Today is the 35th anniversary of the legalization of abortion.
I took Lydia downtown today to join Georgia Right To Life‘s Memorial for the Unborn.
From the time I woke up, I was thinking about how I’d blog this. I don’t want to start an abortion debate. I’m not a good debater. I believe what I believe. I think abortion is murder. You can’t change my mind. I’m saying this with complete frankness because I don’t want this post to be a persuasive piece, I’m just posting on my blog about what I did today. I want to be sensitive to those that might not agree with me…but then again…I don’t. I believe life starts at conception. And I believe abortion is America’s holocaust. Over 40,000,000 children have been aborted in the last 35 years.
40 MILLION.
That is the same amount as the population of the smallest 26 states in America. TWENTY SIX.
So to say this was a solemn event is an understatement. As soon as I rounded the corner and heard the music playing and saw the crowd in front of Georgia’s capital, I got tears in my eyes.
So many people spoke and I was impressed with each one. Especially our Lt. Govenor, Casey Cagle. Wow! What a great man! Atlanta Archbishop Wilton Gregory began with prayer and was wonderful. Sonny Perdue, Georgia’s Governor introduced my favorite speaker of the day, MIKE HUCKABEE.
I may have mentioned that I like famous people. Well, as soon as they announced Mike Huckabee would be speaking next, my mom and I grabbed our stuff (including Lydia) and raced to the front of the crowd. And I have to say, we got pretty close…
What? You didn’t quite see how close we were?
Well, we were very very close. So close in fact…
Governor Huckabee and I got our picture together.
*sigh*
Now, back to the event.
After all the speakers (oh, I wish I had been able to take notes! The facts and statistics they gave were staggering!) we began a silent memorial march through downtown. It was amazing to be in the middle of thousands of people and not hear one word spoken. Everyone was respectful. There was no yelling, no chants not even anyone talking amongst themselves. There weren’t even any big posters or graphic photos. I was impressed at how NORMAL everyone was. I didn’t see one freaky person.
As we marched, we passed several people just walking around downtown. Especially as we walked through Georgia State University. Many of the students stood and watched us walk by. Now, let me say that our crowd was made up of a lot of young people–I saw several groups of kids in matching school uniforms. There were lots of moms with their kids. So, as we walked by these college students, I was shocked at the things they were yelling to us. Yelling at the SILENT marchers. One girl yelled, “Why don’t you guys stop marching and start giving out sandwiches to homeless people? That would be more beneficial!” (I’m not quoting her word for word, she said several things, but that was the gist.) One guy yelled at us, “I am a baby killer!” while his friends chortled around him. Another guy walked right through our crowd and said, “What are you guys trying to do? Brainwash us?” No one responded to them (well, actually, someone threw that girl a wrapped sandwich after they passed…I mean, she did ask for one!), everyone just kept marching. I don’t know why that was so shocking to me. Our college campuses are portrayed as being full of our POLITICALLY CORRECT, TOLERANT, FREE THINKING minds. Why would someone on a college campus yell at someone else SILENTLY exercising their right to assemble? I wonder if they would have yelled the same thing if we were Planned Parenthood, PETA or the Alliance for Climate Protection?
But my favorite part of the day was how the march began. A young woman wearing her infant child and trailed by her toddler, played taps on the trumpet.
Then as we began to walk, trumpeters stood along our path and played taps as we went by. I still have tears in my eyes remembering it. And remembering the 40million children for whom we marched.
And a few more pictures to give you a feel for what it was like to be there today.
The silent march.
One of many signs with similar sentiments.
Lydia during the march.
MyBestInvest says
Wow.
I’m sure the emotional weight of the event was pretty substantial. Bless you for getting out there and doing it.
Also, I loved your point about “tolerant” the politically-correct college students are. There would be pickets if Rush Limbaugh spoke on a college campus but red carpet for Michael Moore.
Great post, A.
brandybuzz says
The trumpet player was my favorite part too. It’s just unbelievable the number of babies that have been killed. Nora said at one point today “Mama I not loose my live.” I know she could tell that this was something big was happening. When I asked her to tell Jason what we did today she said “we march for babies to have life and heart beat.” It’s that sweet:)
Missy @ It's Almost Naptime says
What a sobering day.
The picture of the woman’s sign on her back really got me.
Feminists for Life’s slogan is Women Deserve Better (I don’t think I consider myself a feminist but I love Patricia Heaton!). I think so many pro-abortionists forget that in abortion there are *two* victims (minimum). If they don’t care about the babies, you think they would at least care about the women. But they don’t.
Ok…I will resist the urge to go off on a tangent. 😉 Good for you for taking your daughter.
Becky says
Very cool pictures! I don’t really like Huckabee- in fact he kind of frightens me, but that pic of the two of you is awesome! ha!
40 million- wow. Astonishing number, isn’t it. The heavens must be weeping. Thank God that there is a God and those 40 million babies are nestled in his embrace for eternity in heaven!
I’m surprised that the march was so peaceful, and normal and that the other side were the loud, angry voices.
lynse leanne says
wow! that is very cool. sad that i cant see the pictures…but really cool.
40 million is a stunning number…it makes my stomach turn. but i thank the LORD that there is grace for the women who have gone through that.
super cool.
Rachel says
Good for you.
Mommy Cracked says
You know, after just coming out of a blog that was (disgustingly) touting how great the right to choose is, it is refreshing to come in here and read your post. Kudos to you!
Randi says
Amazing! It think it’s great that you went and took Lydia.
That picture of you kills me;) Your too cute!
Adventures In Babywearing says
Wow- I absolutely LOVE that she was wearing that baby while playing up there! I almost did that with Gray while doing back-up singing at church, but was afraid it would be too loud. You don’t see that everyday, and I love it! Great pics!
Steph
bee says
What a great event to take Lydia to. (And a great picture of you and Mike… it looks like he’s posin’ with you! ) 🙂
MrsBranham says
WAY to go girl! I’m so glad you stood up and took a stand against abortion- I’m with you 100%! I’m proud of you for continually trying to speak the truth in love!
steve says
Ohamanda,
Great blog and wonderful photos! I was the “official” photog for our org (GRTL) but your pix look as good or better! Can you tell me the camera and settings for the one shot with you and Huckabee? Did you consciously set for greatest depth? I can do that on my Canon 40D,but didn’t try because I wasn’t attempting that kind of shot. ITs awesome!
Christi says
Amanda, I can feel the power of the march through the pictures, and you are SO right about how college students are portrayed, and how different it is in reality. How sad that they felt the need to yell at silent marchers. Really sad that they didn’t see that you were marching for the 40 million PEOPLE who have died, including many their own age. Very sad.
And I love the pic of you and Mike Huckabee!
Jen says
What an honor to be a part of that! I’m glad you were able to be there!
Joselyn says
Thanks for the picture of my sweet little ones, Amanda. It’s an honor to be able to play in memory of the lost ones, and their hurting mothers. I’m a survivor and so are all my babies (my 9 & 6yo were back behind the stage).
SeaBird says
This is a well-written post. And, you saw Huckabee the day after I saw McCain 🙂
Staci says
I’m right there with you about the famous people! Love the pic of you and Mike. And well-written post! Couldn’t agree more!
James Fetner says
I was there at the march. And if you look at that first picture, you can see my sister in the pink hat holding the together for life banner while on the steps.
But yeah, I found this while looks for some photos from the event.
Tina says
That is awesome Amanda! I wish we had something like that here. Of course, being in D.C., I’m sure it was the opposite march.
Joselyn says
D.C. *does* have a march. Every year for 35 years, over 100,000 people. From reports I’ve heard of this year’s march, there were over 200k, and the only media was EWTN . …and some people still think there is no media bias. :S
Candace says
Wow, what an amazing event to be a part of. Before Conner was born, I always thought abortion was wrong as wrong could be. But after having a child, and another on the way, it brings me to tears the thought of choosing to dispose of a baby. Ugh, it makes me shudder. I believe it’s one of the most evil acts of our society. God bless each of those precious babies. Thanks so much for sharing this Amanda.
Jenna says
Just to throw in the perspective of a rather liberal college professor… I wanted to let you know that two years ago when PETA set up their display on the campus that I was on at the time (a large urban campus) students demonstrated agains them as well… Students just like to raise their voices. I look at it as their learning HOW to voice the differing opinions they are learning.
Megan@SortaCrunchy says
Beautiful coverage of an inspiring event. Wish my girls and I could have marched with you. Thanks for sharing this.
Romie says
Very well done for standing up for what you believe. I disagree, am pro choice for my own personal reasons, but totally 100% agree with someone’s right to express their disagreement. Well done and thank you for sharing!
Elexis says
I’m with you, girl!
Sarah Summer says
Are you familiar with Kansas City House of Prayer and their protests against abortion?
Annie says
I heard Mike Huckabee speak just last August in Washington, D.C. at a conference called TheCall about the unborn’s right to life. It was AMAZING. I work for TheCall (one of our main prayer focuses is the ending of abortion), and I know we had a gathering in Birmingham and one in Florida, which might have been somewhat near you! I wish we had another set-up near you to tell you about! Our next one is in San Diego to pray for the elections and California… Anyways, I so agree with you and am praying for God to intervene!