Some Thoughts on U.S. "Pro-Life" & "Pro-Choice"

  This whole issue was very simple and clear-cut to me 40 years ago. After living outside the U.S. and learning more about history, race, socio-economics, U.S. politics, and other areas, I now see more clearly how multifaceted and complex the matter is. My thinking, geared toward Christian approaches rather than particular political positions, is very much in process, somewhat scattered, vulnerable to critics, and open to ongoing input.

  I still stand with the unborn. Now, I also more consciously stand with poor women of color, as well as with their children (both unborn and born). Better health care for poor women of color - which requires more government initiative - benefits their children, both unborn and born. I am not sure about the actual effect on poor women of color or their children (both unborn and born) of abortion-related legislation. I am also not sure about the actual effect of abortion-related legislation on all women or their children (both unborn and born) in the U.S., given the ideological use of related data.

  The “Pro-Life” (and coterminous “Moral Majority”) movement of the 70s has coalesced with conservative partisan politics. While religious concern for the unborn has motivated pro-life initiatives, so have the same Christian nationalist concerns (coupled with racist instincts) that drove the moral majority. "Pro-Life" represents an ideological hope for restoring an alleged "Christian America" that has never existed.

  Also, ongoing racial segregation has blinded pro-life politics (and conservative politics in general) to the realities of women of color and their children (unborn and born), as well as to how different kinds of legislation actually affects them. Again, political positions can too easily be ideologically driven at the expense of actual consequences for people affected.

  "Pro-choice" can be just as ideologically driven. Even so, God’s standards and love for all people supercede human rights to choose anything per se. However, what kind of legislation best serves the needs of all people in the U.S. - born or unborn, white or otherwise, wealthy or poor - is not as simple as many claim. Nor are different political positions necessarily as demonic as opponents claim.

  I tend to be more pragmatic and situational, rather than ideological, regarding the role of government in the complex ethical, religious, social, economic, and racial issue of health care for women and their children (born and unborn). Both major parties push for big government: one inflates military spending, the other provides more social programs. How we Christians position ourselves - re both macro and micro issues - will continue, I believe, to be diverse and not as clear as many wish.

My 9-Point Perspective on the POTUS Impeachment Inquiry

1. Compared to the triune God’s “unshakeable kingdom” (Heb 12:28) and all Christians’ inherent freedom to witness and serve, current U.S. political matters are but one more “drop in a bucket” or “fine dust” (Is. 40:15).

2. No matter our particular nationality, Christians’ international identities as divine image-bearers should be more fundamental in shaping our priorities and attitudes about fellow human beings and world affairs than our important national identities.

3. Much of U.S. Christianity seems deeply, almost hopelessly, syncretized with U.S. identity and interests.

4. Current U.S. politics are more partisan than ever. Due to small-mindedness and financial self-interest, most Congress members and their constituents (the rest of us) focus more on manipulation and “winning” power than freely seeking what is true, right, and just.

5. Democrats’ U.S.-based righteous indignation over DJT’s mob-boss-type bullying - in the current case internationally - neglects consistent U.S. international bullying. All nations act out of self-interest; it’s just that the U.S. has recently had more military and economic clout to employ.

6. This Narcissistic Personality Disorder POTUS - who, yes, demands personal loyalty and bullies like a mob boss - has manipulated enough political and popular self-interest and partisan-interest to buttress (and get others devotedly to chant) his ongoing, honest claim to be both the greatest and most mistreated POTUS, and indeed world leader, in all of history.

7. This impeachment process will pass the Democratic House then fail in the Republican Senate; DJT will once again claim vindication (and most likely be narrowly re-elected for another four-year term); and, mud-slinging partisan U.S. politics will only increase.

8. While I understand better than before why so many U.S. citizens support this POTUS because of implemented policies (as well as his populist style), I continue to regret having a hyper-NPD mob boss as POTUS. I also oppose, or in some cases question, many of his economic, international, social, and immigration policies. Others will continue to bring up their relief that the realistic 2016 alternative was not elected, which I understand.

9. U.S. Christians will continue to face the powerful struggle between living out of their inherently theocentric, graciously bestowed international human identities and partisan U.S. nationalism.