An Open Letter to You, Pro-Life Man

Dear Pro-Life Man,

Twice this weekend, I heard comments about why men should stay out of discussions about abortions, and both times, the remarks were made by blatantly rude women who spoke with much scathing accusation, but little sense.

Amidst their vulgar language, these women claimed you have no right to speak out against abortion simply because you are a man.

How ridiculous it that?

As a man you might suffer over the loss of a child, yet you may not speak about the heinous act that takes approximately 3,000 lives in the U.S.A. alone each day and about 125,000 lives worldwide.  No, Sir, your hurt does not count claim some women.  You have no womb, so you can have no wound.  Abortion is none of your business.

And, lo, Man, if you are the father of a child conceived without forethought, do not stop and think even for a moment. You may have shared in the creation of that life, but you have no say over what will happen to it.  Yes, yes, forget about being encouraged to invest in that child, share in responsibility, and care for the child and mother.  You. have. no. say.  Whatever the mother wants, goes.  The child may live or die.  It is not up to you.  Be quiet.  

Be quiet, that is, unless you want to speak out for the death of unwanted children.  If you want to join the chorus of men lauding the choice to kill babies, have at it.  Be loud.  Be proud.  Man up and be Bro-Choice.

Indeed, dear Man, you must only lock your lips if you want to speak out against abortion, some women say.

Oh, and while you are speaking, please dare you not be chivalrous, protecting the innocent and standing up for the weak and oppressed.

Because you cannot get pregnant, you cannot understand things, and you must not respect, nor protect, life.  Got it, Man?

Oh, my dear, Pro-Life Man, I am so glad you are able to ignore such fallacious, illogical viewpoints.  Indeed, I am so glad you have the courage to speak truth even in the face of misguided accusations from women who claim you are a misogynist, an insensitive brute, an idiot, or worse. 

I assure you, Man-Who-Speaks-Out-Against-Abortion, that not all of us women scorn you. Many of us applaud you.  Many of us thank you.

In fact, I, personally, thank you for speaking out against abortion.  I thank you for letting you voice be heard and being the voice for those who can not cry out from the wombs of women who want them silenced. 

I thank you for ignoring the ignorant demand of women who say that you have no place in discussions about abortion, since you cannot get pregnant, cannot have an abortion, cannot understand what a woman goes through, and, therefore should not speak your thoughts. Indeed, I thank you, kind Pro-Life Sir, for standing firm with women like me who recognize you just might have a part in the conception of a child and you might wonder how that child's life might change yours... You might, indeed, go through much.  For male or female, you are human.  You are alive.  And you have every right to speak.

So, thank you, dear Pro-Life man, for exercising your right.  I welcome your voice in the conversation and am heartily grateful that you unabashedly support truth and life.

Speak on, Pro-Life Man. Take every opportunity you can to defend life from conception to natural death.  Do not be shouted down.  Do no be silenced.  Do not fall into the misconception that abortion is a women's right's issue.  Keep recognizing it as what is truly is: a human rights issue.

Unborn children are human beings and you have every right to defend the life of a fellow human being.

Pro-Life Man, I apologize for the loud, lacking in love voices of some of my fellow women who seek to shame you into silence, and I remind you, then in matters like these, there is no shame but that of silence.

We cannot stay quiet.  We must speak for those who cannot. Your voice is powerful.  Keep using it.

Stand together with other men and women - and me - who seek to respect and protect life, building a better future - one where all human beings may have the right to life!

With deepest gratitude and endless encouragement, I thank you, Pro-Life Man.

May love sound!