In the Battle Against the Culture of Death, Let’s Not Attack Those Who Are Working to Preserve Life
Giant Panda. Photo by Gary M. Stolz, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. |
I came across
an article on Life News yesterday
that was entitled, “Press Laments Loss of Baby Panda, Ignores Loss of 1.2
Million Human Babies.”* In the piece, the author—Carol Tobias, president of the
National Right to Life Committee—lamented that the death of a panda at the
National Zoo was receiving more attention from the major U.S. news outlets than
the death of 1.2 million human babies.
Tobias
wrote: “Scientists, zoo
officials and panda fans everywhere sat on the edges of their seats last week
to watch the drama of a panda birth unfold at the National Zoo in Washington,
D.C. The panda mother, named Mei Ziang, gave birth to one panda cub excitedly
described as ‘vibrant, healthy, and active’ by CBS News. A second cub was stillborn, an event described by
observers quoted in the Baltimore Sun
with words such as “sadness,” “pure sorrow,” and “terror.” Other news outlets
alternatively heaped praise on the zoo for the successful birth, or sad
condolences for the loss of the second cub.”
Tobias
allowed: “I don’t want to take anything away from the sadness people
experienced at the loss of the cub, nor for the wonder of the birth of one of
these endangered animals. Whenever that occurs, it’s an amazing event. But
where are the news outlets when these daily joys and tragedies occur with human
babies? Right here in Washington, D.C., for example, within blocks of the White
House itself, unborn babies – human babies – are killed in a facility through
24 weeks of age, well beyond the age unborn babies can first feel pain. Yet we
hear no outcry . . . I don’t see CBS News
or the Baltimore Sun decrying this
scandal and the irreplaceable loss of these children the way they lament the
loss of a panda cub, as sad as that is . . . It seems nobody in the mainstream
media is willing to speak for the unborn. At least, not if they’re human
unborn.”
I think
Tobias was spot on in calling the press to account for its neglectful lack of
coverage of issues involving the pre-born and I dropped this comment into the
line of debate: “As
you note in this opinion piece, it doesn't have to be and it shouldn't be
either/or. We should keep fighting against abortion and pressing the press to
draw attention to the holocaust until it ends but we should also be working to
save the many species of animals in the world that are vanishing because of the
devastation wrought by human beings.”
Giant Panda. Photo by Dan Rotem. |
I might
note here that there are only about 1,000 giant pandas left in the wild and
perhaps only 100 live in zoos so, in the effort to preserve the species, there
was very good reason for celebration on the occasion of the birth and very good
reason for sadness in the loss of the other cub.
A
response to my comment from another reader stunned me and that comment led me
to post this reflection. The woman wrote (the following is unedited): “you do
realize that animals are dispensable and they procreate more than humans and
they don't have souls....GOD spoke them into existiance and created humans by
his own hand and breathe the breathe of life into them....so I don't think that
is of the most importance right now...people are killing off GOD's creation.”
I asked
in response: “And who do you suppose created the animals? And who entrusted
them to our care? Animals are not "dispensable"! What a horrible,
short-sighted, unbiblical thing to say! Your comment dishonors the Creator and
I would advise you to go back and read Genesis 1. Much of humankind has failed
in its stewardship of the earth and we are all suffering because of it. Those
who are seeking to preserve life should not be attacking those who are seeking
to preserve life. I have--for many, many years--been engaged in the fight
against abortion (working to give a voice to those who cannot speak for
themselves). I also advocate for the animals that cannot speak for themselves.
We have a culture of death in this country. Don't contribute to it by fighting
against those who value all of God's creation. Again, it doesn't have to be
either/or.”
The same
woman went on to say: “but it (the cub of an endangered species dying) is not
the end of the world because of it! they have no real meaning. They help with
the eco system and what not but it is not a crying shame that another animal
kills them or a human in that matter in fact you animal lovers are to blame
too...you say ‘OMG an animal is dying by humans’ yet it is your cell phones,
waste, and even your fancy houses that are creating the problem....yes save the
animals but enjoy the house you live in that was taken from the trees that the
animals lived in....very hypocritical. I for one care more about the babies
that are being aborted by woman that are being lied to and advised by
pro-borts...I counsel most of them and they all say that the decision is not
all their own it was advised by someone else.”
Your
thoughts?
*http://www.lifenews.com/2013/08/27/press-laments-loss-of-panda-cub-ignores-loss-of-1-2-million-human-babies/