VHeadline New York-based columnist Mary MacElveen writes: In the United States of America, when a person strikes out in their independent thinking either it is heralded as showing courage or it is struck down with such condemnation.  Just recently, I came to realize, through some soul searching, that I am pro-life.  That is not an easy thing to do when many see you as a progressive writer.

I do not like labels much, but people seem to feel the need to use them.

• Before writing two columns cconveying this stance, I was as nervous as a GAY person coming out of the closet at a Republican convention ... but, I sucked it up and let it rip.

As you will see in my previous column on abortion it was met with such venom.  As a person who is against the war in Iraq and proclaiming my pro-life stance, I saw it as being consistent.  Sadly, others did not see it that way ... but, hey that's freedom and we all have the right to freedom of thought and speech.

In fact in that original column, I included a video feed called The Truth about Abortion which I noticed has been viewed by more than 200 people.  As I am typing this column, the present counter reads 219.  Some of those increased hits came from me as I have been checking to see if that counter has moved much.  Well it hasn't.  Were people afraid to see the horrors of abortion?  Or were they afraid to face the truth?  I do think the latter.  Are they terrified it may turn their belief system upside down?

In previous anti-war columns written for my blog as well as for VHeadline.com and others, I have embedded feeds of the horrors of wars.  I wonder if some are willing to view those since it meshes in with their anti-war status.  But, the minute I throw in a pro-life feed, folks run away as fast as they can.

I've even stated that I do not see the difference of babies killed by DU and white phosphorus to those who are aborted each day.  Yet, many fail to see that similarity.  While some are taken by war, some in the pro-life movement see abortion as a war targeting the unborn.

In any event, you are probably wondering what all this has to do with Venezuela?  Before I do so, I've always noticed pro-Venezuelan and pro-President Chavez pieces being circulated around various progressive lists which are primarily made up of Democrats ... they love his brand of socialism and how he cares for the poor ... I still admire him for doing all of that!  Some have even remarked on various lists or direct to me that they wish they could move to Venezuela, and I have noticed that many will sound the alarm bell if a woman's right to choose is endangered.

So, I did some digging today and came upon this website which clearly states that abortion is illegal in Venezuela unless the mother's life is in danger.  I would say that's consistent thinking especially when Venezuela is a pacifist nation and does not illegally invade other countries namely Iraq causing the deaths of one million Iraqis.

In Venezuela, they do not even have the death penalty.  Again, it is consistent in that country's pro-life stance.

As I was blasted by those who support the pro-choice movement, I wonder what their concepts of Venezuela are now in coming to realize that abortion is not a woman's right to choose in that country ... would they still seek to move there?

In this country (USA), those on the right scream for abortions to end, but they're failing to realize that one must support these children they wish brought into this world.  Perhaps they'll wake up to see that at least Venezuela is taking care of these children by providing free health care and feeding the poor with the profits coming from the sale of CITGO oil. 

• Why the hostility towards Venezuela when there is a consistency in thought that if you bring a child into this world, it must be taken care of.
   
• Why is that so foreign to those on the right?

Yet, many on the right and within our government will label the Chavez government as a rogue regime.  I find that interesting.

As the right is ratcheting up the propaganda which may lead the United States into invading Iran for its alleged nuclear enrichment program, according to that same website, abortion is also illegal in Iran unless the mother's life is in danger.

I just thought I would point that out so that those on the left would realize that as well. 

Many on the left seem to herald President Ahmadinejad ... many came to his defense as he spoke before the Columbia School of Journalism and was called a dictator.  How do they feel now knowing full well that, in Iran, abortion is not a woman's right to choose?  How do the religious extremists, who are calling for a war with Iran, now see Iran since abortion is illegal?  I think that all of these questions raised are valid points.

In pointing out this chart to a mainstream journalist who I've been corresponding with for years and who has appeared regularly on Fox News, he said, "Thanks for this, and thanks also for this chart. I count myself as pro-life, but I certainly think that the corollary to that is that every child, after it is born, gets a good home, guaranteed, if necessary, by the government."

I would have to say that I agree with him on this front ... I'd rather have my tax money going to help bring children into this world and cared for, instead of funding wars that take the lives of so many innocents.

In closing, if you are still one of those folks angry with President Chavez for calling Bush "the Devil" at the United Nation's Assembly last year, at least his government cares for its children before they're born and well after they are born.

Can we say the same?