Blue Elevator Blog

Echoes of Slavery

If you were to survey college campuses today and ask the student body if it is acceptable to enslave an African American person, I bet no one raises a hand in support of this practice.

Enslaving another human as chattel was rightfully declared illegal in 1865.  However, it was practiced in America since its establishment in 1776.

In Defense of Slavery

Don’t let the title alarm you.  Read on.

Slavery’s defenders were concerned that if slaves were freed, there would be all kinds of problems: bloodshed, uprisings, widespread chaos, and unemployment.  I’m sure there were plenty of other “good” reasons why many supported the continuation of slavery.

Courts in that day also defended the practice.  In the 1857 Supreme Court case, Dred Scott v. Sandford, the court ruled that enslaving African Americans was okay.   The official decision would carry 7-2 in favor of continuing slavery.  The reason?  They ruled that African Americans were not citizens of the United States; therefore, slavery was okay.  Did the Supreme Court get it wrong?

For the most part, today, both sides of the political aisle would applaud president Abraham Lincoln’s stand.  Even President Barack Obama felt kinship for and identified with Lincoln.

The Dred Scott case mentioned above would help fuel Lincoln’s pitch for the presidency as the Republican candidate.  But Lincoln’s stand would eventually cost him his life.  He did not take war to slavery’s proponents – but rather, sought to defend the republic against itself.

A war was indeed fought – a war that began in April 1861 when seven Southern slave states attacked Fort Sumpter following their succession in January 1861.  These states would fight for the right to continue their entrenched belief that slavery was okay.

Fast Forward to Today

America eventually got it right.  Slavery today is not accepted.  Even reminders of its past are met with resistance.  It has become risky business for anyone to fly the Confederate (Southern) jack flag.

Present day academia scolds our Nation for this stain.  The millennial generation has been indoctrinated to accept and wear National shame for this and other parts of our imperfect history.  Blood was shed to right the wrong of slavery.

History Present

As divided as this Nation was 150 or so years ago, we find ourselves at another crossroads.  Abortion is another disputed issue.  It is hotly contested and debated.  Once again, this Nation has been drawn into sides.

And interestingly, like in the time of slavery, it is mostly Democrats that defend abortion.  And, it is mostly Republicans who oppose it.  Then and now, there were and are exceptions to this rule.  But generally, the party lines have been drawn.  To vote Republican means you oppose abortion.  To vote Democrat means you support abortion.

Coughing and Sputtering …

And it is at this point where I would seemingly hear some sputters and scoffs from some of you – the readers.  *Insert here, the various rationalizations someone might make to support a bi-polar position.  That is, being against abortion, yet voting for a candidate that is pro-abortion.

Let me explain.  This is election season 2016.  I’ve been reading articles from some prominent bloggers.  These articles are making their rounds on Facebook being shared and promoted.  On one hand, they espouse a pro-life position, but on the other, they’re advocating a vote in favor of a pro-abortion Democrat.

The reasons these otherwise pro-life personalities seem to be supporting a pro-abortion Democrat go something like this:

• I don’t really support abortion, but Republicans want to make women give birth to unwanted children.
• Even though I don’t really support abortion, and even though I side with Republicans on their stand against abortion, they are doing little to make meaningful change in other areas of policy that would reduce abortion.
• I don’t really support abortion, but Republicans don’t care about the underlying causes of abortion, like poverty, education, lack of access to healthcare, and support systems for single parent and low-income families.

And so, people who would otherwise agree that protecting the unborn is a good thing, subordinate their conviction to the more noble pursuits of “social justice.”  A higher form of social justice that would make life better for everyone – sans the children they would sacrifice to pursue it.

A Familiar Tune

I can almost hear the echoes from slavery’s past:

• I don’t like the idea of slavery, but Republicans just want to see helpless people who don’t know how to fend for themselves out on the streets.
• Even though I don’t really support slavery, and even though I side with Republicans on their stand against slavery, they are doing little to make meaningful change in other areas of policy that would reduce slavery.
• I don’t like slavery, but Republicans don’t care about other underlying causes of slavery, like poverty, education, lack of access to healthcare, and support systems for single parent and low-income slave families.

Get the point?  Those conjured rationalizations are exactly the cases being made for abortion’s continuance.  Slavery was practiced because people wanted it.  It’s continuance sold as the lesser of two evils.

Hence today, abortion is practiced because people want it.  Its continuance sold as the lesser of two evils.  In an odd twist, well-meaning bloggers seem to think that voting for a pro-abortion candidate will somehow bring about a more superior form of “social justice.”  A higher version of social justice that somehow trumps saving the lives of a class of citizens more defenseless than former slaves – the unborn.

Back then, the fight to continue slavery was an effort to continue a certain way of life.  And so it is with the abortion issue.  We want to continue our certain way of life.  We want the freedom to participate in creating life (e.g., procreation) and the freedom to take it.

The Parallel

As much as past courts supported the idea of slavery, current courts support the practice of abortion.

Whereas the court would say that it is not okay to take a life, they support abortion. The reason?

• No one should be able to tell a woman what she can do with her own body.
• Or, abortion is okay as the fetus is not a US citizen and is, therefore, not subject to protection and doesn’t have rights.

Remember, this was how the Supreme Court also dealt with the slavery issue.

Whereas the court would agree that US citizens should not be enslaved, they supported slavery.  The reason?

• No one should be able to tell a slave owner what he/she can do with his/her property.
• Or, slavery is okay as the slave is not a US citizen and is, therefore, not subject to protection and doesn’t have rights.

As near as I can tell, it is a parallel argument and I remain to be convinced otherwise.

Summary

I am confident that when it comes to abortion, we are on the wrong side of history.  The only question is whether and when, as a Nation, we will reverse our position – even repent of it.

Present day academia scolds America for its past practice of slavery.  Will future academia scold us for our practice of abortion?

Often times, in perhaps a way to distract ourselves from the truth, we assuage our consciences with the heart-wrenching “what-ifs” such as rape, health complications of the mother, etc.  These are real issues.  But these exceptions are not good reasons to perpetuate the barbaric practice of abortion-on-demand.  There are options for these heart-wrenching situations – just like there are options for unplanned and/or unwanted children.

Challenge

Christian.  Will you pray and ask God whether the “least of these” would include protecting the lives of the yet unborn? An unborn baby, if left unmolested in the womb, will live.

In my opinion, it is a life or death issue.  We complicate matters by rehearsing, and espousing our brilliant and well-thought-out rationalizations of a barbaric practice.  A practice we might otherwise continue for some other reason that would trump the protection of life.

What will You Choose?

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. – Isaiah 5:20

Fortunately, none of us can say we have had a direct hand in slavery’s past.  But none of us can avoid having a hand in abortion’s present.  It will not escape you.  Your voice counts.  Your vote counts.  One could even argue that a non-vote or sitting this one out are the equivalent to taking positions.

If you are a Christian, you really only have one person to please.  And that is the Lord.  So, my encouragement is for you to pray and ask what you should do.

“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ ” – Matthew 25:45

Which side of history will you choose?  Choose wisely.