I have Written here before Regarding my “conversion” to conservatism, more specifically, I became a pro-life. This did not happen overnight.But as I discussed when I appeared NewsTalkStl.com Friday morning (with Paul Kirtman Guest hosting Vic Bocelli), I can determine one of the key moments in the transition.
It was about 2004 or 2005. I am already a mother, so I have a more comprehensive understanding of the meaning of pregnancy and childbearing.But I still insist “I will never have an abortion I…But I don’t believe this is where I tell others them The comfort zone of “should be done” seemed so subtle at the time. (It is not. It is lazy and/or cowardly. It allows me to take an unreal position while evading critical scrutiny of my beliefs.)
I have a friend/former colleague, I often have lunch with him. He is a conservative and I am a liberal. We are all lawyers and political fans. Most lunch talks involve political hot topics on the day of our debate. The conversation was very lively and sometimes became intense, but there was never animosity.
At our TGI Friday, the topic turned to abortion. I think that I have put forward a persuasive point to support the maintenance of the status quo-Roe v. Wade has been the law of this land for more than 30 years; and more than a generation of women have grown up under the law and provided it with The “protection” generated reasonable expectations. To overthrow it is to take it away; I argued that it would be unjust.
My friend calmly pointed out that slavery has been legal for hundreds of years.
That was one of those light bulb moments for me. With just a few sharp words, he pierced the core of my argument. Please note that I am not angry or defensive from it. Just confused. I haven’t made a brilliant return. I didn’t come back at all.
This is not the only argument I have in my arsenal of options. I could spin it and run it again. I could have moved the goal post. But that was the first time I seriously thought about the similarities between slavery and abortion-it shocked me. This is the first real crack in the protective wall I built around my faith. This is the first time I really face the personality of an unborn person. And I can’t easily wave it away.
It sits with me, enters my subconscious—and slowly enters my heart. Once you see it, you cannot cancel it. Once you consider the possibility that the unique existence formed at conception is life-human life-you can no longer ignore its value. You can no longer change its claims, which is all the most basic rights.
You can listen to the entire conversation via the link below.
