A Thirty Five Year Tragedy

For starters, I have roughly the same thoughts as a year ago, so start there.

And, if I can direct you to just one additional place, it would be this: The Roe IQ Test. See how much you do or don't know.

There is some good news. The pro-life message appears to be taking hold:

The news that the abortion rate has fallen to its lowest level in 30 years elicits various explanations, from increased use of contraceptives to lack of access to abortion clinics. But maybe the chief reason is that the great majority of Americans, even many who see themselves as pro-choice, are deeply uncomfortable with it.

In 1992, a Gallup/Newsweek poll found 34 percent of Americans thought abortion "should be legal under any circumstances," with 13 percent saying it should always be illegal. Last year, only 26 percent said it should always be allowed, with 18 percent saying it should never be permitted.

Sentiments are even more negative among the group that might place the highest value on being able to escape an unwanted pregnancy: young people. In 2003, Gallup found, one of every three kids from age 13 to 17 said abortion should be illegal in all circumstances. More revealing yet is that 72 percent said abortion is "morally wrong."

And, that "lowest level in 30 years" is a level that's down 25% since 1990.

Also encouraging is that the Pro-Life movement still has the attention of the left.

Being an election year, it's worth noting where the candidates stand on the issue. It's an issue that continues to be a clear differentiator between Republicans and Democrats. There are exceptions, like Rudy, but even Ron Paul (an OB-GYN, for what that's worth) opposes abortion: "The right of an innocent, unborn child to life is at the heart of the American ideals of liberty."

On the other side, you have the Clintons, and their position of "safe, legal, and rare". (One does wonder, if abortion is A.O.K., why does it need to be rare?) And, Obama, who voted against the "Born Alive Infants" bill which aimed to recognize that a fetus which survives an abortion to be treated as a human being.

Back on the Republican side, you also have John McCain, who, generally has a good pro-life record. But he's being taken to task for going after Wisconsin Right to Life (and rightly so).

Update:
Michelle Malkin notes Thousands march on Washington…MSM yawns.

Alexham, over at Red State, rightly points out that Bush has been right on the money on the life issue. From Bush's remarks:

Thirty-five years ago today the United States Supreme Court declared and decided that under the law an unborn child is not considered a person. But we know many things about the unborn. Biology confirms that from the start each unborn child is a separate individual with his or her own genetic code. Babies can now survive outside the mother's womb at younger and younger ages. And the fingers and toes and beating hearts that we can see on an unborn child's ultrasound come with something that we cannot see: a soul.

Today we're heartened -- we're heartened by the news that the number of abortions is declining. But the most recent data reports that more than one in five pregnancies end in an abortion. America is better than this, so we will continue to work for a culture of life where a woman with an unplanned pregnancy knows there are caring people who will support her; where a pregnant teen can carry her child and complete her education; where the dignity of both the mother and child is honored and cherished.

Finally, Ken Shepherd wonders "Was 2007 the Year of the Pro-Life Movie?".