Stonekettle

See, if we *really* believed life was sacred -- be that some quality endowed by either god and/or man, depending on your beliefs -- then it would be our moral duty as citizens of that religion and/or that nation to ensure it has every opportunity for the best life possible. 2/

Before it is even conceived, we would want to optimize the conditions for its growth. I mean, wouldn't we? If life is SACRED? That means a healthy environment to include clean air, safe water, nutritious and balanced diet, shelter. More... 3/

...we would expect that environment to LAST for the duration of the life in question, to improve even. What good is it to value life, if there's no world for it to LIVE in? If the warm seas rise, if the air is foul and the water toxic, if the oceans are choked with plastic? 4/

No, if we truly value LIFE, if we truly believe it to be SACRED, then before it even begins we as a people and as a nation must bend every effort to ensure not only its survival, but that it thrives to reach its full potential. If life is truly sacred, that is. 5/

We have to be that nation, of safety and stability and opportunity, now and into the future. The parent(s) must have opportunity to provide the best start. If life is indeed SACRED, then surely we can agree to that bare minimum? Yes? 6/

For that life to have the best start possible, the parents need comprehensive and responsive healthcare, a decent standard of living and economic opportunity, good jobs and with a living wage, education, community, support, etc. But it's more than that. 7/

If life is born to parents who are not full and equal members of society for whatever reason, race, color, sex, orientation, identity, beliefs, who de facto denied the same rights and opportunities as other more privileged members of that nation ... 8/

... then we fail right out of the gate. If we truly -- truly -- believe in the sacredness of life, then we must every single day work to build a civilization where ALL people are valued, where ALL members have access and opportunity without regard to their differences. 9/

We must work to truly BE that shining city on the hill for ALL, not just a privileged few. Not just those who can afford it. And when that life comes, when that baby is born, what then? If that life IS truly sacred as you say it must be, what then? 10/

No, don't look away. If you truly believe that new life to be sacred -- SACRED -- do we not then have an obligation both as a nation and as a people to provide for that life? To provide the best possible environment, the possible best future, no matter the expense? 11/

You tell me life is sacred, but then you tell me to provide the best possible future for it costs too much. Heh. You tell me profits NOW matter more than peace, equality, justice, healthcare, education, and a better environment for that life in the future. 12/

You tell me all life is sacred, but you don't really mean that. You don't mean ALL life, or even all HUMAN life. Those shouting loudest about the sacredness of life are the very same people who daily divide humanity up into the valued and the worthless. 13/

If you TRULY believe human life to be sacred, then it's not ENOUGH to demand every conception be carried to term and every baby be born. No. If you truly value human life, then you must build a world where that life is truly valued, encouraged and celebrated for itself. 14/

If you truly believe no pregnancy should be terminated, no matter what, no matter the circumstances of conception, no matter birth defect, no matter risk to the mother, then you must work every single day to reduce the likelihood of such conditions. 15/

You must build a society where women are not impregnated against THEIR will, be it by force or deception or failure of technology. Thus, we must first hold MEN accountable. No exceptions. No excuses. If life is sacred, then those who create it must be responsible for it. 16/

If you allow no exemptions for rape, then you must work diligently and aggressively to ensure rape does not happen. It can be done. You must change society, you must change how we think, you must change the entrenched power structure. No exceptions. No excuses. 17/

If you allow no exemptions for intention, you must ensure to the greatest possible extent the right of women NOT to get pregnant, even by accident, even by force. That means full and unlimited access to birth control for every women by HER choice. No exceptions. No excuses. 18/

If you allow no exemptions for technology, then you must work to reduce the likelihood of failure. Birth control must be safe, RELIABLE, affordable, convenient, ubiquitous, continuously improved, and the woman's decision. No exceptions. No excuse. Not even for God. 19/

If you allow no exemptions for defect, then you must put every possible effort into preventing that defect, curing that disease, repairing that damage. MORE effort into that research than you do into ENDING life, than you do into weapons and war. No exceptions. No excuses. 20/

Most importantly, if society holds a woman personally accountable for pregnancy -- and that's what these new laws do -- then PREGNANCY MUST BE *SOLELY* THE CHOICE OF THE WOMAN AND THAT CHOICE MUST BE RESPECTED AND PROTECTED BY LAW. No exceptions. No excuses. 21/

It doesn't end there. That society, the one which values ALL human life as sacred? Must have a RADICALLY different Foreign Policy than we do today, one that promotes this better future for ALL humanity. And one that takes responsibility for it. No exceptions. No excuses. 21/

But that civilization, the one which truly values human life, which welcomes life in the delivery room AND at the border, we're not really talking about that, are we? Because this as never been about the sanctity of life or any right to it. It's about power. 22/

I do want to live in a nation where life IS considered sacred. Where EVERY life matters. Where all of us are important to each other. Where every life can reach its potential. Where there is no abortion, not because it is illegal. But because it is unnecessary. 23/

If you want to talk about building THAT world, I'll listen. But until then, until we live in a world where we actually DO hold life sacred and act as if it is, then abortion MUST be safe, legal, and available. No exceptions, no excuses. 24/24

Addendum: Folks, while many of you understood what I was saying here, it's obvious many more did not. Let me see if I can clarify. First: Twitter is a lousy platform for this. That said, it's the platform we have and so I have to work within its limitations. 25/

That means I can't always use the words I'd prefer or expand on certain topics in enough detail to prevent misunderstanding by reasonable people. We all, writer and readers, have to work within the limitations of the medium. Try to keep that in mind. 26/

Second: I started this thread by saying "I want to live in a nation where there is no abortion." It's a measure of how emotional this topic is that a simple innocuous statement could be taken so many different ways. That, of course, was the point of the opening. 27/

Some of you read that opening line and stopped reading right there in rage, thinking I obviously meant abortion should be completely outlawed as it was yesterday in Alabama. But, if you've read me for any length of time, you likely knew what I was up to. 28/

I wrote the lede to be deliberately provocative, sure, but the pertinent part is that while it did reflexively provoke nearly everyone who read it, it was for many DIFFERENT and personal reasons. And THAT was the point. This is a subject DEEPLY personal to many people. 19/

Could I have started off differently? Sure. And if you write such a thread, write it however you like. I write how I write for my own reasons, you're welcome to follow along or not as you please. 20/