Pro-Life Issue at Root of all Others
By:  Reed R. Heustis, Jr.
December 17, AD 2005

  Printer Friendly

The Declaration of Independence proclaims that Life is unalienable and is endowed by man's Creator. No government or group of individuals bestows Life upon any person, and therefore no government or group of individuals may rightfully deprive Life from any person without due process of law.

In Genesis 1:27, God creates man; and in Exodus 20:13, God commands against murder. Through these two texts among many others, God is shown to be both the Creator and Protector of Life.

Depriving the life of a fetus through the procedure of abortion is a violation of the above commandment, and should alarm every American enough to rise up and enforce God's law against murder.

Unfortunately however, too many people have their own pet issues to which to tend. They're too wrapped up in their own issues to bat an eyelash at the fact that 1.6 million Americans are butchered every year through abortion.  One American is too occupied with the issue of high taxes to care. Another rails against immigration woes. Still another hollers about religious liberty. Others talk of gun rights. Pick your issue.

To be sure, all these issues are legitimate. They all must be discussed.  Indeed they all will.

Not all rights are equal though.  The issue of the Right to Life takes total precedence over all other rights.

Regarding the atrocity of abortion, it is often tiresome to listen to people rant and rave that the Right to Life is just one issue among many.  "You pro-life zealots are nothing but Johnny one-notes," some folks say.  "Don't impose your religious test upon us," others spew.

There are also those who have the audacity to label true pro-life advocates as "extremists" and "fanatics" simply for taking a no-compromise position on this all important issue.

Then there are those who cannot fathom the thought of losing an election. They say that they care about the Right to Life enough to consider themselves to be "pro-life", but then either they will hide the issue amongst a stew of others in their campaign, or they will remain silent on the issue altogether unless asked.  Quite astonishingly, many pro-life candidates and organizations have taken a don't-ask-don't-tell approach during elections.  It is therefore no wonder that the abortion holocaust continues to baptize the American fabric with its scarlet bloodstain. With heroes like these, who needs enemies?

What these people don't realize is that whatever their pet issue is, the Right to Life is at the root of all others, including their own. As Pat Buchanan once said, "If you don't have the right to life, you don't have any rights."  Truer words could not be spoken.

Buchanan's observation makes total sense. It's logical. Why should it concern anybody whether tax rates are too high when he's dead? The right to religious liberty is likewise meaningless to a dead man. Dead people don't worship. They rot. Rights are irrelevant to them. The only concern to a dead man is whether Heaven or Hell awaits.  Trust me, the political issues of the world will be the furthest concern of his soul.

The Declaration of Independence refers to the rights to "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." The Constitution of the United States refers to "Life, Liberty and Property."  Both documents rightfully position Life at the beginning, implying that the Right to Life is paramount.

Again, this makes sense. Without Liberty, there is no right to Property, nor is there any right to Pursue Happiness. However, without Life, there is no Liberty.  Say goodbye to Property and Happiness.

The entire Bill of Rights, which contain the First Ten Articles of Amendment to the Constitution, is rendered completely and totally irrelevant without the Right to Life. To wit:

The First Amendment right of the people freely to exercise religion: irrelevant if you're dead.

The Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms: irrelevant if you're dead.

The Third Amendment right to consent to housing soldiers during war and peace: irrelevant if you're dead.

The Fourth Amendment right to be protected against unreasonable searches and seizures: irrelevant if you're dead.

The Fifth Amendment right to be protected from double jeopardy: irrelevant if you're dead.

The Sixth Amendment right to a speedy and public trial: irrelevant if you're dead.

The Seventh Amendment right to trial by jury: irrelevant if you're dead.

The Eighth Amendment right to be protected from cruel and unusual punishment: irrelevant if you're dead.

The Ninth Amendment right to retain rights: irrelevant if you're dead.

The Tenth Amendment right to be reserved powers from the federal government: irrelevant if you're dead.

If abortion and the Right to Life are not your cup of tea; or if the pro-life issue is not your passion, that's all right. Just realize that if Americans cannot trust the government to protect the basic Right to Life, especially for the most weak and vulnerable members of our society, then surely they will not be able to trust the government to abide by the principles of your pet issue.

Simply put, the Right to Life is about so much more than just one issue. It is the cornerstone of all other issues. 

Including your own.

© AD 2005 The Christian Constitutionalist, accessible on the web at www.ChristianConstitutionalist.com .  All Rights Reserved.