First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a communist.

Then they came for the trade Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the trade Catholics, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade Catholic.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

–Friedrich Gustav Emil Martin Niemöller

NOTE: If you are not already fully convinced that abortion is murder and that it is wrong under ANY context, please go read this post first.

Dr. Levatino’s testimony on how an abortion is performed.

Ignorance is bliss... just not for the victims.

When an issue does not directly affect our day-to-day lives or the lives of those closest to us, it is easy to compartmentalize the issue as someone else’s problem. This is somewhat of a defensive mechanism that helps us maintain our sanity lest we worry and concern ourselves about every trivial issue. This also protects us from being targeted and attacked by supporters of a immoral policies and causes.

However, this compartmentalization can also permit horrific atrocities to go unchecked. This occurred in Soviet Russia, whenever a citizen was swept away to the Gulags and their neighbors looked the other way. In Nazi Germany, when Jews were shipped to concentration camps. And it occurs today, when millions of unborn babies are murdered in the womb every year in every city of our country.

I believe many of us remain ignorant to the true nature of abortion out of either comfort or apathy. This is somewhat easy to do with all of the modern distractions in our culture, but this is a lousy excuse considering the wealth of information readily available.

As mentioned earlier, there have been people who refused to acknowledge active atrocities taking place throughout history. I am certain there were individuals who preferred to ignore the Holocaust, the Gulags, slavery, and many other human rights violations because it was easier to ignore than to get involved.

Defenders of ALL Persons

It is the duty of a Defender and Disciple to defend those who cannot defend themselves and to share the Truth. Unlike slavery and the Jim Crow era, where victims could sometimes advocate for themselves along with their supporters; the unborn represent a class of people who cannot speak for themselves and cannot defend themselves. The unborn do not have to luxury to declare, “my body, my choice.” Therefore, it is more crucial now than ever before that the strong defend the weak.

Heroes, Victims, Observers, Perpetrators

When presented with a story of good and evil, we often envision ourselves as either the hero or the victim. It is much more palatable to imagine we would be the victim or better yet, the hero when considering historical examples of malevolence.

However, after listening to lectures like the one linked below, I find it very helpful to consider how easily I could become a perpetrator or very likely, a complicit observer as heinous acts are carried out. There were many Soviet citizens who found it much easier to mind their own business rather than speak up. Mainly because those who spoke up were quickly arrested and silenced.

Excuses and justifications

I cannot say that I would have not done the same if I were a Soviet citizen, who just heard a rumor that my neighbor was arrested in the middle of the night. I can empathize with those who justified their actions because they needed to provide for their family and standing up to tyranny would likely result in their imprisonment. Or possibly the rationalization that those sent away to the Gulags deserved what they got. Maybe if I were a police officer during that period, I would have just used the platitude, “I’m just doing my job” while attempting to shirk my guilt onto my superiors or the State.

Shared Guilt

In The Gulag Archipelago, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn argues that even the Gulag prisoners shared some of the responsibility and guilt for the very atrocities they were victims of. While they may have not been the prison guards, he suggests that their own complacency in years prior or their cooperation as prisoners had failed to stop (or worse, helped progress) the forced labor camp systems that they eventually fell victim to.

Like I said previously, I cannot say that I would have openly stood in opposition, especially considering the consequences received by those who did. However, standing in opposition to the abortion industrial complex does not carry nearly the same risks.

So, why then do those of us who agree abortion is wrong, find it so difficult to stand in opposition and support Pro Life organizations? It is easy to discuss Pro Life issues within the echo chambers of those who agree with us, or maybe even in debate with an abortion advocate. But why does it seem difficult to oppose abortion in the public square or to support organizations who provide relief to desperate mothers?

Call to Action

My hope is that this post has been educational and will inspire you to support the Pro Life movement. I hope that you will consider and pray about how you can support the Pro Life movement while encouraging others to do the same. I have included some Resources below, links to some Pro Life organizations, and ways you can help.

NOTE: Again, if you are not already fully convinced that abortion is murder and that it is wrong under ANY context, please go read this post.