I must admit that I’m more than a little scared writing on the topic of the cause I’m passionate about because I’m not really sure how many of you will hate me forever after reading this. This isn’t something I’ve discussed openly before, so forgive me if I come across as a bit strong. I have friends who disagree with me and even family members who hold different beliefs. This is going to be a lot heavier than the posts I usually write and I promise we’ll be more peppy, lively content after this, but this is what I believe and I think I have a responsibility to share it.
I would like to talk about the human right to life. I am convinced that no human being should be denied their right for the chance to live. Every day in the United States alone, more than 3,000 children are denied that chance. In New York City, for every African-American child delivered, the mothers of more than 1,400 chose not to have them. Ninety percent of children pre-natally diagnosed with Down Syndrome are never allowed to be born.
I think it upsetting that in an age where we claim to live in the most advanced era mankind has yet seen, that we so blatantly trample the rights of the smallest and most helpless of our race in the name of choice. We speak of freedom for women, but too easily forget those who cannot even speak for themselves or, in some cases, overlook the fact that a woman has chosen to terminate her pregnancy with a girl in hopes of later conceiving a boy. The unborn have done nothing to warrant a death sentence. In the case of unwanted pregnancies, there are many alternatives which do not involve ending an innocent life.
And though it is an extremely unpopular way of thinking, I do not believe that how a child came into being should dictate whether or not they are allowed to live. None of us had any say in how we came to exist and I think it unjust that babies be punished for what they cannot control.
I’m probably going to be metaphorically taken out and shot for this post, but I hope that people will keep an open mind and agree to disagree if they feel differently. As controversial and politically incorrect as it is, I believe that a person is a person from the moment of conception and that every person should be given the chance to live in this beautiful planet we call home.
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“A Cause for Concern” celebrates the release of Sunbolt, a YA fantasy novella by Intisar Khanani. Sunbolt tells the story of Hitomi, a young woman with a propensity to play hero when people need saving, and her nemesis, a dark mage slowly amassing power in a bid to control the Eleven Kingdoms. Stories often have an issue at their heart, however big or small, global or personal. This week offers a chance for bloggers (and readers) who love stories to share the issues that are close to their hearts. What do you wish you could change in the world?
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The winding streets and narrow alleys of Karolene hide many secrets, and Hitomi is one of them. Orphaned at a young age, Hitomi has learned to hide her magical aptitude and who her parents really were. Most of all, she must conceal her role in the Shadow League, an underground movement working to undermine the powerful and corrupt Arch Mage Wilhelm Blackflame.
When the League gets word that Blackflame intends to detain—and execute—a leading political family, Hitomi volunteers to help the family escape. But there are more secrets at play than Hitomi’s, and much worse fates than execution. When Hitomi finds herself captured along with her charges, it will take everything she can summon to escape with her life
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Intisar Khanani grew up a nomad and world traveler. Born in Wisconsin, she has lived in five different states as well as in Jeddah on the coast of the Red Sea. She first remembers seeing snow on a wintry street in Zurich, Switzerland, and vaguely recollects having breakfast with the orangutans at the Singapore Zoo when she was five. She currently resides in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husband and two young daughters. Until recently, Intisar wrote grants and developed projects to address community health with the Cincinnati Health Department, which was as close as she could get to saving the world. Now she focuses her time on her two passions: raising her family and writing fantasy. Intisar’s next two projects include a companion trilogy to Thorn, following the heroine introduced in her short story The Bone Knife, and The Sunbolt Chronicles, a novella serial following a young mage with a propensity to play hero, and her nemesis, a dark mage intent on taking over the Eleven Kingdoms.
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Very brave post. It takes great guts to say what you believe in, regardless of what other people may say. Good luck with your release Intisar
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Thank you, I suppose it does.
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It took a lot of guts to write this at your age. Kudos to you. No matter how anyone feels about the issue, no one should act out against another for how they feel. By the way — guts like this separate the wanna be-s to the people who “make it”. Keep up the great work.
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I try! Thanks for your encouragement.
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🙂
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I agree–a very brave post. Thanks for sharing something that you truly and deeply care about. You’re right that this is a very political post, but I can’t imagine anyone taking offense at your words–if for no other reason than that you invite readers to agree to disagree 🙂 Here’s to courageous blogging!
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I attempted to balance open-mindedness with conviction. I guess only time will tell if I succeeded!
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Elisabeth I am so very proud of you for voicing your belief & opinion – my heart was very touched by your courage & that is what it is courage. In today’s times as free as we say our country is – there are those out there that would do anything to oppress those that don’t believe as they do instead of realizing free means free to think and believe as individuals. Very well said – Tonya
Intisar your book sounds amazing and I really look forward to reading it.
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Thanks, Tonya! I’d love to hear what you think of it.
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I do think that whenever any way of thought or way of living, regardless of what it is, becomes the ideal, those who disagree or refuse to practice it will be looked down upon by the masses. A law of human nature, unfortunately. Thank you for your encouragement!
(And it truly is an incredible book!)
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Great post! I appreciate your bravery!
🙂
Danielle
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Thanks! Like I said, I was very scared writing this.
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Well said, Elisabeth. A tricky topic to touch on and you took it by the horns. Kudos for saying what you believe. 🙂
A very intriguing sounding book, Intisar.
Also, that picture at the end of the post is beautiful!
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Thanks, Rose! You can enter for a chance to win a signed print of that picture by following the rafflecopter link at the bottom of the post too 😉
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Oh yeah!
Thanks for the reminder. 🙂
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It is a bit of tricky topic and I thank you!
(SUNBOLT is an awesome read!)
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You are totally entitled to your opinions on this matter, even if they go against what everyone else thinks.
I personally think that it’s up to the individual to decide, but if I was the one in charge of actually performing the abortions they wouldn’t happen because I would not and could not do it. Ever.
Great post hon x
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Thank you, it’s something I’m passionate about, but don’t discuss very often because it is so sensitive.
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Humans are living creatures from the very first moment of their conception. There is no difference between born and unborn children, so what you wouldn’t do to a born child, you are not allowed to do to an unborn one. Let’s not forget that the reason why we are alive right now is because some time ago our parents decided not to have an abortion, even though they probably had to face problems of various sorts. Congratulations on writing such a brave and inspiring post!
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