by Jessica Westfall
The book, Unnatural Selection by Mara Hvistendahl, outlines the history of population control, abortion, and sex selection from a pro-abortion standpoint. Using this information, I will outline 3 issues regarding this movement: recurring ideas, unrestrained parental control, and the power of unique life. These issues were separated into three different blog posts, this is the concluding article, part 3.
Ending human life for convenience is not a new thing, it’s old rationalizations and overreaching, unrestrained parent choices rolled up into a big mess. There is often the rebuttal that ending a fetus’ life is actually a blessing for the child, whether it be because the child is unwanted, going to be disadvantaged financially, disabled, or the other myriad of problems that comes with life. I want to refute that. I want to address incredible achievements in spite of the problems. Our lives would be vastly different without these courageous individuals. One could even argue that these achievements would not have come if these individuals did not face such hardships.
Steven Hawking is a brilliant man. He has contributed greatly to science. On his 21 birthday he was diagnosed with ALS. Now, he is wheelchair bound and can only talk with the help of a computerized voice system. Even though he has sever disabilities he still gives great things to the world. If Steven Hawking can do it, then think of all the other people that can still give to this world, even in the face of extreme and unfortunate trials. Was his life lessened by the onset of this disease? In some regards yes, and yet he has made incredible contributions in spite of any limitations.
Beethoven was born to an alcoholic father, which is not usually considered a good way to start life. When he got older he slowly began to lose the ability to hear. He found it so unfair to be a musician and lose his hearing. He didn’t want to live and be deaf, but he felt he still had music to give, and he went on to give some of his greatest music. The world would be dull without his contributions. I am impressed, also, by his willingness to give even when something he cherished so dearly had been taken away.
Albert Eisntein didn’t speak until he was 3 years old and his teachers thought he was stupid. It is sad to think of all the the people with unrecognized greatness, simply because those involved in their life can’t see it.
Oprah Winfrey was tragically abused while living with her mother. I am so impressed with Oprah’s ability to take these bad childhood experiences and turn them into something beautiful. I am impressed with how much Oprah cares about people. She has done so much good for others. While some could predict the trials she might experience because of the life she was born into, no one could have predicted where she would be now and the good she has done. That’s the problem with judging human life based on the short sighted vision of other humans; we just can’t predict what a person will become. Although we cannot predict the myriad of good a person can do if their life is protected, a discarded life has only one outcome and no need for predictions.