Last week I was on the ground in Des Moines, Iowa where Citizens United Productions premiered our inspirational pro-life documentary The Gift Of Life in front of an audience of over 1,200 Iowans. The premiere and pro-life forum, hosted with Governor Mike Huckabee, was a tremendous success. We had a packed house at the Hoyt Sherman Place, which included four GOP hopefuls and local Iowa pro-life leaders, to witness the world premiere. At the end of the night, The Gift Of Life and the cast in attendance touched the hearts of the audience and received a prolonged standing ovation from the crowd.
Brian Fairrington / Cagle Cartoons (click to view more cartoons by Fairrington)
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, Speaker Newt Gingrich, Governor Rick Perry, and Senator Rick Santorum took time out of their busy schedules to attend the forum and speak about one of the most important moral crises we face as a nation: how we treat human life in its most nascent form. All the candidates spoke movingly about their own personal beliefs and I believe that their support for the pro-life movement is unwavering. I only wish that we could have had a full slate of speakers there so Iowans could hear what Congressman Ron Paul, Governor Mitt Romney, and Governor Jon Huntsman had to say about the sanctity of life. (If you were unable to watch the forum live on CSPAN 2 on the night of the event, CSPAN has posted the full speaker portion online which you can watch HERE.)
Citizens United Productions teamed up to produce The Gift of Life with Governor Huckabee to change the way this divisive issue is approached and to open the hearts and minds of all Americans. This film brings to the forefront the inspirational and personal stories of those affected by the scourge of abortion as well as the leaders who are on the front lines fighting for the sanctity of life each and every day. Governor Huckabee is a tireless advocate for life and has been steadfast in his efforts to lead the pro-life cause on the main stage.
The economy and jobs are important issues that may determine this election, but the value we place on the sanctity of life is what determines who we are as a nation. Historically, America has been a shining example of a culture that respects life, but with Roe v. Wade we exchanged our sense of responsibility toward the protection of human life for a greater heralding of the right to terminate it. We must work to reverse this dangerous mindset.
After seeing the film, waves of people have come to us to say how inspired they are to spread the word about this enlightening film. The Gift of Life is more than just a movie, it is a movement to restore a culture of life in this country. Whoever the next President is, he or she will no doubt have the opportunity to appoint Justices to the Supreme Court, which could give us the chance to overturn the hideous decision that has led to the extermination of over 50 million innocent lives since 1973. The candidates we saw speak last week in Iowa possess the steady and moral leadership that this country so desperately needs to achieve such a great victory for life.
