The theme for this year’s March for Life is “Life Empowers: Pro-Life is Pro-Woman.”

It took me a minute to decide what I wanted to say about this simply because abortion is often seen as the cornerstone of female empowerment, and arguing otherwise is a quick way to get rhetorically (or actually) kicked clear to Kingdom Come.

Nevertheless, I think that this case can be made, and I’m going to do my best to make it.

But to start, I need to first say that I know this is a serious issue.

Believe me, I do.

Last year, I made one of the most somber appeals I could for the pro-life position, but since then, I’ve learned that levity has a way of opening people up to things they might otherwise dismiss out of hand.

Given that I’m not particularly interested in preaching to the choir on this topic, I thought I’d strike a different tune this time around.

I suppose we’ll see how it goes.

With all that being said, I’m going to try to flesh out the claim that “Life Empowers: Pro-Life is Pro-Woman” by appealing to the humble bear.

That’s right. This beauty.

So.

Freaking.

Fluffy.

Now, I’d like to start by admitting that the entirety of my knowledge on bears is mercifully second hand. I say mercifully simply because bears of all stripes top the predator lists of North American land animals, and I don’t think a run-in with one would go well for me.

At all.

Honestly, probably the lone thing I’d have going for me in a Bear vs. Sarah showdown would be that there just isn’t enough of me to bother eating.

But regardless, my point is this:

Bears are immensely powerful and can be incredibly dangerous if you encounter them on their turf.

Duh.

HOWEVER!

According to The National Park Service, human beings actually have little to fear from bears provided they do not do one particular thing…

Can you guess what that thing might be?

That’s right.

If you see one of these cute, cuddly fluff balls…

DO NOT TOUCH IT.

DO NOT BREATHE ON IT.

DO NOT EVEN GO NEAR IT.

Why?

Because if you do any of those things, the likelihood of its mama ripping your face off increases exponentially.

Do you want to go the way of Schrute? I don’t think so.

But what does any of this have to do with abortion?

Don’t worry. I’m bringing it back.

Eventually…

Bear with me.

*grins*

Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.

Anyways!

I think we can all agree that while bears can be seriously lethal predators, they are also fiercely committed protectors. Indeed, the times when they are at their most dangerous is when they are acting in defense of their lil’ bubbas.

Do you see where I’m going with this?

If not, consider this question:

What Separates Predation From Protection?

Obviously, bears can and do do both. So too can people.

After all, the same claws that can kill can cradle, and the guns that massacre school children also put down terrorists.

So if power is what they have in common, what separates predation from protection?

I’d argue it’s direction.

I know! I know! Where does a girl who failed her driver’s test FIVE times get off talking about direction?

On my blog.

Obviously.

But, in all seriousness, I think direction matters.

In fact, I think it matters quite a lot, especially when assessing whether predation or protection is more empowering.

So.

Let’s assess.

First up…

Predation

From what I can tell, the things that direct predation fall into one of three broad categories: entertainment, desperation, and calculation.

Now, based on my research, bears are not one of the animals that hunt for entertainment, so we’ll cross that one off our list.

The other two bear discussing… 🙂

#1 Desperation Based Predation

This kind of predation is a doozy because it often leads to drastic, ill-advised undertakings.

For example, in this video, a polar bear that had not eaten in months, attempted to attack a walrus herd head on.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, I guess.

It didn’t end well for the polar bear.

Unfortunately, that seems, to me, the rule not the exception of desperation based predation.

It leads to devastation one way or another, either for the prey or the predator.

Maybe even both.

And yet, many would say, “Well, when your back’s against the wall, you gotta do what you gotta do.”

I suppose that could be true.

But are desperate bears empowered bears?

I leave that up to you.

#2 Calculation Based Predation

Honestly, I think this is probably the most common iteration of predation.

It’s simple realism, really.

I mean, in the wild, it’s either eat or be eaten, so if you don’t want to be the eat-ee, you better be the eater.

“It’s either the walrus or me—not both of us.” -Polar Bear.

RIP.

But I get it. I understand.

However, is calculation based predation really a form of empowerment?

Eh…

Put another way:

If someone or something else must get hurt in order for our bear to get on or get ahead, is that really empowerment on its end?

Or is that something quite different?

You decide.

For me personally, I think every iteration of predation whether it be based on entertainment, desperation, or calculation falls short of empowerment because they are all directed—in one way or another–by things that are more or less quite selfish.

Sorry to all the bears out there, but for me, there just seems to be something wrong in saying empowerment is driven by selfishness. I mean, if that’s the case, I have to wonder whether empowerment is actually a good thing.

And yet, I think it is.

Or, at least, I think it can be.

But if predation is off the table, what’s left as a manifestation of empowerment?

Protection

When it comes to our Mama Bear, protection of her lil bubbas is her NUMBER ONE priority, and I’d argue that there can be nothing more empowering.

Why?

Well, because that kind of power is directed by love.

Selfless, maybe even sacrificial, love, and that kind of love is limitless.

Think about it.

But what does that mean for our predation vs. protection empowerment calculation?

Well, consider this:

If love is what drives protection, then protection comes from a place of surplus.

On the other hand, predation, in every iteration, comes from a place of scarcity.

One gives.

The other takes away.

So which person—I mean, bear—is more empowered?

And what the heck does any of this have to do with abortion?

FRIEND, WE ARE FINALLY BRINGING IT BACK!

Six-hundred words later…

Sorry 🙂

In all seriousness, though, it is often said that pro-life people want women to be powerless.

*Sigh.*

Does this look powerless to you?

Yeah, no.

Absolutely not.

Truly, the LAST thing I want as a pro-lifer is for women to be powerless—I want them to be powerful!

HOWEVER!

If there is anything more empowered, more powerful, than a love-driven, selfless, maybe even sacrificial, protector, I’d really like to know.

Seriously.

Let me know.

And most importantly!

To all the current and future Mama Bears out there,

I just want to settle the score. You do not ever need to be afraid to say, “I am a woman! Hear me roar!” But please… consider what direction you’re directing your roar.

If you ask me, it shouldn’t be towards your bubba, Mama Bear.

Well, that’s all I have to share on the topic of “Life Empowers: Pro-Life is Pro-Woman.” If you’re still here, thank you so much for reading. I know this is a fraught topic, but I count myself fortunate that I have people in my life with wildly disparate views on many issues. So if you read this, and you’re thinking, Sarah, you’re an absolute loon, I respect your right to your views, but I do hope that maybe even a little piece of this resonated with you.

If not, there’s always next year 🙂

I’m playing the long game here.

Also, for anyone who wants to hear any absolutely amazing presentation of the pro-life (womb to tomb) position, please, please check out Stephanie Gray Connors.