Hundreds of thousands marched on the Capitol yesterday.
I generally don't talk politics here on my blog. Around the election, I said a few positive things that impressed me about certain candidates, but I hesitated and deliberated over even doing that. (Indeed, I got my first and only mean comment as a result.) Politics are divisive, and that's something I am just not comfortable being.
But the one political position I have clearly taken here is probably the most inflammatory in our time. At least among women. It's emotional. It's heated. It doesn't have to be.
January 22 is the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. I count myself as pro-life, but I just don't know that marches, confrontations, and placards are what changes a person's mind. I guess they aim to change the law, and save babies. But changing the law won't change the fact that there will always be women seeking abortion.
There are a couple of things I've learned since having babies. And one is that women who have abortions don't do it just because they can. They do it because they are afraid.
Afraid that having a baby means giving up education and a career. Afraid that they won't be able to take care of themself, let alone take care of a baby. Afraid that no one will help them. Afraid that their whole life will change. (Which, of course, it will. And that's always scary.)
Women want to love their babies. The majority of women having abortions are college age. Colleges are not very parent-friendly. Our culture, our feminism, our colleges expect young women to choose. Having a baby typically means getting a job and dropping out.
I know a few moms who had babies in college. They all eventually finished their degrees. They are my personal heroes.
It shouldn't take heroic courage and strength to have a baby and a college degree. Can't we make it a little easier?
If you want to save babies, you have to help the mothers. Most women want to love their babies, but are afraid to.
Today, Obama said that Roe v. Wade "not only protects women's health and reproductive freedom, but stands for a broader principle: that government should not intrude on our most private family matters."
I've learned in my brief 34 years that when a person is scared, and needy, and confused, someone needs to intrude. Someone needs to reach out and say, I'll help you. My problem with Planned Parenthood is that they do not say, "We'll help you have your baby." They say, "We'll help you not have a baby."
Two years ago, there was a bill called the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Pregnant and Parenting Services Act, which would've established a pilot program providing up to $10 million in grants to encourage institutions of higher education to establish and operate "pregnant and parenting student services." Sadly, it apparently died in committee.
Seems to me, marches in support of that bill would've saved more babies than marches against Roe v. Wade. Not that I have anything against the March for Life.
For more information on pro-life college outreach programs, visit Feminists for Life.
If you are pregnant and need help, please visit PregnancyCenters.org.
