Chapter 7, Part VII: How “Common” is Common Ground?

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ommon Ground is an effort between two differing sides of a debate to find a demilitarized zone containing common goals.? This is a noble endeavor.? However, when goals and values? of the “village” undermine closely held goals, values and beliefs of families, the family may be better off without the “village.”? There is concern that the result of common ground’s efforts may gradually erode and compromise closely held family values.? Where is the common ground? on issues like:?

1. Reducing unwanted pregnancies:? While the average person may define an unwanted pregnancy as one not “planned” by mom and dad, the Missouri Department of Health? defines an unintended pregnancy? as “all abortions plus live births and fetal deaths to females younger than 18 plus live births and fetal deaths with spacing less than 12 months for females ages 18-34, plus out-of-wedlock births to females with less than a college education.”[1]?

2. Sex education and contraceptives:? Carol Everett, a past director of three abortion? clinics? says she provided sex education? programs through public schools to gain access to, and the trust of teens.? “I knew their sexual activity would increase from none to once or twice a week to 5 or 7 times a week once they were introduced to–contraception–Then I could reach my goal-3 to 5 abortions (per) teenager between ages 13 and 18.”? (See “Is Family Planning ‘User-Friendly’?”)

3. Reducing teen pregnancies:? While this sounds like something everyone could agree on, we need to look below the surface.? Does it mean we send minors? to the health department’s Teen Clinic? to receive contraceptives? without parental consent, or implement abstinence? programs?? B. J. Isaacson-Jones, director of Missouri’s largest abortion? clinic and Common Ground participant, is correct when she said “Abortion is simply the visible battleground where other sub-conscious agendas clash–I believe that beneath these issues lies an even more secret issue-sex.”[2]? While president and board chair of Reproductive Health Services, B. J. received the 1992 Humanist of the Year award.? See the chapter titled “The Paradigm Shift.”

4. Adoption:? the flier of the local abortion? clinic which highlighted its now defunct Adoption Associates? Services, stated, “If–the woman decides to relinquish the child for adoption, Adoption Associates pays her medical bills.”? If she elected to keep the child, she was responsible for paying the bills herself.? Where’s the common ground? for the mother who elects to keep the child??? Nor will you hear about the nurse who spoke to a pregnant teenager who had gone to Adoption Associates because she was considering an adoption, but left with an appointment for an abortion.? After the nurse shared a video called “Baby Choice,” which educates about the reality of abortion, the teenager readily returned to her original choice of adoption (not abortion).

5. Celebrating diversity:? A 1970 issue of Family Planning Perspectives? (a Planned Parenthood? publication,) listed? “Examples of Proposed Measures to Reduce U.S. Fertility” which included “Encourage increased homosexuality.”?
? ? ? A family therapist was approached for help by women who were receiving services through a state funded substance abuse? program at a private parochial? facility.? The women complained they had been offended by the guest speaker who was invited by the Family Life instructor to speak to them about lesbianism.? The speaker was to return to speak about lesbian? “positions.”? The practice of lesbian sex does not produce babies, and therefore lesbianism is seen as one method of reducing the number of “crack babies.” (Christians should know that this practice is morally wrong.)? The therapist recommended alternative films and materials promoting abstinence? to the family life instructor.? Following this incident, the therapist noticed she wasn’t being scheduled to work.? Upon inquiry it was explained that her position had been eliminated due to cutbacks in funding.

6. Gender Equity:? The World Bank, United Nations, The Population Institute, Planned Parenthood, “tree huggers” and population controllers are promoting “The Years of the Girl Child” and gender equity.? Before you begin to feel “special” as a woman, it was revealed by the President of The Population Institute that when the status of women is educationally and economically raised, they have fewer children.? One main reason women are being showered with attention is to undermine that which makes them women-their fertility!? Women are seen as a piece of meat in need of neutering, in order to be used over and over at the discretion of anyone who wishes!

7. Responsible life choices:? Does this mean practicing abstinence? and secondary virginity? or contraception?? Does it include using condoms? from which one may still die of AIDS?? Does it include oral contraceptives? from which one may still contract? sexually transmitted diseases and become pregnant?? Does it include Natural Family Planning ? and fidelity within marriage?? If so, then why doesn’t the government adequately fund and support abstinence, secondary virginity and NFP?

There ARE areas of concern with which opposing sides MAY work together.? These concerns are best solved within a community, by the community, with community support and funding.? There would be more local funds? with which to work, if 40 percent of our incomes weren’t collected by the government in taxes.? Much of what the government provides in social services such as Medicaid we should be doing for ourselves through free enterprise? and donations to private charities.

Critical thinking, problem solving? and decision-making allow us to make judgments about the actions of others and ourselves.? However, only God can judge another’s soul, heart and motives.? Common Ground should reaffirm the positive value of life and our dependence on God, from womb to tomb.? While we hate the sin, we are called to love the sinner.? Common Ground is an opportunity to make converts.? The question is: who’s converting whom to what?

[1] “Healthy Missourians 2000 Vol. II,” Missouri Department of Health, p. 139.

[2] “Adversaries, Not Enemies,” Conscience, Autumn 1992.