LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Life requires a change in mentality, not law

Posted

To the Editor:

On January 22 we recognized the 35th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision that has taken the lives of some 45 million innocent babies and drastically changed our country’s outlook on who deserves life. While participating in the Right to Life March and Youth Rally in Washington again this year, I was encouraged by the thousands of teenagers who attended from the eastern half of the United States: 15,000 teens participated in the Youth Rally and Mass at the Verizon Center, joined by over 10,000 adults. Outside of the center, thousands of additional people gathered, ready to march in support of life.

While thousands participated in the march, our group met with Senator Reed’s assistant at his office to briefly discuss the abortion issue. Our arguments for an end to abortion were met with the same questions as always – “How would our country support the babies and their families? Where would the funding come from to support programs which help the poor fathers and mothers?” While these may be worthwhile concerns, they still cannot justify ending an innocent life.

Unfortunately, modern society seems to lack the love and charity that is necessary for a balanced and peaceful world. This is not only seen in abortions, but also in wars, school violence, and the ongoing destruction of the family. Many people rationalize that the world’s tragedies somewhat result from its attempt to remove God from society, but there are even facts that support an end to abortion that lie outside the realm of faith. For example, our country passed Laci and Conner’s Law in 2004, not only charging a person once who commits a violent crime against a pregnant woman, but adding on a separate offense for the violence done to the life that she carries. The only exception to this law, however, is a parent’s legal choice of abortion. The question remains as to why a person breaks the law by hurting another’s unborn child, but an individual or couple can choose to kill their own without penalty. Looking at the two lives objectively, should it make a difference that one life is wanted and the other is not?

Our country clearly needs to change its perception so that all humans, whether being nurtured in the womb or maturing outside of it, have the same right to life. Hopefully we have begun this process, as statistics show that the number of recorded abortions from this past year is the lowest since that fateful decision was made 35 years ago. Although this is a start, it is not enough – a change needs to take place in our hearts first before it will take place in our nation. The law allowing abortion needs to be reversed, but unless we alter our beliefs about the dignity of human life, a reversal can never guarantee life for all.

Alex Marchetti

West Warwick