This timely political cartoon illustrates a major hypocrisy that all too many in America subscribe to: faultless, innocent children ought to be defended in all cases – as long as they are breathing on the outside of their mother.
Immigrant children, fleeing their home countries – often brought over by their parents who want them to have a better and different life? Faultless. Innocent. Deserving of our protection.
Abused children, subject to the cruel whims and heartless deeds of psychotic parents? Faultless. Innocent. Deserving of our protection.
Bullied children, persecuted by their classmates for characteristics and traits they were born with? Faultless. Innocent. Deserving of our protection.
Homeless, needy, hungry, street children? Faultless. Innocent Deserving of our protection.
Six-week-old unborn babies, complete with measurable brain waves, a heartbeat, unique DNA, and an individual personality? Not faultless (we treat them like parasites). Not innocent (we say they’re invading their mother’s space). Not deserving of our protection (we’d rather suck their spines off of their bodies, rip them limb from limb, and decapitate them).
What is the disconnect, America? How do we have so much compassion and love for children the world over, but lack it to such a hurtful degree when it comes to our most helpless little ones? As Mary Elizabeth Williams, from Slate, wrote:
I have friends who have referred to their abortions in terms of “scraping out a bunch of cells” and then a few years later were exultant over the pregnancies that they unhesitatingly described in terms of “the baby” and “this kid.” I know women who have been relieved at their abortions and grieved over their miscarriages. Why can’t we agree that how they felt about their pregnancies was vastly different, but that it’s pretty silly to pretend that what was growing inside of them wasn’t the same? Fetuses aren’t selective like that. They don’t qualify as human life only if they’re intended to be born.
At least the immigrant children described in the cartoon have a voice. They can speak. We see photos of them in temporary holding pens.
Abused children are often pictured in our newspapers. Bullied children become evening news stories. We can visit homeless children in shelters; we can see them on inner city street corners.
But have you seen, have you really looked at the unborn child? Have you noticed her humanity? Have you seen that he, too, has a body, a personality, and a lifetime ahead yet to live?
Look at the beautiful, needy, innocent unborn child today.
And then tell me if this child, who is here through no fault of her own, deserves to end up like this.
