“Today we're heartened”:
President Bush Speaks to
March for Life Rally --
Part Two of Two
THE PRESIDENT: Nellie [Gray], good to
be with you -- we're fellow West Texans who care deeply
about the value of human life. Other members of the board of
directors for the March for Life, leaders of the pro-life
community, and all those who are here with us for the march,
it's good to have you here and welcome to the White House.
(Applause.)
As I look out at you, I'll see some folks who
have been traveling all night to get here -- (laughter) --
you're slightly bleary-eyed. (Laughter.) I'll see others who
are getting ready for a day out in the cold. But mostly I
see faces that shine with a love for life. (Applause.)
I see people with a deep conviction that even
the most vulnerable member of the human family is a child of
God. You're here because you know that all life deserves to
be protected. And as you begin your march, I'm proud to be
standing with you. (Applause.)
Thirty-five years ago today the United States
Supreme Court declared and decided that under the law an
unborn child is not considered a person. But we know many
things about the unborn. Biology confirms that from the
start each unborn child is a separate individual with his or
her own genetic code. Babies can now survive outside the
mother's womb at younger and younger ages. And the fingers
and toes and beating hearts that we can see on an unborn
child's ultrasound come with something that we cannot see: a
soul. (Applause.)
Today we're heartened -- we're heartened by
the news that the number of abortions is declining. But the
most recent data reports that more than one in five
pregnancies end in an abortion. America is better than this,
so we will continue to work for a culture of life where a
woman with an unplanned pregnancy knows there are caring
people who will support her; where a pregnant teen can carry
her child and complete her education; where the dignity of
both the mother and child is honored and cherished.
We aspire to build a society where each one
of us is welcomed in life and protected in law. We haven't
arrived, but we are making progress. Here in Washington we
passed good laws that promote adoption and extend legal
protection to children who are born despite abortion
attempts. We came together to ban the cruel practice of
partial-birth abortion. (Applause.) And in the past year we
have prevented that landmark law from being rolled back.
We've seen the dramatic breakthroughs in stem
cell research that it is possible to advance medical science
while respecting the sanctity of life. (Applause.) Building
a culture of life requires more than law; it requires
changing hearts. And as we reach out to others and find
common ground, we can see the glimmerings of a new America
on a far shore. This America is rooted in our belief that in
a civilized society, the strong protect the weak. This
America is nurtured by people like you, who speak up for the
weak and the innocent. This America is the destiny of a
people whose founding document speaks of the right to life
that is a gift of our Creator, not a grant of the state.
(Applause.)
My friends, the time is short and your march
is soon. (Laughter.) As you give voice to the voiceless I
ask you to take comfort from this: The hearts of the
American people are good. (Applause.) Their minds are open
to persuasion. And our history shows that a cause rooted in
human dignity and appealing to the best instincts of the
American people cannot fail. So take heart. (Applause.)
Take heart, be strong, and go forth. May God
bless you. (Applause.)
END 9:10 A.M. EST
