Meme Contest over in a week/Focus Group Started

Reminder- 
The 1st Way Meme Contest is over in about a week- June 7.
Please send your pro-life themed meme asap to laurapaxton3@gmail.com.

We have prizes for high school and college categories- two each of $100 prizes, $50, and $20 (in Itunes or Amazon gift certificates.)

Please review the contest rules here:
  http://1stwayeugene.blogspot.com/2013/04/1st-way-worldwide-meme-contest-2013.html

Also, we've started up a focus group for 1st Way. Any woman aged 20-24 or slightly older or younger , please join us on
https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!forum/first-way-focus-group to critique marketing ideas aimed at young women faced with unplanned pregnancy and also to help develop compelling materials to help these women. Please inquire or join!

The Pro-Life Position is Not About Politics or Religion

Let's bash some stereotypes!

Stereotypes tend to stop people from thinking for themselves. When a pro-life person is portrayed in a certain stereotyped way (such as only right wing, conservative Christian) people loyal to other religions and political parties often think to themselves, "I don't want to be like THOSE people!" From that point forward, most people don't consider the idea of really looking into the issue for themselves. Some make their entire decision about whether to be pro-life or pro-choice based on how they perceive their identity in relation to a religion or political party. This is very sad.

The best case for diversity in the pro-life movement can be seen by examining the millennial generation. They are the most ethnically diverse generation we have ever seen in America. Most millenials are not religious, and 1/4 are not affiliated with any religion;" 45% identify with "independent" instead of as democrats or republicans and yet the a majority of millennials believe abortion is morally wrong and 65 percent of Millenials feel that "pro-life" describes them somewhat or very well.

http://publicreligion.org/research/2012/04/millennial-values-survey-2012/
http://sojo.net/blogs/2011/06/21/are-millennials-conflicted-about-morality

So, in the interests of presenting a more realistic image of the pro-life movement,  I've put together an on-line "resource list" for and about pro-life in all faiths. This list can be helpful to share with friends of all faiths or friends without faith. 

Consider "friending" the FB pages (just click the FB links below and click "like.")

These are awesome pages to refer people to when they seem to have bought in to the pro-choice stereotype that all pro-lifers are Christian or all pro-lifers are "right wing." The pro-life position has nothing to do with politics or religion.

All Faiths United for Life
FB-https://www.facebook.com/pages/All-Faiths-United-for-Life

Secular Pro-Life
Thriving on-line community that produces videos with some very good non-religious arguments against abortion.
FB- https://www.facebook.com/secularprolife
http://secularprolife.org/
http://blog.secularprolife.org/

Pro-Life Pagans
FB- https://www.facebook.com/ProLifePagans
http://www.prolifepagans.org/

Muslims for Life
FB- https://www.facebook.com/ProLifeMuslims
http://www.spuc.org.uk/about/muslim-division/why
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSX_zv7uKmM

Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs Against Abortion
FB- https://www.facebook.com/ProLifeHindus
http://www.fnsa.org/fall98/murti.html
http://www.angelfire.com/mo/baha/buddhism.html

Jews for Life
FB-https://www.facebook.com/JewsForLife
http://jewishprolifefoundation.org/Jewish_Pro-Life_Foundation/Welcome.html

Political-
ONE THIRD of the Democratic Party is Pro-life.
 http://www.democratsforlife.org/

Libertarians for Life-
http://www.l4l.org/

Crash Course in Pro-Life Apologetics

Why are you pro-life? 

What would you say if someone asked you that? Have you ever had to defend your position in conversation? Were you afraid to offend someone with your point of view? Were you afraid your reasons were just not good enough to persuade anyone? Take a look at these very good websites and brush up on your apologetics skills!

At the pro-life conference this year, I attended a really good session on pro-life apologetics. The basic gist of how to be a good apologist is this: pro-choice people want to talk about anything and everything except for abortion itself. They want to talk about things like "back alley abortions,"  saving the life of a mother (which makes up under 1% of all abortions,) problems of poverty in our society, how other people overlook problems of poverty, a woman's choice, a woman's body and on and on.

Pro-choice people do NOT want to talk about the child itself being killed. They will spin the conversation every which-way they can to avoid this painful reality. That is why your main points need to be about things like the the humanity of the child in the womb, the uniqueness of human life, the child's ability to feel pain and the ethical issue of ending an innocent human life.

Here are some helpful websites to review:

(1) This well presented website offers succinct and logical "talking points" for every situation. For example, fact #12 details how, before Roe v Wade, only 10% of women had "back alley" abortions. The argument that abortion ban would increase death from "back alley" abortion ignores that there is no evidence that abortion is any less dangerous today but more importantly, it leaves out the issue of the ethics of taking a human life completely. Review this page. It's filled with clear logic to counter common arguments.

http://www.abortionfacts.com/

(2) What about when people want to talk about how young mothers will "ruin their lives" if they give birth? That's a hard position to argue without knowing the statistics of how abortion creates a greater number of emotional, physical and societal problems than giving birth at a young age. You need to know that suicide risk is 6 times higher with teens that have abortions and that they are twice as likely than their peers to use drugs.

http://theunchoice.com/pdf/OnePageFactSheets/TeensSheet1.pdf

Review these sites and you will feel more secure when faced with pro-choice arguments, but most importantly, always steer the conversation to the undeniable fact that abortion is taking an innocent human life- no ifs, ands or buts.

1st Way Fundraiser with Archbishop Sample

 1st Way is celebrating our 40th Anniversary!

"Every life is sacred. Planned or unplanned, each unique and irreplaceable individual must be profoundly respected and protected, regardless of cost, from conception to natural death."

                                                         -Archbishop Alexander Sample

This moving quote from our new archbishop strongly encourages us to take action for life. Each human life conceived is irreplaceable- there will never be another you or me and each human life deserves the chance to live just like you and me.  

Each life should be profoundly respected and protected- to give God the honor he deserves for creating us and to cherish the gift of children. 

Regardless of cost-
Nothing is too much for this profoundly important cause- to respect and protect human life.

Come to our Fundraiser for First Way, August 4 at River's Edge!

Our new archbishop, The Most Reverend Alexander Sample, will be there and we will have a wonderful meal and entertainment to celebrate our 40th Anniversary. Don't miss this rare opportunity. Tickets are going fast. Contact me to get your tickets now!

Buy your ticket via Paypal here:

River's Edge Events:
 http://www.riversedgeevents.com/

Hope to see you there!  

You Can Make a Difference Easily in Just Ten Minutes

Last week, I posted about how little things you do can mean a lot in serving the pro-life movement. Gayle Atteberry, head of Oregon Right to Life, led a session at the Right to Life Conference about how to make a difference in ten minutes.

When Gayle talked about "influence," "power," and "leverage," she talked about finding your most natural area of "influence."

 For example, what would be most comfortable and ordinary for you to do. Maybe you like to read or write letters to the editor of the newspaper or magazines? Have you considered writing one on a pro-life subject? What about writing to an on-line publication?

Maybe you like to comment regularly in com-boxes on online articles. Make a special effort to find articles about abortion and spend time sharing your opinion.

Do you have any pro-life books lying around that you don't need anymore? Donate them to the library. Your local library may be lacking in helpful literature, and you could fill a real need.

Here's another great idea, especially for people like myself who work with youth. Take a look at what kids tweet. Observe them in their natural kid environment, so to speak. What appeals to them? How might you appeal to them in a better way?

Here's a really fun and easy idea- Do you like to be social or show off? Have you ever worked at a booth in the fair and loved it? Or did you enjoy science fairs at a child? Right to Life will send you materials to set up a table display in your parish hall. All you need to do is ask your pastor for permission and then contact Right to Life.

Do you like to play around on Pinterest? Pin more pro-life pictures and memes. 80% of what people pin on Pinterest is a re-pin. Search for good pins and keep them circulating around!

If you are 13-24, you can compete in 1st Way's Meme Contest. Write to us for information.

If you are a wonderful husband, you can buy lots of beautiful roses for your wife at 1st Way's rose sale this weekend.

Isn't it great how much you can do in just 10 minutes? The cool part is this- 

It really DOES make a difference. You don't have to wander outside your comfort zone much or at all. Give it a try!

Speak Out for the Unborn: Little Things You Do Really Matter

I heard Bryan Kemper speak at the Right to Life Conference in Portland, Oregon about a week ago. What impacted me most was a main theme of his talk: Pro-life is a verb, not a noun. Pro-life is something we do and live, not some sort of political affiliation we identify with.  Too many people see "pro-life" as a position or stance and not a reason to take action.

The media champions "women's health" and "social justice" as being related to abortion, yet they are not. Nothing is more oppressive to women and more unjust to society than abortion. Lately, our government and many celebrities have been promoting ideas that make absolutely no sense- like how being a mother-to-be is an illness and that this is unjust to society.

I'm the sort of person who did not benefit socially from taking a public pro-life position. I spent the first forty years of my life as a liberal who was secretly pro-life. It just isn't "cool" to be a pro-life liberal. You're at least supposed to say it's not okay for you but it's alright for others to decide for themselves. Taking a stand that taking human life is wrong for anyone, regardless of the situation will result in losing friendships. When I "came out" as pro-life, I became anathema to many old friends. I also found out who my real friends are. My real friends still like and accept me. I still like and respect them, even if I don't agree with them about abortion. But, I can not bend or yield in any way on the subject because abortion is always wrong.

So, when I became active and vocal about pro-life, it has definitely always been a verb. Pro-life is something I live and express and believe in so strongly that it is impossible for me not to act.

I wasn't able to stand up for what I know is right until I came to terms within my soul that I want to live my life in a way that God wants and not necessarily a way that other people want. Since then, I've been around pro-life people a lot. I don't like them all and I'm not friends with them all. Opinions and political positions should not dictate friendships. 

One third of the Democratic party is pro-life, even though "pro-choice" is now an official "plank" in the Democratic political platform. Many pro-life democrats are like I was, afraid to let it be known that they believe the taking of innocent human life is wrong. 

Yet, some people who identify with conservative politics believe that pro-life is something they just "are," regardless of what they do. I came to understand this more at the Right to Life Conference. Many people do not feel compelled to act because pro-life is a noun or an adjective to them. Even though pro-life is a part of the Republican platform, that doesn't mean everyone is doing something about it.

If everyone on both sides of our political world could speak out, Roe v Wade really wouldn't have a prayer. Our nation is already pro-life by a slim majority. The millennial generation is overwhelmingly pro-life. The problem is that nobody is saying anything and nobody is doing anything.

If you are reading this, you can make a difference just by doing little things. Really. You don't have to make pro-life advocacy a primary part of your working life. Just speak up for the unborn once in a while. If you are liberal and pro-life, consider "coming out of the closet." If you're conservative and pro-life, consider redefining pro-life as something you do and not something you are.

In one of our afternoon sessions, Gayle Atteberry, President of Oregon Right to Life, presented a list of small things people can do in thirty minutes or less that can make a difference to the pro-life movement. I'll be posting some of those ideas soon.