Ramon Arias | January 30, 2017
Two massive marches descended upon Washington, D.C. a week apart; the first one was on Saturday, January 21st that was in favor of the murder of human life [culture of death] in the mother’s womb. The following week was a pro-life march [culture of life]. The first group was demanding the rights of women to determine whether the life she carries lives or dies. Do you know what the irony of all this is? While they proclaim to defend women’s rights, since January 1973, they have denied the same right to millions of women killed in the womb. To think that a mother or both parents can tell their child in the womb “you have no right to live because it’s our choice” is daunting, to say the least.
Remembering the past may help some to come to their senses. Supposedly, the War Between the States (1861-1865) was to uphold the dignity of black lives. What makes us think that the infamous Supreme Court decision of Roe vs. Wade is not worse, not only because it denies the right to life to those who cannot speak or defend themselves, but also deny that they are human beings. Can we call this barbaric slaughter an advance in an intellectual culture? History tells us, absolutely not, because the end has never been kind to “great civilizations” that practice such demonic actions.
Was there any difference in this annual event since Roe vs. Wade? It was the usual peaceful demonstration led by people of faith and other men and women of goodwill of all ages who reminded government officials, the nation, and the world that the fight for life is not over and they will never be silent about it until this barbaric practice is done away with. By the way, this was in total contrast with the women’s march. Their immoral values clearly manifested in the way they treated other people’s property, how they verbally and aggressively attacked those who disagree with them, how defiantly they confronted police officers, flinging their foul language and degenerate messages in their signs and expressions.
The big difference and welcomed surprise was that for the first time in 44 years of this march a high ranking official, Vice President Mike Pence, spoke to the crowds, the nation, and the world. The following is his speech (emphasis added):
Thank you Karen and Charlotte, and thank all of you on behalf of Pres. Donald Trump, my wife Karen, and my daughter Charlotte.
I’d like to welcome you all to Washington DC for the 44th annual March for life. It’s a good day. It’s the best day I’ve ever seen for the March for life, in more ways than one.
I’m deeply humbled to stand before you today. I’m deeply humbled to be the first vice president of the United States to ever have the privilege to attend this historic event.
More than 240 years ago, our founders wrote words that have echoed through the ages.
They declared these truths to be self-evident that we are, all of us, endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights, and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
44 years ago, our Supreme Court turned away from the first of these timeless ideals.
But today, three generations hence, because of all of you, and the many thousands that stand with us in marches like this all across the nation, life is winning again in America.
That is evident in the election of pro-life majorities and the Congress of the United States of America. But it is no more evident, in any way, than in the historic election of a president who stands for a stronger America, a more prosperous America, and a president who, I proudly say, stands for the right to life – President Donald Trump.
President Trump actually asked me to be here with you today. He asked me to thank you for your support, for your stand for life, and for your compassion for the women and children of America.
One week ago today on the steps of the Capitol we saw the inauguration of the 45th President of the United States. I can tell you firsthand, our president is a man with broad shoulders and a big heart. His vision, his energy, his optimism are boundless and I know that he will make America great again.
From his first day in office he’s been keeping his promises to the American people.
I like to say that over there at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., we are in the promise-keeping business.
That’s why on Monday, President Trump reinstated the Mexico City Policy to prevent foreign aid from funding organizations that promote or perform abortions worldwide.
That’s why this administration will work with the Congress to end taxpayer funding of abortion and of abortion providers, and we will devote those resources to healthcare services for women across America.
And that’s why next week, President Donald Trump will announce a Supreme Court nominee who will uphold the God-given liberties enshrined in our Constitution in the tradition of the late and great Justice Antonin Scalia.
You know, life is winning in America. And today is a celebration of that progress that we have made in this cause. You know I’ve long believed that a society can be judged by how we care for its most vulnerable, the aged, the infirm, the disabled, and the unborn.
We have come to an historic moment in the cause for life. And we must meet this moment with respect and compassion for every American.
Life is winning in America for many reasons.
Life is winning through the steady advance of science that illuminates when life begins, more and more, every day. Life is winning through the generosity of millions of adoptive families to open their hearts and homes to children in need. Life is winning through the compassion of caregivers and volunteers at crisis pregnancy centers and faith-based organizations who minister to women in towns across this country.
And life is winning through the quiet counsels between mothers and daughters, grandmothers and granddaughters, between friends across kitchen tables, and over coffee at college campuses. The truth is being told. Compassion is overcoming convenience. And hope is defeating despair.
In a word, life is winning in America because of all of you.
So I urge you to press on. But as it is written, ‘Let your gentleness be evident to all.’ Let this movement be known for love, not anger. Let this movement be known for compassion, not confrontation. When it comes to matters of the heart, there is nothing stronger than gentleness.
I believe that we will continue to win the hearts and minds of the rising generation if our hearts first break for young mothers and their unborn children, and if we each of us do all we can to meet them where they are, with generosity, not judgment.
To heal our land and restore a culture of life we must continue to be a movement that embraces all, cares for all, and shows respect for the dignity and worth of every person.
Enshrined on the walls of the Jefferson Memorial are the words of our third president, who admonished us, so long ago, to remember that God gave us life and gave us liberty.
On behalf of the President of the United States and my little family we thank you for your stand for life. We thank you for your compassion. We thank you for your love for the women and children of America.
And be assured, be assured, that along with you, we will not grow weary, we will not rest until we restore a culture of life in America for ourselves and our posterity. Thank you and God bless you.
And God bless the United States of America.