The March For Life Means Nothing

“This means nothing.”

A pro-choice protestor chided me as I passed him on

Constitution Avenue. Last Monday was the March for Life and I, joined by countless thousands walked to the threshold of the Supreme Court to protest the Roe vs. Wade decision made by the judicial system. On my way back from the March I mulled over what the protestor had said. I came to the conclusion that, in fact, he was right. The March for Life means nothing.

Choosing to do the right thing can be a tricky task. Often times something that seems rather easy, like controlling your temper, can become a colossal test when you are driving in the middle of rush hour and some genius decides to cut you off. Supporting life is a very wonderful choice, like controlling your temper. However, unlike controlling your temper, being pro-life is much more than a decision, it is a lifestyle. That lifestyle is very easy to lead when you are surrounded by a community of 50,000 who support you. However, during the other 364 days in a year you are not surrounded by such a community, that is when being pro-life becomes a challenge.

When the teenage mother down the street needed help watching her little red headed daughter, my family jumped at the opportunity to practice our pro-life beliefs. That precocious year-old girl introduced herself to us with the most ungodly wailing I have ever heard. Caesar came, saw, and conquered. Grace came, screamed, and left. Quickly into our relationship I dubbed her the “fire child” for the inferno that raged from her mouth. However, on the fourth day I awoke to hear not screams, but giggles. I’m happy to report that the giggles have yet to subside, and that little girl brings such a bright radiance to my life that is only rivaled by her flaming hair. When I came upstairs this morning she smiled at me with a smile that contorts her entire face and said, “Mah-mul! Guh-morning!”

All I could think was how glad I was that her mother was brave enough to live her pro-lifestyle when it mattered the most.

I am lucky; an opportunity to support life comes to my door every day right at 8. For others it is not so easy. However, it is not impossible. Mother Teresa asked us to, “Do the little things with great love.” If you do the little things, saying a prayer for the unborn, or putting a pro-life bumper sticker on your car, than you have made a tremendous witness that will never go unnoticed. If you go on the March for Life, which I hope you do, wonderful. The March for Life is a powerful statement made by thousands, what it’s not is an intimate example of living a pro-lifestyle. The March for Life does little to explain the pro-life viewpoint, and for many liberals it only intimidates them. One friend of mine who is a raging liberal said, "March For Life? That's when the religious crazies come to DC to slow down traffic right?"

What liberals and anyone else who is unsure of their stance on abortion need is a silent testament, not a bellowing mob. Most, like my friend, have pre-conceived notions, or as the call them "stereotypes", that need to be destroyed subtly. The only way that can happen is by offering an intimate witness.

Comments

[Dadoo]

Hey!
Nicely writen!
I would argue that your marching and the marching of others does "mean something".
It's certainly not the bottom line and if those marchers stop at just marching, it would mean nothing. But public displays like the march reveal to an arrogant, self-righteous pro-choice contingent that their stance will be questioned by reasonable, peaceful, well-educated folks who are motivated by love and caring for all mankind (even those who may disagree with our position).
Of course, seeing the hundreds of thousands of faces who share your position is extremely edifying and you should never discount the positive effects these types of things can have on you individually.

[Mel]

Emily and I read your article about the prolife march and we loved it. What an excellent writer you are-of course you come by it honestly. Keep it up Michael, you are a very special guy.

Mel