Showing posts with label Abortion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Abortion. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Are We Any Better Than Hitler?

For the book club reading this month, I was reading, Sarah's Key. It is an absorbing novel about July 1942 when French citizens, who happened to be Jews, were rounded up and sent to their deaths. 13,000 French Jews, mostly women and children, were exterminated by order of Adolf Hitler.

The author alternates between the story of a young Jewish girl living in Paris in 1942 and the story of a middle-aged woman in modern times who is assigned to write a story about this event in French history. An event the French prefer to forget.

While the story is well-written, I admit that I stopped reading it. I'm not a fan of profanity and when I began a passage with the F-word I stopped reading the book.

Up to that point, I was riveted by the story and thought about the cruelty extended to a group of people simply because they were Jews. Hitler decided that they did not deserve to live simply because he thought Jews were inferior. Who gave him that right? And why on earth did so many people follow him? Why were so many willing to kill people--children especially? How could anyone do something like this? Why did so many turn their backs on the Jews and refuse to stop the insanity surrounding the Holocaust?

Then I have to ask myself, how are we, in our society, any different than Hitler? We have laws that protect the practice of killing innocent children every day. Over 3000 babies are aborted in this country every day. Yes, every day. Why? The majority are aborted because they are an inconvenience, because their mothers have decided they don't have the right to live. And we have groups like Planned PArenthood that applaud this so-called right.

For anyone who's read my blog before, you know that I have a son with Down syndrome. 9 out of 10 women whose pregnancies are diagnosed with Down syndrome choose to terminate the pregnancy. They choose to kill that growing baby simply because it has too many chromosomes. So I ask you, how is that any different than what Hitler did? We are outraged that he thought Jews were inferior. We say he was the devil himself to have killed so many innocent people, so many innocent children who didn't deserve to die. Yet, we consistently protect the right of women to do the same thing. Over and over and over again.

We like to see ourselves as advanced and pretend that our society is nothing like Hitler's. And yet, we are no different. Our politicians fight to protect a woman's right to kill her baby, as if that baby has no rights. Why? Because it is inside its mother's womb? Because it can't care for itself? If we were to apply that reasoning across the board then we'd have to say that all children fall into that category.

I cannot understand why any human being would do what Hitler did. I cannot see how he could justify any of his actions. I do not understand killing others because they seem to be inferior. I also do not understand how women's hearts can fail them and they can justify killing their own babies. In our country, women use abortion as birth control and our government wants to force businesses to allow women to do so through the healthcare they provide to employees, even if that business has strongly held religious beliefs (which is a violation of the business owner's rights). We are on the same road as Hitler once was. We are deciding who has the right to live and who does not. We pretend that we are better than Hitler, but we are not. Today we decide unborn babies can die at the whim of their mothers. What will tomorrow bring? When we disrespect the life of anyone, we disrespect the lives of everyone. How can we ever hope to teach people to stop killing innocent people in theaters and schools when we allow, and even advocate, the killing of our most innocent?

I think Mother Theresa said it best, "But I feel that the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child - a direct killing of the innocent child - murder by the mother herself. And if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another? How do we persuade a woman not to have an abortion? As always, we must persuade her with love, and we remind ourselves that love means to be willing to give until it hurts. Jesus gave even his life to love us. So the mother who is thinking of abortion, should be helped to love - that is, to give until it hurts her plans, or her free time, to respect the life of her child. The father of that child, whoever he is, must also give until it hurts. By abortion, the mother does not learn to love, but kills even her own child to solve her problems. And by abortion, the father is told that he does not have to take any responsibility at all for the child he has brought into the world. That father is likely to put other women into the same trouble. So abortion just leads to more abortion. Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching the people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. That is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion. "

And, "It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."

If we want society to respect life, if we want to stop the violence, we must first protect all human life.


Thursday, January 12, 2012

Pam's Story

I received the following email and checked to verify its truth. Apparently, it's true according to online sources.

In a recent email, I read about a woman named Pam, who knows the pain of considering abortion. More than 24 years ago, she and her husband Bob were serving as missionaries to the Philippines and praying for a fifth child. Pam contracted amoebic dysentery, an infection of the intestine caused by a parasite found in contaminated food or drink.

She went into a coma and was treated with strong antibiotics before they discovered she was pregnant. Doctors urged her to abort the baby for her own safety and told her that the medicines had caused irreversible damage to her baby. She refused the abortion and cited her Christian faith as the reason for her hope that her son would be born without the devastating disabilities physicians predicted. Pam said the doctors didn't think of it as a life, they thought of it as a mass of fetal tissue.

While pregnant, Pam nearly lost their baby four times but refused to consider abortion. She recalled making a pledge to God with her husband: If you will give us a son, we’ll name him Timothy and we’ll make him a preacher. Pam ultimately spent the last two months of her pregnancy in bed and eventually gave birth to a healthy baby boy August 14, 1987.

Pam’s youngest son is indeed a preacher. He preaches in prisons, makes hospital visits, and serves
with his father’s ministry in the Philippines.

He also plays football.


Pam’s son is Tim Tebow.

The University of Florida’s star quarterback became the first sophomore in history to win college football’s highest award, the Heisman Trophy. His current role as quarterback of the Denver Broncos has provided an incredible platform for Christian witness. As a result, he is being called The Mile-High Messiah.

Tim’s notoriety and the family’s inspiring story have given Pam numerous opportunities to speak on behalf of women’s centers across the country. Pam Tebow believes that every little baby you save matters.

I couldn't agree more. 

Thank you, Tim Tebow, for reminding the nation that prayer matters. That every life matters. That every baby deserves the right to live.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Mitt Romney? No, thanks.

The other night the phone rang and my husband answered it on the speaker phone (because our handsets are always missing). It was a political call. (I sure wish I could be on a "Do Not Call" registry for political calls because they are so annoying). The man on the phone wanted to know if we'd like to donate $75 to Mitt Romney's campaign. My husband politely said no and the caller insisted we donate something else. My husband still said no. The caller wanted to know why we wouldn't donate. My husband replied that we don't support Romney. The caller went on to argue with my husband insisting that Romney is the only candidate.

Really? What did he hope to gain? Did he think we'd change our minds if he got all argumentative?

My husband told the caller that he didn't like Romney's voting record and that he did not represent us especially when it comes to abortion. The caller said that Romney is against abortion but wants to leave it up to the states to determine their own laws about abortion.

If that isn't the least courageous way to face a highly emotional issue, I don't know what is. What a pansy position to take. Abortion is a hot issue for me because I believe every child has a right to life. Nine out of ten women would've chosen to end my son's life simply because he has an extra chromosome. I believe abortion takes the life of an innocent child. Romney obviously doesn't feel that way or else he's trying to pander to both sides of this issue. Either way, color me unimpressed.

I also do not favor socialized medicine. I believe it will destroy our medical care system. I do believe we have problems with our current health care system and that we need to solve the problems, but I don't want to turn over my health care, nor that of my family's, to the government. I have never seen the government run a program efficiently and I certainly don't want my health or my family's health to be dependent on politicians. Romney instituted socialized medicine in Massachusetts. He doesn't have a problem with the government running health care. He and I sharply disagree on this and I can't support someone who believes that the government is better at determining who should receive health care than a doctor or the patient.

Romney is not the candidate I want to represent me. And that's disappointing. I thought he would be. I favored him in the last primaries but as I've learned more about his voting record and his stand on issues that are important to me, I've realized he is not the candidate for me. If he is the republican candidate I will have to abstain from voting in the 2012 presidential election.

And if anyone knows how to stop those annoying political calls, please tell me.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

We Can Vote

First page of Constitution of the United StatesImage via Wikipedia"We believe that  governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society." (Doctrine and Covenants 134:1)

Today we have the opportunity to vote. I believe that we are held accountable for the choices we make, even when it comes to voting.  It's so important that we vote for those that we think will best represent us and will do what we feel is best for our great country. In my area, there is a candidate who represents most of my beliefs. Unfortunately, she supports abortion. I cannot vote for her because abortion is too important to me. Yes, by not voting for her I will not counteract a vote for the other candidate who does not represent my beliefs at all. But, in the end, I cannot vote for any candidate that supports abortion and I have to vote my conscience.

Our government should benefit us, not drain us, and it should uphold the Constitution. The Constitution is a divinely inspired document and it was created  for our good. "And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood" (Doctrine and Covenants 101:80). Many politicians seem to be trampling on this document claiming that it is outdated and needs to be modernized. I disagree. It has served us well for over 200 years and it was inspired by God. I believe in upholding the Constitution. I believe that our government should serve us, not the other way around. I believe that I should have freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom to choose my own healthcare. I believe our government has grown far too big and is overstepping its bounds. I believe we need to cut out the wasteful spending and vote out those who do not have the integrity to represent our citizens and our Constitution. Too many politicians have been corrupted by power and forget that they work for us and should be representing our best interests, not theirs.

Today we can send a message. We can let our voices be heard. We can stand for our Constitution.

We can vote.
Enhanced by Zemanta

Friday, October 1, 2010

Abortion Survivor

What a powerful message. View both parts for the full effect and while you watch it, please consider that 90% of all pregnancies diagnosed with Down syndrome are terminated simply because the child isn't "perfect." Listen to this woman's words. She is my hero!



Tuesday, July 28, 2009

My Grandma Fears Her Future

My grandmother is in the hospital as a result of a minor stroke. She's an amazing woman who is still vibrant and mentally sharp. We discuss politics, religion, current affairs, and anything else that happens to pop into our conversation. She's an excellent conversationalist and I enjoy our visits.

The other day she expressed her fear of the new healthcare reform proposed by President Obama. She's afraid that with the new directives she won't receive any care and will be left to die. I wanted to reassure her that she'd receive whatever medical care she might require in the future, but I couldn't. The fact is, she won't.

According to this 1000+ page document, after age 65 citizens will receive end-of-life counseling on how to end their lives instead of receiving treatment for their ailments. For example, a man age 65 who needs a knee replacement and has worked all of his life paying into medicare and social security will be denied while a 20-something illegal immigrant who hurt his knee running the border will receive the knee replacement. How fair is that?

The new healthcare reform not only includes abortion but defines it as needed healthcare. What? How can an abortion be determined as healthcare? In most cases, it's birth control. Not only will our government be encouraging women to kill their innocent babies, they'll be forcing us as American citizens to fund the slaughter.

This healthcare reform will also prohibit private insurance. My husband has worked hard for over 20 years to provide for our family and to maintain benefits, including health insurance and now the government wants to take it away because somehow we don't deserve it anymore.

So, my grandmother is justified in her fear of what this healthcare reform will do to her, and to us as a nation. Our once superior healthcare will be replaced by mediocre care, and only if the government deems that you qualify. This reform will deny life to the unborn and the elderly.

And, the politicians will not be required to take part in the national healthcare--they'll have their own system. Isn't it ironic that Ted Kennedy who is pushing this reform is benefiting from the very care he'll be denying citizens his age as he fights a brain tumor?

Call your representatives, email them, mail them, but let them know that we not only value the life of the unborn, but we also care about our older citizens and that we do not want socialized medicine.

Here's a link to all the addresses of our government representatives: http://www.conservativeusa.org/mega-cong.htm . Perhaps, if we work together we can stop this legislation before it destroys our country, and our lives.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Fight the Freedom of Choice Act

A new piece of legislation is being presented to our government representatives. It's called the Freedom of Choice Act and basically legalizes abortion on demand. It strips parents of any rights as well as overturns any state laws on abortion. Planned Parenthood is spearheading it--big shock, Planned Parenthood has got to be one of the worst organizations to ever be in existence. It's a cancer on our society.

Barack Obama has promised to sign it as soon as he's in office. While I didn't vote for him for so many reasons, I thought, as a father, he'd at least have some sense of compassion for innocent lives. Apparently not.

For the life of me, I cannot understand why anyone in their right mind would ever, ever support infanticide. That's what FOCA is, it's infanticide. Our society has degenerated to the point that we want to rid it of innocent children as easily as we take out the trash.

I don't know how much good it will do, because personally I've lost confidence in our government's ability to do the right thing, but you can go here www.fightfoca.com and sign a petition to try to stop this horrendous legislation.

It's so simple, if you don't want to have a baby, don't do that which will create one. No one has ever died from practiciing abstinence, but millions have died from not practicing it.

Let's stop the hideous and irresponsible practice of killing innocent babies!

Friday, December 19, 2008

Bailout Barfs

So I'm not a big fan of the recent bailouts. Why are we bailing out the banks and the automakers? Is it a great idea that the government is going to own these companies and/or the retirement funds? Aren't we edging ever so much closer to communism (you know, when the government owns everything and then decides who gets what). Scary things are definitely happening.

But, the worst thing I've heard so far is that Planned Parenthood and other abortion suppliers want to be part of the government bailout. What does that mean? That even more of my tax dollars are going to allow people to end the lives of millions of innocent unborn babies. The idea makes me so sick, I feel like barfing.

I can't believe our society has degenerated to the point that abortion is not only approved, but even encouraged. Is it any wonder that our society is so violent and murderous when we don't even value the life of a baby? We live in a society that sees nothing wrong with killing unborn babies and now that society wants us to all pay for it.

As if bailing out companies that should've kept a better eye on their bottom lines wasn't bad enough . . .

Rant over.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Why I Can't Vote for Obama

In five days we'll determine who will lead our country for the next 4 years. When we cast our vote, we are part of the process that makes America so great--the opportunity to choose who will govern us. We still have the ability to make choices. We still have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to bear arms. As I've pondered who I believe will be the best leader for our country, I have to conclude that it is John McCain. He has the most experience in being a commander-in- chief, he's had the most experience working in Washington, and he's had the most life experience. He's patriotic and knows what it means to serve others.

I simply cannot vote for Barack Obama because:

1. He supports abortion. Again and again he's shown by his voting record that he supports and condones ending human life in its early stages. Even when he was presented proof that a hospital in his own state was allowing babies to die after the mother was induced, he refused to take any action to stop the practice.

2. He supports gay marriage. I believe marriage is between one man and one woman. I do not support changing the definition for any group, even if they are very vocal and threatening. Family is the most basic fundamental unit of our society. We should encourage marriage, rather than discourage it. We should not tear it down or demean it to appease a tiny minority of people who have chosen an alternative lifestyle. I sincerely hope that voters in CA and AZ will be able to, once and for all, define marriage as between one man and one woman.

3. He advocates socialism. He continues to preach "spreading the wealth." Why? Why do people who've worked hard have to pay a larger percentage of taxes to take care of people who may not work at all? This ideology can be compared to a student that studies, works hard, attends class, and turns in homework having to give half of his A grades to a student who doesn't show up for class, doesn't turn in assignments, fails the tests, and doesn't care about school. The first student would receive half of the second student's F grades so that they could both be equal. Both of them would then be C students. Is this fair? Yet, this is what Obama proposes--those that work share with those that don't. And who decides who gets what? Will Obama live by the same rules he wants to apply to the rest of us? What will happen to the drive and industry that's made this country great? I do not want socialism.

4. He, along with the radical women's organization NOW, wants to register men and women for the draft so that in the event we need one, both men and women will have to fight on the front lines. I am so tired of groups like NOW trying to tell me that I'm not equal with men. Men and women are absolutely equal, but they are not the same. Big difference. I do not want to see women being forced to fight in a war. I don't want to see men forced to fight, either. What makes our current military so strong is the fact that those serving have chosen to do so and have not been forced to enlist. Does anyone remember the Vietnam fiasco with men dodging the draft and those that did honor their country, but did not support or believe in the war? Under Obama's plan, the very people out demonstrating against the war in Iraq will be forced to fight in the next war, and believe me the Iraq war will not be the last.

5. He simply does not have the experience he needs to lead our great country. He has not had enough experience with the military (he would be the commander-in-chief and in charge of the military), he has not even lead a state or balanced a budget.

6. He favors gun control. He opposes the 2nd Amendment and the right to bear arms. Will criminals suddenly decide to obey the law and give up their guns? I don't think so. It will be the law-abiding citizens that lose their rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

There are other reasons, but these are my top reasons why I can't vote for Barack Obama.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

My Letter to the Editor

In my ongoing attempt to make the world a better place, I wrote a letter to the editor of our local newspaper, The Durango Herald, about Colorado's Amendment 48 which defines life at conception. The owner of the newspaper is very pro-abortion and actively supports Planned Parenthood so I'm surprised the paper even printed my letter. A neighbor called to tell me he'd read it and wanted to tell me how glad he was I wrote it. Usually, someone calls to verify I wrote a letter, but that didn't happen this time so I didn't know it had been printed. Maybe my name is recognizable for submitting so many letter to the editor that they didn't feel like they needed to verify it. If they'd give me my own opinion column I wouldn't have to write so many letters to the editor :).

Here's the link if you'd like to read it. I wrote my it in response to a letter to the editor that claimed Amendment 48 discriminates against the poor. Thanks for your support!
http://www.durangoherald.com/sections/Opinion/letters_to_the_editor/2008/10/08/Womens_choice_is_before_conception/

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

My Fertilized Eggs




With all this talk about Colorado's Amendment 48 giving rights to fertilized eggs, I wanted to post a photo of my fertilized eggs.

Can you see their individual personalities just from this photo? Can you see they have different physical features? Some love to sing, some love soccer, some (most) love to perform on stage, and some love to collect salamanders and lizards. They all have different talents and strengths. They all have different struggles and trials. Each of these "fertilized eggs" is an individual that cannot be reproduced or copied. Each is a unique person that will contribute in his or her own way to society.

When we talk about giving rights to fertilized eggs, we are talking about human beings--people endowed with gifts who can make this world a better place.

At one time all of these people lived inside my womb. I heard their hearts beat, I felt their feet, knees, arms, elbows, and heads move inside of me, and I bonded to each one long before they took their first breath.

People. Human beings. Amendment 48 will protect the unborn and give them the chance to grow into wonderful people, just like my children. Every child has the right to live.



Friday, September 26, 2008

Virtue

The 13th Article of Faith continues with, “We believe in being . . . virtuous . . .”

Virtuous can be defined as living a morally upright life. It means having moral and ethical values and standards. It can also mean living a chaste and morally clean life.

Remaining virtuous and chaste in today’s society is extremely hard, especially for teenagers. So much peer pressure is placed on our youth to succumb to immoral and unrighteous behavior. Good is called evil and evil is called good. Instead of respecting those who choose to remain chaste, peers taunt, ridicule, and otherwise humiliate them.

My daughter was enrolled in a health class at the high school. She learned valuable information about eating healthy food and about diseases. Of course, the class also included Sex Education. Most of the time was used by Planned Parenthood to push its own agenda. While abstinence was mentioned, it was lip service at best.

In Colorado, state law permits Planned Parenthood to distribute birth control to minors without parental consent. Our previous principal (who was reprimanded, but not fired for downloading and sharing pornography on school computers) instituted a student health center at the high school. While the health center offers physical exams for kids participating in sports and testing for strep throat and other ailments, it also offers pregnancy testing, birth control, and counseling (translation: abortion counseling). To receive regular care from the health center, a parent must sign a permission form, but any student can access the health center one time without parental consent and without informing the parents.

Promiscuity is so rampant that my daughter has only one friend who is not sexually active. In fact, she knows girls who regularly go to Planned Parenthood and even obtain the “morning after pill,” which is a form of abortion. No one thinks anything about it. These teenagers are exchanging partners, participating is lewd acts, and then going to Planned Parenthood to get rid of any child that may be created by their behavior. The worst part is the general acceptance of this behavior.

My daughter did not want to attend Planned Parenthood’s agenda in her health class so she left each day to go to the library. How did her peers react? They called her names, made fun of her, and told her she was being ridiculous and “missing out.” Fortunately, my daughter has stood firm in her decision to retain her virtue.

In my own experience in high school, I was also ridiculed for being virtuous and having morals and standards. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to look at our society and see that it’s ripening for destruction because we have lost our moral compass. Nothing is wrong anymore. We condone homosexuality. We think nothing of teenagers engaged in sexual activities. We allow innocent babies to be sucked from a woman’s womb simply because that baby is inconvenient.

Most of the ills of our society can be traced back to our apathy toward virtue and chastity. What has happened to being virtuous? When did being moral become bad? Why has our society lost the values we once cherished?

An immoral society can’t survive forever. Until we, as a society, once gain embrace virtue and chastity we will suffer the same fate as Sodom and Gomorrah.

Return to the neighborhood.

And while you're there, subscribe to our fantastic newsletter. Welcome to the yourLDSneighborhood newsletter. In addition to being able to shop in the new virtual neighborhood, the LDS newsletter brings you LDS articles, LDS products, LDS services, LDS resources and LDS interviews from around the world—all with an LDS focus. Look for issues delivered to your email inbox every week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.LDS

Newsletter Subscriptions are FREE, and joining is easy.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Amendment 48

Here is the full text of the proposal for Amendment 48 which will be on Colorado's ballot in November.

Amendment 48

Definition of Person

Ballot Title: An amendment to the Colorado constitution defining the term "person"
to include any human being from the moment of fertilization as "person" is used in those provisions of the Colorado constitution relating to inalienable rights, equality of justice, and due process of law.

Text of Proposal:
Be it Enacted by the People of the State of Colorado:

SECTION 1. Article II of the constitution of the state of Colorado is amended BY THE
ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION to read:
Section 31. Person defined. AS USED IN SECTIONS 3, 6, AND 25 OF ARTICLE II OF
THE STATE CONSTITUTION, THE TERMS "PERSON" OR "PERSONS" SHALL INCLUDE ANY
HUMAN BEING FROM THE MOMENT OF FERTILIZATION.

From the Colorado State Constitution Article II:

Section 3. Inalienable rights. All persons have certain natural, essential and inalienable rights, among which may be reckoned the right of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties; of acquiring, possessing and protecting property; and of seeking and obtaining their safety and happiness.

Section 6. Equality of justice. Courts of justice shall be open to every person, and a speedy remedy afforded for every injury to person, property or character; and right and justice should be administered without sale, denial or delay.

Section 25. Due process of law. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property, without due process of law.

I see nowhere that this amendment will prevent birth control. It is not meant to prevent babies from being created, but rather to protect babies after they have been created. How does this amendment prevent in-vitro fertilization? How does it prevent the birth control pill? How will it allow government to search our homes and our bathrooms to see if a fertilized egg has been cast off during a regular menstrual cycle?

These are all arguments I've read against this amendment. I see the most basic argument against this amendment as limiting women from using abortion as birth control or birth selection. After all, isn't that the whole opposition to this amendment? That women and men will have to take responsiblity for their actions when it creates a child.

If you don't want a baby, practice abstinence. After all, no one has ever died from practicing abstinence, but plenty have died from not practicing it.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Obey the Law

The 12th Article of Faith relates our belief in sustaining our government. It says, “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, magistrates in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.”

In the Doctrine and Covenants 58:21 we read, “Let no man break the laws of the land, for he that keepeth the laws of God hath no need to break the laws of the land.”

In Colorado, the legislature passed a law prohibiting new drivers under the age of 18 from transporting any passengers for the first six months after they receive their driver’s license. After the six-month period, drivers are allowed to drive one passenger until they have held their license for a full year. After that, there are no passenger restrictions.

The reason the legislature passed this law was to prevent young drivers from piling the car full of other teenagers who may distract the driver and, hopefully, avoid an accident with a car full of kids. While this makes sense, isn’t it the parents’ responsibility to make sure their children are driving safely and only driving with those who the parents feel can drive responsibly? The message from our state government seems to indicate that they don’t trust parents to make sound judgments about their children.

Another problem with this law is that our high school is more than 25 miles away. Instead of being able to carpool, kids must each take a vehicle to town if they need to stay after school for activities or want to attend other school-sponsored activities like football games or theater productions. Not only is that using more fuel, but now we have four or five inexperienced drivers on the road instead of one. We also have that many more drivers looking for parking places in a city that already has a shortage of parking spaces.

This law has created problems as well as an inconvenience for many of us that live outside the city limits. Nevertheless, it is the law and it is my responsibility to obey it. If I don’t like a law, I must work to change it, not break it.

Another law that I believe actually tramples on the rights of another is the right for a woman to abort a baby. In Colorado this year, we will vote on an amendment to the state constitution that defines life as beginning at conception. Those who oppose this amendment are claiming it’s unjust and denies a woman her right to terminate a pregnancy. I have asked opponents to define when life begins, but have yet to receive any kind of an answer. When does life begin? Is it when a baby first moves? Its heartbeat can be detected? It breathes on its own? Exactly when does life begin if not at the moment of conception?

As a mother of ten, I can honestly say that after fertilization, nothing else happens to the baby inside my womb, except that it grows. Just as any living thing needs time to grow, so does a child.

If this amendment passes, it will then make abortion illegal in the state of Colorado. That would be a great thing. Too many women use abortion as birth control. Too many men and women want to engage in procreative behaviors but refuse to take responsibility when a baby is conceived. Too often, our society condones irresponsible behavior and encourages escape from consequences of our actions. This amendment, if it passes, will finally give rights to the child that’s been created. Those who create babies should be required to either care for that child or give it to a couple who will, not exterminate it because it's an inconvenience. It’s very simple. If you don’t want to make a baby, don’t have sex.

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we value all life. We do not support the practice of abortion, but we still must honor, sustain, and obey this law because, unfortunately, the law of the land allows abortion.

I hope that Amendment 48 will pass in Colorado. Not only will we then be able to save thousands of babies each year, we will see that we can and should change bad laws through the proper channels.

Return to the neighborhood.