Georgetown's "Life Week" Is A Success

RIGHT TO LIFE CAMPAIGN AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY IS A CLASS ACT

By Kristin Adams

Coming to Georgetown University (GU), I knew that I would be a part of a politically vocal campus. I was excited to listen to the differing opinions of my fellow students on a wide range of topics. I knew that I would form many opinions on a variety of subjects and that, at times, I would question what I already held as true. Often, I would reaffirm these same truths.

So far, I have been respectfully challenged on my beliefs and proudly supported at the same time. Once I learned of the sensitivity and concern with which Georgetown's Right to Life group held the sanctity of life I knew that I would have the opportunity to do my part. I am proud to be a part of such an important and productive campus group. GU Life is one of the few groups that carry an agenda that is truly selfless.

GU Right to Life recently held its annual "Life Week," a weeklong schedule of events aimed at raising the consciousness of students and faculty on pro-life issues. This year's "Life Week" was again a success.

One of the enduring and most poignant events is the Flag Display held just inside the gates of Georgetown's campus. GU Right to Life placed 3,598 pink and blue flags on Copley Lawn. The flags symbolized the number of babies aborted each day in the United States.

A display this large about abortion on a college campus is certain to generate controversy, but I was extremely disappointed with the disturbing show of poor taste and lack of class in discussing this issue. Last year, two students played a game of Frisbee in the middle of the display, ruining 200 of the flags.

It was an act of pure immaturity and deep disrespect. These students embarrassed the Georgetown community and interfered with GU Life's right to express itself. Thankfully, there was no destruction of the display this year, save for individual acts of disrespect, such as spitting on the flags.

GU Life also held a beautiful Vigil for the Unborn among the flags. The day was dreary and rainy and it seemed somewhat appropriate for the Vigil. As a light rain fell, a small part of the Georgetown community gathered in prayer for the 3,598 unborn lost that day and for every child who never had or never will have the opportunity to be.

During "Life Week," GU Life also held lectures and opened up dialogue forums on which people had the opportunity to voice their opinions and receive answers from a pro-life perspective. Father Thomas King represented the religious perspective, Professor Alfonso Gomez-Lobo shared the bioethical implications of pro-life issues, and Nurse Theresa Lamonica shared her experience working with mothers who face unexpected pregnancies.

In addition to the interdisciplinary dialog, GU Life also held an interfaith dialogue with representatives from different religions such as Catholic, Protestant, and Muslim. The turnout for the discussions was impressive and the discourse itself was both extremely informative and encouraging.

Our campus was also honored to have keynote speaker Stephanie Gray speak of pro-life arguments and opposing counter-arguments on certain issues. The number of people who took part in "Life Week," whether warily or wholeheartedly, shows that despite the liberal pro-abortion voice of our campus, young people are still questioning the legality of abortion.

An event such as "Life Week" also generates much media attention. Recently, there has been a pseudo-media war through our campus papers, The Hoya and The Voice, between GU Life and H*yas for Choice, a non-university-funded pro-abortion group. However strongly I may disagree with its message, it was how its members communicated their viewpoint that was most discouraging.

For example, two students stooped to an awful low by publishing an attempt to ridicule a series of informative flyers posted by GU Life during Life Week. Their article included grotesque attempts at humor including the phrase, "Who wouldn't abort a baby that ugly?" That not only made me sick, but it prompted a strong reaction by many students here at Georgetown.

In the face of the disgraceful attempt at an anti-campaign by H*yas for Choice, I took pride in the tasteful and intelligent way in which GU Life advocated the pro-life message. It is important for the young people of the pro-life movement to be credible ambassadors since we are the future of the campaign. This requires us to act with respect, class, and seriousness.

I appreciate those senior in the pro-life movement for emphasizing and establishing an environment of respect in which our message can be easily spread and embraced. You have taught the youth how to be unbreakable in our resolution, victorious in our campaign, sympathetic in our cause, and mannerly to our opposition.

With all this, we promise to uphold all you have worked so hard for and as a member of GU Right to Life and the college pro-life movement, I am honored to fight this fight with you.

Kristin Adams is a sophmore at Georgetown.