Violence is Not the Answer

There is only one appropriate reaction to the murder of Dr. Tiller: condemnation.

No statements about whether or not he had time to make himself right with God, no questions about whether or not he had put himself in harm's way. No one deserves to be killed in cold blood. This is not a battlefield. No matter how frustrated one may be about the fight for the preborn, no matter how many lives are lost to the tragedy of abortion -- it does not serve our cause, nor help anyone in the long run to turn to maniacal acts.

In fact, it is the very idea that another single person is the cause of troubles that perpetuates the deaths of over 3,000 little souls every day. Over one million times every year, a woman believes that killing the child within her is the solution to her troubles.

If those deaths are wrong, so is this one. Our cause, and the world in general, would be better served if we all championed the value of every person -- or at least the potential of every person.

Who knows? Dr. Tiller could have been the next Dr. Nathanson.

Dr. Bernard Nathanson was the doctor who first persuaded the leaders of women's groups to fight for abortion. He later had an epiphany, denounced his actions, and is now one of the most relevant voices in the pro-life movement.

Maybe not. Maybe Dr. Tiller would have gone to his grave with the delusion that he was helping women. Despite all the evidence to the contrary -- for instance, that pro-life doctors have testified that they have never come across a single case where a pregnant woman's life or health was threatened that could not be treated in a manner that allowed both mother and child to have a chance.

Despite the fact that all the ills that abortion is supposed to cure are instead growing exponentially. Despite the evidence that abortions -- especially late-term ones -- haunt women and cause them mental duress. Despite the fact that an unknown number of those late-term abortions are performed for reasons that are only discovered to be incorrect when it is far too late -- instead of a "monster" emerging from the womb, a perfect little child is delivered who had the misfortune of a "false-positive diagnosis."

But you never know. Hearts and minds can be changed. If we stress the value of motherhood, support women in their times of crisis, extol the value of every person no matter what their challenges may be, show that there is always a better answer than abortion, and point out that some choices are wrong no matter how long you think about them or how many professional opinions you seek or how certain you think you are in a time of incredible pressure that this is what is "best"...

Stand up, be strong, speak your mind, do good works to help support women and children -- but do not resort to violence.

Comments

[smitty1e]

So very well said. Thank you.