It’s obvious he means well, but this post by Old Oligarch epitomises everything that I cannot stand about the right-to-life movement. Mind you, I believe that abortion is a wrong that society should fix, but as far as I’m concerned, the so called “pro-life” movement doesn’t care about life at all, it cares only about fetuses and doesn’t give a damn about those children once they are born.

He talks about all the people entering the clinic, and goes on about the workers and the patients, and a huge dialogue about how he felt about the entire thing, but just like almost every other pro-life person I’ve heard, ends it there. As if ending abortion is the only consideration and all will be well once that goal is achieved.

There is no discussion of what will happen to these pregnant women and their babies. As always, it as if once abortion is stopped, there will no longer be a problem. There is no discussion of helping pregnant women, and helping those women then care for their babies. There is no mention of groups like Birthright, that provide maternity clothes, baby clothes, arranges for baby supplies and toys, and most importantly provides someone to listen. There is no mention of these groups and how they need support, through cash donations (which can be made through the United Way), donations of maternity clothes or baby clothes and items, or even through donations of time.

There is no mention of the evil of parents who throw their daughters out onto the street when they discover the pregnancy. Or of parents who tell their daughters that out on the street is precisely where those girls will end up if they do become pregnant.

Nothing about supporting rape and domestic abuse crisis agencies.

No support of adoption agencies, or information about how to become a foster parent.

Nothing about the need to support families with children; no concern for those unborn once they become children.

Just a strong sense of good versus evil, and of self-righteoutness, with no sense of the gray areas, and no consideration of any of the support structures that exist (or in so many cases don’t exist) for pregnant women, infants, and children.

There is also no consideration of how to keep women from getting pregnant in the first place. No discussion of making birth control cheaply available or free. No support of sex education programs, or for day care programs that allow pregnant teens to remain in school.

It is this blindness that I find so maddening about “right-to-life” groups. It is as if the only life they value is the life of the unborn child, and once the child is born their work is done, and they could care less what happens to the child. No interest in affordable day care for the poor. No interest in health care for and and children. No interest in clean and safe housing for children. No interest in providing these children quality education so that they can keep from making the mistakes their parents made, and our generation is making.

You want to impress me with your right-to-life idealism, then start showing some support for the world these children will enter once they are born.