When I was young I spent a lot of time protesting against civil rights issues. As I matured I began to redirect my energy toward supporting victims of domestic violence and rape, by walking and raising money for diabetic research and March of dimes. I am a woman of faith. I believe that life starts at conception. I do not believe in abortion for myself. I felt so strongly that I had a tubal ligation after having twins at the age of 25. I did not want more children and birth control did not work for me and I did not want to be confronted with the decision to bring children into the world that I could not afford or did not want. The most important thing was that I made the decision. No one made it for me.
When a woman becomes pregnant it is a major event and I don’t believe that the decision women make is made without much thought and deliberation and I don’t think that the pain is ever lifted from their heart. It follows them throughout their lives. Unfortunately there are many teenage mothers. Most of these children are trying to feel an empty hole in them, seeking love in all the wrong places.
I believe that protest open dialogue and I hope President Obama is willing to sit down and discuss this issue with individuals that do not support abortion and supporters of a women’s right to choose. However I also wonder how much time these individuals have spent time talking to teenagers that have become pregnant. I wonder how many visit schools and open forums for discussions. I wonder how many churches in the area reach out and accept these individuals in their church, but most importantly how many through their actions show unwed mothers the forgiveness and love of God because I am certain if the church reaches out to teenagers, mentors them, supports them, leads them to Christ so that they will see the amazing love of God that we will reduce teenage pregnancy, that we will reach and touch lives and we will decrease the abortion rate in this country.
My thoughts: Exercise your right to protest but spend time understanding the issue because it is not black and white. We would all like to dig our heads in the dirt and just say you must choose life but there must be early intervention, support systems, programs set up by the church and other groups. Groups that make millions of dollars on abortion offer more support to pregnant women than those of us that believe in the preservation of life. The church cannot ignore the issue. We cannot afford to sit and judge instead of reaching out. When we stand up in love and not judgment and each of us begins to support and mentor our young then we will begin to decrease the rate of abortion in this country and around the world.
Claudette Milner is the author of “Children of Plains Estates” and “Unheard Voices”: Children of Plains Estates
www.claudettemilner.com
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