reproductive rights for women. I give Cobb an F (0 points).
Ralph Nader (Independent/Reform Party) no government role whatsoever. State's should decide. I give Nader a D- (1 point).
After two issues: Michael Peroutka (Constitution Party) 22 points; President George W. Bush (Republican Party) 19 points; Michael Badnarik (Libertarian Party) 12 points; David Cobb (Green Party) 3 points; Senator John F. Kerry (Democrat Party) 1 point; Ralph Nader (Independent/Reform Party) 1 point.
True Patriots will move to preserve life as a value of the True America. Life is a value that we should instill in our children with the hope that such a legacy will remain in our lineage for generations to come.
© Mark West
Have you ever participated in an "Average Joe" poll? An "Average Joe" poll is one in which you walk a neighborhood or a city block and you just ask people bluntly what their opinions are on certain matters of interest to you. An "Average Joe" poll of the American people quickly reveals that a majority of our society deeply values the importance of life.
Politicians are immaculate when it comes to shifting our focus away from what we value toward the issues they value that are less important to us. Life is one of those values that many politcians avoid or disguise.
I read a report on a debate that took place here in Arkansas between 2nd District Congressman Vic Snyder (Democrat) and his challenger State Congressman Marvin Parks (Republican). Parks was criticizing Snyder for opposing the Federal Marriage Amendment. Snyder said that he was personally opposed to gay marriage but that he didn't believe that the constitution should be amended to protect it. Parks remarked on how his attitude resembled that of another famous politician...Pontius Pilate...who himself was personally opposed to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ yet was unwilling to do anything to prevent it and even vainly attempted to wash his hands of it. Of course such rhetoric raised the ire of Snyder!
Yet, such is an excellent point when it comes to the issue of abortion. United States Senator Blanche Lambert-Lincoln claims to be personally opposed to abortion, but her votes tell us that she supports such an act right up to the point of delivery. Lincoln voted against the Laci & Connor Peterson bill that would protect the unborn child from attack, but voted for the Partial Birth Abortion Ban. Sounds a lot like Pilatian thinking to me! Lincoln personally opposes abortion but yet is unwilling to do anything to stop the act hoping to "wash" her hands of guilt in regard to it by saying the woman has the right to choose whether or not to kill her unborn child!
Another high-profile politician feels the same. Seems this politician and Lincoln agree a lot on all of the issues. As a matter of fact, the two have voted together 86% of the time. This other politician is Massachusetts' Senator John F. Kerry who is on record saying that life begins at conception and that he is personally opposed to abortion and would like to see it limited, yet he has voted against every single piece of legislation that would have done so. We've got a lot of politicians in Washington D.C. cut from the familiar mold of Pilate!
I believe in our Constitution and Bill of Rights. I believe in our Declaration of Independence that defines the Right to Life as "unalienable" and a "self-evident truth" endowed upon mankind by our Creator. Amendment Four protects one from having their Right to Life vanquished without due process of the law which includes, according to Amendment Six, a fair and speedy trial before a jury of your peers, representation, and getting to make your case in court. Amendment Nine says that the federal government must arbitrate in situations where the rights of individuals come into conflict, in example, the woman's right to choose versus the unborn child's right to life. Amendment Fourteen says that basically any individual due for punishment (like death) under the jurisdiction of the law of the United States is also due equal protection under the law of the United States. I am stunned that liberals want to extend this right to Guantanamo Bay detainees who we capture in war and not to the unborn children that are facing abortion. Absurdly hypocritical!
Embryonic stem cell research is also an abrogation of the Right to Life. These unborn embryos are torn apart in order to rob them of their stem cells so that they can be used to allegedly heal other people. Why such is necessary when Adult Stem Cell research is perfectly legal defies all logic. Not one shred of scientific evidence exists that proves definitively that these embryonic stem cells could be used to heal anything, whereas there is proof of the value of adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cell research is nothing more than a veiled attack on the value of life.
Our children are watching and they see whether or not we value life. As a nation, we allow abortions of the unborn and embryonic stem cell research to eliminate our youngest and weakest in order to meet our own selfish ambitions and desires. Children are learning that they are worthless and that they do not matter and such is the cause of the rebellious generations we are facing today. Children have to find their worth in a society that for thirty years has diminished the essence of their worth through abortion.
A society that values life will value that life for all of its citizens, not just select citizens. As a nation we condone the taking of the life of the unborn, those in a vegetative state, and some in elderly or terminally ill states. Why don't we value these lives? How troubling is it when those that argue for abortion argue against the death penalty? How does such a mind set have any consistency whatsoever? They favor the killing of innocent unborn children simply because of their parents sexual indiscretion while opposing the killing of killers who murdered other people at their own discretion.
Where do I stand on the issue of life?
I believe that all life must be protected. The unborn, elderly, vegetative, retarded, handicapped, and comatose. The only life that I advocate being extinguished is the life of murderers and even at that it must be on the testimony of at least two witnesses, of which I do believe can consist of forensic science. I believe that abortion should be banned, it is a disgrace to our society to lack value for the life of the weakest and most defenseless members of our society...the unborn. They have no defense and no voice, they have such cruel barbarity imposed upon them by the mothers whom are supposed to be their protectors and nourishers.
Where do the candidates stand?
President George W. Bush (Republican Party) believes that our society needs to make a place for the unborn. Every child, born or unborn, must be protected. Society should value life. No litmus test for federal judges outside of a strict interpretation of the constitution. Supports but isn't pursuing a pro-life amendment. Signed the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban into law that has been struck down by three courts. No federal funding for abortions or embryonic stem cell research. Doesn't believe our society is ready for a ban on all abortions. I give Bush an A- (10 points).
Senator John F. Kerry (Democrat Party) believes that abortion should continue unrestricted. Partial-Birth Abortion Ban restricts woman's right to choose. Federal funding for abortion and embryonic stem cell research. No criminalization of abortion. I give Kerry an F- (-1 point).
Michael Badnarik (Libertarian Party) believes that federal government has no say in the abortion issue. No federal funding of abortion. I give Badnarik a D+ (3 points).
Michael Peroutka (Constitution Party) believes that federal government should neither condone nor fund abortion. Opposes embryonic stem cell research. Abortion should be banned. I give Peroutka an A+ (12 points).
David Cobb (Green Party) believes in full reproductive rights for women. I give Cobb an F (0 points).
Ralph Nader (Independent/Reform Party) no government role whatsoever. State's should decide. I give Nader a D- (1 point).
After two issues: Michael Peroutka (Constitution Party) 22 points; President George W. Bush (Republican Party) 19 points; Michael Badnarik (Libertarian Party) 12 points; David Cobb (Green Party) 3 points; Senator John F. Kerry (Democrat Party) 1 point; Ralph Nader (Independent/Reform Party) 1 point.
True Patriots will move to preserve life as a value of the True America. Life is a value that we should instill in our children with the hope that such a legacy will remain in our lineage for generations to come.
© Mark West
The views expressed by RenewAmerica columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of RenewAmerica or its affiliates.
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