Remarks by the President in Telephone Message to March for Life Rally

Office of the Press Secretary (White House) ^ | January 24, 2005 | President George W. Bush

[West Coast Conservative]

THE PRESIDENT: Nellie, thank you. Thanks a lot for inviting me to speak. I know it's chilly there in Washington, but weather hasn't stopped thousands of participants from marching for life for the past 32 years, and it did not this year, either. And so I'm honored to be a part of this tremendous witness that is taking place in our Nation's Capitol, and it's good to hear your voice again.

You know, we come from many backgrounds -- different backgrounds, but what unites us is our understanding that the essence of civilization is this: The strong have a duty to protect the weak. (Applause.)

I appreciate so very much your work toward building a culture of life-- (applause) -- a culture that will protect the most innocent among us and the voiceless. We are working to promote a culture of life, to promote compassion for women and their unborn babies. (Applause.) We know -- we know that in a culture that does not protect the most dependent, the handicapped, the elderly, the unloved, or simply inconvenient become increasingly vulnerable.

The America of our dreams, where every child is welcomed in law -- in life, and protected in law may still be some ways away, but even from the far side of the river, Nellie, we can see its glimmerings. (Applause.) We're making progress in Washington. I've been working with members of the Congress to pass good, solid legislation that protects the vulnerable and promotes the culture of life. I signed into law a ban on partial birth abortion. (Applause.) Infants who are born despite an attempted abortion are now protected by law. (Applause.) So are nurses and doctors who refused to be any part of an abortion. (Applause.) And prosecutors can now charge those who harm or kill a pregnant woman with harming or killing her unborn child. (Applause.)

We're also moving ahead in terms of medicine and research to make sure that the gifts of science are consistent with our highest values of freedom, equality, family, and human dignity. We will not sanction the creation of life only to destroy it. (Applause.)

What I'm saying is we're making progress, and this progress is a tribute to your perseverance and to the prayers of the people. I want to thank you, especially, for the civil way that you have engaged one of America's most contentious issues. I encourage you to take heart from our achievements, because a true culture of life cannot be sustained solely by changing laws. We need, most of all, to change hearts. (Applause.) And that is what we're doing, seeking common ground where possible, and persuading increasing numbers of our fellow citizens of the rightness of our cause.

This is the path to the culture of life that we seek for our country. And on its coldest days, and one of our coldest days, I encourage you to take warmth and comfort from our history which tells us that a movement that appeals to the noblest and most generous instincts of our fellow Americans -- and that is based on a sacred promise enshrined in our founding document that this movement will not fail. (Applause.)

And so on this day of compassion, where warm hearts are confronting the cold weather, I ask that God bless you for your dedication, and may God continue to bless our great country. And thank you for letting me share this moment with you, Nellie. (Applause.)

[Huck]

the essence of civilization is this: The strong have a duty to protect the weak. (Applause.)

I wish I had some of what he's smoking.

[Huck]

in our Nation's Capitol

Shouldn't that be "our nation's capital?" It wasn't in the Capitol building was it?

[Diamond]

I wish I had some of what he's smoking.

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless;
maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
Rescue the weak and needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

Psalm 82:3,4

Cordially,

[Huck]

Pretty passage.Totally divorced from the history of "civilization," but it's nice poetry.

[jeffie77]

my parents & aunt are there marching today! I'm proud of being pro-life. I like President Bush's phrase "culture of life." It includes us all. How sad that today the culture of life took a hit when the judgment came down against Terri Schiavo.

[Catholic Iowan]

Since when is scripture divorced from the history of civilization?

[GregB]

Must be a troll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[don-o]

Well, there we have it.

Why did not Bush break tradition and actually come to the rally insteadid of phoning it in?

[livius]

Great call! I remember a March for Life when Clinton took the occasion to sign some sort of horrible pro-abortion act (I don't even remember which one, but he held it back just to sign it on that day).

I was living in New York at that time, and oddly enough, Senator Pat Moynahan, although he had not remained in his office, had set out very polite young staffers to welcome us and let us write comments. Other people's senators were positively hostile and their offices were simply closed.

[nuclady]

I will humbly add to 'Diamond's' reply:
Ps.82:5 (Amplified Bible)

The magistrates and judges know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in the darkness [of complacent satisfaction]; all the foundations of the earth [the fundamental principles upon which rests the adminstration of justice] are shaking.

[Diamond]

Pretty passage.Totally divorced from the history of "civilization," but it's nice poetry.

The Bible is in large part the history of civilization. It's place in the founding and history of this nation, as just one example out of many that could be cited, is indisputable.

Cordially,

[Huck]

Yes, the Bible is a large part of history. However, the weak helping the strong--as a matter of national policy?--is mostly a pipe dream. Ask the Navajos how much civilization helps the weak.

[Huck]

Sorry, meant to say the strong protecting the weak.

[Diamond]

Thanks for your response. I think I see what you mean now. You are stating an accurate descriptive account of an awful lot of human history.

It seems to me that the POTUS was probably alluding to the aformentioned passage (or one of many like it) that are prescriptive and not merely descriptive in nature. The comments of the POTUS, by virtue of his position, are noteworthy in the history of civilization. But more than that, there are examples in history where these principles and moral imperatives have not been just a pipe dream. The abolition of slavery in this country by the government, which was in large part fueled by Bible believing Christians, is one big example of the success of the application of the principle that the government exists to secure the inalienable rights of everyone, and that all, even the weak and the powerless are to be considered equal before the law.

Cordially,

[Huck]

I think I was just cranky when I read the president's remarks.