There are certain things in politics that make little sense. Such as how the Republicans in congress can be so adamantly against a public option while enjoying government health care themselves. Or, how people can scream and yell about “socialism” while 1.) Not knowing what socialism is and 2.) Enjoying many benefits of those ever-so-evil taxes such as roads and emergency services. Those may be head scratchers to me but nothing trumps out the pro-life, pro-death penalty issue. This isn’t just a shot at the religious right. When I say whole life, I mean it. That includes unborn children.

Like any political issue there is a for and an against. The abortion issue is no different and often one of those issues that neither side could ever find a middle ground with. Both of them have sincere reasons for the stance they take. I once used to feel that my pro-life stance was high and mighty. That no one could possibly ever support something as heinousness as abortion. My feelings towards abortion have not change but my feelings towards others being pro-choice has. It’s not as black and white as pro-lifers think and it is not as open and shut as pro-choicers think. It’s very complicated.

I won’t get into a discussion on abortion at this moment. I will soon, but right now I want to discuss the overall picture of the right to life. While I give pro-lifers the credit for being mindful of human beings that cannot protect themselves I condemn their stance on death row inmates. The compassion they have for the innocent should transfer over to the guilty in the spirit of forgiveness. I take this with a religious slant, if the religious right want to emanate Christ then they need to start by turning the other cheek. Justice will be served, there is no need for the electric chair in a civilized society.

It’s not that I don’t have the same gut feeling of hatred towards people that would commit murder. I have that itch, thoughts of personally putting them out of their misery come to mind. That’s human nature. The feeling that we need to close the book leads us to do some very carnal acts. The act of murder is unforgivable, the person that commits such an act deserves just punishment. For various reasons, including costs, being an infective deterrent and a bias towards minority and poor I cannot support the death penalty. If you are pro-life you cannot support such an institution.

On the issue of abortion we can take it to another level. Most pro-lifers are merely pro-birth. They will picket for your right to be born, blow up abortion clinics, kill abortion doctors and do whatever it takes to ensure that you exit the birth canal. After that? You’re on your own. You can’t even get health care to have the birth, pay for the hospital bills or buy formula with food stamps. All those issues of life are your own problem. They want you to get the child out so they can hand them their bills and requirements for life. Then, when they commit a crime and are sentenced to death, the pro-life circle completes. How biblical. Pro-life? No, pro-birth. It’s time to change your title.

On the issue of supporting abortion is where I find a middle ground. Yes, I feel it is wrong. Yes, I do subscribe to the belief that it is murder. But no, we do not live in a society that agrees fully with me. They decided abortion was a right, that a women deserves to be able to make the final decision in regards to something that will change their life forever. I do not support this right. I do support adoption, I do support finding a worthy home for your child. Yet, regardless of what I support the law is law. I can never bring myself to support abortion but I know the current law is not on my side.

Do I support making abortion illegal with the exceptions of saving the women’s life, incest and rape? Yes. But, for now, instead of fighting against women who make that decision I will offer my prayer and support as they make these tough decisions in life. I want them to know I know, as a pro-lifer, that they are not evil. They are not killing their child out of pure selfishness and my God forgives them. That might not matter to some, but it matters to me, so I offer those words. Life is not black and white. It’s not 1 + 1 = the simple answer. So, for those equations that never have an answer, I will always try and find a middle ground.

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