Teaching our youth that the preborn are not children and merely fetuses without the right to life or respect is a grave danger to the moral fabric of our society. This mindset undermines human life's intrinsic value and dignity at its most vulnerable stage. It desensitizes young minds to the sanctity of life and fosters a culture where the worth of individuals is measured by arbitrary criteria rather than their inherent humanity.

When we fail to acknowledge the personhood of the preborn, we erode the fundamental principle that all life is precious and deserving of protection. This not only affects our views on the unborn but also sets a precedent for how we treat the marginalized, the weak, and the defenseless in our society. By instilling a belief that the preborn are unworthy of life and respect, we risk raising a generation that is indifferent to the suffering and rights of others.

It is imperative that we teach our youth the importance of compassion, respect, and the recognition of the inherent dignity of every human being, from conception to natural death. Only by doing so can we hope to cultivate a society that truly values and upholds the sanctity of life in all its forms.

THE UNFORGIVABLE PROPAGANDA

In Ohio, a deceased person’s body is respected, and their sanctity is preserved by law, no matter their state of brain activity. Those who live through artificial means, dependent on tubes and machines, are granted rights and protections, their dignity upheld. Yet, a child, thriving within the womb, dependent on their mother for sustenance and growth, is astonishingly denied the same rights, the same due process, and equal application of the law. Their value and potential are overlooked simply because they are not considered persons and are still in the process of being formed, still within the safe embrace of their mother. This discrepancy starkly highlights the paradox in how we treat the preborn compared to the deceased and those kept alive through medical means.

"I THINK, THEREFORE I AM!"

Preborn babies develop measurable brain waves at about 6 to 7 weeks of gestation. By this time, the neural tube, which eventually becomes the central nervous system, has formed, and the brain begins to develop. By around 8 weeks, the brain's electrical activity can be detected, indicating the early stages of brain wave activity. This is a critical developmental milestone, reflecting the beginning of brain function.

~René Descartes

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. addressed the broader concept of personhood and human dignity in several of his speeches and writings, emphasizing the inherent worth and rights of every individual. Here are a few quotes that relate to the concept of personhood:

1. "I Have a Dream" Speech (1963):

   • "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'"

   • This quote underscores the idea that every person has intrinsic value and rights from the moment of their creation.

2. "Letter from Birmingham Jail" (1963):

   • "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."

   • This passage reflects the interconnectedness and inherent dignity of all individuals, highlighting the universal nature of personhood.

3. "Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?" (1967):

   • "The time has come for an all-out world war against poverty. The rich nations must use their vast resources of wealth to develop the underdeveloped, school the unschooled, and feed the unfed. Ultimately a great nation is a compassionate nation. No individual or nation can be great if it does not have a concern for 'the least of these.'"

   • Here, King speaks to the moral obligation to recognize and uplift the personhood of those who are marginalized and impoverished.

While Dr. King did not specifically address the issue of personhood from conception in his speeches, his overarching themes of equality, justice, and the inherent dignity of every human being align with the principles that underpin the concept of personhood.

"WE ARE MORE ALIKE MY FRIENDS, THAN WE ARE UNALIKE."

Preborn babies develop fingerprints at around 10 to 12 weeks of gestation. By this time, the ridges on the fingers begin to form, which will eventually become unique fingerprints. This development continues and becomes more defined throughout the pregnancy.

Preborn babies are unique individuals from the earliest stages of development, distinct from their mother's body. One compelling piece of evidence for this individuality is the formation of fingerprints. At around 10 to 12 weeks of gestation, the tiny ridges on a preborn baby's fingers begin to form, creating patterns that will become their unique fingerprints. These fingerprints are not just a random occurrence; they are a complex and individualized feature that no other person, including the mother, will ever share.

This development continues and becomes more defined throughout pregnancy, underscoring the preborn baby's distinct identity. While the preborn baby relies on the mother for nourishment and protection, this connection does not diminish their status as a separate being. The formation of unique fingerprints is a profound indicator that, even in the womb, the preborn child possesses individuality and personal identity.

The case for recognizing the preborn as their own person extends beyond biological markers. Just as the development of brain waves at around 6 to 7 weeks and a detectable heartbeat at around 6 weeks signify life, the formation of unique fingerprints emphasizes the preborn baby's distinctness. Each fingerprint is a testament to the inherent individuality and personhood of the preborn, deserving of recognition and protection under the law.

~Maya Angelou

Jeremiah 1:5 states: "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee, and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."

BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION:

1. Divine Foreknowledge: "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee;" This phrase emphasizes that God's knowledge of Jeremiah (and by extension, each person) predates physical conception. It suggests that God has a personal and intimate knowledge of every individual even before they are physically formed in the womb. This implies that personhood and identity are recognized by God before physical existence.

2. Divine Formation: "I formed thee in the belly" This indicates that God is actively involved in the creation and formation of life within the womb. It underscores the idea that each person is purposefully made by God, further supporting the intrinsic value and individuality of each human being from the earliest stages of development.

3. Sanctification and Purpose: "Before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee," To sanctify means to set apart for a holy purpose. This part of the verse highlights that even before birth, God has a specific plan and purpose for each person. In Jeremiah's case, he was set apart to be a prophet. This implies that every individual has a unique purpose ordained by God, which begins even before birth.

4. Ordination to a Mission: "And I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." This final part of the verse indicates that Jeremiah was appointed by God for a specific mission and role in life. It underscores the belief that life has inherent purpose and meaning, assigned by God from the very beginning.

Significance:

Jeremiah 1:5 illustrates that personhood and individual purpose are recognized by God before physical birth. It conveys the idea that life is sacred and valued by God from the moment of conception and that each individual is known, formed, and destined for a unique purpose. This scripture strongly supports the notion that preborn babies are distinct individuals with their own identity and destiny, deserving of recognition and protection.