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National pro-life advocate addresses students,
campus
By Emily Stack
Collegian Reporter
On Tuesday Georgette Forney met with Hillsdale
College students in the Knorr Room to advise and encourage them
in the pro-life cause.
Afterwards, Forney addressed an audience of
community members and college students at the annual Right to
Life banquet.
As co-founder of the national "Silent
No More Awareness Campaign," Forney advocates approaching
the abortion debate with the health and concerns of the woman
in mind.
"A lot of women will be hesitant because
they see [pro-life advocates] as judgmental," she said.
In order to win the debate, the pro-life movement needs to adopt
new campaign themes, Forney said.
"Women will still have abortions if they
don't have the resources they need," she said.
Focused on women deserving a better option
than abortion, she said pro-life advocates should offer an alternative
to abortion by addressing a pregnant woman's emotional and financial
concerns.
Additionally, Forney's focus is not on changing
the law but on changing the social mindset.
"Legal or illegal, it doesn't make a
difference to me," she said. "I want [abortion] to
become unthinkable, that if someone suggests a woman have an
abortion, they're considered pond scum."
The inspiration for addressing post-abortion
issues came from Forney's own life. When she was 16 years old,
she had an abortion. The forgiveness she found much later in
life became her motivation for the "Silent No More"
program.
Furthermore, Forney analyzed the predicament
college students might find themselves in.
Forney described the college student's generation
as being willing to bring hard issues into public discussion.
"You've seen a lot of tranquilizers and
methods of seeking joy and pleasure," she said.
"We've got a lot of people who've bought
into a culture of hurt and where anything and everything is
OK. With your generation we'll see a real resurgence and a backlash
on sexual freedom."
At the banquet, college students came in record
numbers.
In his second year of attendance, junior Joshua
McKinley said he attended to show his support for others involved
in the cause.
"I want to be able to support the pro-life
movement through my presence," he said.
College students also provided entertainment
during the dinner. Elliot Wild, Jon Brunick, Jason Lantz, and
Nathan Loizeaux performed as a barbershop quartet, and Sarah
Rittgers played the harp.
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