Republic Rules - The U.S.A. is a great representative republic.

I saw a brief news clip and found the website.  Apparently, every year there is a contest to determine the World’s Ugliest Dog and, yes, some of them are really ugly.  So ugly, only their mothers could love them.  Ha!  That’s an old joke… it actually appears these dogs are very much loved by their owners.

You often hear about people who, rather than go to a pet store and buy a dog, prefer to go to a local animal shelter and adopt a dog that, if not chosen by some caring person, may be subject to some worse fate.  I applaud those who take this route… in a small way, they are making a positive contribution.  They take on the responsibility of caring for their new pet, which might be more than they expected given the circumstances some of these animals survive before being rescued.  In return, they may have to endure living with an animal full of fear or suffering from the lasting effects of earlier abuse or some malady. There are times when their reward is not apparent at all. They may, in fact, themselves actually suffer in some way from their decision to adopt the pet.

There are other times, however, despite any “problems” that may accompany it, when the adopted animal becomes “a member of the family”… receiving much love and returning just as much or more.  A pet can actually be beneficial to the mental well-being of its owner.  There have even been any cases where a pet has saved the life of its owner!

So, an “ugly” dog that might otherwise be cast aside can be a contributing member of their little universe… even if it is deformed, or crippled, or deficient in some other way. Or maybe it was fine… and just unwanted.

On this Sunday, a day of rest and reflection, this makes me think of the fate of unborn babies who, through the marvels of modern medicine, can be determined to have some affliction.  A sad circumstance, to be sure. Or maybe that baby is physically okay but inconvenient, or untimely, or simply unwanted.  An equally sad situation.

Does that “ugly” baby, whose heart starts beating within just a few weeks of conception, deserve to be born?

And, if that baby is allowed to be born, will its mother love and care for it?  Or even be capable of doing so?

And if the mother cannot or will not, would someone else step forward and adopt that “ugly” baby?

And, whether the mother keeps her baby or gives it to someone else, is there anyone who can say that great good will not come from it?

Should a tiny, helpless human being deserve less than the fate of an “ugly” dog?