Leadership

Leadership: The hard way

Local product, Alaskan governor Sarah Palin just gave birth to her fifth child. Try that while running a state. But the beautiful part, the baby has Down syndrome. Having disabilities isn't beautiful, but the love with which he was welcomed is.

The Palin family issued a statement that read: "Trig is beautiful and already adored by us. We knew through early testing he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives.

"We have faith that every baby is created for good purpose and has potential to make this world a better place. We are truly blessed."

Plain and simple, they get it. Children are a blessing, special needs or not.

In a letter she e-mailed to relatives and close friends Friday after giving birth, Palin wrote, "Many people will express sympathy, but you don't want or need that, because Trig will be a joy. You will have to trust me on this." She wrote it in the voice of and signed it as "Trig's Creator, Your Heavenly Father."

"Children are the most precious and promising ingredient in this mixed-up world you live in down there on Earth. Trig is no different, except he has one extra chromosome," Palin wrote.

As for people who think a baby like Trig shouldn't even be born, look around, the governor wrote. Who is perfect or even normal?

God bless this family as they give silent witness to the joy of life in our sorry mixed up world.

Horton hears a what?

A who, of course. Took the kids to see the "Horton hears a who" movie tonight. They all throughly enjoyed it. A positive 12 thumbs up from the 6 kids who went.

Funny thing, this is the first time I have seen or read Horton. Never read the book myself or to my kids. It definitely had that pro-life theme that I have heard about.

I guess the only bad thing I can report about the movie (other than one little snide comment at the expense of homeschooling) was the sour kangaroo and her speech at the end when she rallies the "people" of the jungle to seek out Horton and destroy the speck. What was wrong with it?

The sour kangaroo and her diatribe reminded me of Hillary Clinton. "For the children" they scream as they try to crush the innocent. Disturbing. Perhaps fitting. If only Hillary would be offered a cookie.

Good news on the vaccine front

For those following the tainted vaccine issues, here is some great news from Children of God for Life.

Biotech Firm To Provide Ethical Alternatives to Aborted Fetal Vaccines

(Seattle) In a victory for pro-life families around the world, AVM Biotechnology LLC (AVM Biotech) today announced their decision to provide ethical alternatives in the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and vaccine development.

Dr Theresa Deisher, AVM Biotech Research and Development Director and founder stated, “We will be working to bring commercially available, morally acceptable, vaccines to the US market and to use existing technology to produce new morally certified vaccines. Revenues from the vaccine business will also further the research, development and commercialization of morally certified therapeutics in other areas of medicine as well.”

The announcement was an answer to years of hard work and prayers for Children of God for Life, a pro-life organization that has battled to bring moral alternatives to aborted fetal vaccines to the US market for nearly a decade.

“There are no words sufficient to express our deepest gratitude to Dr Deisher and AVM Biotech”, noted the group’s Executive Director, Debi Vinnedge, who was also named to AVM Biotech’s Advisory Board for vaccine development.

While most vaccines and medicines are produced in an ethical manner, several are manufactured using cell lines derived from aborted fetal tissue with no competing ethical products available. Vinnedge noted this has left concerned pro-life families in both a difficult and unjust position.

“For too long parents who want to protect their children without compromising their deeply held pro-life and religious beliefs have been coerced into an unnecessary and unjust moral dilemma,” she stated. “No one should be forced to choose between these two fundamental human rights.”

Both organizations hope that the news will spark members of Congress to move forward with their Fair Labeling and Informed Consent legislation, a bill that would require full disclosure from the pharmaceutical industry whenever aborted fetal or embryonic cell lines are used in medical products.

“Every consumer, whether pro-life in philosophy or not, has the right to know if human fetal cell contaminants are present in the drugs they receive”, noted Dr Deisher. “Consumers should be informed and empowered to make the best health care choices for themselves and their families. Surely, if we have the right to know what is in our fast food, we should also have the right to know what is in our medicine."

AVM Biotech intends to further assist in this effort by certifying that its therapeutic products are not discovered, screened, evaluated, produced, or tainted in any way by the use of electively aborted human fetal material, human embryonic material, or any other unethically obtained materials.

Sins of omission

This is not the first time I have disagreed with Fr. Pavone. I respect his work to defend the un-born, but he gets in over his head when he veers into politics. His latest column, And What I Have Failed To Do is a good example. He doesn't come out and say it, but I believe he is advocating a vote for McCain. Anything less would be a sin of omission.

Thankfully his is a priest. In charge of hearing confessions, not telling us what we should confess. A vote for McCain is a vote to destroy the pro-life plank (as well as many other conservative ideals) in the GOP platform. I think his eventual nomination is already the death knell of the Republican party. Who needs another liberal, fiscally irresponsible party. The Democrats have that base cemented in (see Obama's reaffirmation of the party only unchanging plank.)

Me? I won't call any vote a sin. I don't know anyone's heart or conscience. But I know I can't vote for anyone that supports abortion. That narrows the field considerably. I am not confident of McCain's stance on that issue, but he claims to be pro-life. So I look at the other issues. And I won't vote for him based on those issues. Pro-nation building. Pro-big government. Anti-freedom. Pro-amnesty. That is enough for me to still vote Ron Paul. He may not win, but the GOP can look at all the votes they "could" have had.

Reaffirming

but not reassuring. Obama must need to reaffirm his ties to the death eaters. Or as Jill Stanek puts it,
Terri Schiavo should have been a horse His biggest legislative regret?

He said he wished he had spoken out when Republican lawmakers tried to stop the severely brain-damaged woman's husband from removing her feeding tube in 2005.

"It wasn't something I was comfortable with, but it was not something that I stood on the floor and stopped, and I think that was a mistake.''

Jill finds Obama's compassion much greater for the furry four legged creatures

It's really too bad Terri wasn't a horse....

As both state and U.S. senator, Obama either supported or co-sponsored measures to stop horse slaughter, particularly since there is a horse factory in IL.

Terri would also have been better off a dog as far as Obama is concerned, because he has supported a legislative crack-down on dog fighting.

Yikes! Scary material for our future president.

McCorvey endorses Paul

Looks like the word on the street came to pass as Norma McCorvey of Roe Abortion Case Endorses Ron Paul for President

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Before the March for Life this morning Norma McCorvey, the former Jane Roe of the infamous abortion case that allowed unlimited abortions nationwide, backed Ron Paul fo the GOP presidential nomination. McCorvey is now pro-life and she says Ron Paul is the best candidate to make sure abortion is no more.
...
"Ron Paul doesn't just talk about being pro-life, he acts on it. His voting record truly is impeccable and he undoubtedly understands our constitutional republic and the inalienable right to life for all," McCorvey added.

Match maker

Hopefully we have a match, Ron Paul and Jane Roe

The word on the street, with regard to tomorrow's March for Life, is that Norma Leah McCorvey, Jane Roe of the infamous Roe v. Wade, is going to hold a press conference with Dr. Paul at 10:30am at the Phoenix Park Hotel on the Hill.

According to David Freddoso at National Review Online, "The campaign would not directly answer whether she's going to endorse Paul, but they sure hinted at it."

Walk for life

It was cold but still a good turn out for the annual walk for life here in Coeur d'Alene. We were a few minutes late, not surprisingly, and had to catch up, but the older kids did that quickly as my wife and I pushed the stroller.

The local Right to Life had members of the local Mary's House and Open Arm's pregnancy center talk afterwards as the kids munched on cookies and hot chocolate. Probably a bit more subdued than Walking for life in SF, but good to be there. Only wish I had remembered the camera.

Ron Paul on the issues

On commenter asked what Ron Paul's Stance was on cloning. Here is Ron Paul on the issues
He did vote NO on the Human Cloning Prohibition Act, but as with many of his votes, one needs to understand a bit deeper who he is and how he votes.

I would direct you to this answer from one of the debates. He doesn't look at the government as the savior from all issues. If government didn't fund ESCR, would it even exist?

Q: Would you expand federal funding of embryonic stem cell research?

A: Programs like this are not authorized under the Constitution. The trouble with issues like this is, in Washington we either prohibit it or subsidize it. And the market should deal with it, and the states should deal with it.
Source: 2007 GOP primary debate, at Reagan library, hosted by MSNBC May 3, 2007

Also see this article by Dr. Paul on the Pro-life cause.

Pro-lifers should be fiercely loyal to this system of federalism, because the very same Constitution that created the federal system also asserts the inalienable right to life. In this way, our constitutional system closely links federalism to the fundamental moral rights to life, liberty, and property. For our Founders it was no exaggeration to say federalism is the means by which life, as well as liberty and property, are protected in this nation. This is why the recent direction of the pro-life cause is so disturbing.

Pro-life forces have worked for the passage of bills that disregard the federal system, such as the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, the federal cloning ban, and the Child Custody Protection Act. Each of these bills rested on specious constitutional grounds and undermined the federalism our Founders recognized and intended as the greatest protection of our most precious rights.

This is why I don't support the Federal Amendments for marriage and against abortion. They don't belong at the federal level. Taking it to the federal level got us in this mess (see Roe v. Wade).

Above the board

Planned Parenthood is up to its tricks again. Being such noble defenders of all that is good and true about abortion, they would never hide their agenda to get one of their golden castles of choice built. Well, it happened once in Aurora Ill, but that was just an oversight.

That is until it happened again in Denver.

The bishops write, “In early November, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains (PPRM) broke ground on a new headquarters and clinic in northeast Denver.” They “purchased this property secretly under the guise of Fuller 38 LLC.”

“Planned Parenthood told the Denver Post that PPRM planned to complete the entire project in secrecy to avoid protests and delays that other Planned Parenthood buildings have encountered around the country.”

Looks like it is getting a bit heated down in Aurora where the Police don't seem ready to deal with the protests there. Illinois pro-lifers face threat of paddy wagon for Planned Parenthood protests

All about choice

Remember, it is all about choice. A woman's right to choose and the decision should be made between a woman and her doctor. Unless of course the woman doesn't want to abort her babies. The culture of death just keeps on needing more grist for the mill. Mother delivers quintuplets after refusing multiple abortions

London, Nov 19, 2007 / 10:42 am (CNA).- A Russian mother has given birth to quintuplets despite opposition from doctors who wanted her to abort some of them. Varvara Artamkin and her husband Dimitri had to travel to England in order to keep all of their children.

She and her husband Dimitri, a 28 year-old math professor, were told by Russian doctors that they would not treat Varvara during her pregnancy unless she aborted two or three of her babies. The doctors said the 'selective terminations,' as the abortions are called, were essential to giving the remaining babies a chance of survival.

Mr. Artamkin's grandmother, Irina, 74, speaking from her home in Moscow, described their plight: "They went to several maternity hospitals to ask them to take her on but the doctors kept saying they would only accept her on the condition that she terminated two or three of the babies."

But I remain confident that the staunch defenders of a woman's right to choose will step up and be heard.

Muslim nations and barbaric acts

During a discussion on a resolution condemning the death penalty, a
Right-to-life debate unexpectedly erupts at UN

The representative of Egypt stated that since the resolution was aimed at respecting life, it was appropriate to widen the scope to include protection of innocent human life.

Oddly it is the supposedly barbaric Muslim states that were sponsoring this pro-life amendment. And the "enlightened" European countries that opposed it?

So lets get this straight. Death Penalty is bad. Criminals don't want to die and deserve mercy. Euthanasia and abortion is good because ... the elderly and unborn can't appeal?

Silence is golden

A great story in the Courier Journal of Louisville, KY. And newsworthy too. Archbishop joins abortion protest

[Archbishop] Kurtz, who was installed as the Archdiocese of Louisville's leader in August, stood and knelt while facing the EMW Women's Surgical Center at Second and Market streets for nearly 1½ hours. He spoke only when he gave a blessing that ended the gathering.

Truly a shepherd leading his flock.

via Sarah at the CUF

Only their "choice"

It has always seemed ironic for babies to die in the name of being "pro-choice". Not like the baby has much of a choice there. Neither does the father of the child, unless he also is choosing death for the child of his under-age girlfriend. Seems like the only choice they want is their choice.

Now from Gerald at The Cafeteria Is Closed come this interesting bit on Verizon Blocking Messages of Abortion Rights Group.

Saying it had the right to block “controversial or unsavory” text messages, Verizon Wireless has rejected a request from Naral Pro-Choice America, the abortion rights group, to make Verizon’s mobile network available for a text-message program.

Of course it doesn't matter to the "pro-choicers" that a private company has the right to choose what services they provide. Verizon stands to lose money by their stance, but that is their choice.

Remember, it is all about choice.

Update.
Verizon reverses their stance. (caves to the political pressure?)

Earlier this morning Verizon chose to reverse yesterday’s decision that Naral Pro-choice America could not send text messages on their wireless network.

Verizon spokesman Jeffrey Nelson said that, "The decision to not allow text messaging on an important, though sensitive, public policy issue was incorrect, and we have fixed the process that led to this isolated incident."

Count me in

Creative Minority Report: Microscopic-American Rights

Aren't Christians the ones who are supposed to be afraid of science? Aren't us religious nuts the ones who want to bring back the Dark Ages? Then why is it that Christians are the ones embracing science when it comes to looking inside the womb and the secularists want to keep the womb in the dark.

US Senator (and Catholic convert) Sam Brownback has introduced federal legislation that would require an ultrasound examination of any woman seeking an abortion.

Brownback added that the measure could "cause a deeper reflection on the humanity of unborn children." The pro-abortion community is, of course, up in arms. But it was much easier for the left to have this discussion in the 1960's when they could convince everyone that it was just a clump of cells in the womb until just about the time a woman gave birth.

But science is now showing the womb to be home to...gasp...a little human being! What exactly were we all expecting? And the more research that's done we've found that each fetus from the moment of conception is a completely original DNA endowed individual.

So the pro-abortion community is desperately attempting to keep the fetuses in the dark. Don't look at this ultrasound. The pro-abortion is like the Wizard of OZ still wildly pulling levers and trying to scare everyone all the while pleading for us not to look behind the curtain because when we do their power will be gone.

I want to pull the curtain. So I'm officially announcing a new club: Pro-Science Catholics for Microscopic Americans. Wanna' join?

Cue the mob line "It's curtains for them."

Wrong answers

Seems the brave new world of on-line media is getting used for ill as well as for good. With the ambush videoing of pro-life people on the sidewalks, they are catching people off-guard with a false dichotomy. Gobsmacked by Logic: Will Pro-lifers Succumb to Silencing Tactics?

Newsweek columnist Anna Quindlen hardly contained her enthusiasm over this new strategy in her piece titled "How Much Jail Time for Women Who Have Abortions?" (Newsweek, August 6, 2007). It starts with the description of a YouTube "mini-documentary shot in front of an abortion clinic" in Illinois. "The man behind the camera is asking demonstrators who want abortion criminalized what the penalty should be for a woman who has one nonetheless. You have rarely seen people look more gobsmacked. It's as though the guy has asked them to solve quadratic equations."

Quindlen relishes this story. Especially reporting these responses by pro-lifers: "I've never really thought about it." "I don't have an answer for that." "I don't know." "Just pray for them."

It didn't take me long after reading the question to come up with an answer, but then I wasn't standing there with a camera in my face.

The right answer? None! But the executioner should do plenty of hard time.

Arbiters of life

Read the story, then follow the link below

I am pro-life. I have been advised on how to answer this question - say this, don’t say that. I have EVEN been advised to change my position. I can’t. I thought maybe I should speak about the nuances of Roe v. Wade, but the reasons for my position are not that complicated.

In grad school I listened to a student deliver a presentation on how to remove Down Syndrome from the gene pool through selective abortion. I listened attentively. When he was finished, I stood up and told the following story:

I grew up on Love Lane in Kittery, Maine. That’s right, LOVE Lane. I was the youngest of seven children. At times you would have thought there was an 8th Scontras. His name was Billy. Billy Wurm was our neighbor. He graced our lives for more than 50 years. Billy had Down Syndrome. Sometimes Ya-ya, my Greek grandmother, would come stay with us. She spoke NO English, and she didn’t like to go to the beach with us. She would stay home by herself - quite content. She would walk about the yard, sit in the shade. I will never forget one particular July day when we returned home to find Billy and Ya-ya hand in hand, walking peacefully around the yard, talking to one another. Funny thing is, Billy couldn’t understand a word Ya-ya said, nor could Ya-ya understand Billy. Yet she had a wonderful look of peace and happiness on her face. Billy was also wearing his perpetual smile.

Years earlier when I was 3 or 4 years old, I stumbled and fell into our neighbor’s pool. No one was around. No one except for Billy Wurm, that is. I will never forget the image of Billy’s face coming toward me as I panicked in silence beneath the water’s surface. He scooped me up and placed me safely on the pool’s edge. I could tell you many more stories about Billy, each one suggesting some greater purpose to life. But they would all need to be considered in the context of that life-saving experience. Were it not for Billy, well…

Society hungers for perfection in our selves and our children, to a fault. As a parent, I see it. We want perfect children, perfect communities, free from pain and toil. It’s only human. My point to the speaker was this - I understand that sometimes a child may place a burden on society for any number of reasons. But they also bring with them unexpected grace, joy and the ability to touch other lives beyond measure. The most wonderful lessons in life often come from those who have had to overcome the greatest obstacles. Their lives seem to teach us the most about our own. Thankfully, our world is full of such stories... full of people like Billy Wurm.

To me, it is the human spirit that needs to be considered and protected. It reminds me of my favorite movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” One living person has the ability to shape so many others. It’s dangerous territory when WE become the arbiters of life. I told my classmate that I thought his thesis was well written, but sadly mistaken. Without Billy there would have been a hole in my life, or perhaps a hole where my life had once been.

Billy also had something that each one of us long for - unbridled happiness, unconditional love of all things. As I concluded my observations that day in class, a young woman rose up behind me. “I wasn’t going to say anything,” she said, “but I’m glad Dean did.” She continued, “I have several children. The youngest has Down Syndrome. He is by far the happiest of the bunch!”

Mr. Scontras is running for Congress in Maine. God bless him and his candidacy.

Growing up with a handicapped twin brother and now having a blind son, I can say for certain that these people are valuable people. My brother cannot live on his own, has to be monitored and can be a royal pain to care for. But I know of many occasions he has brightened the day for another human. Not that value to others is the only reason they have a right to live, but as the story above relates, those advocating abortion as a solution have no idea how sad our world would be without them.

After my brother finally "graduated" from high school and went to live in a home, with a job and as much freedom as could be trusted to him; he needed a checking account for his expenses. He didn't really have a concept of value, but he did understand items cost money. He loves Ford pickups and regularly visited the local dealerships. They knew him, tolerated him and I think enjoyed his enthusiasm. But on the day his check blanks arrived, he surprised us all. He had to turn them in to his case manager, but he first snagged one set for himself. Not the top one which would be noticeable, but one out of the middle.

He then went and bought a few items that were the objects of his desires. First and foremost, he bought a new Ford pickup. Not for himself, but for dad. Of course the salesman knew better than to cash the check. I got a good chuckle out of it and was happy he got to finally buy that pickup he always wanted.

So, the point remains, they may be a burden to society and a pain for those involved. But which of us where not a burden to our parents? And we are not the arbiters of life. They have a right to life because they are human beings. Valuable not because of what they can provide, but because of what they are; images of our Triune God that loved them into being.

link via Dom

Shine a light and they scatter

Looks like the battle in Aurora over the "undercover" building of a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic is heating up.

Planned Parenthood sent a libelous letter to the Aurora city government regarding the protesters. But this group is organized an has some experience with the court system, with a case that went all the way to the Supreme Court that ended up in their favor. And knowing the man heading up the group, Eric Schiedler, it will be interesting to see if their request for a retraction or redress is acknowledged. Whatever the case, I think PP has picked a battle with the wrong fella.

via the Curt Jester and Fighting Irish Thomas

Where will the money come from

Creative Minority Report offers some profound financial wisdom to the World Bank.

Well it seems that some women are still having babies and the World Bank is miffed.

Reuters reports that countries are just not contributing enough anymore to 'reproductive programs'. Of course, 'reproductive programs' is big brother speak for contraception and abortion. The exact opposite of reproduction. NewSpeak at its finest. Orwell would be amazed. Anyway, the reason that funds have been drying up for these programs is the dramatic fall in fertility rates in most places.

They aren't getting the money because people aren't having babies anymore. Mission accomplished, right? Not on your life ,or rather your baby's life. Those sub-Saharan Africans still insist upon having babies and the World Bank must put a stop to it.

Read the entire article, it is profound right down to that very last line.

Dead right

From Catholics for Ron Paul , "The reality is that without an air tight protection of Life, protection of Liberty means nothing."

How true it is, as I was learning to drive, my dad was fond of mentioning that the right of way meant little. "You may be right, but you can always be dead right."

Freedom is great, but it means little those who didn't make it into this world.

And don't forget to vote in the latest straw poll.