As a radio reporter for the secular media, I was responsible for covering a wide range of events, including visits by presidential candidates and prison riots. One particularly memorable news story is the time I had to visit a local abortion facility.
The abortion industry was regarded as one of the city’s most active. The clinic was situated in close proximity to a major university campus, and its clientele included a number of students.
I recall that the building that housed the abortion facility was also home to a dentist’s office. One of the women I spoke to outside had come for a cleaning, not an abortion, and expressed frustration at the media attention the building had attracted.
The experience of entering the edifice will forever be etched in my memory. I was initially uncertain as to what I might discover. I was unable to proceed beyond the reception area, as the staff were unwilling to engage in any form of communication with me.
What I found most striking, however, was the atmosphere in the waiting room. The waiting station, where infants were in the process of dying, exuded a pervasive atmosphere of desolation. The countenances of the women appeared to be marked by a profound desolation. It would have been beneficial to be able to offer them comfort and reassurance, to allay whatever fears had brought them to this point.
However, I was merely discharging my professional obligations as a journalist.
A visit to a pregnancy resource centre offered a markedly different experience.
Upon entering the premises, one was immediately bathed in a warm, welcoming glow. The staff members greeted me in a cordial and welcoming manner, which seemed to indicate a genuine concern for the well-being of all individuals. In contrast to the atmosphere of the abortion centre, the pregnancy help centre evoked a sense of familiarity and comfort.
It would be a considerable period of time before I would reach the point where I could abandon my involvement in secular journalism and fully embrace the pro-life movement. However, these early experiences undoubtedly laid the foundation for my subsequent pro-life advocacy.
It has been posited that individuals may not retain the content of a communication, but they will retain the manner in which they were treated. The treatment at the abortion facility was characterised by a lack of warmth, hostility, and an unwelcoming atmosphere. In stark contrast, the treatment at the pregnancy resource centre was characterised by warmth, friendliness, and an inviting atmosphere.
It is evident that a significant proportion of women who have undergone abortions subsequently adopt a pro-life stance, even volunteering at pregnancy help centres. They are aware of the profound anguish that results from the termination of a pregnancy and are therefore motivated to prevent others from making the same regrettable decision.
Ultimately, women in challenging circumstances will recognize our pro-life stance through the demonstration of our love.
Daniel Miller is responsible for nearly all of National Right to Life News' political writing.
With the election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, Daniel Miller developed a deep obsession with U.S. politics that has never let go of the political scientist. Whether it's the election of Joe Biden, the midterm elections in Congress, the abortion rights debate in the Supreme Court or the mudslinging in the primaries - Daniel Miller is happy to stay up late for you.
Daniel was born and raised in New York. After living in China, working for a news agency and another stint at a major news network, he now lives in Arizona with his two daughters.
