I was having a discussion a few days ago about gun control and the discussion moved on to the social ills that contribute to the problem.  Somehow the conversation moved to how little we value life and the legality of abortion.  Let me share my take on this: I am pro-choice.  And it has nothing to do with whether or not the mother was raped or sleeping all over Seattle. 

My position has everything to do with being pro-child.  It has to do with what happens to unwanted children.  It ain’t pretty.  I have seen crack babies, meth babies and smoke babies…babies of mothers who didn’t care enough to take a prenatal vitamin.  I have seen child abuse and neglect close up.  I have seen what a child who wasn’t wanted and never loved can do in our society...close up and personal.  I have seen lovely foster homes and I have seen the dark side of that system as well.

And, I have heard these same so-called pro-lifers cry for cutting Medicaid, food stamps, Aid to Families and children, Free Lunch, Pell Grants, Public Schools…anything that makes life better for those who are born in this situation.   These are many times the support services to the people who end up raising these unwanted children.

And, yes I have seen and heard the wonderful stories of adoption or even the young woman who is the product of a failed abortion.  Are these anomalies or the norm?  How many adopted children do you have?  How many do your friends and family have?

It’s easy to sit and quarterback from the sidelines.  I’m pro-child.  If you want to save their lives then you should be prepared to make it a good life.  Not necessarily a great life…but not hell.  Unfortunately, that is what many unwanted children are condemned to.  And many of those who don’t value life are likely those whose lives were not valued…once they were born into this world.

So,  I suppose the person I was speaking with was right on one count…it comes down to how much “we” value life.