What is a Pro-Life Zoomer?

It was June 24th, 2022, in Washington DC. I walked to the elevator from my hotel room, struggling to comprehend that our pro-life summit speaker announced that Dobbs v. Jackson could potentially overturn Roe v. Wade after almost 50 years. However, as I walked into the elevator, there was a girl whose face was noticeably brightened with joy. At that very moment, I realized what had happened – Roe had been overturned! Stepping in front of the Supreme Court with my pro-life companions as we cried out in triumph will be a memory I will never forget. Though this battle between life and death has been raging for many years in our country, this decision was a significant turning point for Generation Z. However, as expected, the media twisted this moment of saving life in the womb as a potential threat to my generation's life (Cosmopolitan).

The definition of someone from Generation Z, affectionately called "Zoomers," is "the group of people who were born between the late 1990s and early 2010s, who are regarded as being familiar with the internet" (Oxford Dictionary).My generation was raised during the meteoric rise of the internet and grew up with social media documenting every moment of our lives – in fact, we do not know a world without it. Our formative years took place after 9/11, during the 2008 recession, and our high school and college years were literally plagued with the Covid-19 pandemic. Generation Z has endured significant challenges that have affected our worldview differently than most recent generations. Given everything mentioned (even though this list can go on further), the pervasive rise of mental health issues is not surprising, although not something I would have ever wished for in our collective upbringing.

Unfortunately, what I have noticed most prevalent in my generation is the idea that human lives don't matter and that one should do whatever they please. The popular phrase, "Whatever makes you happy," is normalized within our society due to the countless misguided messages that have overwhelmed us in our never-ending stream of digested media.

I want to pose a question to other pro-lifers: How can we grow a culture of life in an atmosphere full of death? Perhaps we can learn something from those on the opposite side of us – as misguided as they are. Many pro-choicers firmly and unapologetically stand on their convictions – even if they are aware of the brutal truth behind abortion. What matters to them is the right to bodily autonomy for women over the value of the preborn child. Why can't pro-lifers be as confident as the pro-choice side when our views are simply to protect innocent human life?

As someone who has been an active pro-lifer for most of my life, I would like to offer two pieces of advice to anyone — but especially my fellow Zoomers — who feel unsure about how to get involved with the pro-life movement.

First, I would like to state that being pro-life is okay. Despite what our society tries to tell us, having different views from friends, coworkers, or even family members is actually normal, and we should not be expected to remain quiet, especially when it comes to abortion. We should always have the right to state our pro-life opinions, even though harsh words, critiques, or even threats are likely to follow. I recommend practicing your debates with someone else and educating yourself on common pro-choice arguments because standing up for the lives of the preborn and being a voice for them is the least we can do for God's most vulnerable and precious creation. Never be afraid to be confidently and openly pro-life because I guarantee there are others who will stand with you – they were just waiting for the courage.

It is crucial that we, as pro-lifers, actively participate in initiatives that support mothers and their preborn children. Pro-lifers are advocates for both women and children, and we must continue to champion their rights. There are numerous opportunities to demonstrate this, from joining marches that defend the lives of the preborn to standing and praying outside of abortion facilities, volunteering at your nearest pregnancy center, making Blessing Bags for moms, or simply sharing your pro-life stance on social media or in your everyday life. By taking these actions, we can significantly contribute to creating a pro-life generation and showing others that supporting both mother and child is the most compassionate path.

Secondly, we must stop blaming others and playing the victim and take responsibility for our actions. As I stated earlier, Generation Z has already endured so much that was out of our control culturally, politically, and economically. However, this does not mean our lives are out of our control. Life is challenging, of course, but we are capable of creating a better future for ourselves and our community. The more we continue to blame others and make excuses for ourselves, the longer it will take to reach our individual and societal goals.

After Roe v. Wade was overturned, countless people, including pro-lifers, concluded that the abortion debate was finally over and that there would be no further need to support the preborn or their mothers. That notion is entirely false. There are still thousands of women – in Houston alone – who are in crisis pregnancies who are either getting dangerously unsafe abortions or using the risky chemical-based abortion pills without a doctor's visit that can seriously damage or even kill a woman – not to mention kill her baby.

These harmful factors are why we must continue providing free services for both women and their babies. Some examples include referring them to the closest pregnancy centers or helping them personally if possible. It makes the difference between life and death to provide support to a mother when she feels alone and abandoned.

You can also join a pro-life club or organization in your community, whether at your high school or college. If you don't have one, well even better, create one. The love we give will increasingly make an impact on our future moms. It will also show the world who we are as a pro-life movement and enlighten the other side on how harmful abortion truly is to women, the preborn, and our culture in general. We should all agree that the lives of the preborn deserve the same right to life as anyone else in society.

Overall, it is vital to understand the value of life. This starts by acknowledging that life begins at conception. Life, from the moment you are conceived to the moment you die, matters. Life, at any stage, is worth fighting for. Because life is so precious, you need to enjoy every aspect of it. Although life is full of difficult circumstances, life is a gift. So take this gift and cherish it for the babies who were stripped of the opportunity to experience it, and defend it for those yet to be born. Together, let's be brave and be bold for life.

By: Fernanda Ricaud