Let’s Start with the Babies

In celebration of the Supreme Court decision on June 24 to overturn Roe v. Wade, I went to my files to find columns I had written for the local newspaper about the subject of abortion in the last 20 years. This one is from July 2007. You will see in parentheses where I have edited it a little.

I’m glad the FBI wasn’t watching last week when my two Golden Retrievers got into a fight with each other over a chicken. Truth be told, they were fighting on either side of the chicken. As they pulled it apart. I am sorry to be so graphic on the religion page and all, but that’s what happened. We worked with our dogs until we thought that they were ready to leave the fowl be, and then we let the birds fly the coop. They roamed the yard for a while, and the dogs seemed to pay them a great no mind. Then it happened. One of the brave birds met her demise as Buddy and Ginger figured out that they are meat-eaters and these birds are, well, meat.

Two days later I was reading about Michael Vick facing federal charges for buying and training pit bulls for dog fighting. Then this week I was sitting in a restaurant having lunch (chicken sandwich?) and the TV filled up with members of PETA outside the Atlanta Falcons’ headquarters, protesting the NFL quarterback’s actions. But “the straw” was when I read that a famous pastor and a hip hop millionaire wrote a letter to the Falcons and their sponsors, saying “Today, we sound a clarion call to all people: Stand up for what is right, and speak out against what is wrong.”

OK, let me make one thing clear. I do not condone in any way what Michael Vick allegedly did to use and abuse more than 60 pit bulls. It was stupid, it was wrong, and he should have to pay for his crimes if he is found guilty. (He was and he did) I offer no excuses for Michael Vick.

But let’s put this in perspective, shall we? Since the good reverend has offered a clarion call for all people to stand up for what is right and speak out against what is wrong, let me ask you a question. How can the same people who are in a rage over pit bulls not give a flip about babies? Where are the enraged PETA members protesting in front of abortion clinics? Where is the famous preacher/activist when it comes time to sound off about right and wrong when it comes to innocent babies and abortion mills?  

During the time it takes you to read this column, more than 12 babies will be aborted in the United States. More than 3000 by the time you wake up and start getting ready to go to church tomorrow. (Praise God that number will decrease because of the Supreme Court’s recent decision). We are closing in on 6 million babies put to death in abortion clinics since the US invaded Iraq in the spring of 2003. Nearly fifty million babies (more than 60 million now) have been slaughtered in the United States since abortion was legalized by Roe vs. Wade in 1973.

At least the dogs had a fighting chance.

“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you,” God said to Jeremiah.

“For you formed my inward parts; you covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made,” David said to God.

Does God care about chickens and dogs? Of course, he does. But men and women are made in his image and are the crown of his creation. It was for fallen man that Jesus had to suffer and die on the cross. He has numbered the hairs on our heads, and he has fashioned our days for us before even one of them came to be.

You want to sound a clarion call for what is right and speak against what is wrong? Start with the babies.

Praise God, after nearly 50 years and more than 60 million lives lost, we are starting to come to our senses.