Letter to the editor: ‘Pro-life’ not best way to protect women, children
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When I was younger, I believed I should always support candidates who wanted to make abortion illegal.
As the years went by, this made me more and more uncomfortable. I had other issues that I cared about, like health care and the environment, and candidates who were “pro-life” on abortion seemed to always disagree with me on those other issues.
The last straw came in early 2007. I had supported President Bush’s decision to make a “preemptive strike” against Iraq — I supported anything he did, because he was against abortion! But when the news reported appalling conditions for returning veterans at Walter Reed Hospital, including rats and black mold, it became clear to me that we had had no business invading Iraq when we weren’t even prepared to take care of our own soldiers. And I felt ashamed that I had ignored the suffering and deaths of thousands in the name of being “pro-life.”
Today I try to live by these words from Evan McMullin, former Republican (like me) and later independent candidate for Utah Senate: “When we do more to help women and children, abortions decline. Making contraception more available and otherwise doing much more to support families is what truly protects life — not extremist laws that target women in their most vulnerable moments. Our commitment to life must be more comprehensive, and start with judging less and doing more to help those in difficult circumstances who need our compassion.”
In November, please vote for candidates who will truly protect life.
Sandra Fennell
Murrysville