Today as Barak Obama was sworn in I was doing what I do every Tuesday at 12:00, picking up my kids from the church. I hadn't paid much mind until Mike asked me to turn on the radio so he could listen while he sat with Emma and I got the kids. It's not that I didn't want to hear the ceremony- more just that I hadn't thought about it being on the radio.
Anyway, I went and got the kids then returned to the car to just hear the ending poem and benediction. The new President of the United States of America... Barak Obama.
I have to say that I'm not won over by the politics or social graces yet of our new president. I do, however, have a lot of respect for him as he now holds a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. I believe that God is in control. More than anything else. I know he's had times of blessing and times of, well, not, on different nations and that this IS a Biblical thing. I hope- and PRAY- that God's hand of blessing will continue to be on our Nation and on the First Family. I pray for Barak and Michelle and their daughters. I pray for the Cabinet and all of the people making this country work up in DC.
The US may be seeing big changes in the coming days- it's hard to know what's really going to happen since I haven't read or heard much on actual policy. I'm sure it's out there somewhere, but I just haven't found it (or looked necessarily). The few that I know about, admittedly, are those meeting the greatest opposition. Like FOCA, for instance.
Yep, if I'm gonna hit 'em I might as well hit 'em all... Politics (check), Religion (check), let's see... FOCA would be... abortion. Yep, I'm going there too.
FOCA stands for the Freedom Of Choice Act. The act that President Obama promised Planned Parenthood would be his first act in Office. There's one thing that I strongly believe and that is that every life is formed by God and deserves respect. Even the one that hasn't been born yet. Yep, even those with detectible 'disorders' (ha, ESPECIALLY them!), even those that are from unplanned pregnancies, even those that are being born to someone that can't afford to raise a baby. I'm also a strong advocate for adoption in each of those cases if a parent cannot or does not desire to raise their child. Once conception happens, that's a BABY. Babies have rights. Or at least they should.
What about Mom? Well, in about 99% of the cases, mom was helpful in the 'becoming pregnant' part, and thus entrusted herself as the caretaker of a child for the first 9 months. That other 1% of the time when this was not a choice by the mother, it was still a gift of God that a baby was formed. It's not even that 1% that I'd argue about.
Here's what FOCA would do:
- do away with state laws on parental involvement, on partial birth abortion, and on all other protections.
- compel taxpayer funding of abortions.
- force faith-based hospitals and healthcare facilities to perform abortions.
That last part, yes, you read it right, would force hospitals that are run by, say, the Catholic faith, to perform abortions. Something directly contradictory to their belief system. This alone could be catastrophic as Catholic Hospitals have said that they will close their doors if this is the case.
I'm sure that many will disagree with me in this. That's up to them to have their own opinions, after all this is one of the most highly debated topics and one of the most passionate topics of many people. Do I judge someone that's had an abortion? ABSOLUTELY NOT. In all honesty, I think most people that have had abortions have ben scared in to believing that that was really the "right" answer. Often they are given incorrect or out of date information about their child's diagnosis or are told that this is their only option. Sometimes they're scared and feel this is the only way 'out.' In all honesty, I feel bad for those who have had that experience as I imagine it is a very painful experience for many years to come- if it ever subsides.
All that to say, in the coming days you can count on my prayers for President Obama, for the SUCCESS of his time in office, for the prosperity of him and his family and those who are surrounding him in office. It's time to stand together and support our President, without losing sight to stand by our beliefs and convictions. I pray, as well, that GOD will be glorified during his time in office.
May God Bless America!
According to the CNN website, one of the plans for the first 100 days is to rescend the order that blocks federal dollars from going to mexico to fund international abortion. That's a pretty good indication of what his policies will be in the area of abortion. God help us. He (God will not be mocked).
ReplyDeleteMay God save America and Bless Her.
I am anti-abortion. Who isn't? President Obama is against abortion. He said so. But what he is FOR is a womans' right to choose what will happen in and to her own body. I believe ALL efforts should be made to help convince a woman to deliver her child. But part of what America was founded on is CHOICE. No one is saying "Hey, use abortion as birth control!" Horrendous. But let's face reality - a woman DETERMINED not to give birth WILL find a way to abort - whether that be in a hospital at the hands of a trained Physician, or down the street in someones' basement using a coat hanger. I wish these people didn't exist. I wish irresponsible women & girls would get themselves sterilized if they don't want to get pregnant. But the truth is that these women are out there. Men who refuse to step up and be fathers, abandoning women who believe they have no choice but to end a pregnancy because they can't afford to raise a child alone are out there. Don't blame Obama who simply refuses to take away a womans' right to make her own decisions - for better or for worse. What's needed is better education!! Don't just tell our kids to abstain from sex and then be shocked when your 15 yr old comes home pregnant. Give girls and boys the EDUCATION to understand what the consequences to their actions will be. Advocate LOUDLY for adoption. Let women know there are THOUSANDS of people willing to love and raise their child. Allow Planned Parenthood to hand out contraceptives to teens who are turning to them because they know they have been thinking about taking that next step w/ their significant other, but are terrified of going to their parents for help and advice.
ReplyDeleteEDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION!!!
Ah, there we differ BIG TIME, Cheryl. I respect your right to say what you did- which is why I published it. Yes, people will do stupid things to themselves to get rid of their problems. They will also do drugs, commit suicide, and many other things. Protecting the parent at the detriment of the child is not something that I consider a viable reason to legalize murder of unborn babies, though.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Planned Parenthood is not something I want anywhere near the schools. I don't want my teenagers handed condoms and told about 'safe sex'. I want them taught right and wrong, abstinence, and how to deal with their problems in a mature way which takes responsibility for their actions.
Amen, Meredith. Amen again. I want so badly to post something but I don't know how well I can do it without losing my cool. Mind if I link to you since you said it so well!?x
ReplyDeleteAnd I appreciate your comment back to Chery Z... again, you're so very tactful where I couldn't be right now. As I've said before...no one's *right* is worth another life. Period. No one. I just don't get why it's ok to kill a baby that you can't see, but we all flip out when a mom of a newborn kills it. They're both horrible and atrocious. But they're the same. They've killed a precious child. Why is one a protected "choice" and one gets a life sentence?
Sorry Meredith...feel free to not post if that's too much. I'm feeling so strongly about this today...maybe it's this one kicking inside of me. I just can't fathom....
But part of what America was founded on is CHOICE.
ReplyDeletewhat Declaration are you reading, exactly? Surely not LIFE, liberty, the pursuit of happiness? Please, do show me how America was founded on CHOICE.
PS good work Mer
I'm all for choice. People can CHOOSE not to have sex outside of marriage. People can CHOOSE to gain control of themselves. People can CHOOSE to take responsibility for their actions. People can CHOOSE not to kill a baby because of their lack of control. People can CHOOSE to be less self-centric.
ReplyDeleteA determined woman (or couple) can just as easily determine to allow a child to live and buck up to the responsibility. We, as a nation, should not condone, nor should we make a way to kill our children for ANY reason.
If we're going to have murder houses for kids, why not for old people? They cost us a lot in healthcare and social security payments. Hey, if they're inconvenient, let's take them down to the "clinic" (such a calm, gentle name for a place where they rip you limb from limb and if you're still breathing shove scissors into your brain) and have them "taken care of." Why not have another place to take unruly teenagers. Another place for homeless people. Another place for people suffering from diseases that can't be cured. Where does it stop? How about orphans? Just an expense of the state. It's cheaper to kill them than feed them.
Do people who are raped or are victims of abuse sometimes get pregnant without ever choosing to have sex? Sure they do. But the child is not the aggressor or perpetrator. I'm not saying that it would be easy for a woman to carry a baby and give birth to that baby (even if the child was to be adopted) given the circumstances, but that doesn't negate the law of God.
I've said enough and Meredith you can choose not to post this and that's okay. This is a HOT topic for me and is one for which I am passionate about.
God save us from ourselves.
Beautiful, well written, awesome post! I wish I had your diplomacy and writing skills.
ReplyDeleteMay God bless our country and all citizens (born and unborn).
I wish this issue wasnt debated in such black and white ways. One position seems to be that life begins at conception and must be respected and allowed to be born. The other position seems to be allowing all women the choice and access to abortion services to the point of viability. Yet the vast majority of Americans are somewhere in the middle of these two points... I just keep wondering who is speaking for us?
ReplyDeleteMer speaks just fine for me. God didnt tell us we get to interpret his rules, he said thou SHALT NOT kill.
ReplyDeleteand by the way, believing in the sanctity of life is not a position. It is not a political stance. It is a core value that one does not bargain away.
ReplyDeleteGod bless Obama and his mother who chose to give him life and not just make him a 'choice'.
ReplyDeleteWhat a well written post! I agree 100%. And no Obama is not anti-abortion. He is very pro-abortion. I am praying for this country and that God will change his heart and wake up the people to the what is going on! Planned Parenthood should never get one tax payer dollar and certainly should NEVER be around our children. This FOCA is terrifying and will result in many many babies dying- and yes, they are babies that are being killed. I am sooo praying this is not passed!!!
ReplyDeleteKayla
I'm hoping and praying the FOCA is one campaign promise he does not keep. I'm praying that God will change his heart. Thanks for this post.
ReplyDeleteI know that many/most? women who choose to abort don't consider it to be simply a choice. It is an act of desperation by a person who feels that they have no other choice. It's tragic that we can't come together to support women who find themselves in a bad situation. But, make no mistake, the abortion industry is a business and that would cut into the bottom line. Don't believe for a minute that they truly care about women and their health.
ReplyDeleteI know that Obama is somewhere in the middle on this issue, just like most of America. He has said many times that he thinks both sides can agree that we need to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies. Perhaps we can focus on that noble goal of his, which will ultimately reduce the number of abortions in the end. I would never want to have an abortion, but how can I possibly speak for every woman in the world?
ReplyDeletePreach it, sister! I, for one, am terrified for what's to come. I have been since I woke up the morning after the election and found out Obama had won. I think that we have no real idea what we have gotten ourselves into. His policies and personal beliefs horrify me. As someone else said on their blog (can't remember WHO, sorry!)...this is the price America is paying for wanting God out of schools, out of our lives, etc. And I believe this, I truly do, as much as I would like to deny it. It remains to be seen. What I CAN say, is that I will pray for him, because that is what we, as Christians, are called to do for all in authority. God help us. I don't think it's going to be pretty.
ReplyDeleteYou should add one of the "Fight FOCA" buttons to your page and sign the petition. You can get the buttons here, and sign the petition here.
ReplyDeleteOne of my friends is "pro-choice". This is how I put my point to her:
"[Friend's Name], you are just a teenager. You live at home, not out on your own. Yes, you have a heart-beat, emotions, and a brain, but you are just a teenager, not a human, because you live with your parents. You really bug me, and so I'm just going to kill you. After all, you're just a teenager."
Just because someone is dependent on their mother for life doesn't make them un-human. And the way I see it, it's not even the mother's body. God created them, it's His body.
And no Chery, America was not founded on "choice". The Mayflower Compact states, "For the glory of God and advancement of ye Christian faith … doe by these presents solemnly & mutually in ye presence of God and one of another, covenant & combine our selves togeather into a civill body politick."
AMEN!
ReplyDeleteI dont believe B0 has any moral issue with abortion whatsoever. His first act as President was to restart funding for abortion in Mexico. The papers were written up in advance, just waiting to get signed in. That is not a man who struggles with the number ofabortions.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf0XIRZSTt8
ReplyDeleteI guess I don't understand why everyone is so "scared" of what Obama is going to do regarding abortion. Bush was president for 8YEARS and abortion is STILL legal. It didn't stop when a republican was in office and when the House was republican and the Senate and when he nominated 3 Supreme Court Justices. After the Bush administration it confirmed for me that abortion will never be illegal and i don't get why nobody called him on that..especially the anti-abortion groups. Why weren't they up in arms like they are with Obama??
ReplyDeleteThat kindof makes sense, but the difference is that Obama is pushing to make it easier and REQUIRE hospitals to perform abortions. He's also trying to get Planned Parenthood into schools which is an agency that hands out condoms to 13 year olds and tells them how to use it rather then telling them to keep their legs crossed. Planned Parenthood is a huge supporter of abortion. Obama also signed today a release which means we are now funding abortion groups in other countries including Mexico. It's not that Bush left it 'legal' and Obama is too... it's that Bush pushed for it to be minimal, knowing he couldn't get it illegal (yet) and Obama is undoing that and raising the availability of abortion. Moreso, Obama is pressuring people IN TO having abortions by providing it as the 'easy out' and what he's requiring of establishments of Faith... that just disgusts me...
ReplyDeleteI totally see what your saying Mer and I understand that certain things change in regards to abortion when it's a Dem or Rep. in office. but to me the main thing is..is that it was/is STILL legal and nobody says BOO when a rep. is the leader but once a Dem comes in they freak out. I just never understood why nobody said anything to Bush when he had ALL the power behind him to do something about it and didn't. Just something I've always pondered....and haven't found the answer to yet.
ReplyDeleteLet Us be fully informed as to what FOCA really is.
ReplyDelete1. You will be forced to pay for abortions. (tax dollars)
2. All hospitals, regardless of religion, will be forced to provide abortions.
3. You lose your parental rights over your child regarding abortion. If your child wants an abortion, anyone (including a molester) can take her to get one.
4. FOCA is the first step in the government taking control over who lives and who dies. You can bet that the elderly, the sick, the handicapped, and the comatose are next. Keep in mind, that organ theft is commonplace in China, and if our money-driven culture suffers economic disaster..money will still be made, ethicly or not.
Your body? Your body MUST wear a seatbelt, a helmet, cannot smoke in public places, etc etc...
Science has already proven that abortion does hurt others.