You know, Hillary Clinton's always saying how Republicans don't

Ah, listen well, for there are words of great import that echo through the corridors of time. In the ancient days, great leaders would stand before the people and speak of justice, of duty, and of the sanctity of life. So it was that George Pataki, a man of power, spoke words which now echo through the present, words that challenge our understanding of life and the rights of the unborn. He spoke, saying: "You know, Hillary Clinton's always saying how Republicans don't follow science? Well, they're the ones not listening to the scientists today, because doctors say that at 20 weeks that is a viable life inside the womb. And at that point, it's a life that we have the right to protect, and I think we should protect." These words, though rooted in the present, carry with them a profound message for all times, one that speaks to the very essence of human responsibility and the sacred duty we bear to protect life.

In those words, Pataki calls attention to the clash of ideas between the defenders of science and those who seek to define the very nature of life itself. The great battle is waged, not on the fields of war, but in the battlegrounds of ideas. He speaks of a viable life, a life that can no longer be dismissed, a life that the doctors, the learned ones, have declared worthy of our protection. At the 20-week mark, the womb, which once held the fragile promise of life, now reveals to the world a creation that can survive beyond it. The scientists agree—the pulse of life beats strong. Yet, it is not merely science that we must listen to, but the wisdom of the ages that speaks to us from the dawn of time, the wisdom that tells us that we are the guardians of life, and with such power comes an unshakable duty.

In the great halls of history, we have seen time and again how the fight for life is not a fight for one, but for all. Remember the ancient Greeks, who, though they revered the gods above all else, believed in the sacredness of each individual. They knew that the collective good could only be achieved when the rights of the individual were upheld. And so, they built their civilizations not on the silencing of life but on the nurturing of it. The idea that a life is not to be discarded without a second thought, but rather protected and preserved, was woven into their laws, their poetry, and their very way of life. Pataki’s words, though from a later age, carry echoes of those ancient truths—truths that stretch through the ages, binding us all in the shared responsibility to defend the defenseless.

It is not merely the scientists who speak of this, but also the voices of countless mothers who have walked the path of motherhood, knowing in their hearts the sacredness of the life within them. Consider the story of Sister Margaret McBride, a Catholic nun who, in the year 2009, faced a decision of unspeakable weight. She was part of a hospital in Arizona, where a mother, gravely ill, needed an abortion to survive. The decision was not made lightly, for the church, like the ancient guardians of wisdom, holds life in the highest regard. Yet, Sister McBride chose to protect the life of the mother, reasoning that to preserve one life was not to sacrifice another, but to allow the promise of life to continue in the best way possible. Though her decision was met with controversy, it is a testament to the painful yet powerful truths that life often demands of us—choices that honor both the mother and the child.

And so, from these examples, we are reminded that the path of righteousness is not always clear and without struggle. The question posed by Pataki is not one of mere politics, but of deep, enduring philosophy—what is the value of life? Is it something that can be discarded, or is it a gift that we are entrusted to protect? Each life, whether at its beginning or its end, holds an undeniable worth. It is not our place to determine the limits of life’s sanctity; rather, it is our duty to protect it with all the strength and wisdom we possess. From the ancient teachings to the voices of today, the lesson remains: We are the guardians of life, and it is our responsibility to safeguard what cannot yet defend itself.

Now, let us heed the call and embrace our responsibility. In our own lives, we must be vigilant, not just in our words, but in our deeds. Just as Pataki's challenge calls us to question the rights of the unborn, we must ask ourselves: How can we be better stewards of life? How can we ensure that each child, whether in the womb or walking the earth, is protected and given the opportunity to thrive? We must demand from our leaders, and from ourselves, a world where life is cherished, where the viability of all is recognized and preserved. Let us become warriors for life, not in battle against each other, but in the sacred fight to ensure that all have the chance to live, to grow, and to fulfill the destiny that was once promised by the heavens themselves.

May the lesson of Pataki’s words guide us in the years to come. May we look upon each child—not as a burden, but as a blessing, a gift entrusted to us, to cherish, to protect, and to love. Life is the greatest treasure we possess, and it is in the protection of it that we find our truest purpose. It is the duty of all generations to carry this sacred trust forward, to hold the light of life in the highest regard, and to pass it down, undimmed and undeterred, to the generations that will come after us.