I Have to Rant (just for a minute) ...

Ok, now you know I'm serious because I start off with "Ok". I am a little peeved. I am also realistic in the fact that I have nothing invested in this issue besides being an American and usually I'm very quiet (oh, just give me something here!) about my opinions (even if by saying that, I appear dillussional).

Here's the deal - Why, oh Why did Notre Dame ask President Obama to speak at their graduation? I mean, the first thing Mr. Obama did when he got into the White House was sign some crazy legislation regarding our nation's funding of international abortion (????) and then just as fast signed more legislation about Stem Cell Research. WHY THEN, ask the man to speak at a Catholic University which receives millions and millions of dollars in contributions from CATHOLICS - who by the way, oppose Abortion as well as Stem Cell Research? Is this a way for modern catholics to thumb their noses at the Pope? Is this some kind of teenage rebellion in the adolescent stage of Notre Dame? I don't get it!

Furthermore, the first line of President Obama's speech mentioned the ability to come together to discuss difficult issues (ok, that's good) and then he says, "Because no one can know or understand what a difficult decision a young woman has to make ... blah, blah, blah" at that point I threw my turkey sandwich at the t.v. and screamed, "They don't oppose abortion because they're thinking about the 'young lady', but because they are thinking about the CHILD!!!" If I were a student attending that graduation, I would have been peeved that my dedication to my faith as well as my dedication to my university for my education were mocked by such a man. I would march to the Registrar and demand a refund of my tuition. I would apply to the Pope for some form of reprimand to be given to the genius who asked President Obama to speak.

Here's the kicker - I'm, in general, opposed legislating Abortion rights (I feel like it's a medical procedure and does not fall within governmental legislation, but our own moral code). Horrible things happen to people whether it's incest or rape. I believe that those cases are special and horrific ... if someone finds themselves victim to either one - they should be allowed to do whatever they want, BUT that's where I draw the line. Here's why:

1. I've had a few babies myself. I've also had a few miscarriages. I understand "in those first few weeks" it's popular to think that the baby is nothing, but it is. It has a heart. If you're lucky, that heart beats. If you're really lucky, the baby continues to grow and develop normally.
   
2. If "young women who find themselves in certain situations" were educated about that miracle & then further educated about the miracle of adoption and what a blessing they could be to another couple, there would be no need for an abortion debate. I believe people are inately good & want to do good things.
   
3. I also believe that it's wrong to abort a baby for genetic abnormalities. It's a challenge to raise a special needs kid. It's heartbreaking and hard. BUT, if you have someone in your life, if you're lucky enough to have someone in your life, who wasn't handed the "best" genetic deck -- you understand how very blessed your life becomes when they are in it.
4. Why would I pay (with my tax dollars) to kill a baby if I wasn't willing to pay for the prevention of said pregnancy in the first place? Let's offer birth control assistance instead of abortion assistance!
   

If for one minute, you're thinking that I'm out of line or "what do I know" - let me tell you what I know ...

1. I have a neice with a genetic abnormality, she's 17 now & she's lovely. Her parents are no less than Saints in my book. Not because they had her, which by the way - no prenatal genetic test would have detected her disorder because it's extremely rare, but because they have dealt with all the feelings and emotions of being a parent of a special needs child and THEY HAVE PERSEVERED. Their patience is admirable, their love for her (and their other two children) is unconditional. They have been very good examples to me of the type of parent that I want to be. I am so grateful to Dave and Pam for this. For Hannah for being such a sweet, sweet spirit (as long as you don't get her too excited, which is hard because it's fun to get her wound up) and for Jake and Amelia for being such tender, loving siblings. I am mostly an observer of their family ... and I like what I see.
2. I worked at an adoption agency in my early 20's. That alone may not sound like much, but I got to see - first hand what these girls and what the adoptive parents go through. It's not easy on either front, but it is beautiful.
3. I have friends who have adopted. I get to enjoy their children - knowing that their birth mothers would be tickled to see them so happy and loved so freely. It's a blessing.
4. I have many friends who made the decision to terminate their unwanted pregnancy & then have had to live with their decision. I've never met one girl who said, "I'm glad I did it!" People who support abortion support a lie. They support ignoring emotions, they support stunting growth, and they support hindering the emotional or spiritual growth of girls who need that form of growth the most.

I'm nearly ranted out, but I have one more point to make. Issues like abortion are covered up in words like "rights" and "freedom", but what is freedom? Does it mean that everything is easy? Seriously?! I come from a looooong line of Americans. I have many branches of my family tree that have fought in every war this country has known (except for and post World War II - Korean, Vietnam, Iraq). I am a descendant of Mormon pioneers who were chased from their homes because of their beliefs. Freedom is anything but easy. Anything worth having in this world is hard and can be painful ... anyone who tells you otherwise is deceptive. There's no other way around it.

Gosh ... I'm starting to sound like my Dad! ("Honey, I never said life was fair!")