Missouri Sanctimony

 

by Pa Rock

Citizen Journalist

This morning I fully intended to write about a personal encounter that I had with Aeroflot, Russia's punchline of an airline, more than twenty years ago, but before I could get the keyboard and my brain cells fired up to meet that challenge, I was sidetracked by a tweet that my congressman posted.  Jason Smith, an unhappy Republican from southeastern Missouri who voted not to accept the results of the 2020 presidential election, and who seems to become enraged any time Joe Biden does anything to help anyone, posted a very pious snippet about how much he values life:

"Life begins at conception. As a man of faith, I will always fight for the right to life."

Smith, like pearl-clutching Republicans everywhere, defends the "right to life," but then shows no concern at all for protecting and nurturing children once they have passed through the birth canal.   

Where is the wrath over infant mortality, Jason?   Or homeless children, or kids who are constantly undernourished and hungry?  Why isn't every Republican focused ending homelessness, lifting children out of poverty, defeating hunger, stopping domestic violence, making quality pre-school education readily available to all, or keeping guns off of the streets and out of the hands of unstable individuals?  Those are all things that would increase the quality of life for children.

Life, Jason, does not end with birth.

This week the Republican-controlled Missouri legislature made room in its busy schedule of reducing school funding and limiting educational opportunities to consider a bill that would make abortions more difficult.  Those politicians, like Congressman Smith, support the notion of "life" right up until the babies leave their mother's womb.  Beyond that point they are on their own!

Life grows in a garden love, commitment, and action.  Sanctimony won't nourish or protect anyone.

Politicians who wail to the heavens that they pro-life - should actually strive to be "pro" life!