The Democrats—not the Republicans—are and always have been the real pro-life and pro-freedom party.

The human baby comes into this world dependent on others to take care of him until he can take care of himself. His life requires: food, clothing, housing, health care, love and empathy.

The Republican Party is not pro-life—it is pro-birth. They are only pro-life if you are in a woman's womb, and it ends there, where they can use it to control the choices a woman make pertaining to her own body.

If and when, against all odds, and with no help from them, the child reaches 18 years, they will use them to fight and die in their endless wars, created to fill the pockets of the weapons and energy corporations, who are the only winners. This picture is of boots that were once worn by somebody's baby. Pictures of the coffins have been forbidden by the government that claims to be proud of this war. The parents raised and loved these children for many years before our "pro-life" government sent them to be killed in their senseless, unprovoked war in Iraq. How come the government is not pro-life for them?

Those not killed in the wars will be expected to marry and raise children while working for slave wages to enrich the corporate gods. When these babies become senior citizens, and again need care and love, they want to rip out the safety net of Social Security, and health care, food and housing. How come the government is not pro-life for them?

Compassionate? Conservatives? Neither applies to the present Republican Party . . .

Under this administration we are no longer a republic. We are now a theocratic (government by a God as the ruling power, or by officials claiming divine sanctions) plutocracy (government by the wealthy).

Why are we fighting to install democratic governments all over the world when it is being taken from us here?

Maureen Conboy
Rice Lake, WI