I had a hard enough time understanding why in the name of all things sacred Christians were supporting Obama during the campaign, but I just chalked it up to good old fashioned ignorance. I still like to believe that’s the case, because it’s the only way I can justify in my mind such a major inconsistency. I hope now that Christians who supported Obama – more specifically pro-life Christians (as all Christians should be…) – are having a real gut-check moment, and realize their mistake.
President Obama yesterday reversed the policy of refusing to fund international organizations that provide abortions. Our taxpayer dollars will now go, not only to funding organizations in our own country that provide abortions, but also to organziations oversees.
Aside from the vicious killing of innocent children, the thing that I find most disgusting about this move is the way in which Obama and others are referring to the practice of abortion. Their words are careful, calculated, even clinical, and as I sit here looking at my 5-month-old son, remembering how much I loved him from the moment I knew I was pregnant, I must say that I’m having a hard time holding back tears and keeping down my coffee.
Obama said, “It is time we end the politicization of this issue. In the coming weeks, my administration will initiate a fresh conversation on family planning, working to find areas of common ground to best meet the needs of women and families at home and around the world.”
Family planning. What a sweet way to refer to it. I also really appreciate how Obama makes sure to mention how he will be meeting the needs of women and families around the world, but not so much the lives of the unborn.
The group Population Action International said “Family planning should not be a political issue; it’s about basic health care and well-being for women and children”…as long as those children don’t happen to be in the wombs of women who don’t want them.
I typically try and avoid the abortion issue. There are such strong feelings on both sides that I tend to simply shy away from the confrontation. That’s been easy to do with a President who believes as I do on the abortion issue, but as we now have a President – who was placed in office with the votes of many, many “Christians” – that is clearly going to reverse policy that has for the last 8 years worked to protect the most vulnerable, I will no longer keep my mouth shut.
So, to you pro-life Christians who voted for Obama, I leave you with these words: I hope you’re happy.
January 27, 2009 at 9:12 am
As alway you choose to only see one part of the larger picture.
While I agree that abortions are wrong in most cases, you need to consider the environments where these organizations operate. We’re not talking about the United States. We’re talking about Africa and other third world countries were civil wars and poverty promote disease and vicious crimes like rape and incest. What chance would any of those children have in such a world?
You fail to mention that these same organizations spend the majority of their fund promoting the use of contraception and improving reproductive health services access. These programs help reduce the number of abortions, reduce infant mortality, and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Did you actually read the entire article on CNN.com? Your judgement of the situation seems a little clouded.
January 27, 2009 at 11:37 pm
Abortion is not specifically prohibited in either the Old Testament of the New Testament…
January 28, 2009 at 2:11 pm
“A false witness shall not be unpunished and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.” – Proverbs 19:5
Jeremiah 29:23 “Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours’ wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and [am] a witness, saith the LORD.”
The Word of God expressly states in Revelation 21:8 that, ” … all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Yet, many people who claim to know and love God, routinely tell lies as if they are exempt from the above penalty recorded by the Apostle John.
Shame on you, Jama…there is not any specific prohibition, law, or commandment against abortion in either the Old Testament or the New Testament!
January 28, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Anonymous, you act like people in the United States don’t have issues like “civil wars and poverty, disease and vicious crimes like rape and incest.”
Get your head out of the sand.
“…in either the Old Testament of the New Testament.”
It is hard to take someone seriously when they do types especially of this fashion.
January 28, 2009 at 9:17 pm
So, Elmer, if you were paying attention, I put in “types” instead of “typos” to see if you double check. But humans do make mistakes, so I won’t harp on it anymore.
Anyways, in regards to Obama and Christians specifically, they are hoping for something that can’t be. He is not the messiah. He is a false prophet.
January 29, 2009 at 9:59 am
“So, Elmer, if you were paying attention, I put in “types” instead of “typos” to see if you double check. But humans do make mistakes, so I won’t harp on it anymore. ”
…and here I was thinking that you put in “types” because you are a FU.
Seriously though, I could stand to increase my font size display, get a new keyboard, and review my text before hastily posting (sorry if the typos offend).
I voted for Obama and never regarded him as any sort of “messiah”…Obama is just a whole helluva lot smarter that George W. Bush and most Republicans across this country.
January 29, 2009 at 10:12 am
Hey Jama,
I noticed you new blog tagline:
“Conservative Rantings of a Christian Philosopher”
What ever happened to your old tagline that read something like:
“Rantings of an Angry Conservative”…
Oh, I get it…you are now using “Christian Plilosopher” as an euphemism for “Angry Conservative” within your tagline.
February 5, 2009 at 11:32 am
Chris F,
I apologize if can’t make what I would have considered a common sense assumption about these organizations being involved in the US as well as third world countries. Also, thank you for pointing out Elmer’s typo. I’m sure he and I will sleep much better at night knowing that great proof readers like you are on the job keeping us safe from misspelled words.
What on earth would prompt you to say “He is not the messiah. He is a false prophet.” I have never heard anyone call him the messiah nor do I think he is any kind of profit – false or otherwise. That is a statement that comes from ignorance and fear. You probably think he is a Muslim because his name is Obama. And you tell me to get my head out of the sand!?
Look at it this way… he can’t possibly be any worse that George Bush. My personal opinion is that Bush and his administration should be brought up on war crimes charges by the world court.
February 6, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Anonymous,
It amazes me that so many people talk about what a bad job that “W” did while he was in office; I will be the 1st to say that I am proud of “W” and the job he has done and let me remind you that he has kept America(I’m assuming you are from America) safe from the Terroist who would like to destroy America (Do you remember them? The terrorist that blew up so many innocent people on 9/11.). I would much rather the war go on in some other country and not here on American soil! I just hope and pray that Barack HUSSEIN Obama will do the same but I will not hold my breath!
February 9, 2009 at 10:43 pm
I don’t for a minute argue that he had a tough job that became tougher when 9/11 happen and how dare you preach to me about the events of 9/11 – I lost friends there how about you!?
I don’t disagree with his decisions to attack Afghanistan – personally I don’t think we did enough there but that’s another topic. My problem with Bush is the way he “protected” our country. He invaded Iraq on the premise that weapons of mass destruction were there. Where are they? They’ve never been found. The war in Iraq is also a preemptive war which is illegal and can be considered a war crime. The Bush administration also suspended Article 3 of the Geneva Convention which prohibits torture, among other things, so that he could detain suspected terrorists in Cuba without legal counsel. However, the case of Hamdi v. Rumsfeld said detainees have a right to contest their detention: they are entitled to habeas corpus protections. Hamdan v. Rumsfeld tested the military tribunals President Bush created to bring the detainees to justice. The Supreme Court found the tribunals in violation of Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions, and their existence to be illegal, absent a basis in federal statute. To protect themselves, the Bush Administration passed the Military Commissions Act of 2006 and made it retroactive. Essentially this law gives the Bush Administration immunity for crimes committed – according to US law. The problem is that the Geneva Convention is based on international law and Bush may not be protected from prosecution.
Like I said, he had a tough job that was made tougher after 9/11, however his methods for doing the job are definitely suspect.
Finally, you should be ashamed of yourself for judging Obama because his middle name is Hussein. It is a common Arab and Muslim name but it is also a common AFRICAN name. Your judgment of him based on his name is about as close to racism as it gets. You might as well say he shouldn’t be president because he’s black. Shame on you Tammy.
The man just took office. Judge the man by his actions not by name or the color of his skin.
March 1, 2009 at 1:24 pm
‘…the thing that I find most disgusting about this move is the way in which Obama and others are referring to the practice of abortion. Their words are careful, calculated, even clinical…’
Family planning? Hasn’t that phrase been around for, oh, two or three decades?
I don’t see what’s wrong with the phrase. It doesn’t specifically mean abortion. It also covers abstinence, contraceptives and information about pregnancy (planning for having healthy babies instead of malnourished ones).
‘…as I sit here looking at my 5-month-old son, remembering how much I loved him from the moment I knew I was pregnant, I must say that I’m having a hard time holding back tears and keeping down my coffee.’
Oh, please. Much as conservatives would like to think otherwise, no one threatened you or your child with public shame, jail time or death regarding your decision to go through with the pregnancy. No one is going to force you or anyone to have an abortion when you don’t want to.
Most people that I know basically go along with the ‘Roe v. Wade’ criteria (first trimester okay, second and third need doctoral write-off). It’s a legit public disagreement whether destroying a three-week old embryo is the same as killing a three-week old infant. I’d venture the majority of people worldwide view the morning-after pill (which is the kind of abortion almost always meant here) in the same category as The Pill. In places where contraceptive insistence on the part of the woman is seen in a bad light (or punishable by stoning), RU-486 might be the only line of defense women have to retain control over their decision on when to have a family.
I think it’s kind of strange that you’d want Uncle Sam to stay out of your pocketbook but don’t mind him at all burrowing into your and every other woman’s womb.
March 1, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Steven,
Interesting points. But, right now Uncle Sam is burrowing into something else….
March 27, 2009 at 2:39 am
How could anyone even consider abortion when they see a newborn? I could not hurt an animal, much less an innocent baby.If Obama is going to support abortions,he should also support killing the many people in this world that shouldn’t be alive.Same thing in my book.