When Tolerance Seems Impossible: Hacksaw Ridge and The New Civil Discourse

A little less than a month before the Presidential Election, Slate published an article forecasting the future of the Pro-Life Movement in America. You can view the article here: http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/cover_story/2016/10/the_future_of_the_pro_life_movement.html.
The article mentioned numerous positives. The amount of young women involved in pro-life from the grassroots on up is an incredible tribute to the courage, faith and tenacity so many great women embody. Those traits are dearly needed in the world we live in today and will only serve to preserve and protect our future.
However, that is exactly what caught my attention when reading this article. The author labeled the movement as “feminist.” Before you click the delete button on your screen, please allow me to qualify my statement.
First and foremost, feminism is not evil. It is beautiful! It was established to combat the grave sins and injustices women have been dealt throughout the ages. Every woman possesses equal dignity to every man. She remains a unique and unrepeatable creature, blessed with gifts, talents, desires and passions all her own. Every woman deserves an opportunity to pursue the desires of her heart and the dreams she has for the future. To demean a woman merely because she is a woman is a robbing her of her God-given dignity. A woman, simply put, is a gift to the world and like the universe she deserves to shine like the brightest star in the heavens.
Pro-Life: Merely A Feminine Issue?
The issue I found is the article labeled the Pro-Life Movement as more “women-centered.” I have had the privilege to meet great women, young and old, at the center of the fight against abortion.
There is nothing wrong with numerous female leaders fighting for life. In many ways, it is fitting this counter-revolution is led by women on so many fronts. Women have the beautiful dignity of bearing children, a dignity, which as a man, I will never truly comprehend. It is a dignity and beauty unique to the gift of femininity.
What About Us?
Having said that, the greatest dignity of our masculinity is becoming a father. Merely by biological principles, a woman cannot get pregnant without us.
Seemingly, the only men who are involved in fighting for the unborn are priests, pastors, politicians or TV Commentators. Do not get me wrong, we need every one of those heroic men engaged in this fight. However, there is a growing void of ordinary, everyday men involved in the movement. Don’t believe me? Just take a look at every pro-life bumper sticker, internet ad, meme or Facebook post. Every time, they mention the mother and child.
I want to ask, “What about the father? The grandfather? The uncles? Why have you not mentioned so many good men, many of whom will never know, not only their sons and daughters, but their grandsons, granddaughters, nieces and nephews? What about us?”
Yes, great gains have been made through legislation and advocacy, thanks to numerous heroic women. We owe them an incredible debt of gratitude.
However, for forty years plus, the focus of pro-life has centered around the child and/or mother. While it is important to have two-thirds of the equation, the one-third that has been missing, for decades on end, is the most fundamental part of the equation that protects, provides and cherishes those he holds most dear.
If we desire a future without Planned Parenthood and the demonic scourge of abortion, the men must be included in the fight. Without us, it will never end. We are the missing part of the equation that can and will bring this demonic chapter in American History to an end.
I have worked in bartending long enough to tell you with all certainty, there are numerous great men out there who desire to love, protect and provide for their families. The majority of men are not the perpetual beasts or predators the popular media, internet, news outlets or movies make us out to be. The main issue with men is we lack the solid moral foundation and formation needed and desired by numerous good women.
How can this be accomplished? Stay tuned for Part II.