{"id":12828,"date":"2012-03-09T15:30:00","date_gmt":"2012-03-09T20:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.www.liveactionnews.org\/?p=12828"},"modified":"2013-04-02T21:17:36","modified_gmt":"2013-04-03T01:17:36","slug":"when-division-strikes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/when-division-strikes\/","title":{"rendered":"When division strikes"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>
\"\"<\/a>

All too often, division strikes.<\/p><\/div>\n

Nearly every movement in history has struggled with the inner politics of division.\u00a0 When division strikes, if it is not quickly rejected, a movement often fails to move at all.\u00a0 When division is not recognized, rejected, and rooted out, movements are overtaken by apathy, disillusionment, and failure.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, the pro-life movement is not unique. \u00a0Like most any other movement, we have our share of division.\u00a0 An entire article could easily be dedicated to discussing that.\u00a0 However, discussing how to unite is more productive.\u00a0 Though perhaps presumptive on my part, I am going to outline a strategy to decimate the division within our ranks.\u00a0 I believe the more we unite, rather than divide, the more lives can be saved.<\/p>\n

1)\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Consider the Goals<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have been involved in the pro-life movement since I was a young teenager\u2014for just over a decade, now.\u00a0 I have traveled as a speaker, been a pro-life attorney, worked as a spokesperson, debated on radio and TV, helped to write legal documents, and more.<\/p>\n

Over that time, I have seen pro-lifers with a variety of different goals for the movement.\u00a0 Some have a driving passion to be \u201cthe one\u201d to stop abortion.\u00a0 Others desire fame and recognition or power.\u00a0 If they aren\u2019t the leader, they\u2019re not interested.\u00a0 Others like the authority they believe the movement gives them to condemn others.\u00a0 I have personally been asked to \u201crecant,\u201d been called a liar, and was told that God was displeased with me.\u00a0 Note:\u00a0 if anyone tells you this, do not believe them.\u00a0 God does not hire \u201clittle spokespeople\u201d to express His displeasure with you.<\/p>\n

I have also seen people who I admire greatly.\u00a0 When I meet them\u2014and the more I work with them\u2014the more convinced I am that they are in this movement for the right reasons.\u00a0 Whether they are famous, powerful, loved, or hated, they simply want to love people and help save lives.\u00a0 They don\u2019t care if they are in the background or the spotlight.<\/p>\n

Each pro-lifer needs to ask themselves what their goals are.\u00a0 Why are you involved in this movement?\u00a0 What is your heart, truly?\u00a0 If we work from the right motivations, our movement will experience much more peace and unity instead of being a power struggle from within.\u00a0 When lives are at stake, the last thing we need is a power struggle.<\/p>\n

2)\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Reject Division Personally<\/strong><\/p>\n

Granted, if you work in the movement long enough, you will find people you disagree with.\u00a0 Probably even strongly<\/em> disagree with.\u00a0 However, what is a better use of your time?\u00a0 Fighting against another pro-lifer because you disagree with his or her strategy?\u00a0 Or dedicating all your efforts to fighting abortion because it is the action that actually kills people?<\/p>\n

If we are going to be a movement of unity, we must each personally be dedicated to unity by rejecting division.\u00a0 Don\u2019t go to the Capitol and speak out against a pro-life bill because you think the wording isn\u2019t perfect.\u00a0 Don\u2019t write articles about the stupidity you think is evident in another pro-lifer\u2019s work.\u00a0 Basically, if we don\u2019t have something good to say, perhaps we should consider saying nothing at all.<\/p>\n

There is also a big difference between disagreeing on strategy<\/em> and fighting a person\/organization<\/em>.\u00a0 Just because you wouldn\u2019t do it that way doesn\u2019t mean you are right and they are wrong.\u00a0 Have you stopped abortion yet?\u00a0 Have they?\u00a0 No one knows exactly what will stop abortion.\u00a0 Will it be a particular court case?\u00a0 Will it be a certain law?\u00a0 Will it be the cumulative effort of changing hearts and the culture?\u00a0 Will it be pro-life media?\u00a0 Will it be a compilation of all the work done over the decades?\u00a0 I believe the last one is true.<\/p>\n

3)\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Choose to Unite<\/strong><\/p>\n

Instead of choosing who you are \u201cagainst\u201d in the pro-life movement, choose who you are \u201cfor\u201d.\u00a0 Who can you stand with?\u00a0 Whose efforts can you support?\u00a0 Who can you ask to support you?\u00a0 If you really have a problem with another strategy, what about leaving that organization alone, wishing them the best, and working extra hard on your own strategy?<\/p>\n

My guess is that if pro-lifers spent their time working on their own strategies to end abortion instead of speaking out against other strategies, we\u2019d accomplish a whole lot more.\u00a0 The organizations I know of who do a lot of good are the ones who keep plugging away, finding ways to be uniters.\u00a0 They speak out against abortion and Planned Parenthood, not other pro-lifers.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Like the pieces of a puzzle, we are each a unique and essential part of the pro-life movement.<\/p><\/div>\n

4)\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Associate Yourself With Other Uniters<\/strong><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t let yourself become disillusioned by dividers.\u00a0 Choose to walk away from them, and find another part of the movement that will embrace you.\u00a0 Start your own part of the movement, and find a way to bring others in with you.<\/p>\n

There are those who think\u2014or who have directly stated\u2014that I don\u2019t have what it takes to be a part of this movement.\u00a0 Do I?\u00a0 Who knows?\u00a0 I don\u2019t think it\u2019s about me.\u00a0 I think it\u2019s about all the lives we are working to save.\u00a0 If I can save one life, and you save one thousand lives, we are all doing our best.\u00a0 I don\u2019t believe it\u2019s about one particular person having or not having \u201cwhat it takes\u201d (whatever that means).\u00a0 I think it\u2019s about all of us working together, fighting for the common goal of LIFE.<\/p>\n

5)\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Welcome Others Into the Fold<\/strong><\/p>\n

Once again, don\u2019t waste your time talking about what you\u2019re against<\/em> and what you don\u2019t like<\/em> in the pro-life movement.\u00a0 Talk about what you\u2019re for<\/em>.\u00a0 Speak positively about other pro-lifers and the work they are pouring themselves into.\u00a0 Do you really think we motivate outsiders to become a part of our movement by continually badmouthing each other?\u00a0 Uh, no.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to be part of a movement that disagrees with itself.\u00a0 I want to be part of a movement that unites, hand-in-hand and heart-to-heart to stop injustice.<\/p>\n

Call me an idealist if you like, but I believe that if each one of us CHOOSES to unite instead of divide, our movement will continue to make even greater strides.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Remember:<\/strong>\u00a0 it is not about you; it is not about me.\u00a0 It is about all the tiny babies out there who are fighting to take their first breath.\u00a0 Do my divisive, negative statements bring them closer to life?\u00a0 Or do they turn others off to the message of life?<\/p>\n

For my part, I will work to choose positive statements that encourage others and exemplify the beauty and value of life.\u00a0 I will talk about what I can support <\/em>in this movement, instead of what I oppose<\/em>.\u00a0 Will you join me?<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nearly every movement in history has struggled with the inner politics of division. When division strikes, if it is not quickly rejected, a movement often fails to move at all. 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