Stranded whales and aborted babies

I like whales. Ever since I read Herman Melville’s 1851 novel, Moby Dick, in the sixth grade I have been fascinated by whales. I find the biblical story of Jonah and his encounter with a whale even more intriguing.

I can’t say that I spend a lot of time with whales, but I really do enjoy reading about whales and watching them on the Discovery Channel. I even like the Pacific Life logo and advertisements that feature whales breaching, pushing themselves above the surface of the ocean, and plunging back into the briny deep with a mighty splash.

I have been whale watching on several occasions and once got within 30 or 40 feet of a great Humpback Whale as it surfaced near our boat. The marine biologists on our boat said that the Humpback Whale could measure up to 53 feet long and weigh as much a 50 tons.

You can imagine how distressed I get when I read about breaching whales becoming beached whales. I recently read about forty-six Pilot Whales that had been stranded on the tidal flats about a half-mile from shore near Dennis, Mass. Scores of volunteers, who had been equipped for such a crisis through the Cape Cod Stranding Network Training Program, responded to this dreadful emergency. Since the tidal flats were not accessible by car, the volunteers had to walk two miles through wet marshes to get to the imperiled whales.

The volunteers brought their bedspreads, towels, sheets, and whatever they had available, soaked them in water and used them to cover the giant mammals to keep the hot sun from burning them. The animal lovers did everything they could to preserve the lives of the whales until the tide came in to hopefully rescue the sea creatures from certain death.

One observer stated, “As the tide came in we could see more movement of the whales: tails flailing, water being blown out of their blow holes, and much more verbal activity… both excitement and death cries. There was one baby who kept crying for its mother. It was such a sad sound that I will never forget.

“They were confused, disoriented, and in shock and couldn’t figure out the way to freedom. It was sad when we learned that they had to euthanize them all because none would survive. They just could not make it through another low tide. [That night] we sat on the bed with tears in our eyes, remembering their sounds and vocalizations, their facial expressions and their playfulness in the water. They were never quiet in the water, always talking to us. Their faces had that little smile as they swam by and peered up at us only a foot or two away. What began as a day with great anticipation with the thought of saving the Pilot Whales yet again, turned out to be one of the saddest days … and one we will never forget.”

Not only do people respond with their time and physical energy to attempt to rescue endangered animals, but also there are people who contribute great sums of money to save animals that are at risk. Stockbroker David Selig explained, “Our entire estate is going to three animal charities.” He and his wife, Molly, have decided not to have children. “Quite frankly I’d rather be on the couch with Molly and my six dogs than people,” Selig said.

Retired television game show host Bob Barker estimates that he has given between $40 million and $50 million to animal welfare causes over the 30 years he has been involved.

While I have admitted a fascination with whales and have an appreciation for all of God’s zoological creations it is absolutely asinine that we would adore animals and abort babies. Talk about straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel!

While dedicated volunteers are occasionally called upon to save the Pilot Whales near Cape Cod, abortions happen much more frequently in nearby towns and cities. On Sept. 13, 2007 Laura Hope Smith, a beautiful 22-year-old brunette, was having an abortion less than ten miles away. Laura and her friend, Karen, had arrived at the Women’s Health Center in the morning for preparatory steps to abort the baby Laura had carried 13 weeks. The two young women were to return in the afternoon for the actual procedure.

One reporter chronicled the event: “Laura wasn’t suppose to drive, so Karen drove and the two ran errands. Because Laura wasn’t supposed to eat, Karen fasted with her friend.

“They returned to the facility at about 4 in the afternoon and waited. Laura was called in at about 5, back to where Dr. Rapin Osathanondh and his instruments waited for her. Karen stepped out briefly, expecting her friend to be out of surgery in about fifteen minutes. But Laura didn’t emerge from the bowels of the clinic. A worried Karen grew increasingly distressed.”

Karen told the Cape Cod Times, “All of a sudden [an assistant] comes out and says she’s not breathing. And I was like, what do you mean she’s not breathing.”

The report explained, “Fire department rescuers were dispatched to the clinic at 5:49 p.m. and found an unresponsive patient. They initiated CPR and took her to the hospital. Karen followed, but was not permitted to see her friend. She asked about Laura’s condition. ‘It doesn’t look good,’ she was told. Because next of kin hadn’t been notified yet, the doctor couldn’t tell Karen the truth; Laura was already dead on arrival. It was 6:22 p.m.”

January 23rd marks the 35th anniversary of the infamous Roe v. Wade decision when abortion was legalized in the United States. Emphasize the sanctity of life in your church this Sunday. Support the Memorial Service for the Unborn at the Georgia State Capitol steps on Tuesday, Jan. 22 at 11:30 a.m. (featured speakers are Mike Huckabee, Gary Bauer, and Wilton Gregory) or support similar services in your locale. Let’s also work to get the Paramount Human Life Amendment (HR 536) on the ballot in November.

Why bother? Because we are in a whale of a mess and Georgia Baptists need to stand up for LIFE.