The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

Symposium attendees smile for the camera.
SMU helps women cast a net into the ocean of (net)working
Evangeline Bulick, contributor • March 27, 2024
The observatory sits behind Dallas Hall on Daniel Street
What is that?
March 25, 2024
Instagram

Mustangs for Life: Promoting human dignity

By Chris Thrailkill

On Dec. 10, 1948, a newly formed United Nations established the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Articles 3 and 5 of the Declaration are as follows:

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

These two quotes form a powerful standard for the dignity of man that are not just expected, but are outright guaranteed as rights by the international community. It’s these two statements that are largely at the crux of why I consider myself pro-life.

A common misconception is that pro-lifers are only concerned with abortion. While that may be true for some, it seems to me that to be pro-life means that you need to be an advocate for life in all the myriad forms and shapes it takes in humanity.

I agree with Ms. Day’s recent article that as an organization, Mustangs for Life, should be concerned with homeless children, the women and teenagers who are at medical risk during childbirth and those who don’t know where their next meal will come from. On top of that, we need to be concerned with the elderly, the disabled, the child and truly anyone struggling not only for their right to life, but also to a decent quality of life. It’s true that Mustangs for Life does not support abortion, but for many of us in the organization, the right to be born is a necessary prerequisite to fighting for quality of life.

Mustangs for Life as a student organization has strongly advocated service in its three semesters of existence. In fact, we’re registered under SMU as a service organization. In this time span, the organization has donated approximately 700 baby items ranging from onesies to diaper boxes to car seats for expectant mothers in the Dallas city area, participated in service projects with special needs children at Scottish Rite Hospital and spent many an hour tabling at Hughes-Trigg Student Center in order to engage in meaningful discussion to encourage others to advocate every human being’s intrinsic dignity.

I believe we all realize that abortion is an option that no one takes lightly or takes pleasure in choosing. The questions facing a scared teenage mother, a victim of rape or incest, a young woman whose baby might die mere moments after birth, are nearly unfathomable. Consider this, however — how many countless people were born in similar circumstances and managed not only to get by, but thrive and help their fellow man in turn? By choosing life, meaning can be found in even the most difficult of situations.

Without the right to life itself, all other rights inherently lose some meaning. So while we will continue to advocate life-affirming options for women who find themselves pregnant, we seek to guarantee that right regardless of circumstance. We will also continue to promote a life with dignity and worth for everyone, regardless of age, gender, race or any circumstance of birth or economics.

To anyone who is curious as to what Mustangs for Life stands for as an organization, bi-weekly meetings are held Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.. We also encourage anyone who is looking to discuss any topic regarding life and respect for the person to walk up to one of our regular tabling sessions. Mustangs for Life will only continue to expand its service to all corners of life. I personally look forward to working alongside anyone who wants to help stand for human dignity.

Thrailkill is a sophomore majoring in music and political science.

More to Discover