President Obama’s Mock Speech on Slavery at Notre Dame

This is a mock-up of President Obama’s speech on May 17, 2009 at Notre Dame as though he is speaking of slavery, not abortion.

—I want to thank you for this honorary degree. I know it has not been without controversy. We must find a way to live together as one human family. Finding that common ground is not easy.

Those who speak out against slavery may be rooted in admirable conviction about the sacredness of life, but so are the slave-owners who feed their children and make their living by owning slaves. How do we work through these conflicts? Nowhere do these questions come up more powerfully than on the issue of slavery.

Maybe we won’t agree on slavery, but we can still agree that this is a heart-wrenching decision for any slave owner to make, with both moral and spiritual dimensions. So, let’s work together to reduce the number of slaves. Let’s make certain that slaves are properly cared for. —

In the mock speech, President Obama fails to recognize the core essence of the debate over slavery, the civil and human rights of those bought and sold. Instead, he tries to find ways to reduce the incidence of slavery. Using eloquent words yesterday at Notre Dame, President Obama once again failed to address the foundational problem of abortion, the human and civil rights of the unborn child.

Barbara Lyons