Editor's note: posted by Laura Schaefer.
Don’t be too surprised if the mainstream media, like CNN, ignores the fact that thousands of pro-life defenders are peacefully marching in Washington D.C. today. Amidst rain and weather that dropped well into the thirties, thousands gathered to stand up for life following the 39th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, a decision that legalized abortion in the United States. Yet 39 years after the legalization of abortion, we find ourselves in a nation whose heart has changed.
In May of 2009 Gallup released a poll showing that more Americans (51%) identified themselves as “pro-life” over “pro-choice” for the first time since polling began in 1995. The thousands of pro-life marchers gathering on the National Mall today are a true testament to the pro-life majority. The most inspiring message sent to lawmakers each year is the increasingly large number of young pro-life supporters.
These are your future voters! These are your current constituents! One glance around the March for Life and it is easy to see that this issue is one that the American public is deeply passionate about. Students with brightly-colored “Smile, your mom was pro-life” sweatshirts, small children carried on the shoulders of their fathers and young adults waving “we are the pro-life generation” signs are a true sight to be seen. And Washington D.C. is not alone -- marches from Seattle to Dallas to Columbia are happening across the county.
The surge in pro-life support leads me to believe that the “abortion issue” will play a large role in securing the social conservative vote this year. We see candidates like Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, and Ron Paul signing pro-life pledges while Mitt Romney tends to “flip” on the issue. On the other hand, President Barack Obama continues to live up to his title as the most pro-abortion president in U.S. history. On the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade yesterday, President Obama said:
“As we mark the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we must remember that this Supreme Court decision not only protects a woman’s health and reproductive freedom, but also affirms a broader principle: that government should not intrude on private family matters… I remain committed to protecting a woman’s right to choose and this fundamental constitutional right… we remember this historic anniversary, we must also continue our efforts to ensure that our daughters have the same rights, freedoms, and opportunities as our sons to fulfill their dreams.”
There is not a doubt in my heart that the sanctity of human life will become an increasingly larger debate topic for our presidential candidates. My only hope is that as a nation we vote to protect the sanctity of human life this November.