Letter to the Editor

Reader questions when life begins

Sunday, January 25, 2009

To the Editor:

If someone asked you for one picture of you -- one that best describes who you are -- what picture would you give them?

A picture of when you were in grade school? How about at your high school graduation?

Your wedding picture: When you were awarded MVP of a sport? Maybe a picture of you in your 30s surrounded by your toddler and grade school children? Possibly a picture of you when you received that big job offer?

How about a picture of you on your 50th, 60th, or 80th birthday?

What picture best describes you? How about a picture of you before you were born? Ultrasounds give us those.

Each of these pictures represents us, don't they? But every year, there are noticeable changes in our appearance and in our bodies.

It is a continuum of change from conception to death.

There is no one picture of any of us that says, "This is me."

Defining when life begins should be a no-brainer. Because a child cannot live on its own for several months after conception makes him/her no less a person.

After birth, the infant still cannot survive without help.

Many elderly and handicapped people cannot survive without the aid of someone else. So when does life begin?

It begins at conception. And according to our own Constitution, "all men were created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…"

So, again, I ask, when is life created?

At conception. And that life should be protected as written in our own Constitution.

Our president is going to push for the passing of the Freedom of Choice Act.

This will nullify approximately 300 abortion laws at the state and federal levels.

Minor girls can be taken across the state line to have abortions without parental consent, but still have to have parental consent to take an aspirin at school.

How does this even make sense?

It's disturbing how our society devalues life. It is not right to deny rights to one person so another can have theirs.

And all because one party does not have a voice.

That's why there are pro-lifers. To give those whose lives are threatened a voice. They need to be heard.

They deserve a continuum of life just as you and I. They deserve first, 18th, 30th and 80th birthdays. They deserve to go to school, get married and have dreams and goals. No less than you.

Who has the right to take the life of another? Think about this.

Really, think about this.

Contact your legislators. Be that needed voice and make it be heard!

Andi Williams,

Reelsville