Here at The Slip, we don’t shy away from controversial subjects. They are, in fact, why we launched this newsletter - to show that not all women hold the same beliefs on things like education, gun control, or abortion. So when our country descends into a 24/7 hysteria-filled panic over a state’s new abortion restriction law, you better believe we’re going to talk (write) about it.
Disclaimer: I’m no expert on Texas’ new law or the legal strategy behind it. What I am, however, is a longtime, proud, pro-lifer. So allow me to speak to the nuances that come from being a pro-life woman in today’s world. Ready?
I’m pro-life because I believe life begins at conception. I believe science backs me up on that, too. As Drs. Keith L. Moore and TVN Persaud write in their textbook, The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology, a zygote is a cell that “results from the union of an oocyte and a sperm during fertilization. A zygote is the beginning of a new human being.” Yes, human life is a continuous process, but it doesn’t exist on a spectrum. We are born and we get older. We are alive or we are not; there is no in between.
That is my baseline, the point from which I evaluate legislation that deals with abortion. That being said, I’m pretty sure you can guess where I land on pro-life or pro-choice bills. To me, the discussion over women’s rights when it comes to abortion is a red herring. It’s not about whether or not a woman should have control over her own body (yes, duh). It’s about whether or not we, as a society, condone the killing of an innocent life and whether or not we want our government to sanction it.
Progressives like Alexandria Ocassio-Cortez, however, don’t want to have, or even acknowledge, that conversation. In fact, she would rather claim to know more about my personal beliefs than I do. “We know that anti-choice bills are not about being pro-life,” Ocassio-Cortez said on CNN this week. “Because if they were about being pro-life, the Republican Party would support, frankly, an agenda that helps guaranteed health care...None of this is about life. What this is about is controlling women’s bodies.” She went on to equate being pro-life to supporting rape culture. [Insert exasperated sigh here]
Actually, Congresswoman, it is about protecting life. I don’t want to control any woman’s body any more than I want someone to control mine. But we’re talking about innocent human life here. That’s what abortion is - the termination of a human life. So let’s talk about what we’re talking about and not sidestep the issue with proclamations about women being able to control their own bodies.
“Ok,” you might argue, “but banning abortion at 6 weeks goes to far!” Does it, though? If I believe, as I just explained, that life begins at conception, then consistency demands that I be against abortion at ALL stages of pregnancy. Right? Otherwise, where do I draw the line? Why should I draw it at 6 weeks and not 8? After all, life is life. Likewise, consistency demands that pro-abortion advocates support killing an innocent life at all stages for any reason. And indeed, they do.
We saw, in 2019, a state legislator in Virginia admit that her abortion bill would have allowed abortion right up until birth if a doctor deemed it was necessary for the woman’s mental health. That same year, the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Bill failed to pass in the Senate. The bill would have mandated that doctors give medical care to infants who survive abortion attempts. That’s it. Pretty humane stuff. And yet...abortion advocates slammed the bill as unecessary and pointless. Alexis McGill Johnson, who was the acting president of Planned Parenthood, said the bill “serves no purpose but to deny people the ability to make the best choices for them and their families.” At least she’s being honest. Many on the left aren’t, when it comes to acknowledging the logical conclusions of their pro-abortion views.
There’s a lot more I could write about this subject, so rest assured this isn’t the last time I’ll visit the topic. But for now, I’ll end with this: I understand we (society at large) could do a better job of supporting mothers and women who are experiencing crisis pregnancies. But that change starts with you and with me. I for one, have failed miserably at looking for ways to “walk the walk,” so to speak, and I need to do better. But tiny changes lead to big improvements. Let’s start small and work our way up to the big policy solutions. As Salvatore J. Cordileone, the Catholic archbishop of San Francisco wrote in the Washington Post, “The answer to crisis pregnancies is not violence but love, for both mother and child.” So, let’s start with love and go from there.
Mental Strength: We Can, And We Will
Let’s take a break from politics, shall we? I’ve been thinking a lot lately about mental toughness, and how our minds can work for or against us. It all started a few months ago when I read Atomic Habits by James Clear. The book was a huge eye-opener for me. Clear argues, in part, that we make changes in our lives through tiny, micro decisions that ultimately steer us in the right direction to building good habits. The trick, among other things, is to learn what those decisions should be, how to choose the right goals, and how to set ourselves up for success. In other words, we should be stacking the deck in our own favor. If we aren’t, we’re doing it wrong.
About a month after reading Atomic Habits, my husband and I bit the bullet and bought a Peloton. Yes, we are now THOSE PEOPLE. By using Clear’s techniques, I was able to implement tiny changes that helped me get into the habit of working out every morning. For me, the investment has already paid off. Not only do I start every day by moving my body, but it also allowed me to discover my favorite Peloton instructor: the one and only Robin Arzon. Allow me to indulge in some Robin fandom. The thing about her as an instructor that keeps me coming back for more, is that her classes focus on mental strength. There’s a mental aspect to fitness that she prioritizes, and man oh man do I need it. Especially now. I think on some level, we all could use a mental kick in the butt these days.
We’re 19 months into what feels like a never-ending global pandemic. We just experienced a highly contentious presidential election. The unity we were promised last November still appears to be a distant pipe dream. Families are struggling. Kids are hurting. People are dying. China is advancing. Afghanistan is crumbling. And in the midst of it all...life hasn’t stopped. We’re still having babies. We’re still dealing with family drama and work challenges; lost promotions and financial struggles. Bills, rent, mortgage payments. Marital fights. Strained friendships. Depression. Anxiety. Weight gain. Shall I go on?
These things are real, and they’re hard. Mental toughness doesn’t mean we ignore that. It means we accept it and use it as fuel. Yes, fuel. That’s something else I’ve learned from Robin, who by the way, has an excellent Master Class that you should check out called - you guessed it! - “Mental Strength.” Instead of getting bogged down in the stress and the chaos, let’s use those things to fuel our comeback; to fuel our drive for growth. Or, as Robin likes to say, “fear is fuel. Pain is power.” Give yourself grace, but don’t give up. And the best part? We can start small. Tiny changes can make a huge difference when it comes to getting through tough seasons. We can do this.
My Tips for Getting Strong, Mentally
Movement. Doesn’t matter if it’s a 10 minute walk or a 30 minute HIIT ride. Just move your body consistently.
Prayer and Meditation. It’s amazing how praying for others can help put your own struggles into perspective.
Connection. I’m a firm believer that human connection is medicine for the soul and the mind. Reach out to an old friend. Text someone you haven’t talked to in a while. Make plans. Just do it.
Reframed thinking. This one takes some practice, but it’s worth it. For example, you don’t HAVE to get up early with your kids, you GET to wake up early with your kids. Shift your mindset and see what happens.
Amanda’s Media Diet
Prager U: A Discussion About Atlas Shrugged
Adam Grant: How to Stop Languishing and Start Finding Flow
Forbes: Robin Arzon on Coming Back From Maternity Leave, The Myth of Balance and the Power of No
Erick Erickson: The Progressive Freak Out: Performance to Root Out Heretics
For my fellow true crime podcast fans: CounterClock Seasons 1,2, and 3!
Tomorrow marks 20 years since the 9/11 terror attacks. We will never forget the innocent lives lost that day, the heroism displayed by so many first responders, and America’s steadfast resolve to stand as a shining beacon of hope and freedom in an ever-dimming world.