Years ago, nearly 25 to be exact, I edited a book of essays entitled, “To Rescue the Future: the Pro-Life Movement in the 1980s.” I am pleased to say that the thrust of the book—especially how it explained and emphasized our Movement’s concern for both mother and child—has held up extremely well.

   I wrote the opening essay-- “An Insatiable Thirst for Killing.” Infanticide, long kept under wraps, had made its public debut in the then-famous case of “Baby Doe.”

   I mention this resource today because of the opening quote: “Only when it’s dark enough can you see the stars.” The author was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

   Those who’ve dedicated much of their lives to the work of saving unborn babies know that there have been bleak times in our Movement’s history when we drew on this reminder for courage, consolation, and encouragement. Unfortunately, if it weren’t easy enough to recall on its own, the specter of another Clinton in the White House will do the trick. You would have to have lived through the eight years of Clinton One to fully appreciate the damage a Clinton Two could inflict.

   Last week our spirits were uplifted when we learned that the number of abortions had plunged 8% between 2000 and 2005. Why did this happen? For dozens of reasons—or millions: the millions of Americans who have thrown their lot in with what we believe is the greatest Movement for social justice of our time.

   Our ranks have been swollen by an infusion of young people. The Washington Post, in this morning’s edition, ran a “wow, who ARE these people?” story mostly about college-age students who were in Washington, D.C. over the weekend, participating in activities leading up to tomorrow’s commemoration of the 35^th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

    Without even knowing it, they had taken to heart another of Dr. King’s admonitions: “Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”

     After the March for Life is completed tomorrow, I will come back to compose a TN&V with my impressions of an annual gathering which brings 50,000 to 100,000 to our nation’s capital. Keep us in your prayers—and all the tens of thousands of other people who have already met, or will be meeting around the nation January 22, to demand an end to the scourge of Roe v. Wade.

   Like you, I am privileged to be a member of a wonderful band of brothers and sisters. Of all the truths Dr. King spoke, none applies better to our cause than this:

   “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”

Part Two