I believe in the awesome power of agency. It is so vital that people be able to choose. Obviously there are times in our society when this must be limited, or there must be known consequences. There is so much division over this issue, when I think what we need is a union. We divide ourselves by thinking that we are either pro-life or pro-choice. What is so much more important to me is that people be educated on their choices and consequences. Having sex has the possible result of having a baby. There are obvious ways to avoid this, such as the use of contraceptives. I think it is also important, however, that people understand there are other consequences to having sex outside of a committed relationship (not just talking about marriage here, though of course I think marriage is the best setting). As in, I am going to point the finger here at religious people, and particularly at myself and LDS people. It is so easy for us to go into a little booth and vote for someone who agrees with us, but it is a lot harder for us to speak out against promiscuous behavior, to inform others that there is another way. And I don't just mean going and telling the people we know at church that we believe that way. There are people to be reached, and to some extent, I think it is our responsibility to go and find them. And here, I am talking to myself as much as anybody else. I feel unequal to the task as well, which is why it scares me, and why I have done nothing to this point. But I think our civic duty goes beyond voting for someone to uphold our values, when the real place for action to happen is not in government at all. And so I feel the burden to reach out, beyond my own friends and community, to help my society.
19 October 2008
Abortion
Ok, I like, don't usually talk much about controversial topics on here, but hey, I guess that is changing with my most recent posts. As in, so many people will make decisions in this election based on abortion. I think that is somewhat foolish, but that is not really what I am here to talk about. I'm just going to share my view.
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3 comments:
Very motivating, Jennie.
Although I think both need to happen. We need to educate teenagers and adults by speaking up about the sanctity and consequences of sexual relationships and we need to get a law preventing abortion on the books.
I was reading the church's statement about Prop 8 last week when I read that "abortion has taken the lives of over 45 million innocents" since 1973. I cried and cried. Whether or not people are educated about the consequences of sex, this needs to be stopped.
I have been thinking alot about people who are blessed with babies even though they are not in a proper setting (married, committed relationship, steady life etc. etc.) and why others of us have not been given that blessing ... is God trying to instill a little heaven into those individuals lives?
The thing that I have come to understand is we were all made in the image of God and blessed with the same power of creating lives as he was. I just wish people would understand not the consequences of sex, but the blessings and responsibilities that arise from the use of its Holy power.
And as for those of us not yet blessed with such a blessing ... every child from our heavenly Father has a specific time that they are to be placed upon the Earth and by pushing the Lord you may get a child sooner but isn't it worth it to wait for the child that he has assigned to your family?
Anyway ... just a few thoughts :)
Oh and also abortion is a torturous process and is by no way pain free for the baby. The baby can feel everything and it is a absolutely horrific practice and I think if anyone knew what really happends to a baby in an abortion they would not support the process no matter the situation in which the baby was concieved.
word.
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