It’s Not My Fault

The event was billed as a political funeral, and, in fact, it did take place at the White House. But neither coffins nor heads of state were in evidence. Instead, 300 members of the homosexual group ACT UP were on hand, throwing the ashes of their dead lovers over the White House fence. The activists were angry that President Clinton wasn't doing more to fund AIDS programs. As one angry ACT UP member put it, "We have to fight the president to get these drugs paid for." Well, the AIDS epidemic is a terrible tragedy. But this reaction tells us something about what we value most in American culture. On the very same weekend that gay activists were conducting their impromptu funeral, a new study was published that established a link between abortion and breast cancer. The study found that women who undergo abortions are 30 percent more likely to develop breast cancer than women who don't have abortions. But feminist leaders weren't going to let a little science get in the way. For example, the National Abortion Rights Action League accused the study's researchers of "distorting scientific data and manipulating information to advance their political agenda." Really? Whose political agenda are we talking about? Can you imagine counselors at abortion clinics warning women about any of the health hazards of abortion? Don't hold your breath. These two events occurring on the same weekend are symptomatic of a major public health problem and a major inconsistency in our cultural values. We know that in the United States the principal cause of AIDS is homosexual behavior. But instead of education programs that discourage homosexual sex, we see campaigns that promote safe sex, which is an oxymoron: Everyone knows that a high percentage of condoms fail. Pro-choice leaders and the gay rights crowd are examples of people who want to engage in unsafe behavior--and who want nothing done to discourage those behaviors. And then, when they pay the price in illness, these folks demand that the government find an immediate cure for the problem of dollars. Compare this attitude with the incredible effort that goes into discouraging smoking in America. It has been clearly demonstrated that smoking causes adverse health consequences. And because of that, we have a huge educational campaign to discourage smoking. We even see our government now trying to classify and regulate tobacco as a drug. So why don't we take the same hard-nosed approach with homosexual behavior, which can lead to AIDS, or abortion, which now appears to be a contributing factor in breast cancer? The answer is that there's one area of human life that we will not allow to be restricted: sexual behavior. Why is sex the one behavior we consider to be the great untouchable? Well, I think it's because the act of procreation is the most sacred act of all. God established the family as the means for perpetuating the human race. It was the first institution he established in creation. And so, unbridled sex becomes the ultimate rebellion against God. We spend billions on antismoking and antidrinking campaigns. We force people to wear seatbelts to keep them safe. But at the same time, our society will do nothing to discourage two proven killers: abortion and homosexual sex. Does anyone sense a double standard here? No, not if we believe that rebellion against God is the ultimate freedom. But God's ways will not be mocked. When we see those angry demonstrations at the White House, we need to remind ourselves that the real price of so-called freedom, tragically, is death.

10/21/96