President Donald Trump Proclaims January 22nd “National Sanctity of Human Life Day”
By Julio Severo
Since abortion was legalized in the United
States in 1973, U.S. presidents have followed a long tradition where left-wing
presidents praise abortion and right-wing presidents praise life.
Right-wing presidents proclaim January
22nd “National Sanctity of Human Life Day,” just as U.S. president Donald Trump
did in 2020. The first president to make such proclamation was Ronald Reagan in
1984. This proclamation was continued under George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush,
and it was discontinued under Bill Clinton and Barack Hussein Obama.
Even
though Trump has celebrated the decline in the number and rate of abortions in
the United States, most of this decline does not seem to stem exclusively from pro-life
efforts. Less and less U.S. women are having babies. Even the CDC recognizes that the U.S.
birthrate is in record slump. In fact, the U.S. is facing its
lowest birthrate in its history, meaning that there are less births and,
consequently, less abortions.
The main cause of the low birthrate in the
U.S. is contraception, supported by a contraceptive mindset that always leads
to abortion. So if Americans can celebrate abortion diminishing, how to have a
true celebration when the births of American babies are in record slump?
Abortion was legalized right under the
administration of Republican president Richard Nixon.
People in other nations could argue, “But
such events affect just the U.S., not the world.” Immediately after the
legalization of abortion in the U.S., the
CIA, the State Department and USAID under a Republican administration produced NSSM
200, outlining strategies for the U.S. government to reduce the world
population mainly through contraception.
Under NSSM 200, the U.S. government worked
to reduce the population of several nations, and one of the main nations marked
was Brazil, which today is facing a birth decline — just as NSSM 200 planned.
Cannot the U.S. under Trump revert what a Republican administration began?
Trump should work not only to end
abortion, but also end and revert the population control policies of the U.S. government,
since the 1970s.
It would be so important if Trump became
the first U.S. president to recognize the evils of contraception in the U.S.
society and in the world and encouraged people to value large families. Yet,
his willingness to continue the tradition of Reagan by recognizing the “National
Sanctity of Human Life Day” is very important too.
Below is the full text of President Trump’s
Proclamation:
Every person — the born and unborn, the
poor, the downcast, the disabled, the infirm, and the elderly — has inherent
value. Although each journey is different, no life is without worth
or is inconsequential; the rights of all people must be defended. On
National Sanctity of Human Life Day, our Nation proudly and strongly reaffirms
our commitment to protect the precious gift of life at every stage, from
conception to natural death.
Recently, we have seen decreases in the
total number and rate of abortions in our country. From 2007-2016, the
most recent period of analysis, the number and rate of abortions decreased by
24 percent and 26 percent, respectively. The rate of teen pregnancies —
the vast majority of which are unplanned — has almost continuously decreased
over the last quarter century, contributing to the lowest rate of abortions
among adolescents since the legalization of abortion in 1973. All
Americans should celebrate this decline in the number and rate of abortions, which
represents lives saved. Still, there is more to be done, and, as
President, I will continue to fight to protect the lives of the unborn. I
signed into law legislation under the Congressional Review Act that allows
States and other grantees to exclude organizations that perform abortions from
their Title X projects. My Administration has also issued regulations to
ensure Title X family planning projects are clearly separated from those that
perform, promote, or refer for abortion as a method of family planning; to
protect the conscience rights of healthcare workers and organizations,
including with respect to abortion; and to ensure the Federal Government does
not force employers that object, based on religious belief or moral conviction,
to provide insurance for contraceptives, including those they believe
cause early abortions. Additionally, I have called on the Congress to act
to prohibit abortions of later-term babies who can feel pain.
My Administration is also building an
international coalition to dispel the concept of abortion as a fundamental
human right. So far, 24 nations representing more than a billion people
have joined this important cause. We oppose any projects that
attempt to assert a global right to taxpayer‑funded abortion on demand, up to
the moment of delivery. And we will never tire of defending innocent life
— at home or abroad.
As a Nation, we must remain steadfastly
dedicated to the profound truth that all life is a gift from God, who endows
every person with immeasurable worth and potential. Countless Americans
are tireless defenders of life and champions for the vulnerable among
us. We are grateful for those who support women experiencing unexpected
pregnancies, those who provide healing to women who have had abortions, and
those who welcome children into their homes through foster care and adoption.
On National Sanctity of Human Life Day, we celebrate the wonderful
gift of life and renew our resolve to build a culture where life is always
revered.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP,
President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States,
do hereby proclaim January 22, 2020, as National Sanctity of Human Life Day.
Today, I call on the Congress to join me in protecting and defending the
dignity of every human life, including those not yet born. I call on the
American people to continue to care for women in unexpected
pregnancies and to support adoption and foster care in a more meaningful way,
so every child can have a loving home. And finally, I ask every citizen
of this great Nation to listen to the sound of silence caused by a generation
lost to us, and then to raise their voices for all affected by abortion, both
seen and unseen.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my
hand this twenty-first day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty,
and of the Independence of the United States of America the
two hundred and forty-fourth.
DONALD J. TRUMP
Portuguese version of this article: Presidente Donald Trump proclama 22 de janeiro “Dia
Nacional da Santidade da Vida Humana”
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