What's the biggest threat: abortion, same-sex marriage, or cancer?

[njlisa]

As a mother, I could only possible say abortion is the biggest threat. I think of my own children and it leads me to think of the children of starving African mothers with so much compassion and incentive to help. But to think of mothers who think that the best option is to attack and murder their little defenseless babies in their tummies, arms me with the full might of Gods wrath against the devil in defending pregnant mothers. There can’t be a more satanic rite than the killing of an unborn child.

I can really relate to your outrage. One of the things that really bothers me about this issue is the language used by the pro-abortion movement. Advocates always talk about a woman’s right to chose, a woman’s right to control her body, a woman’s right to make her own health decisions. They talk about termination of a pregnancy. These advocates never name what’s really going on – a woman hiring a “doctor” to butcher her unborn baby. And it really is butchery. That doesn’t seem like much of a “choice” when you get right down to it. A pro-abortion woman once told me, “It’s just like having a tooth pulled.” I couldn’t even reply. My face got hot, I got queasy, and I couldn’t utter a word. Having a tooth pulled!

 

[CradleJourney]

The thing with apathy isn’t that people don’t care - it’s that people are stretched thin. Some people really do not care. But most of us do care - it’s just that in order to fight for any specific cause well, we have to be able to focus on that one specific cause - especially if it’s one where we’re fighting demons and the prevailing culture, such as abortion or same-sex “marriage”. It’s interesting - our young people are much more pro-life than their parents, but, on the other hand, are also much more likely to support same-sex “marriage”. Our young are also much more skeptical about politicians who claim to be pro-life yet cut safety net programs that could help pregnant women in crisis situations and also back corporations that sponsor abortions and population control worldwide. Life must be protected from all that wish to destroy it, and it’s a never ending battle.

Plus, most of us have day jobs, too, often struggling to feed our own families. It’s hard to fight the battles against the evils in this world when we are having to keep cutting back year after year after year just to make sure there’s food on the table.

For instance, I work in the public schools as an educational assistant. I’ve been searching for a teaching job for three years with no one hiring me (though I’ve had over 70 interviews during this time). I would honestly get paid more flipping burgers at McDonald’s. My paychecks have been less year after year after year (in fact, even though I technically got a 1% raise this year, I’m actually bringing home less money due to insurance premiums rising and a 27th paycheck due to the calendar). However, I make too much for my wife and I to qualify for government assistance for anything other than student loan repayment. And, my rent is now almost $20 more than a single paycheck of mine. That makes it hard for me to donate money to any cause, regardless of how much good the cause does. So I understand why people sound apathetic - most really aren’t apathetic; they have to worry about taking care of their families first.

I do try to keep up with the pro-life cause, but my role is generally praying and informing others, and doing public action when I can.

As a mom of six trying to find a job myself, I can sympathize with your struggle.

However, I stand by my post. Too many times a day I hear people bemoaning an issue but doing nothing to solve it because they feel what little they could do would have no impact - so why bother?

I understand. I have no money and very little time. But if each one of us tries to do our part each day to work towards the Kingdom of God as we are called to do, wherever we are, whatever our circumstance - then change will happen.

One of the most profound kindnesses I ever experienced in my life was a smile from a drug store clerk who will never know the impact she had. That smile cost her nothing and I’m sure she probably didn’t even consciously realize she gave it - but for me it was a desperately needed ray of hope when I was in severe darkness. Some of the people most influential to my growth as a person - mentally and spiritually are/were classmates and fellow parishioners who (because I’m a bit shy) have no idea how much they have inspired me just by their choices and behaviors. I remember each of them - though I’m sure they have long forgotten me - if they even knew who I was in the first place.

Do what you can with what you have. If you have children - then that’s where you start (parent is, after all, also a verb). If prayer is what they have to give then let them give it and rejoice. If someone can donate even just a dollar and feel called to give it to cancer research, let them do that.

You work with children - you may never know when or how a bit of assistance, a kind word, a smile, a thumb’s up may make the difference in their choices down the road. I volunteer with kids - it can be tough because many times it feels like herding cats and we have no effect at all. But each bit I do to make their world better - added to each bit every other adult in their lives can do - can add up to something amazing.

I know because of my own experiences.

Not everyone is called to help with every problem - and I think that’s where some of the burn out comes. Sometimes we feel powerless because there are so many areas that need help.

But that’s where I feel God comes in - He knows not only what we need - but what we have that we can give to the world. Someone’s got to help the rainforest just like someone’s got to stock the food pantry. Someone’s needed in research, while someone else is needed to empty bedpans. And of course, we need parents - parents who love and teach and encourage and support their children who are their gifts to the world. We don’t need to know what the results of our efforts are or what the outcome will be - we just need to make the effort, then trust God to handle the rest.

 

[Gricken]

Of the three you mentioned, Abortion. Hands down. Protecting the right to life must come before all else.

 

[Mulligan2]

If you could change the society in one of the three following ways, which would you do:

1. 
   *]Ban all abortions
   *]Eliminate same-sex marriage and adoption
   *]Cure all cancer
   
   Please explain your choice. Thanks for participating!

1. 
   For me the answer is cure all cancer, and it’s not even close.

 

[marymary1975]

I would also ban abortions for exactly the same reasons everybody else has stated before. However I would use a different plan than what has been so far. I would ban abortions but would not seek jail for the women, instead I would get doctors who perform abortions in jail! I would also create a duty for doctors to report any other professional that performs abortions. Punishing the doctor, who is the most powerful part and one of the roots of the problems, seems to me.more effective. With regard to the women I would open support center for women in crisis during pregnancy. I think that would take care of cases of teenagerswomen who are forced by parents or boyfriends and women who seeks abortions due to domestic violence or violent relationship, I think giving the right support and the right help to women together with eliminating the doctor that performs abortions, we can be very successful eliminating abortion. And finally also a massive campaign between single to stop pre marital sex.

 

[njlisa]

I would also ban abortions for exactly the same reasons everybody else has stated before. However I would use a different plan than what has been so far. I would ban abortions but would not seek jail for the women, instead I would get doctors who perform abortions in jail! I would also create a duty for doctors to report any other professional that performs abortions. Punishing the doctor, who is the most powerful part and one of the roots of the problems, seems to me.more effective. With regard to the women I would open support center for women in crisis during pregnancy. I think that would take care of cases of teenagerswomen who are forced by parents or boyfriends and women who seeks abortions due to domestic violence or violent relationship, I think giving the right support and the right help to women together with eliminating the doctor that performs abortions, we can be very successful eliminating abortion. And finally also a massive campaign between single to stop pre marital sex.

Although there are some callous women who have multiple abortions, I think many are afraid and pushed into a corner – not seeing options for themselves. (I posted about one such woman earlier in the thread.) I feel bad for them – for the guilt and loss they live with.

I think my post was deleted … either that or I didn’t post it. I’m not going to risk posting it again, lest I be taken to the woodshed.

 

[marymary1975]

Although there are some callous women who have multiple abortions, I think many are afraid and pushed into a corner – not seeing options for themselves. (I posted about one such woman earlier in the thread.) I feel bad for them – for the guilt and loss they live with.

I think my post was deleted … either that or I didn’t post it. I’m not going to risk posting it again, lest I be taken to the woodshed.

Yes I remember reading that post and I agree, many women are afraid and pushed into a corner. That is why I think to eliminate abortion you need more than just banning it, as even if you make it illegal you are still.going to face the issue of illegal abortions. That is why I think banning is not enough, you need to go a little further and work with women, help the ones that are being also.a victim of the circumstances. I think if there is more support for women who are facing difficulties during pregnancies that would help to reduce abortions.

 

[njlisa]

My story, basically, was about a woman who was pressured by her relationship with a violent man to abort her baby. She wrote a letter to her child expressing love and sorry. It was very heart-tugging. I won’t quote it or post a link, lest I get in trouble.

 

[njlisa]

Yes I remember reading that post and I agree, many women are afraid and pushed into a corner. That is why I think to eliminate abortion you need more than just banning it, as even if you make it illegal you are still.going to face the issue of illegal abortions. That is why I think banning is not enough, you need to go a little further and work with women, help the ones that are being also.a victim of the circumstances. I think if there is more support for women who are facing difficulties during pregnancies that would help to reduce abortions.

 

[lynnanine]

I’d end abortion.

What else matters if you are killed before even being born?

 

[Mulligan2]

I’d end abortion.

What else matters if you are killed before even being born?

The OP’s verbiage was not ‘end abortion’ - it was ‘ban all abortions’. I would humbly suggest that banning all abortions would in no way end all abortions.

 

[MaryAlex]

The OP’s verbiage was not ‘end abortion’ - it was ‘ban all abortions’. I would humbly suggest that banning all abortions would in no way end all abortions.

I agree completely. I believe that furthering the campaign to affect the hearts of people who do not equate abortion with murder, along with much stronger support systems for women, will go a lot further in bettering our moral society. Simply banning abortions does not change the hearts, and thus the morals, of people who currently support abortion.

To answer the question, if the statement could be amended to say, “End abortion,” it would get my vote.

 

[Do_Good_Then_Go]

As a mom of six trying to find a job myself, I can sympathize with your struggle.

However, I stand by my post. Too many times a day I hear people bemoaning an issue but doing nothing to solve it because they feel what little they could do would have no impact - so why bother?

I understand. I have no money and very little time. But if each one of us tries to do our part each day to work towards the Kingdom of God as we are called to do, wherever we are, whatever our circumstance - then change will happen.

One of the most profound kindnesses I ever experienced in my life was a smile from a drug store clerk who will never know the impact she had. That smile cost her nothing and I’m sure she probably didn’t even consciously realize she gave it - but for me it was a desperately needed ray of hope when I was in severe darkness. Some of the people most influential to my growth as a person - mentally and spiritually are/were classmates and fellow parishioners who (because I’m a bit shy) have no idea how much they have inspired me just by their choices and behaviors. I remember each of them - though I’m sure they have long forgotten me - if they even knew who I was in the first place.

Do what you can with what you have. If you have children - then that’s where you start (parent is, after all, also a verb). If prayer is what they have to give then let them give it and rejoice. If someone can donate even just a dollar and feel called to give it to cancer research, let them do that.

You work with children - you may never know when or how a bit of assistance, a kind word, a smile, a thumb’s up may make the difference in their choices down the road. I volunteer with kids - it can be tough because many times it feels like herding cats and we have no effect at all. But each bit I do to make their world better - added to each bit every other adult in their lives can do - can add up to something amazing.

I know because of my own experiences.

Not everyone is called to help with every problem - and I think that’s where some of the burn out comes. Sometimes we feel powerless because there are so many areas that need help.

But that’s where I feel God comes in - He knows not only what we need - but what we have that we can give to the world. Someone’s got to help the rainforest just like someone’s got to stock the food pantry. Someone’s needed in research, while someone else is needed to empty bedpans. And of course, we need parents - parents who love and teach and encourage and support their children who are their gifts to the world. We don’t need to know what the results of our efforts are or what the outcome will be - we just need to make the effort, then trust God to handle the rest.

I feel exactly the same as you’ve explained so well here.

 

[Do_Good_Then_Go]

I agree completely. I believe that** furthering the campaign to affect the hearts of people who do not equate abortion with murder, along with much stronger support systems for women, will go a lot further in bettering our moral society. Simply banning abortions does not change the hearts, and thus the morals, of people who currently support abortion.**

To answer the question, if the statement could be amended to say, “End abortion,” it would get my vote.

Agreed.

 

[Slaney]

Abortion will bring to mankind something bigger than our tiny minds can comprehend, fire will fall from the Heavens, 3 quarters of the earth shall be on fire…

 

[ThinkingSapien]

The thing with apathy isn’t that people don’t care - it’s that people are stretched thin…] in order to fight for any specific cause well, we have to be able to focus on that one specific cause …] Plus, most of us have day jobs, too, often struggling to feed our own families.

This is a thought that I’ve had before. (And I agree with it!). I’ve actually found that putting out effort for a cause can be emotionally draining too. There seems to be a limit to how much effort one can put out before feeling fatigue. At some point you have to use some of your resources to do something for your own physical and mental health. There are many things that I would like to do in life but I understand that I have limited time and resources, so I pick a few and specialize or concentrate on those.

However, I make too much for my wife and I to qualify for government assistance for anything other than student loan repayment. And, my rent is now almost $20 more than a single paycheck of mine.

I’ve encountered similar forms of this scenario. In some situations it seems the rate at which government assistance rolls back as the person tries to get other jobs to get more income has been significant enough to make the outcome of getting multiple jobs to have a bit of a negative incentive to it.

 

[manualman]

I skipped to the end, apologies if I’m repeating anybody.

This is actually a tough one if you read the way the choices are written. Merely banning abortion isn’t really all that magnificent an outcome. Crack and heroin are illegal and plenty of people still use them. But in my wish I must weigh legal status for one category against OUTCOME for the other category (cancer cured).

If I could choose an outcome where we achieved a consensus in the populace that abortion is an atrocity against humanity and as a result banned it in law as well as real life, I’m all in for that one.

But if #'s 1 and 2 are just legal impositions on an unconverted populace, they aren’t all that much to celebrate. Victory isn’t in law, it’s in people’s souls. Law plays a part in that, sure. But it is one of the means, not the ends.

 

[njlisa]

I skipped to the end, apologies if I’m repeating anybody.

This is actually a tough one if you read the way the choices are written. Merely banning abortion isn’t really all that magnificent an outcome. Crack and heroin are illegal and plenty of people still use them. But in my wish I must weigh legal status for one category against OUTCOME for the other category (cancer cured).

If I could choose an outcome where we achieved a consensus in the populace that abortion is an atrocity against humanity and as a result banned it in law as well as real life, I’m all in for that one.

But if #'s 1 and 2 are just legal impositions on an unconverted populace, they aren’t all that much to celebrate. Victory isn’t in law, it’s in people’s souls. Law plays a part in that, sure. But it is one of the means, not the ends.

Heroin is abused, but I daresay addiction would be widespread if you could pick up your dope and syringes over the counter at the drug store. But I take your point.

 

[manualman]

Exactly. Banning abortion is a step towards the goal of obliterating it. It isn’t the goal itself. But you’ll never get to the goal if you don’t achieve that step. Things that are explicitly protected in law are things that are endorsed by the law. That DOES need fixing, don’t misunderstand me. It’s just not the endgame.

 

[Lochias]

The OP’s verbiage was not ‘end abortion’ - it was ‘ban all abortions’. I would humbly suggest that banning all abortions would in no way end all abortions.

It’d sure as heck make them harder to get. That, in and of itself, would be enough to choose that option.