[Editor’s note: too much going on in the world, so two posts today]

The annual “March for Life” is happening today, with pro-choice/anti-abortion marchers in DC to express their views. I would like to start by applauding those who are there today to stand up for their moral and political convictions. I am personally pro-choice, but I would love to live in a world where abortions are even more rare than they are now.

More importantly for this post, in our new political climate I am personally trying harder to engage with those who disagree with me, instead of judging based on assumptions. To be clear, I’ve always tried to do that, I’m just trying harder now. I have a number of pro-life friends who I respect deeply, and have engaged in quite reasonable discussions on the issue. I’ve also encountered some who effectively argue that a deity told them this is the right thing to do, so they’re doing it.

With that in mind, I would like to ask some questions of those who consider themselves pro-life. If you consider yourself pro-choice, I strongly encourage you to not assume things about others, but to ask questions of your own.

What I’d like to discuss with you:

  • When does life begin? For me this is the only really important question we need to discuss, and everything else flows from there. If we can find an answer to this one, not only are we likely to agree on what political policies are needed, but I might be much harsher than many of my pro-life friends. For most who I have read or talked with, there seems to be a belief that life begins at conception. My problem is, I simply see no scientific evidence for this whatsoever. I have heard interesting arguments for a number of different times for the beginning of life, including brainwave activity, heartbeat, viability outside the womb, and live birth. But no one has given me reasons for conception that go beyond “that’s what I believe.” I have also met no one who holds this belief who is not religious, and thus this is almost always code for “that’s what my g*d told me.” If we agree on the beginning of life, then I’m also opposed to abortion except in the cases of harm to the mother, rape or incest — because at that point it is a human being, with all human qualities and rights. But until that point, the embryo/fetus is a part of the mother’s body, and should be treated accordingly. btw, for me when it becomes a human being, the mother shouldn’t be allowed  to drink, or smoke, and no one should be allowed to smoke around her. Anything that would constitute “child abuse” after a baby is born should apply. And fathers should be fully responsible from that point forward too. But what is that point? Let’s talk.
  • Do you care equally about all life? All life, at every stage, for every person? Some examples:
        • Have you adopted any orphans, or marched for more funding and encouragement for others to adopt in a speedy fashion?
        • Do you support everything that helps a person live a full, healthy life, in any part of the world? Are you opposed to your country going to war to kill people? (with the possible exception of wars of clear self defense against imminent danger)
        • Do you value citizens of your country more than those of others?
        • Do you care about and for the poor? Do you march for those who are poor, in your country and others? Do you contribute to causes to eliminate poverty, or work toward it personally?

    Do you believe in a living wage, affordable health care for all, reasonable housing for all, employment in a human work environment and equal pay for women?

      Do you believe we should have affordable early child care available for all?Do you believe that we need to fully support the aged, infirm, and those with physical and mental disabilities?Do you believe that we have a responsibility to care for refugees? (children and adults) Immigrants? The homeless? Single mothers? Abused women? Do you care equally about people of other races, colors and creeds? And do you work toward any and all of these things? Support candidates who support them? March for them?

These are things I would like to discuss. I have several friends, who I know and respect quite a bit, who are believe that life starts at conception, and are thus anti-abortion in all cases. But they have this stance because they are pro-life. all life, at all stages. And they would answer yes to pretty much all of the questions above. We disagree on when life starts, but still respect each other.

But if you are only anti-abortion, and don’t value other areas of life, then we are going to strongly disagree. Regardless, I’d like to talk about it. I’d like to hear your reasons. I’d like to know why. I’d very much like an in-depth public discussion of when life starts, which I believe is the fundamental question. And I’d like our political answers on this based on reason and discourse, which we have very little of right now.

I hope you have a great time at the march, and that everything stays peaceful. And then I’d like to really talk — with each other, not at each other.