The actual goals of each march, however, could not be more different, and the immense gulf separating demonstrators from each march serves effectively to underscore the massive divides in American culture regarding the status of the unborn and what constitutes such fundamental concepts as life and choice.

First was the highly publicized Women’s March, which hit cities around the United States in addition to the main demonstration in Washington, D.C. “The Washington rally alone attracted over 500,000 people according to city officials. It was easily one of the biggest demonstrations in the city’s history

. . . The rally featured speeches from women’s rights activist Gloria Steinem, Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards, Madonna, actresses Ashley Judd and Scarlett Johansson and director Michael Moore, among others” (Meghan Keneally, “More Than 1 Million Rally at Women’s Marches in US and Around World,” ABC News, Jan. 22, 2017).

While marchers protested various aspects of the American political and social landscape, including vehement criticisms of new U.S. President Donald Trump, much of the rhetoric focused on abortion rights:

“The march was originally unfocused in its mission, but . . . [became] more and more defined by a progressively liberal agenda. Planned Parenthood [was] the biggest sponsor of the march . . . [The week before] the march’s organizers released a platform and list of principles calling for ‘open access to safe, legal, affordable abortion and birth control for all people, regardless of income, location or education’” (Perry Stein, “Is There a Place at the Women’s March for Women Who Are Politically Opposed to Abortion?” The Washington Post, Jan. 18, 2017).

It is beyond ironic that a demonstration of hundreds of thousands claiming to be fighting for equality and justice is built on keeping the continued abuse of power against the human rights of the unborn—abortion—legal and a societal norm.

Just six days later Washington, D.C., was host to yet another massive demonstration, and again the focus was abortion. This time, however, at the annual

March for Life, demonstrators gathered with the common goal of raising awareness of the struggle against abortion.

Much like its pro-abortion counterpart march, the March for Life saw a diverse group of interested Americans descend on the nation’s capital: “Every year the March makes evident just how phenomenally young and vibrant the pro-life movement is, bolstered by students who travel from hundreds of colleges, universities, and high schools all across the country, often sleeping on buses overnight or driving for two days straight” (Alexandra Desanctis, “Huge, Diverse Crowd Marches for Life in the Nation’s Capital,” National Review,Jan. 27, 2017).

These two marches, and their associated social movements, highlight the increasingly massive gulf separating Americans in terms of moral compass and views of what even constitutes justice and truth.

God spoke through His prophets in the land of Israel to that nation at that time, and they cried aloud for truth and justice to prevail in a society that had rejected God’s standards of morality and right. Micah’s message to his nation rings true in our ears today as well: “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).

Those who recognize the intrinsic value of human life as given by God continue to pray that the nation’s laws will once again recognize the sanctity of God-given life. (Sources: ABC News, The Washington Post, National Review.)