Cheers to all those who participated in the nationwide “chain of life” event held recently along the streets of downtown Gainesville. To me, abortion is a tragic mistake and a national scandal. It should not be legal.

Unfortunately, however, I find a deep inconsistency in most people’s thinking about “pro life” and “pro choice.” Here’s why.

Abortion is clearly a “life-ending” event. So is any type of birth control, which simply moves the “life-ending” event further back in time.

In the same way, moving forward in time, any failure to provide adequate food, shelter, education or health care to children simply moves the “life-ending” event further into the future. All of these events obviously reflect a culture of death and selfishness rather than a culture of life.

To be truly “pro life” is to be pro all the things required for all children to be born and then raised in a healthy environment.

I find it strangely inconsistent to be “pro life” when it comes to abortion, but “pro choice” when it comes to health care and other social safety nets, especially those needed by children.

I find it equally inconsistent to be “pro choice” regarding abortion, but “pro life” regarding health care and other social safety nets.

And to further confuse the issue, how can “pro-life” be pro death penalty? Pro war? Pro deportation of immigrant children? Pro survival of the fittest?

And both sides seem to want government involved in some issues but not others.

For example, many Christians will argue they are for social safety nets; they just don’t want government to provide them. Yet they do want government to stop abortion, allow formal prayer in school, fund wars, carry out executions and protect their own private health care.

Most politicians are no better. They’re just reading the latest polls and supporting whatever the majority want at the moment so they can get re-elected. Don’t expect consistency there or real leadership.

Maybe I’m missing something, but it seems to me we are mostly just pro “my life” and pro “my choice.” with a few exceptions to make us feel better.

Again, I stand with those who stand against abortion. I just pray “pro-life” will one day expand beyond the womb.

Quickly aborting a life in the womb or slowly aborting a slightly older life on the poor side of town or in another country is equally tragic.

Alan Shope
Gainesville