Renee Erb (The Beacon)
By Renee Erb, Guest Commentary
Last week I opened the Beacon eager to be rid of the misinterpretation and rhetoric of the past elections. I instead saw the same arguments heard since abortion became a major campaign issue in the commentaries on the recent Voice for Life demonstration. While eloquent and respectful, the guest commentaries didn't truly seek to understand the intentions of the campus group, leaving the issue of abortion as unresolved as it has been on the national level.
Shameful symbolism is the last thing anyone in Voice for Life or pro-life communities wishes to communicate, so perhaps these organizations need to find a new way to represent the lives abortion has impacted. Though meant to show Christ redeems all people of mistakes and sins, no matter their magnitude, white crosses seemed to shame women and guilt students into action. Maybe the group could use baby shoes instead...no, those could be seen as having Holocaust implications. Perhaps the display should move to the center of the quad next year. After all, if it's generally accepted that life begins at conception, then the debate over abortion is not theological, but philosophical. Plus, this might help decrease the misinterpretation that pro-life groups identify women who have had abortions as murderous sinners. But no, I have a feeling the student body would not react well to such a presence, no matter how Voice for Life tried to symbolize abortion fatalities. In the end, for women who have suffered abortions, is any representation more painful than daily reminders, seeing new mothers, hearing children on a playground, passing aisles of baby supplies? In reality, Voice for Life meant the demonstration to raise awareness of the children and mothers devastated by abortion.
The guest commentators offered alternatives to this display and expressed disappointment that Voice for Life did not pursue these instead. However, focusing on unintended negative interpretations of this demonstration, both failed to see that the campus group and pro-life groups of many political and theological backgrounds are actively working through each avenue they offered. Democrats for Life of America supports financial aid and health care legislation that allows women in difficult situations to carry their child to full term. Rachel's Vineyard, an organization Voice for Life regularly interacts with, counsels women who have already faced abortion. Concerning children conceived in rape, please read about the creator of the Radiance Foundation, a man whose mother was raped but carried him in horrible socio-economic conditions. He's now an advocate not only for life, but social equality, adoption, and cultural diversity.
The way I see it, life is a gift from God, and abortion, rape, societal conditions, and poor education all play a part in smothering this gift. Rather than perpetuate the rhetoric and misinterpretation of both pro-life and pro-choice groups in the past election, it's time for each side to understand not only the other's arguments, but true, hopeful intentions. Perhaps from this starting point, we can work together to secure a better life for mothers and children alike.
Renee Erb is a senior history and music major. She can be reached at erb13@up.edu
