12-Year-Old Makes Impact With Pro-Life Speech
by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 02/23/2009 at 11:56 AM
As a children's magazine editor, I love a great kid story. And today I read one. According to WorldNetDaily:
Despite facing threats of disqualification, a 12-year-old girl took first place in a speech contest when she eloquently argued for the rights of unborn children – after an offended judge quit.
"What if I told you that right now, someone was choosing if you were going to live or die?" the seventh-grader begins in a video recording of her speech on YouTube. "What if I told you that this choice wasn't based on what you could or couldn't do, what you'd done in the past or what you would do in the future? And what if I told you, you could do nothing about it?"
The girl, a student at a Toronto school identified only as "Lia," continued:
"Fellow students and teachers, thousands of children are right now in that very situation. Someone is choosing without even knowing them whether they are going to live or die.
"That someone is their mother. And that choice is abortion."
Though Lia's teacher strongly encouraged her student to choose a different topic or she would not be allowed to continue on in the speech competition, the 12-year-old persisted. "She forfeited her chance to compete in order to speak on something she was passionate about," Lia's mother says.
But Lia's speech was so good that her teacher allowed her to advance as the winner. She gave her speech in front of the entire school. The next day she was suddenly disqualified because of the content of her speech. However, the decision was reversed and Lia was declared the winner.
Now Lia plans to take her message of life to a regional speech competition, and more than 130,000 visitors have viewed her presentation online.
"Why do we think that just because a fetus can't talk or do what we do, it isn't a human being yet?" She asks in the video. "Some babies are born after only five months. Is this baby not human?
"We would never say that. Yet abortions are performed on 5-month-old fetuses all the time. Or do we only call them humans if they're wanted?"
She continues, "No, fetuses are definitely humans – knit together in their mother's womb by their wonderful Creator who knows them all by name."
Out of the mouth of babes. Good job, Lia.
HT: Tim Challies
1. Marc said the following at 12:45 PM on Feb 23:
Now THIS is a good example of "our nation's future"! :-)
2. Celebrindal said the following at 1:02 PM on Feb 23:
I saw that speech a couple days ago. She did a really good job. I was impressed at her knowledge and speaking ability and she got right to the heart of the issue. If more people would stand up as she did, we might see some change for the better in this country.
3. Kendra said the following at 2:58 PM on Feb 23:
This is so awesome.
4. brx said the following at 4:03 PM on Feb 23:
I find it rather appalling that so many teachers & school administrators seem to be unable to judge fairly according to objective criteria. I know and appreciate the many good, fair teachers out there, but it still boggles my mind when I hear of stories like this 'judge' who had to be convinced to step down - or even had to step down at all.
That's a pretty darn good speach for a 7th grader! - better than many high-schoolers'.
Grace, peace & adventure in risk-taking!
5. Sarah said the following at 6:25 PM on Feb 23:
this is such an awesome story. :) my dad called me to watch this last night, and i was SO excited to see such a strong example of faith, even under fire! and from a twelve-year-old! Those of us blessed enough to know the Saviour need to learn to stand up for justice the way she has. wonderful. :)
6. Christopher from Albuquerque said the following at 6:54 PM on Feb 23:
This young girl is living proof of the fact that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." (Proverbs (9:10, NASB) I know many people who have far more formal education and technical training than Lia who do not possess the *true wisdom* that she does. Such wisdom comes from knowing the Lord.
Lia, if you happen to read this, thank you so much for your speech! Godly young people, such as yourself, give me great hope for upcoming generations!
7. BDB said the following at 7:08 PM on Feb 23:
Wow - back in my debate days, we were warned that if we picked controversial topics, we risked losing because of judge bias on the topic. But they certainly weren't "banned." It is disturbing when adults want to silence speech they disagree with.
But perhaps people will listen to the respectful questions of a child when they won't listen to anyone else.
8. Saidahwk said the following at 10:40 PM on Feb 23:
That's stinkin' cool. I want kids that brave and that awesome.
9. Katie said the following at 11:34 PM on Feb 23:
What a sweetheart. It is so encouraging to see young kids so adamantly taking a stand for something so unjust.
10. Jo said the following at 12:51 AM on Feb 24:
Wow, I only intended to watch the first bit of her video but she drew me in. :) That's a very good speaker. Imagine what she could be doing in 15 years.
11. Kate said the following at 7:26 AM on Feb 24:
What amazing resolve in somebody so young! I hope that she will continue refining her skills and wisdom and do more great things as she grows up.
In my (public) high school, the topic of abortion was off-limits for any and all assignments. This was strictly enforced, although I don't remember anyone trying very hard to pursue the topic. We were told the reason for this was that it was too inflammatory and essentially encouraged not to think about it.
At least it wasn't set up so students could speak in favor of abortion but were not allowed to speak against it!
12. Christina (in green) said the following at 8:45 AM on Feb 24:
"Even though you can't see them or hear them at all, a person's a person no matter how small!"
-Horton
She ended that PERFECTLY! lol
13. Katie P. in AZ said the following at 1:34 PM on Feb 24:
And this kind of result in a child is what makes me passionate about working with them. Think of all the people in her life who influenced her this way!! I want to be that kind of encouragement to children.
14. Heidi Marie said the following at 2:31 PM on Feb 24:
Wow! That's amazing! Go, Lia!
15. Karen said the following at 3:30 PM on Feb 24:
You go girl! I did a speech on abortion at age 12 too, but mine was nearly as compelling as this one. :^)
16. Stefanie said the following at 6:17 PM on Feb 25:
As a teacher I have a lot of hope for our future, but I have a reaffirmed faith in the souls of our future after this.
Thank you! :)
17. Kelly Jean Evans said the following at 8:14 AM on Feb 28:
My first reaction....I cried. Tears of sadness and tears of joy. As a former Youth Group Advisor, you always hope that these young people are forming opinions and morals for themselves. But how often are they given the chance to take them for a test drive? Obviously this is a prime example, because those teachers are thinking really should a 12-yr old really be focusing on this issue? Of course she should when you think of what the world exposes our children too! The innocence of child, who's thoughts are pure, what a beautiful voice for the un-born! Many kudos to Lia, she will be a great leader if she hasn't already begun this journey...:)