4 . YOU HAVE MORE FRIENDS THAN YOU THINK … JUST DON ’ T SLAP LABELS .
People don ’ t like being labeled , especially if they have had negative experiences with someone wearing that label . Your coworker is likely horrified that any business would be willing to cover up evidence of human trafficking and would be supportive of a district attorney prosecuting such a crime , whether it is against Planned Parenthood or not . But if that crime is turned into a political football , and the perception is that the prosecutor is merely playing politics with his office , your coworker ’ s support may instantaneously disappear . She just doesn ’ t want to wear a label —“ pro-life ” or “ pro-choice ”— in the culture wars .
5 . SPEAK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG STICK , SINCE YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING AS LONG YOU DON ’ T CARE WHO GETS THE CREDIT . ( Apologies to Teddy Roosevelt 3 and Ronald Reagan . 4 ) These aphorisms actually work pretty well smashed together . The principle here is humility . Somehow Christian organizations often forget that they are to be different , even in politics . Pro-Life Group # 1 should not be so eager for donations and supporters that it attempts to take credit for the work of Pro-Life Group # 2 . Pro- Life Group # 2 should not be so eager to beat Pro-Life Group # 1 to the press conference podium that it ignores the strategic value of silence . Christian virtues should be practiced by organizations , not just individuals .
Humility is also the reason you and I should pause . Humility is the mother of prudence . Why are we posting on Facebook or writing to our senators ? Those things are good and right and often effective , but let ’ s be humble enough to examine ourselves to discern whether we are truly advancing the cause , or merely attempting to allay our own consciences . Let ’ s be fervent enough for human life that we are perfectly comfortable being unnoticed .
1
While the Third Battle of Ypres , commonly known as the battle of Passchendaele , is notorious for its high number of casualties , it is perhaps more infamous for its mud . Intense shelling from both sides directed at a relatively small area produced a quagmire that literally swallowed the men and horses that fell into it . The Allied offensive at Ypres has been controversial , due to its strategic significance and high cost in men and time . See BBC , History , Battle of Passchendaele , http :// www . bbc . co . uk / history / worldwars / wwone / battle _ passchendaele . shtml .
2
In the case I learned about , a district attorney ’ s long-term investigation of abortionists for violations of state law was derailed when an activist released information to social media revealing illegal conduct by the abortionist . While the information released was not sufficient evidence to prosecute the abortionists , it was sufficient to alert them to the threat of prosecution .
3
Letter to Henry L . Sprague , January 26 , 1900 , available at https :// www . loc . gov / exhibits / treasures / trm139 . html
4
While President Reagan had a sign with a version of this maxim on his desk , the quote is most likely attributable to a Father Strickland . See The Quote Investigator , A Man May Do an Immense Deal of Good , If He Does Not Care Who Gets the Credit , http :// quoteinvestigator . com / 2010 / 12 / 21 / doing-good-selfless /.
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