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Amending the Constitution: What Pro-lifers Can Learn from the Abolitionists

Submitted by Keith Ashley on Thu, 08/19/2010 - 23:08
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by Keith Ashley, Personhood Kansas

During a trip to Kansas, just prior to the Civil War, President Lincoln described the territory as being in a state of "almost continual struggles, fire, and bloodshed." Indeed, the era would come to be known as “Bleeding Kansas” due to the skirmishes between John Brown’s abolitionists and the pro-slavery “Border Ruffians.” 

The unrest resulted in a political struggle for the state as well. On three separate occasions, the divided factions attempted to ratify state constitutions--two of which were eventually overruled by the citizens of Kansas and the third rejected by the federal government. In 1859, a fourth and final constitutional convention was called--this time the delegates gathered in Wyandotte. They began work on a Bill of Rights, and the first order of business was Section 1 which in its original form read, “All men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inalienable rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties, acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and of seeking and obtaining happiness and safety, and the right of all men to the control of their persons, exists prior to law and is inalienable.”

Dr. James G. Blunt seen here in his Union Army uniformBy this time, the abolitionists were firmly in control, and it was all but decided that Kansas would become a free state. But this certainty did not deter a vigorous and often bitter debate. The slavery proponents were shrewd. They resisted attempts to put them on record supporting amendments to the section such as “except negroes and mulattoes” and “except persons of color.” Instead of insisting that Kansas adopt the pro-slavery position, they appealed to the idea of adhering to federal supremacy—in this case the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. They declared the new constitution destined for failure and too radical for purporting to recognize “all men” as free. After all, how could “all men” residing within the boundaries of the newly formed state be free if they were runaway slaves?

Abolitionist, Dr. James Blunt, recognizing the underhanded tactics of his opponents rose and spoke purposefully against them...

 

Click Here to Continue Reading Amending the Constitution: What Pro-lifers Can Learn from the Abolitionists

Former Kansas Deputy Attorney General Endorses Personhood

Submitted by Keith Ashley on Fri, 07/09/2010 - 07:20
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Longtime pro-life advocate and former Kansas Deputy Attorney General, Bryan J. Brown, Esq., has publicly endorsed the personhood movement sweeping the nation. Brown is currently the founder and Director of the ArchAngel Institute in Fort Wayne, Indiana and details his reasoning for supporting the personhood strategy on the ArchAngel blog, “By amending the organic documents that form the very bedrock of the American legal order to protect the unborn we place those little lives in the safest haven which we can reach this side of Eternity. By amending the organic documents that created what the Founders called ‘the laboratories of democracy’ we bind the abortionists with the surest bonds available this side of Hell. By amending the organic documents in keeping with the high ideals of subsidiarity we rebuke a federal system that is drunk of the blood of America’s next generation and set up a case for review before the highest secular court this side of Heaven.”

Brown addresses the concerns of some in the pro-life movement, “Some will say the time is not right for such bold action. Martin Luther King, Jr. was told that as well. We join his reply: ‘The time is always right to do what is right.’ Some will say such action is patently futile. Mother Teresa was told that as well. We join her reply: ‘I do not pray for success, I ask for faithfulness.’ Some will say such action is far too disruptive. Dietrich Bonhoeffer (a modern martyr) was told that as well. We join his reply that it is not enough to merely ‘bandage the victims under the wheel,’ we must also ‘jam the spoke in the wheel itself.‘”

Personhood Kansas would like to take the opportunity to thank Mr. Brown for his keen insight and bold action in defense of those most vulnerable amongst us. Brown is in good company in a long line of Kansas social reformers with familiar surnames such as “Bleeding Kansas” era abolitionist John Brown and Oliver L. Brown, lead plaintiff in the 1954, Brown vs. Board of Education civil rights case.

The ArchAngel Institute is in the process of forming a committee focused on promoting personhood. For more information regarding this project and to read the endorsement in its entirety follow the links below.

http://www.archangelinstitute.org/in-support-of-personhood-post-1/

http://www.archangelinstitute.org/in-support-of-personhood-post-2/

Planned Parenthood Wary of Personhood Petition Activity

Submitted by Keith Ashley on Mon, 05/10/2010 - 05:22
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Concerned Women for America is reporting that Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri issued a call on April 23rd via their Twitter page to “Report Personhood petition activity!” More specifically, they asked their supporters to “Be our Eyes and Ears, particularly at and near places of worship!”

One has to wonder what Planned Parenthood hopes to gain from these “reports.” It's probably safe to assume that they believe it is illegal for religious institutions to participate in the democratic process.

Fortunately, Planned Parenthood is, once again, mistaken. As a letter from the Alliance Defense Fund regarding the Missouri personhood initiative points out, “Such charges are no more than scare tactics. The truth is that federal tax law allows a church to spend at least 5% (in some cases, up to 20%) of its total resources on direct lobbying for legislation, which includes both ballot initiatives and referenda. This certainly includes the right of church leaders to urge their congregations to vote for life and in support of the Personhood Amendment. Plainly stated, there is nothing in federal tax law to prevent a pastor from directly telling the congregation to support legislation that the church believes to be beneficial to the community and that would uphold the sanctity of life.”

Personhood Kansas would again like to thank Kansas pastors and churches for their efforts regarding the Personhood Kansas petition drive. If your congregation has not yet participated, we would encourage you to approach your church leadership in support of the right to life and full human personhood for all human beings, born and preborn.

And as always, be on the lookout for new faces to welcome with open arms. As Concerned Women for America asserts, “Anything that gets pro-choicers to attend a church service can't be all bad.”

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