“Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” Includes Unborn Children

The 250th Anniversary of our nation overwhelms me with gratitude. I’m struck by the big and seemingly small blessings that surround us. Faith, family and freedom. These words are filled with meaning. The picture they paint is distinctly American.

America is far from perfect but continues to be the great hope for the cause of freedom across the globe. And, where we fail, we strive to improve. We are fortunate to live in this nation rich with the blessings of Providence.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…”- Declaration of Independence.

“Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” These rights are not independent. They are interdependent, woven together to create the fiber of our nation. When we fail to uphold or honor one, they all weaken. We all suffer. Standing for life matters beyond anything we could imagine. The impact of our work is boundless.

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Your quiet resolve and steadfast perseverance fuel our life-saving work. In the darkness, you shine brightly, unfailingly. Faith yields a steadiness that can be felt if not seen. This faith is bearing fruit across our state and, in truth, across the country. It is the reflection that maintains this “shining city on a hill.”

“50 Stars, 50 Stories” is our celebration of the 250th anniversary of our country. (Click here to learn more.) This meaningful and fun initiative is a chance for you to tell your story, a life-affirming story that may inspire more choices for life and hope for the future.

We all have a story. Your stories stir me with joy in the quiet moments of the day and night. Part of building strong communities is sharing our stories with those around us. It enables us to strengthen our bonds, to walk shoulder-to-shoulder through life’s ups and downs, to share in suffering and to foster hope.

My story began with the unconscionable reality of abortion against the backdrop of a deep love and admiration for our country. It inspired me to political engagement. A friend’s abortion. A compelling high school government class. Strong political leadership in our state that stood for life without question. It matters.

There is no better time to inspire hope than this time of the year. The Fourth of July brings together the best of our communities. Parades, backyard grilling, fireworks and fun. We take time to celebrate our country with family, honoring and thanking our veterans, first responders and civic leaders. It represents all that is good, the best of what it means to be an American.

Candidates for political office will be seen at parades across the state. Their campaigns will play to the best, and some to the worst, of our instincts.

Jocelyn Benson, Michigan’s Secretary of State and the Democrats’ lead contender for governor, told reporters, “The challenge and opportunity is to link reproductive freedom to economic and political freedom.” (Politico, May 20, 2024.) This view of America is a dark one, one that tears at the very fiber of our nation. It counters hope with fear and conflates freedom with death. It is particularly unsettling as we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary.

This reminds us that standing for “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” is not just the cause of the founders, but our calling. Benjamin Franklin famously said America is “A republic, if you can keep it.”

We must stand for life in big and small ways, daily. This is an election year. It is our duty to vote. And we must VOTE FOR LIFE on behalf of the unborn, women, families, the vulnerable and every community across this beautiful country.

The signers of the Declaration of Independence ended their world-changing document: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

Now it’s up to us! Thank you for peacefully, courageously standing for life in your communities.

LifeNews Note: Right to Life of Michigan President Amber Roseboom is the author of this opinion column.