Citations
Regents School of Charlottesville Video–Music: “Glorious” by David Archuleta
Fuller Youth Institute
Read the full article: The only six words parents need to say to their kids about sports—or any performance
Noelle McDowell
Winning Essay: National Right to Life Essay Contest
By Noelle W. McDowell — Maryland , Grade 8
Life is precious. Life is an amazing miracle. Within the womb, this phenomenon is carefully guided and watched over by a loving God, the giver of life. Though seemingly insignificant, unborn babies are the most awe-inspiring wonders in the world. And yet, some people deny their right to life, and justify killing them through abortion. I want to stand up for the lives of the unborn because their right to life is unalienable, and because they bear the Image of God.
First, a human being’s right to life is “unalienable.” This word is used in the Declaration of Independence, which proclaims, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” What does unalienable mean? It means that it should not be taken away from anyone. Our founding fathers also said that this was self-evident, that is, so obvious that it does not need to be proven; it is beyond dispute. Unfortunately, this is not the opinion some people hold today. Through the heart-breaking practice of abortion, people rob the life of unborn babies.
However, why should someone who is pro-life be more concerned about the lives of unborn babies rather than the lives of any other living thing? Why shouldn’t I join the “Save the kakapo!” movement instead? Sure, I don’t want the kakapo to be extinct, but there is something that fuels me with extra passion for protecting my fellow human beings, and that is because they have been made in the image of God.
This does not mean that we physically look like God, but that our nature, character, and attributes were designed to reflect God’s. Humans can laugh, cry, empathize, logically deduce; all of which no other part of Creation can do. Every person, including the unborn, has special value, dignity, and right to life, because they bear the image of God. The Bible says everyone is fearfully and wonderfully made. It says that even before we were born, God had a plan for everyone. He knew each and every one of us individually. He knew what we would look like, who our 5th grade crush would be, and whether or not we would like pepperoni pizza.
So why am I pro-life? I believe that everyone has a right to life. This is clearly articulated in the Declaration of Independence. Furthermore, I know that everyone’s life is precious and deserves protection, because it is imprinted with the image of God. This includes the lives of unborn, who are being robbed of their life through abortion. Therefore, I proudly stand for my fellow human beings, who have the same value as you and me. I vouch for their right to life, especially because they can’t stand up for themselves. I support the God-endowed, self-evident, unalienable right to life for every bearer of God’s image.
