“Viewpoints” is a place on Chapelboro where local people are encouraged to share their unique perspectives on issues affecting our community. All thoughts, ideas, opinions and expressions in this series are those of the author, and do not reflect the work, reporting or approval of 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com. If you’d like to contribute a column on an issue you’re concerned about, interesting happenings around town, reflections on local life — or anything else — send a submission to viewpoints@wchl.com.
Who Are True ‘Pro-Life’ Candidates?
A perspective from Patti Heinz
You (or someone you know) may consider yourself “pro-life” and hesitate voting for a candidate who supports women’s reproductive rights that include abortion. Consider the deeper meaning of “pro-life.”
Candidates boasting as protectors of the unborn should realize that US infant deaths are increasing due to pregnancy complications and the US has the highest maternal death rates of developed countries. Pro-life means keeping babies and their mothers alive and healthy throughout pregnancy by improving affordability of maternal healthcare and accessibility in underserved areas.
What about children’s lives after they are born? Does the candidate support funds to help impoverished children with free school lunch programs, summer food subsidies, early childhood education, subsidized childcare for single working parents and making healthcare affordable so children can be well-nourished, healthy and have opportunities to learn and succeed?
“Pro-life” means protecting all lives. Firearms are now the leading cause of death for young children and teens in the US. Everyone is at risk when normal events suddenly turn deadly through mass shootings. Does the candidate have the courage to support common sense, safety focused gun laws and outlaw assault weapons designed to kill mass numbers of people? We need leaders who can offer change, not simply thoughts and prayers, as these tragedies have become commonplace.
Consider the impact of a candidate’s rhetoric that demeans and devalues people based on their ethnicity, race, religion or political beliefs. This stirs up hate, division and violence which recklessly jeopardizes innocent people’s lives.
Candidates are “pro-birth” when they enforce abortion bans. However, if they stop there and ignore keeping those pregnancies healthy, feeding and contributing to the well-being of children and protecting all of us from the slaughter of mass shootings, can we truly consider them “pro-life”?
Vote! It really matters!
“Viewpoints” on Chapelboro is a recurring series of community-submitted opinion columns. All thoughts, ideas, opinions and expressions in this series are those of the author, and do not reflect the work or reporting of 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com.
