The Way I See It: Sanctity of life

There’s a term that is often bandied about by the anti-choice (or pro-life crowd).  That term is sanctity of life.  They claim that abortion is wrong because all living beings have a right to life.  Okay, I can sort of get behind that.  But there’s something else that comes into play with the term.

If you are someone who claims the sanctity of life is all important, then here is a list of other things you need to get behind.

If you are in favour of the sanctity of life then:

• you will demand that the oppression committed upon the Palestinian people by the Israeli government ends now.  You will demand that governments the world over impose sanctions against Israel in order to ensure that the Palestinian people are afforded their own sanctity of life.
• you will support social programs that keep the poor living a sustainable life.  Programs that assist them in finding employment.  Programs to ensure that they will have affordable access to Medicare.
• you will denounce the actions of large corporations that use sweat shop labour in order to sell products at bargain basement prices.  Sweat shops that pay next to nothing, and who’s workers include women and children, with both often facing massive amounts of abuse.
• you will demand that the government stop any and all war efforts in the Middle East and begin to send humanitarian aid forces to teach, offer medical aid, and help grow food.
• you will demand that militant, right wing religious organizations (Christian and Muslim alike) be disbanded and their leaders set to trial for crimes against humanity.
• you will demand that women’s shelters be erected so that women who suffer from domestic violence, rape, harassment and other vicious and violent crimes have some place safe to go to.
• you will demand that the police take an active interest in policing everyone equally.
• you will demand that any woman who has been forced to give birth into poverty, will be given the proper aid to raise their child and ensure that child grows up healthy.
• you will demand a better justice system so that criminals can be rightly arrested, charged and convicted.  And if there is a mistake, you will demand those who are innocent be set free.
• you will demand the end to the death penalty in all its forms, all over the world, because that is also an example of the oppression of sanctity of life.

There are many other demands you must make if you are going to take up the term sanctity of life.  And I realize there are those who are pro-life, and who quietly demand these things already.  The problem is, the hypocrites have a much louder voice.

If you are indeed a supporter of the sanctity of life, then make damn sure it’s for every life out there.