By Grace Gaddy
Assistant city editor
In the time it takes to read this column, approximately four people in America will be denied the most fundamental human right.
Thomas Jefferson underscored this right in a document of cursive writing more than 235 years ago. It was on that day in 1776 when “life”—with rightful, hallowed veneration—was declared through legality a unique, inherent right, a blessing of God and entitlement of humanity. Celebrated words, placed properly in line before “liberty” and “the pursuit of happiness,” were affirmed by 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Yet, in one of the greatest and most tragic displays of irony, that blood-bought right to life is continually ignored and violated — and in the same country that vowed to protect it. What’s worse is that blame rests upon the apathetic shoulders of the people because we, as a nation, have neglected to rise up and speak out against this grave injustice.
Darkness has continued to masquerade as light, beneath ambiguous expressions such as “women’s rights” and “freedom of choice.” Meanwhile, silent cries are muffled in that darkness, while an abortion clinic doctor tears a beautiful human body, created in God’s image, into shreds.
It’s the modern-day holocaust, and it’s time we as humanity labeled it for what it is — an exhibit of perfect selfishness, a trampling of love, virtue and mercy, a betrayal of all that we, together in the family of humanity, hold dear.
It’s abortion, and it’s wrong. It’s a business fueled by greed, which feeds itself off others’ hurts, pain and fear. It’s killing, simply put, and it is the opposite of love.
If we truly believe that God is the giver and creator of life, then how can we turn around and dismiss one’s right to live, which essentially denies God as God, saying “we know better,” that it was unplanned, an inconvenience, a mistake, an accident?
This is an absolute blasphemy of what God, his love and life is all about.
No life is a waste. No life is an accident, even if the parents didn’t necessarily plan for it. And with modern developments in science and technology, it can no longer be disputed that this tiny, precious life is “just tissue.”
An infant in the womb is no different than any of us, except for size, level of development, environment and dependency. Really, how does seven inches through a birth canal separate murder from “choice?”
Therefore, we are battling a carefully covered-up war of discrimination — age discrimination. An infant in the womb is at a particular size, level of development, personal environment and level of dependency due to its age. Time is the only measuring stick separating “us” from the infant. So we’re not just talking about a scientific issue.
But that, I believe, is already widely discerned. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be so much controversy surrounding the issue.
Rather, this is about right and wrong, justified or unjustified.
At the core, abortion is wrong because it breaks the heart of the Father. God, our heavenly Father, created life to be lived; it’s another one who came to destroy it. Therefore, we must look at abortion for what it is — the work of the destroyer.
And that doesn’t mean we go blow up clinics or stand in judgment of those who have made unfortunate decisions. That too would be work of the destroyer.
Moreover, one of the greatest things about our heavenly Father is that he exalts mercy, forgiveness and restoration. And what the enemy meant for evil, God can — and will— turn around for good.
So, in this battle against injustice, we must fight strong and sure, always steadfast, hating sin and loving sinners. We must stand up for what is true, just and right. We must do everything from hearts committed to love.
Love allows life, and love transforms. It’s time for us to transform our nation and society into one that is truly for liberty, equality and justice. And by overturning Roe vs. Wade, and casting a vote “for life” in this upcoming election, that would mark a step in the right direction.
One day, we’ll have to give an account of what we did with the choices and voices we have while on this earth. On that note, I hope we all let a singular voice marinate in our minds, one for justice and freedom:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” – Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776) .
Grace Gaddy is a senior journalism major from Palestine and is a reporter for the Lariat.
