Editor, Times-Union: I had an interesting week. In it I observed the ugliest and most vile side humankind has to offer alongside the most beautiful and tender. The contrast made me shudder.
On the vile and ugly side, our nation, to its shame, celebrated another anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the cruel instrumentality that now boasts of nearly 55 million brutally murdered and discarded babies. Instead of using this saddest of moments to implore his followers and his God to put an end to this slaughter, our president said, “As we remember this historic anniversary we must also continue our efforts to ensure that our daughters have the same rights, freedoms, and opportunities as our sons to fulfill their dreams …. I remain committed to protecting a woman’s right to choose and this fundamental constitutional right.” I am embarrassed for my president and my nation. He remains committed to the state-supported killing of the unborn, supposedly for the sake of our daughters. Not my daughter.
On the beautiful and tender side, my own daughter gave birth this week to my first grandchild. She had known for months that she was going to have a girl. She said often that she could not wait to finally meet the precious little child growing inside her. She and her husband carefully and lovingly traced together the growth and development of the baby from the moment the pregnancy was discovered. She would playfully push at various places on her tummy as the baby moved in response to her finger pressure. I was reminded of abortion footage I have seen of infants in the womb moving to try to evade instruments of death wielded by doctors trying to destroy them. While I held my granddaughter for the first time, I could not help but mourn for the millions just like her who were never held lovingly by anyone, thanks to Roe v. Wade.
This week while many across our country chanted and cheered and held rallies to celebrate the death of 55 million helpless and innocent babies, my family was afforded the incredible privilege of quietly giving thanks for the miraculous birth and life of one. What a contrast!
