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Special Report
Cloud of Witnesses
Impressions of the March for Life.
I never got his name, but the man in the
black balaclava was a merry companion as the two of us walked
several blocks of Constitution Avenue chatting and chanting last
Friday afternoon. We had come separately to the March for Life; him from New
York and me from North Carolina, both drawn to the District of
Columbia together with something like half a million other people.
We fell in with each other by accident, separated from our
respective groups but content to be part of the tide of humanity
swirling past the Capitol dome and up to the steps of the Supreme
Court.
Police officers along the route looked miserably cold, yet sleet and snow dampened no spirits among marchers there. Forty years of legally permissible abortion is motivation enough to field an army, even if a Machiavellian president and taxpayer-funded merchants of euphemism prefer to think differently.
People on the March for Life sang hymns, including “God Bless America,” “Immaculate Mary,” “Mighty to Save,” and, improbably from college students near the Russell Senate Office Building, “John Brown’s Body Lies A-Moulderin’ in the Grave.” At least one marcher carried the Gadsden (Don’t Tread on Me) Flag. Other marchers alternated between praying aloud and leading people around them in catchy chants like “Hey, hey! Ho ho! Roe v. Wade has got to go!”
A contingent from Ohio shouted “We love
babies, yes we do! We love babies, How ’bout you?” Delegations from
Wisconsin, Kansas, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania were just as
enthusiastic, holding signs that said “We are the pro-life
generation,” and modulating their high spirits only long enough to
extend heartfelt thanks to a group of women who held signs saying
“I regret my abortion.”
I heard the man in the black balaclava before I met him. “I love this crowd!” he boomed, shortening his stride so as not to run into the people in front of us. He looked at the throng and smiled so broadly that snow found no purchase on his mustache. “It’s great to be pro-life, isn’t it? I’d hate to be on the other side of this issue. I mean, how can you support abortion unless you go out of your way not to think about it?”
I couldn’t tell from his tone if the question was rhetorical, but I agreed with him. We appraised each other in an instant. He was big, and apart from the “40 years too many” sticker on his chest, his outfit and close-fitting cap looked almost medieval. He would have been the man who pointed you to the armory if you asked for directions in an unfamiliar castle.
We were North and South, bearded and clean-shaven, monochrome and motley, veteran marcher and wide-eyed rookie, one of us expansive and the other reserved, but kindred spirits anyhow, and we knew it. Intrigued by his comment about the power of denial, I said, “Some of the people on the other side say they’re into science and we’re not.” The man laughed. “They say ‘science,’ but if you show them an ultrasound, they run away!”
We talked about where we’d come from, and how
most of the media would
probably mislabel the march by calling it “Anti-Abortion”
rather than “Pro-Life,” or pretend that it had not happened. Denial
has seldom been discussed so cheerfully. Yet I remember our
conversation as much because of its context in the Roman liturgical
calendar as because of my buddy in the balaclava.
At Mass in the national basilica that morning, the Catholic bishops of Raleigh and Charlotte had reminded everyone present that it was the “Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle.” This unusual confluence of piety and policy was made necessary by the fact that the presidential inauguration was the day before the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, and the irony of moving the March for Life to January 25 escaped neither bishop. In his sermon, Bishop Peter Jugis suggested that Paul was zealous all his life, but only added love and humility to his enthusiasm after encountering the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus. With that apostolic alloy in his character, Paul went from denying Jesus to proclaiming him all over the then-known world.
Diversity of belief in the pro-life movement is such that somewhere in the multitude that thronged Washington that day or the people elsewhere praying in solidarity with us, the bishop would get an argument, but that’s okay. Not everyone could join students from New Orleans in their flash-mob choreography for the song “Everybody Dance Now,” either.
What matters is that the bishop is not alone. The kids are not alone. We are not alone. I love this crowd.
Photos: Patrick O’Hannigan
About the Author
Patrick O’Hannigan is a writer in North Carolina.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (30) | Leave a comment
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Appleby| 1.28.13 @ 6:52AM
Two thousand anti-gun marchers got oodles of press for their claim to be acting Pro Saving Children. 250,000 marching Pro Saving Children BEFORE they are born got bupkis. Go figure.
Jack in Wi| 1.28.13 @ 7:45AM
Appleby: You beat me too it. The media in this country is truely dispicable.
Stan Redmond| 1.28.13 @ 1:35PM
Of course the lib MSM wont report on pro-lifers. They don't advance Obama's agenda.
Imagine the day a "gay democrat voter" gene is discovered and a woman decides to abort. How many seconds would it take for the Pelosi's and Toures of the world to ban the barbaric practice of abortion. Selectively aborting baby girls and baby blacks are fine but baby gay democrats...
TLP| 1.29.13 @ 8:15AM
"In my long experience, I don't believe the Government works that way."
"Do they Run Guns to Killer Cartels? Yeah."
"Do they Forge Documents to a Federal Judge? Yes."
"Did this President Campiagn for 5 Days, while New Orleans was Under Water? I guess."
"After watching the attacks on our Consulate in Benghazi (in real time) and then Giving the Order to Stand Down (thus leaving these 4 Men to Die) did this President get up and go to bed, so he'd be fresh for more Campaign Fund Raising in Las Vegas, and at Jay Z's House the next day? I guess he did."
"I just don't see him trying every trick in the book, to get More Money from me."
Does that make me Stupid?"
Not by itself, per se. But it's definately adding to the height of the Ben Stein is Stupid Pile.
Joellen| 1.28.13 @ 7:28AM
Please allow me to give another first hand account:
Our bus left early Friday (7:00); packed bus, mixed crowd, we had young adults (18+), older (my age 50+) and older (70+ and at least 3 80+).
We said the Sorrowful Mystery (Rosary) on the way down, no rest stop, so we got to DC in record time 11:30.
Let me tell you my Brothers & Sisters IT WAS COLD! But it did not a thing to dampen our spirits.
The signs were great, the attitudes were greater.
YOUTH WAS ABUNDANT - I would say that out of 500,000, 300,000 were 30 and under! The tide is a changing my friends.
The speeches were only an hour this year. Senator Rand Paul - the crowd loved him as he spoke with love for the premies, and we also loved the young black man whose mother was raped, chose Life and thus he was able to give testimony to his loving mother and adoptive parents and his eleven brothers & sisters (all but two adopted!). We heard from women who are "Silent No More". Women who believed the lies "that it is just a tissue, it's your body, etc.", but were here to tell you those lies were destructive. And were now active to help spread Truth and that every child in the womb is precious and a gift from GOD!
Senator Santorum also brought his family and spoke of his beautiful daughter, Bella; and expressed rightly we arent preaching, we walk the walk, and spread truth and the other side cant believe that 40 years later we still havent backed down to them.
Joellen| 1.28.13 @ 7:40AM
When we walked to the Supreme Court, it started snowing - did nothing to dampen the spirit!
Praying, singing, cheering, everyone POLITE as can be, no litter, (just like Tea Party rallies - left the place cleaner than when we came).
There were a few pro abortion demonstraters - the crowds engaged them in conversation - but no threats, no "YOU'RE GOING TO HELL", just good banter and then moved on.
Once again, nothing in the papers, but that's ok, I am sure we confuse the left tremendously, they cant figure it out, that even without them, we are expanding every year.
I dont know what GOD's plan is folks, I dont know how obama and his ilk got voted back in, but I do know that there is a generation of youth coming up, and they have not been indoctrinated by the left.
They are the new warriors, we old folks need to keep up on our end, but what I witnessed Friday, tells me the LORD has a plan.
So many good stories, and I will tell during the week, but I want to leave all with this:
I heard and witnessed a new awakening of young minds. They do know what's right & wrong, and will not be so easily led by the left.
So when in despair - get on your knees and ask the LORD to give you strength, cause I did witness it Friday. HE will answer when HE deems it.
HE answered Friday, 500,000 in 20 degree weather, with no media attention, no accolades, just a "small" group of people who got together to celebrate LIFE!
PJ| 1.28.13 @ 9:45AM
Looking forward to reading your stories this week.
Pecos Pete| 1.28.13 @ 9:50AM
Joellen: Thank you!
C. Vernon Crisler | 1.28.13 @ 11:25AM
Sure wish I could have been there.
CJW| 1.28.13 @ 6:06PM
Joellen
You are a great American!! God bless you.
Bob James| 1.28.13 @ 6:26PM
What a moving and lovely account. A fine reply to a fine article. Thank you.
Warrior| 1.28.13 @ 8:37PM
Thanks Joellen, you are a true warrior.
Occam's Tool| 1.28.13 @ 11:55PM
G-d Bless You, Dear Joellen.
spike59| 1.29.13 @ 5:59AM
Thank you for your participation, Joellen
Al Adab| 1.28.13 @ 8:30AM
Glad you were there Joellen. You carried the voice of many of us who were unable to be present in person. How is it that 600k people peaceably assemble and petition their government for a redress and are ignored while a few hundred OWS types get front page treatment time and again? The idolotrous genocide which abortion represents brings us to ask what society has done to the value of human life.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 1.28.13 @ 8:34AM
For the last 40 years, everyone who was born should be thankful that Life was chosen, and it should not be too surprising that some of that love for life would be passed on to the next generation in utero and expressed in public.
TLP| 1.28.13 @ 9:54AM
The same can be said for the Lovers of Death, in this Country.
Is it any wonder that War, Death, and Pestilence are increasing, all over the world?
Egypt is fast becoming Dante's Inferno, while it awaits a Shipment of FREE F 16's and 200 Abrhams Tanks from Hamas' "Deliveror" Abu Hussain - Barack Hussein Obama - Barry Soetoro. (The Devil goes by many names)
Libya is a Tinderbox, now that Hamas' "Deliveror" has taken out the One Guy who kept a Lid on everything that's going on, now.
Central and South America have become Marxist Outposts, again. Iran is building Missile Factories in Venezuela. Mexico is a Failed State, even as President Gun Control gift wraps 2,000 High Powered Automatic Weapons to the Most Prolific, Heartless KILLERS in the Western Hemisphere.
The Russians and the Chinese are Building their forces, even as Hamas' "Deliveror" is Decimating ours.
Russia threatens her nearest Neighbors, while China sets sail for the waters off of Southeast Asia, to Force Their Will upon the Weaker Nations and Lay Claim to the Oil Rich Fields below the Waves. All the while, Taiwan can only Sit, and Wait for the Chinese Hammer to fall on them.
"And he was given a Mouth, to speak Haughty and Blasphemous words." Revelation.
"I am become Death. Destroyer of Worlds." The Bhagavad Gita.
The only Constant in all of these instances, is One Man.
Beelzebub.
The guy with the Flies on his face.
Hardcard| 1.28.13 @ 9:30AM
Thanks Paddy, Joellen and all of you out in the cold at the rally in DC. Abortion is murder.
TLP| 1.28.13 @ 9:57AM
Ask her what she was wearing.
Seriously. This is not a Test.
If you EVER wanna win an Imaginary Prize at The Best Analogy Contest Ever?
You'll ask Joellen what she was wearing at the Rally.
Warrior| 1.28.13 @ 8:39PM
Better yet, what are you wearing when you type these? I picture you in something sensible, a little risque.
cowgirl| 1.28.13 @ 10:03AM
Life begins at 46 chromosomes. Undisputable fact. You need 23 from the male and 23 from the female. Which further contradicts "gay marriage". You need a man and a woman to create a life with the Grace of God of course.
Buck Ofama| 1.28.13 @ 2:56PM
FAG, QUEER, BUTTFUCKER, RUGMUNCHER "marriage" is an insult to all of creation.
Al Adab| 1.28.13 @ 10:37AM
All of which causes us to ask, if we must "do something" like ban guns to save children because 25 were shot, what must we do to save children when over 1MM per year are destroyed?
cicero| 1.28.13 @ 10:55AM
...what must we do...?" The answer should have become obvious during the last few election cycles. The conservative party, whether that be the present Rupublicans or a new party, must make this issue the ONE BIG THING on which they run. Poll after poll has shown that this country is pro-life and anti-abortion by large numbers. The lame brains in the Rep establishment have decided that the issue is too devisive, and as a result relegated it to non-status. But then again, they have done that with all issues of principle.
Time to fight this fight on the firing lines of American electoral politics.
Peppermint Tea | 1.28.13 @ 11:51AM
Why is the media pro Abortion?
Because all politics is local.
Because they all used it to further their careers at the expense of their children.
IT'S TIME TO OUT THE MEDIA!
Katie Couric. Barbara Walters. Tom Brokaw. Dan Rather (how many do you think he paid for?) Peter Jennings. John McCain's daughter.
Let's out them! Along with Hillary, Big Sis Janet, and all the other loose Democrat women. Let's get election debate moderators to ask tough questions. Hell, if they can ask Romney why he hates women, we ought to ask if they have ever been a party to abortion, which trimester, how old that child would be, and what were the potential baby names.
cicero| 1.28.13 @ 12:03PM
Pepper - While all politics may be local, all media sure ain't. When they set aside the rules making it illegal for one type of media to own another, the jig was up. If you read your local newspaper, or listen to your local news, all of the national content come from about 2 to 3 sources. They are all on the same page, and there is no one to challenge them. Nor do any of the bigs want to do so. I don't know the answer to the problem, as you can count on Washington to do nothing about what they consider a non-problem.
Hardcard| 1.28.13 @ 1:21PM
peter jennings is shoveling coal with marx and hitler at this time.
KyMouse| 1.28.13 @ 9:30PM
Many participants from the Kentucky "delegation" of pro-lifers, and probably from many other states as well, love to visit the Holocaust Museum during the March for Life trip. There they honor the memory of the millions of people who were dismissed as non-persons by Hitler and his followers -- and those young marchers mourn the unborn babies who are killed during our own era because they are dismissed as less than human.
My favorite moment during the march is when we walk up the incline of Constitution Avenue, a bit before turning toward the Supreme Court building.
From the top of that incline, you look back over your shoulder and see tens, perhaps hundreds, of thousands of people behind you, as far as you can see down the avenue. It's a magnificent sight!
Those fellow-marchers are from all backgrounds, but they share this in common: Their mothers gave them the chance to live the lives God has given them. On that special day, they have so many reminders of how truly blessed they are.
Cats1cowboy| 1.28.13 @ 10:10PM
A human sperm ferilizes a human egg and produces a new, unique human being. Calling it a fetus or a blob of cells or a chair-leg doesn't alter the facts. A human being is murdered every time an abortion is performed. QED
Occam's Tool| 1.28.13 @ 11:56PM
I truly do despise Liberals.