Our life has dignity, from conception to natural death

On Dec. 31, 2012, there were 1,278.9 abortions performed in the United States by 8:58:10 a.m., according to statistics compiled by www.abortioncounters.com. There were 1,248,750.8 abortions in the U.S. last year; 55,808,365.8 since 1973; and worldwide since 1980, 1,279,999,313, the website reported.

In Hawaii, the trends of abortion, as reported in January 2011 by the Guttmacher Institute between 1973 and 2008, show that the annual numbers started to increase from 1973 through about 1992 and then declined until 2008, when it started to peak again. Between 1988 and 1993, about 13,000 abortions occurred in Hawaii.

Indeed, our state and our country have been very progressive toward an individual’s rights, and more people are also exerting their rights as citizens to do whatever they please.

Our generation is no different from any other; but some are just more aggressive in asserting their rights to do whatever they choose because of the freedom given to us by our Constitution.

Consequently, we are in turmoil over basic things in life that should matter more than anything else — the dignity of the human person from conception to natural death. We may have forgotten to do things because they are the right things to do. We fail to act because of political events or pressure from people or organizations who claim that pregnancy is an avoidable inconvenience.

People should look at the statistics: forty years after Roe v. Wade and more than 50 million babies killed. What is wrong with this picture?

Having been involved in the pro-life movement since 1973, I offer some things that we might consider:

» We need to refocus and try other methods of winning the hearts of women and men who are at times given no other alternative but to choose abortion. We need to continue to give women hope for their future and that of their babies. And when do we do this? Now!

» We need to reclaim our faith in our God and in the awesome guidance of the Holy Spirit. We need to reclaim our families, our neighborhood, our cities and our state.

» We need to find that glimmer of love in everyone, especially those in our communities and in the elected officials who contend with the atrocities of life. We need to pray that they "harden not their hearts" but be open to the loving presence of God.

» We can change people’s attitude about abortion and all anti-life concerns and issues by showing them the value and dignity of the human person from conception to natural death. We need to shower them with the love of God.

The root of the problem is within the families. It is hard for parents to give their children the love that they deserve for various reasons, especially economic ones. Most of the time, both parents must work to support their families; consequently, they don’t have enough time for the needs of their children.

Aloha Life Advocates (formerly Hawaii Right to Life) is committed to educating our people about the positive aspects of life. Our slogan, "A Clear Voice for Life!" echoes our mission to be advocates for the unborn, for the aged and disabled, for the victims of teenage human trafficking. We work with our young people to understand the value of abstinence and their worth in the scheme of things.

In Hawaii, we contend with the fact that abortion is readily available and encouraged by people with little conception of the value of the human dignity. We can hide the pain, but the pain persists. Aloha Life Advocates are reaching out to not only our children but the parents as well. We are working hard to promote legislation that would provide parents with the right to be given notification prior to the execution of abortion procedures.

Someone once said, "As families go, our nation follows." We need to reinforce the family structure with the foundation of love. We need to provide the leadership in shaping the future of our children as they grow and live in our communities. The integrity and dignity placed in them by God cannot be altered by people. Although we need to be flexible in our approach to life, our foundation must be firm and stable. Lastly, we need to enjoy the life that we have with our children.

Society cannot teach our children the way to live. We need to take that responsibility as stewards of our God. We need to fully demonstrate our love for our children and to empower them to make valued decisions.