We Must Name the Lobsters
Nov 17, 2009 Five Non-Negotiable Issues, Supreme Court
In an episode of The West Wing a small circle of people, including Joint Chiefs, the President’s Chief of Staff, and the President are presented with a situation where a leader of a terrorist nation is going to be making a ceremonial stop in the United States. The administration has recently, since agreeing to the ceremonial handshake with the President, gotten solid evidence that this leader was the mastermind behind a foiled plot to bomb the Golden Gate Bridge. The dilemma amongst the small circle is whether or not to take this guy out with the one chance they have. It is the opinion of everyone except the one ultimately in charge, the President, that they should take the terrorist leader (we’ll liken it to Ahmadinejad turned bin Laden). The President is grappling with the idea, though it seems inevitable that he will ultimately agree with his counsel. The problem is that the plan that is devised to take this leader out, and in a way that does not incriminate the United States, falls after the ceremonial handshake. The Chief of Staff is trying to make it such that the handshake is nothing more than it needs to be. He cites a time when he used to take his young daughter to the seafood place and the first thing she would do is name all the lobsters in the tank so that he couldn’t eat any of them.
So goes the problem of the pro-life movement. The biggest, and possibly the only shortcoming we have in our time of living is that we don’t know the unborn child. They are nameless and faceless. We can see two arms and two feet, we can see a skull and a skeleton, and we can even see them move. But we can’t see their smile, we can’t know their personalities, and we aren’t able to hold the precious little person in our hands and know them enough to love them. Again, this is the biggest and possibly the only shortcoming of the pro-life movement, and when you look at the methodology of the pro-choice contingent you have great evidence. Consider the most obvious example, Planned Parenthood…
- They don’t want the pregnant mother to get any literature from the sidewalk counselors, because they might realize that they are already a mother.
- They don’t want the pregnant mother to hear anything that makes what is inside of them a human being because the mother might realize that she is already just that – a mother.
- They don’t want the pregnant mother to see an ultrasound because they might realize they are already a mother.
- They don’t want any sort of waiting period where a pregnant mother, already a mother, might realize that fact and change their mind.
- They are so worried about the pregnant mother realizing they are a mother, they don’t even want to show the mom their baby when something goes “awry” and the baby is delivered alive.
All of this is an effort to make sure that the mother of the child, and any other influential person in the situation, do not come to know the child that is already alive. The child that is already alive.
Fortunately science is on the pro-life side. The better our images get, the more the pro-choice side has to sprint in another direction. (It’s ironic that the pro-choice side is, in most other cases, entirely apologetic of anything scientific, but I digress.) It is vitally important that we do everything else we can, on top of the scientific evidence that only some will pay attention to, to give a name and a face to the unborn child. The precious feet and the at-this-many-weeks facts are a good start, but we need to do even more than that. We need to give names to these children. This isn’t to “make the decision more difficult,” but to inject the truth of the matter into the discussion. After all, this is a live human being. Never has it been known that a pregnant woman has delivered anything other than a human being. There is no chance that what is growing inside of the woman, sometime in the future to be delivered, is a bowling ball or a bag of designer make-up, both of which can be amorally chucked into the garbage can.
The tragic events of 9-11 shook everyone I know to their respective core. Yet even I have to admit that not having known anyone, personally, who was affected in the tragedy gives me a far different experience than another person who lost a friend or a loved one at one of the three sites, on a plane or in a building. The point is this: We must make the lobsters known so that they can be loved as more than an inconvenient growth on a woman’s body. We must give name to the lobsters in the tank.
Christ’s example: a child
Sep 20, 2009 Five Non-Negotiable Issues
Gospel
Mk 9:30-37Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee,
but he did not wish anyone to know about it.
He was teaching his disciples and telling them,
“The Son of Man is to be handed over to men
and they will kill him,
and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.”
But they did not understand the saying,
and they were afraid to question him.They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house,
he began to ask them,
“What were you arguing about on the way?”
But they remained silent.
They had been discussing among themselves on the way
who was the greatest.
Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them,
“If anyone wishes to be first,
he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”
Taking a child, he placed it in the their midst,
and putting his arms around it, he said to them,
“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;
and whoever receives me,
receives not me but the One who sent me.”
Today’s gospel provides two relevant lessons for Americans (and people of the world). First of all, Christ warns the apostles that anyone who acts selfishly and worries about their own interests are in grave danger. This is especially fitting when looking at the candidates and the issues a person supports with their time and fortune.
The second lesson in resides in the example he uses — a child. Considering God was omniscient, this is a very telling example for all of the ages to come: that there is nothing more precious in this world than a child, even the lowest and most unworthy of children (as is the case in this example). Yet, Christ puts the child on the pedestal and says you cannot receive him without receiving the child.
Many Christian-Americans continue to vote according to their wants and needs, and not the needs of the least among us. They have continued to put issues like education, taxes, and government services ahead of the needs of the unborn. They have continued to discount the millions of children we mercilessly kill every year while propping up the need for free markets and civil liberty. The first freedom we are entitled to in this world, though, is Freedom. People should heed the words of an ultimate civil libertarian, Ron Paul:
Contrast that with a guy who many Ron Paul supporters also support, but whose priorities are truly mis-guided, and you don’t have a civil libertarian at all. Be very prayerful and thoughtful before you give any kind of support to a man like Peter Schiff. Supporting a man with the thoughts to come (below) is denying the very child that Christ is begging you to receive (and thus, the Father):
Today is the day you have let us down
May 26, 2009 Five Non-Negotiable Issues, Governmental Reach, Obama Administration, Supreme Court
As President Obama prepares to announce his first Supreme Court nominee in a little over a hundred minutes, we are finally seeing the true consequences of the irresponsible voter. When tasked with a decision between two men who could win, some chose the wrong one to be a part of history. Some chose a third party on some impractical principle. Others chose simply not to vote, because the better option wasn’t “better enough.” Today, it finally comes to fruition. All three of those groups have let us down, and the Constitution of this great nation takes another knife in the back. Ironic, isn’t it, falling the day after we remembered the fallen soldiers who fought for this great land? A Supreme Court nominee is the longest lasting, in certain terms, consequence of any presidency. Selfishness at the polls will last long, long into the night and cost many their freedom and many more their lives.
There will be plenty of wailing when this announcement is made. Unless you voted for the only option better than the reality that we have, I don’t want to hear it from you. At least not today.
Update: It looks like it is going to be Judge Sonia Sotomayor.
Why should we reduce the need for abortion?
May 23, 2009 Five Non-Negotiable Issues, Obama Administration
It’s always a fascinating practice to take a look at the public relations job politicians do on the campaign trail. It’s always a challenge in a job where living in the gray might give you a chance on issues that are black and white, if only because it appears that you are both sides. When it comes to abortion it seems that there are two positions:
- Pro-life: mostly or completely against abortion. (I lump in mostly because there are politicians who want to make exceptions for rape/incest, which I believe is wrong, but they are otherwise on target.)
- Those that believe that abortion is a personal choice, but they want to reduce the need for abortion.
This begs the question: if there is nothing wrong with abortion, why would we waste our time and effort to reduce the need for it? Clearly the politician does find something wrong with abortion or they would simply throw the issue out with the trash. Next time you get the opportunity to confront one of these abortion reductionist politicians, ask them why they are even bothering. The answer could be quite interesting.
Where is the tipping point?
May 20, 2009 Five Non-Negotiable Issues, Governmental Reach, Obama Administration
By now, most everyone has heard the story of the 13-year-old from Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. Daniel Hauser’s parents claim that is against their religious beliefs to undergo a chemotherapy treatment for the disease that has a relatively successful treatment. Daniel backs up his parents’ claim, and says he wishes to forego that treatment. A court has since ruled that he should receive treatment and Daniel’s mom has taken him and fled their hometown, also missing a court appearance.
This is a terribly sad situation. First off, I want to state that if I were in the place of the Hauser parents (oh, God, please forbid) I would want treatment for my child. I think medicinal remedies are a gift from God when used in truthful and moral ways. The Hausers, though, do not believe in using anything that “attacks” the body. Now, due to their fear of having government and court decisions imposed upon them and their religion, there is a widening search for them as they have gone on the run.
From a Christian’s standpoint, this is a very troubling situation. As our nation has taken a turn for the worse under the Obama Administration in terms of life issues, I have had several discussions with friends and family about the very real possibility that Christians are going to have to, as obligated by what is most important to them – Christ, fight against government in order to preserve Truth. I think there is roughly one non-violent solution, and that is what is currently being employed: make a run for it. Upon the police or FBI showing up at your doorstep, though, what would you do? At what point would you be able justify an action under the umbrella of self-defense in order to prevent government from infringing on your religious beliefs?
Government no longer has any regard for religion, and there is only such a thing as a separation of church from state (the state feels no need to keep out of the business of church). Government has been slowly but steadily picking a fight with Christians and, while many Christians have simply given way to government and pop culture, there is a large contingent of Christians who simply will not give in. These are Christians who will even go to martyrdom in order to save their own souls. These are Christians who realize that giving in to government in this life could endanger their eternal life, the life that is truly important to them.
Here’s rooting for Daniel Hauser and his family. I pray for the healing hand of God to touch Daniel, and I pray that his family’s wishes are kept at the forefront of what is important. Government only lives in this finite, earthly world. Our souls live on forever.
Tags: Daniel Hauser, Government, religion
Never get used to it
Apr 22, 2009 Five Non-Negotiable Issues
Roughly 1.5 million babies are murdered every day (that we know of) via abortion. NEVER get used to that number. That’s 150 incidents the size of the September 11th terror attacks…EVERY YEAR!
Tis the season for hopes, dreams, and political statements
Feb 2, 2009 Five Non-Negotiable Issues, Governmental Reach, Obama Administration
I had many discussions with various people leading up to the November elections regarding political duty. As it became clearer that there were only two politicians who could win the Presidency in November, the action from those who identified themselves as anything from Christians to conservatives also had a much clearer mission. (In hindsight I believe it would have taken a major international event or a major revelation about Obama to sway the situation far enough, but even that wouldn’t have done it for another candidate.) It is my firm belief, and my guilt of conscience, that leads me to believe that a person is called to be practical when they enter the voting booth. Very rarely are we presented with a good vs. evil decision in life. It is hardly ever obvious that one option is so right and one is so wrong. Only once in a blue moon, when considering all of the races we get to vote on, do we get to vote with a candidate with a real chance and can really excite me. I was very clear in stating my own voting intentions, and that I wasn’t particularly pleased to cast my vote for Coleman or McCain (though I’m convinced the latter is a great man). Yet, when I went into the voting booth with $5 and a chance to buy the milk my family really needed or a lottery ticket, it was time to be practical and do the best thing I could possibly do at the time.
That brings me to my point: now is the time to buy the lottery ticket. It’s time to take that chance on not having to worry about where the milk money is going to come from in the future. We are about 2.5-3 years away from beginning the whole mess again (if we are lucky). You’ll remember that the current President’s campaign started about a year into his Senate run. That is why it is a good time to pick out your ideal candidate. It is not time to worry about their chances of winning (about this time four years ago it seemed clear that it would be Rudi vs. Hillary) but time to make your political statement. This is a time, far from meal time, when we have all of the freedom in the world to support even the candidates with the most remote chances but the most far-reaching ideologies we can find.
Take the opportunity while you have it, though. As we draw nearer to the chance to unseat a radical pro-abortion, pro-government, pro-tax administration it will be time to start moving in the most responsible of mindsets. It will be nearing that meal time again, when the only prudent choice we have is to choose the best quality milk we can actually buy and put that lottery ticket back on hold.
Steele is a good pick
Jan 30, 2009 Five Non-Negotiable Issues
The RNC has chosen a new leader. Pro-life, and otherwise solid. Here’s an encouraging post at RedState.
Tags: Five Non-Negotiable Issues, Michael Steele, pro-life, RNC
Who, really, is intolerant?
Jan 30, 2009 Five Non-Negotiable Issues
Quite often political discussions on issues with moral relevance (even if the arguments against them have far reach into areas other than religious belief) are quickly squashed by a comment to the effect of “Catholics are not tolerant of other views.” Even if that were the case, that doesn’t score any points in favor of “choice” in the example of abortion. The idea that Catholics are intolerant (false as it is) is a non sequitur to such a discussion.
Ironically, at the point where a person brings this kind of a statement into the mix on abortion, it is generally the statement-maker who is the intolerant one. An example of this comes with the news today that the Academy of Holy Angels has stripped an award that it had given to a local lawyer who has worked on behalf of the DFL on abortion rights issues. The award placed AHA alum, Paul Thissen, into the “Activities Hall of Fame” which is recognition for people who ”through their citizenship and achievements, have brought honor to themselves, their school and the community.” Clearly if you are tolerant of others’ beliefs you also would extend that right to Catholics who do not hold that there is “honor” in supporting abortion rights.
I think this point is often missed on both sides of the coin. Catholics, ever punished with such accusations of intolerance, are increasingly sensitive and looking for ways to prove otherwise. At varying rates they are giving up the views they once held in the name of tolerance. On the other side of the coin, they are unable to look in the mirror and realize that tolerance is a two-way street. If someone should be allowed to have the view that abortion should be legal in this country there is no need to worry, they do have that right — even when the law is one way we are allowed to believe the opposite should be true — but so, too, do Catholics have the right to disagree with that view and keep their highest honors for people who uphold their own standards. It has never been a secret that the Church is pro-life. The only fault AHA might have in this was not coming to this conclusion before causing the commotion it did. (Then again, this might be good for a point. God works in mysterious ways.)
Update: The Trog also weighs in. He has a more personal connection to all of it.
Tags: Abortion, Academy of Holy Angels, Five Non-Negotiable Issues, Intolerance, The Trog, Thissen
Church, Obama to clash early and often
Jan 28, 2009 Five Non-Negotiable Issues, Obama Administration
One of Obama’s first moves as President of the United States was to punch the Catholic people of his country in the face, reneg on his promise to do all he can to limit the need for abortions, and overturn key life-saving orders the Bush Administration had held. If Obama thinks he’s going to get the free pass that many other politicians have gotten (including many so-called Catholics), he’s got another think coming. It’s clear that the Church is toughening up.
“My impression is they’ve gotten more militant and assertive on the life issue, where they’re more willing to say we’re not just going to state our position and look the other way,” said Richard Esenberg, a law professor at Marquette University whose expertise includes religion. He noted that Catholic politicians have been excommunicated in recent years for not supporting positions consistent with the church’s teachings.
It is very important that Church avoid scandal and make an example of someone who professes to be Catholic, yet holds a public view that is not in accordance with the Holy See. The true Catholics will feel emboldened and will come to the Church’s defense, while the so-called Catholics will take notice and question their own political priorities.
“Among the many good things that he could have done, Barack Obama instead chose the worst,” said Monsignor Elio Sgreccia, a top official with the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy for Life.
“If this is one of President Obama’s first acts, I have to say, in all due respect, that we’re heading quickly toward disappointment,” said Monsignor Rino Fisichella, who heads the Academy.
I believe the Church’s leaders not only have the right, but the duty to do all they can to make Her followers understand the weight and severity of putting political affiliation at a higher priority than their own eternal soul. It is time to forget about tax exemptions. If the Church needs to spell out who a Catholic voter should vote for in our country, for instance, they should do so without regard to money. You can put no pricetag on souls, and God has always promised to provide everything needed and “the gates of hell should not prevail against it.”
To all Catholics: It is time to stand up and fight for what we know is right. Engage in conversation, pray, pray, pray, donate to worthy (and only worthy) causes, and pray. Teach your children well and, more importantly, know what your children are being taught. And pray. This is not for us in this lifetime but our reward shall be in heaven.
Tags: Catholic, Esenberg, Five Non-Negotiable Issues, Holy See, Obama
