To me, “pro-life” means supporting all aspects of all lives. It’s not enough to merely encourage a child’s birth while ignoring efforts to feed, clothe, educate, provide health care and protect that child throughout life.
Since 2016, we’ve seen expanding anti-life policies, including attempts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and CHIP and cuts to nutritional programs for children and Medicaid. By rolling back environmental laws and ignoring climate catastrophes, the very existence of current and future generations is threatened. None of these policies can be considered pro-life.
Simply being pro-birth is not enough. As a nation, we do little to help women facing unwanted pregnancies. Do we assist with adoptions? Offer child care? Are we providing education or birth control to prevent unwanted pregnancies? What about health care for our children? One in seven children in the U.S. goes to bed hungry. Children born in the U.S. are 76% more likely to die before age 1 than infants born in 19 similar wealthy democratic countries. We need to do more to support women and children.
Moral character is lacking when we vote with the single-minded approach of pro-birth. Pro-life focuses on protecting the sanctity and value of every life. Choosing to give birth is a personal decision and should not be dictated by law. When voting, think about pro-life in a broader sense that truly protects all lives.
We have a president who considers himself “pro-life.” We cannot afford four more years of his anti-life agenda.
Diana M. Steck
North Huntingdon