Waseca, Minn., senior takes first place for second consecutive year
As the founder of Planned Parenthood, Margaret Sanger’s “horrific ideas” continue to drive the organization even though they are never mentioned.
Natasha Spear
That was Natasha Spear’s message in her winning speech in the Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) State Oratory Contest. Winners of local contests held across the state compete in the state contest for a chance to participate at the National Right to Life Convention.
Spear showed how Sanger’s eugenics campaign and her use of deceit to further her agenda in the early- to mid-20th century, are alive and well at Planned Parenthood, which targets “undesirable” populations such as minorities and the poor.
“We must be the ones to show Americans that curing things such as poverty and racial divides are complex issues and that answers do not lie in killing unborn children,” Spear said. “Our nation was built on the belief that our own personal and unique identities are what make us great, and we cannot allow the bigotry of one charismatic woman to cause us to lose sight of that dream.”
Spear, a homeschool senior from Waseca, also won first place in the 2010 MCCL contest. Other winners this year included Shannon Sullivan of Chisago City, and Garrison Lenz of Pine Island.
Sullivan, like Spear, spoke of Sanger’s racism and inhumanity at the foundation of Planned Parenthood and urged people to uphold the value of every human life. Lenz also discussed eugenics, from ancient Sparta to contemporary America. “If we now destroy those who are unwanted before birth, what shall prevent us from taking the life of anyone, at any age, who is deemed unfit to live the life given them by their sovereign God?” said Lenz, who was adopted at birth.
The annual pro-life oratory contest is open to high school juniors and seniors. Judged on content and delivery, students sharpen their public speaking skills while learning to defend the pro-life position. The contest is one of several MCCL programs that help develop young people for future pro-life leadership.
“This year’s students did a wonderful job — so good, in fact, that all participants advanced to the final round,” said MCCL Legislative Associate Elisia Meyer, who organized the event.
Spear will now compete in the National Pro-Life Oratory Contest on June 25 in Jacksonville, Fla., held in conjunction with the National Right to Life Convention. MCCL will provide an expense-paid trip to the event. First prize in the national contest is $1,000.