Rosa Parks, Joan of Arc, Margaret Thatcher, Anne Frank, Malala Yousafzai, and Susan B. Anthony, to name a few. As the country celebrates Women’s History Month, I was considering all the extraordinary women in history, and it’s difficult to know where to begin. At the same time, Women’s History Month makes me think about gender more broadly, what distinguishes us and what unites us.
“Pink is for girly girls.” “You throw like a girl.” “Big girls don’t cry.” – thanks, Fergie. “You’re too emotional.” “Girl power.” “Dress like a girl boss.” “I’m a feminist.” Abortion advocates have even successfully shaped conventional wisdom to accept the perversion that pro-abortion equates to pro-woman. Our society has sought to define what is and what is not feminine – and masculine, for that matter – and then to blur the lines. It is dizzying.
In an effort to honor our differences, we now identify with them and, in doing so, push against one another to be “understood.” Civic dialogue has suffered, and anger seems to propel most of our discourse, if we can still call it that. As a culture, we are drowning in division. This is not to say honoring our differences is without merit – it most certainly brings richness to our society and our relationships, yet we must not abandon what is shared.
What unites us?
Each of us shares something so obvious. Our humanity. Even our dark culture continues to mourn the loss of life through evening news accounts and work to cure or alleviate plagues and diseases that threaten life in all corners of the globe. Somehow, still, we (or many) have gotten this wrong when it comes to life in the womb.
Why is that? Yes, there is an undeniable moral aspect to our pro-life work. God made each of us in His image, formed in the womb, for a purpose. To destroy life in the womb harms His purpose for humanity. Life is at the center of our story. Science likewise unequivocally tells us life begins at conception, with unique DNA all our own.
A little-known fact is the brilliant flash of light in the womb at conception. This “zinc spark,” as it is called, occurs at the exact moment a sperm fertilizes an egg. The light marks the beginning of new life. It exists at conception whether you are female or male, regardless of your race or creed.
The light of life. Life. The Other Choice. Truth and a hopeful path forward.
In Michigan, abortion is legal through all nine months of pregnancy for any reason, and the abortion pill is readily available in clinics and online. Our culture tells women, girls, couples and families there is one solution to an unplanned pregnancy – abortion, death, an end. We have another message. A message rooted in truth, the light of life.
Our commitment at Right to Life of Michigan, throughout our movement and activity in the state, is to work to ensure that everyone – every woman, girl, couple or family – facing an unplanned pregnancy has the truth about abortion at their fingertips and access to and information on the support to make a choice for life.
This brings me back to Women’s History Month. History is made up of choices, choices in the moment that usher in greatness born of a perfect plan for humanity. Each day, we choose life or death in big and small ways. May each of us choose life, not merely for ourselves, and not even primarily for ourselves, but to help those around us in need of light and hope to make a choice for life at a dark moment.
If you or someone you know is facing an unplanned pregnancy, in need of confidential counseling or practical material support, please call or text 1-800-712-HELP.