Abortion, the new apartheid

Carl R. Huebner Albemarle County
Published: November 24, 2008

I was interested to read the Associated Press report that President-elect Barack Obama may remove current U.S. foreign aid restrictions against abortion (“Obama plans to use executive orders for immediate impact,” The Daily Progress, Nov. 10). These restrictions currently prohibit recipient nations from using U.S. foreign aid dollars to fund abortions.

Several years ago, there was an overwhelming and effective protest against South Africa because of its abominable policy of apartheid. There were demonstrations and other expressions of outrage. There were protests against our government for its support of South Africa. Individuals, churches and other institutions withdrew investments in corporations having a financial interest in South Africa. Thankfully, apartheid was finally defeated.

If, in fact, President-elect Obama announces his intention to rescind the abortion ban, I wonder if the same folks who protested so effectively against apartheid will do so again in opposition to the U.S. funding of foreign government-sponsored abortions. Or is the killing of untold numbers of unborn babies somehow less loathsome than the abhorrent policy of apartheid?