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NRL News
Join the Hotlist and Today’s News & Views
“Some believe that it is possible that
President Bush was re-elected because of the work of ‘bloggers.’ As
you’ll remember, 60 Minutes II produced a politically
incendiary memo purporting to prove that Mr. Bush received
preferential treatment in the 1960s while a member of the Texas Air
National Guard. It took bloggers a matter of hours to raise serious
questions, not difficult because the memo was a transparent phony. A
few weeks later Dan Rather announced he was going to retire a year
early.”
“The big question is why. Why did this story, of all
stories, reach such a critical mass; why did Terri Schiavo, of all
people, ignite such a deep, visceral emotional response in so many
of her fellow citizens; why have so many people devoted so much
energy and commitment to this case—some utterly intent upon keeping
her alive, others adamantly believing she should be left to die as
quickly as possible? This controversy hit the stratosphere, I
believe, because of one simple but very powerful innovation: the
Internet.” Tragedy often moves people to action. In response to the death of Terri Schindler Schiavo, the web site of the National Right to Life Committee (www.nrlc.org) received 100,000 more visitors than usual the first week of April 2005. More than 9,000 Florida “Will to Live” documents were downloaded in the next few weeks. It shouldn’t require the barbaric and wholly unnecessary death of a vulnerable woman for pro-lifers to take advantage of National Right to Life’s influential web site. The Internet provides us with a golden opportunity to influence public policy to the advantage of unborn babies and the medically vulnerable. We know from experience that grassroots pro-lifers are our strongest asset. The spectacular performance of our grassroots (that’s you) has made many victories possible. That includes everything from blocking the ultra-pro-abortion “Freedom of Choice Act” (FOCA) to educating the nation to the horrors of partial-birth abortion to saving the pro-life “Mexico City” policy to warning the public of the acute dangers of physician-assisted suicide. But as we look ahead to 2008, there will be still greater challenges to the unborn and the medically vulnerable. They need us, more than ever. Information technologies give grassroots pro-lifers the power to do more effectively what they’ve traditionally done. They can also undertake initiatives that were impossible prior to the arrival (everywhere) of computers and access to the Internet. (See story, this page.) Our opponents use this extraordinary tool to its maximum capacity. Increasingly, we are capitalizing on this information medium but there is only one way we can maximize its impact for good: by your active support and your willingness to spread the good word to family, friends, and colleagues. Building that pyramid of success starts with signing up for pro-life e-mail lists, visiting our web site often (it changes daily), sharing this information, and encouraging your friends to do the same. In other words, sign up, share, and educate. NRLC has two immediate sources of information available on our web site: www.nrlc.org. They are the Hotlist and Today’s News & Views. The numbers of people who access this information. have grown, but they are only a fraction of what they ought to be. They must be multiplied many times over. Translating increased traffic into action and success, however, requires that these visitors do more than visit. We need them to add our RSS feed or at least “bookmark” our page. We especially need them to sign up so that they will stay informed. I know you are phenomenal at responding to NRLC’s Action Alerts. You have proven this time and again. It is now time for you to take action again and sign up for these lists AND encourage your family, friends, and colleagues to join as well! How can our Movement remain the strongest grassroots movement in America if we neglect this superb tool? We have a great start, but—as the saying goes—you can never stand still. You either go forward or fall back. Let’s expand the sphere of influence that pro-lifers currently wield on behalf of those who cannot protect themselves. To accomplish this, it is imperative that we build this infrastructure now, so that we will be ready for the next big challenge. We know that the conversion of people who not currently pro-life is often as simple as educating them on the subject. Once they have the facts, many will join our ranks, adding new energy and talent. These new recruits become new pro-life champions. And, as you are well aware, NRLC is the most accurate source of information for the pro-life movement. So what better way to effect change than by signing up for our lists, using and sharing information, educating those you come in contact with via e-mail, and swelling the pro-life tide? Joining our lists will give you the sense of inclusion in the Movement, a genuine sense of effecting change and responsibility for molding the future. The information that comes to you because you are on these lists will give you the tools required. Please Help Spread the Pro-Life Message The pro-life movement will be faced with incredible fights over efforts by pro-abortionists to block superbly qualified judicial nominees and the passage of pro-life legislation in state legislatures and Congress. Imagine the voice we would have if we could magnify our e-mail list base many times over. The results would be truly awesome. What could be a faster, more efficient, more cost-effective way to protect life for today and tomorrow than to sign up for our e-mail lists? Encourage your friends to do the same. Forward your friends the e-mails you receive from us and ask them to do the same. Share the information. I challenge you to take action today and assist us to effect change to create a culture of life. I urge you to go to our web site and sign up today. When you go to www.nrlc.org, scroll the page halfway down. In the left column you can see a link: “Join National Right to Life’s Hot List!” Or you can go directly to http://www.nrlc.org/join_our_mailing_list.htm. Now more than ever—protecting life today. Tomorrow is in the balance. |