Lorraine Corredoura's letter in last week's Review-Miner was well written, and deserving of kudos. I imagine most readers were moved by the illustration of something horrible being done to a defenseless young girl. I was certainly disgusted by the violence against the child.
It reminded me of how emotions can get the best of us, even to the point of stymieing proper action, obfuscating facts and leading to bad decisions and law. For example, the current high oil and natural gas prices evoked memories of a time I worked as an assembler of nuclear energy safety systems. The country was caught in an oil embargo foisted by Middle East Arab nations. Gas prices skyrocketed; rage at the pumps manifested in violence, and many people couldn't afford home heating.
One day, our facility's general manager called all employees to a meeting in the center of our factory. She began: "We are doing a great service to our nation and the world. YOU are building nuclear reactors with a safety record paralleled by none! But it's amazing how all it takes is one hysterical woman to hold up a baby in front of a camera and scream, 'My baby! My poor baby! I don't want her getting radiation poisoning!' to make people ignore the facts. That's why we will shut down production once we complete current projects. I'm sorry." She turned and left. To date, not one nuclear reactor made by our company has failed or caused radiation poisoning. Here we are again facing oil shortages, high prices and angst.
While Ms. Corredoura's story was real, heart wrenching and passionate, it mustn't be allowed to obscure facts. Of the approximately 1.2 million babies killed yearly in the United State alone, it is estimated that 1 percent or less of the pregnancies are the result of rape. Certainly, one forced pregnancy is too many. Should the one, however, be used as justification for the killing of over one million children? What exactly, by the way, is the fault of the conceived child that he or she should be killed?
Why do politicians from all parties highlight the issue every few years? Perhaps it's because that's when more people listen or have the ear of those heading into political power or see the opportunity to stop the killing of innocent babies.
Perhaps the matter escalates in election years because that is when people are called into accountability. Certainly, the victim in Ms. Corredoura's letter had zero responsibility for her pregnancy; she was completely faultless. What about the responsibility and accountability of people that take no or poor precautions when having sex? Why should taxpayers be saddled with paying for executing an innocent baby that was the fruit of someone's irresponsible momentary pleasure? If one chooses to scream, "My body! My choice!" shouldn't that person be responsible for the full financial support of caring for their body and their choice instead of forcing taxpayers to do it?
Nevertheless, who pays for the murders is not the issue. Far from it. Rather, I do not advocate the rule of any person over another, especially the strong and armed over the weak and defenseless. It is for that same reason that I promote life and stand in defense of innocent children being led to slaughter. If killing babies is considered birth control then it must daily ever be on the agenda, not just every few years. On that note, I agree with Ms. Corredoura.
[[In-content Ad]]
