Last Sunday we were called upon, once again, to find Common Ground from a leader whose words often contradict his actions. Finding Common Ground appears harmless, on the face of it, but what does it really imply? I suggest that Common Ground is invoked more by those who desire for you to cede your position while they hold to their rigidly held convictions...beliefs, of course, that are touted as inclusive and embracing. There are instances where common ground is the area where we should attempt to meet. However, there are some issues in our society that so deeply violate and coarsen our humanity, the only ground on which to stand is higher ground.
Should we have found 'common ground' on slavery? Should we have found 'common ground' on women's right to vote? Should we have found 'common ground' on the liberation of the victims of the Nazi death camps in WWII? Should we have found 'common ground' when our nation was savagely attacked on 9/11 by those who'd like to annihilate us? Abortion is not an issue that simply needs a semantic overhaul, Mr. President. It's a core issue of our humanity that illuminates how we, as a society, regard the most defenseless among us. It defines what we believe truly empowers an individual. And what is it about this issue that has some clinging to the rhetoric of 'reducing abortions'? Why reduce something that gives so much clarity and strength to an individual? Shouldn't we be encouraging more abortions as the possession of this right makes us a stronger people?
The answer is simple. Abortion is indicative of a much greater societal problem that only worsens as people willfully ignore the truth. As one who is, like Obama, both black and white, I can't help but recall the 1857 Dred Scott decision. Just as in Roe v. Wade, this supremely unconstitutional and shameful ruling determined that a certain class of people were "non-persons" and thereby not entitled to the protections of our Constitution. I'm eternally grateful that our Congress overturned the decision of 7 profoundly misguided Supreme Court justices and brought Justice with the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments. How ironic that, in 1973's Roe v. Wade decision, the Supreme Court actually pulled language ("due process of law") from the very amendment that ascribed full humanity and citizenship to black Americans in order to strip those very same rights from the unborn.
Common ground can be unstable, as the truth begins to erode a loose foundation of emotional underpinnings. We can't reclaim the destroyed lives in the Nazi death camps. What would've happened had we entered the war earlier? We can't reclaim the Rwandans who were slaughtered in the name of Hutu-Tutsi tribalism as the world chose to do nothing. But today, we have an opportunity to stop the judicial criminality and the cleverly marketed vernacular that excuses the death of millions in the name of 'Choice'...a political machine that has shown it has absolutely no interest in common ground, or often the simple truth. Its very mission (NARAL, NOW, Planned Parenthood) is to prevent discussion, to fight any common-sense prolife legislation, to downplay heterosexual marriage and fatherhood, and to encourage promiscuity in the guise of sexual liberation and tolerance. Barack Obama, himself, never showed any interest in finding common ground on the difficult issue of abortion. Both as a senator and as a presidential candidate, he was an outspoken supporter of the "Freedom of Choice Act"--the complete antithesis to last Sunday's supposed clarion call. In fact, his carefully crafted words to the Notre Dame audience should be considered in context to the recent DHS "Rightwing Extremism" report (see pg 2 of 9), released by the Obama administration, which considered those who hold prolife views possible terrorists. Who's demonizing whom here?
Common ground is a small area indeed. And it is not often that it is the shared destination, particularly in political discussions. But beware of the lure, of the enticing rhetoric, that insists it is where you should plant your feet. You might find that the ground you thought was so solid is nothing but sinking sand.
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Ryan is an Emmy Award winning broadcast design and branding professional in Atlanta, GA.
For more information, visit: http://www.shouldhavebeenaborted.com
© 2009 Ryan Scott Bomberger
1 comment:
I am so glad I stumbled along your utube video! I am a adoptive mother and we are a blended family my husband and I are white my daughter is black/white. I didn't know what living was till she was placed in my arms. I see so much potential in this little life. I am a prolifer! And now a fan of yours look forward to more great blogs!
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