I am a cancer survivor. Volumes of books are written with stories of people who have experienced cancer. Personal loss, family members with cancer, and the impact the most dreaded of attacks upon a person’s body continues to be chronicled. The many times I stood with family members in hallways of hospitals and listen to the doctor explain to the family their loved one had cancer and the suggested treatments to be followed could fill many large sized books.
There is, however, nothing like hearing the words for the first time when the doctor looks at you and says, “The report indicates you have cancer” (December 2006). The first thought running through my mind was, “My dad died (February 6, 1977) with the same cancer.” The next thought coming into my mind that was then spinning in several different directions was, “What treatment do you recommend, doctor?” In my case the radiation treatments turned against me with radiation poisoning and created even greater issues than the cancer.
These five years with the challenges I have faced has given me a personal perspective on this most dreaded of diseases. I decided early in the process that I would not be a victim of cancer. Determination is important, but not the final word as one deals with the attack of cancer upon their body. Since my cancer diagnosis, I have friends who have been stricken with cancer and they have already been taken in death with the disease. I am blessed and realize the preciousness of life, family, and friends more than ever before. Each day is precious as I seek to live my life to the fullest in service to my Lord in all that He assigns me to do.
In this column I have often stated my personal conviction that life begins at conception and is to continue until the giver of life determines its natural end. I am an advocate for life and sincerely believe our state needs a personhood amendment in our Constitution. As sweet and precious as life is to me, I struggle when trying to understand how the members of the Supreme Court could have ever found abortion rights in the Constitution of the United States of America. I will continue to seek ways by which one day we will see their decision overturned and we will move back to a culture of life rather than a culture of death in our country.
All of that being said, the events of last week when the Susan G. Komen charity announced they would no longer give money to Planned Parenthood, but then reverse their decision, left many perplexed with both decisions. There is much evidence that Planned Parenthood is one of the leading abortion providers in the nation. Susan G. Komen charity is concerned with breast cancer and the treatment of people who have breast cancer. Early detection of cancer is vital in the types of treatment and the longevity of life following the diagnosis. Breast cancer exams are important and I applaud Susan G. Komen for their emphasis on that early cancer screening process. Their purpose is not clear however, when the Komen foundation partners with or grants money to Planned Parenthood with their record of the taking of innocent lives being well documented. The flip flop by the leaders of Komen could not help but cause questions to be raised as to why they would make such drastic changes in policy within 48 to 72 hours. First, the decision was made known that Komen would no longer give money to Planned Parenthood, but then the decision was turned on its face to announce they will continue to give the money already approved, leaving the door open for more money to be given to Planned Parenthood in the future. Those of us in the pro-life community were thrilled with their first announcement and then felt a deep sense of sorrow when they flipped flopped and reinstated the funds to Planned Parenthood. While some would argue that the funds given by the Komen charity are designated for breast exams only, it is obvious that those funds then allow for other funds to be designated by Planned Parenthood to continue with their main business of aborting innocent human life. Spokes people for both organizations have worked hard to resell these decisions to the American public. We need voices willing to speak for the innocent lives of the unborn children.
Ray Newman
Column first appeared in The Barrow County News Winder, GA
