POWERLINE #12

s: when the storms of life toss you around, what have you got to hold onto?
d: grab onto the powerline. during the next half hour, some facts about abortion. it's now legal in south africa.
s: we'll talk to some teenagers to find out their feelings. 
d: and we'll hear about a woman who forgave her husband's killer after he was found guilty in a court of law.
s: the act of forgiviness and the value of life, today's topics with some great music coming up next. 
d: "you're one in a million," music from carilyn bonett on powerline.
s: and we are your hosts, shereen and dave. from time to time powerline's producers unearth some astonishing stories about the depths of man's cruelty to the heights of his compassion. the following story captures both. 
d: though set overseas, it's typical of many stories which have come out of the truth and reconciliation hearings being held in south africa. where people are trying to deal with the past so they can enjoy a better future. a tense 6-day long murder trial ended when leann lawson took the witness stand to address the man who was convicted of killing her husband randy. because the victim was white and the defendant ryan keith moody was black, racial issues had surfaced several times during the trial. especially during the closing aguement by defense attorney gene gains who is also black. 
s: claims of racial unfairness were made after the end of the trial. but the victim's widow undoubtedly removed much of the tension from the situation with her words. mrs. lawson, claiming her right under state law to address the defendant, moved many people in the courtroom and throughout the area with her expression of concern for the defendants salvation. she also provided a picture perfect example of christian kindness, grace and diginity.
d: she began her address by telling Moody that she did not hate him but believed that he was accountable for his actions. she went on to tell the defendant that she would be praying that he would read the bible and that God would change his life. 
s: in conclusion, she told him that her husband would gladly have given up his life if it meant that Moody would come to know Jesus Christ. the law allowed her to say anything she wanted. she could have expressed anger at the senseless killing of her husband or she could have verbally ripped him for removing her three children's father from their lives.
d: instead, she chose to express christian love and concern. and in doing so, she has very deservingly won the respect of many residents of her community of all colors.
s: "helping people find the door," that's al denson.
d: and you're on the powerline with dave and shereen. recently i've been communicating with a friend overseas by email. He's going through a tough time in his life. he lost his job and he is angry with the people that fired him. in fact he's all over the internet dissiong his former employers to anyone who would listen or rather read his messages. it's really a sad situation. what makes it worse is that he has become his own worst enemy. instead of taking stock on what's led to his situation, a bunch of other folks are unfairly being blamed. ironically he seems to know that what he's doing is wrong. tdeep down he knows why he lost his job. he's sporting a tude. trouble is, he's not willing to do anything about it. from reading his letters, there's a certain satisfaction which apprently comes from nursing a grudge. it's like the pig enjoyiing a good wallow in the mud. nevermind the stink, it feels good for the moment. eventually you've gotta climb out, clean up and get on with life or the wallowing pit becomes your home. meanwhile the mud gets flung on inoocent bystanders and before long no one wants to be a friend. obviously, there's no growth, no future in that. unless of course you're a pig trying to avoid slaughter. so, what's the point of my story? well we all have blindspots in our perception of things and we all have blindspots in how others perceive us. failure to reckon with blindspots on a regular basis causes difficulties in our lives, including lost jobs. reckoning is not fun because we are forced to confront the truth of the matter. and truth can hurt. special friends though can help us see our blindspots. have you got one?
s: the powerline problem panel is ready to be that friend is you need one. their hope is to help you with similar difficulties in life, whatever you may be facing. if you need a listening ear or some sound advice grab a pen and paper. we'll tell you where to write at the end of the show.
d: "singing it with soul," steve camp on powerline, "give me some time."
s: and we're your hosts, shereen and dave. making choices in life is not always easy. neither is changing your mind once a decision has been made. sometimes we can get so caught up in our own ideas that we follow them against the advice of others. and that can spell disaster as it almost did for the captain of an american warship. 
d: true, americans' can be especially hard headed. i know, because i are one. 
s: what you are about to hear is an actual transript of a radio conversation between canadian authorities and the uss missouri off the coast of new finland.
dave, why don't you play the role of the foolish american and i'll portray the wise canadians.
d: well we know how this is going to turn out, don't we?
d: alright, here goes: please divert your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid colision.
s: recomment you divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid collision.
d: this is the captain of a us navy ship, i say again "divert your course."
s: no i say again "you divert your course." 
d: this is the battleship uss missouri. we are a large warship of the us navy. divert your course now.
s: this is a lighthouse, it's your call.
s: the guys and girls from straight company and "so excited." powerline continues as we move our microphone to the street to get some feedback on the issue of abortion. according to south africa's new constitution teenage girls can now get an abortion without their parent's consent. dave clark is asking you won't they think about it.
girl 1: people could start using abortion as a form of contraception and when you're pregnant you're just gonna go for your abortion and it doesn't really matter because it's legal and you don't have to tell your parents. 
girl 2: i think it's bad because you can just walk in without your parents being notified and the child's not going to be able to handle it by themselves. they're gonna need some help from older people.
boy 1: i think that they should have to tell their parents because you need help in the future.
girl 3: it just becomes contraception, it doesn't have real value. it's not like people do it when they're desperate, they just do it. i mean it must have huge emotional impact with teenagers who are too young and too immature to decide that for themselves. and i think it's really sad when there are so many people with no babies. healthy women are just killing their babies.
girl 1: i think it's really sad when there are so many people with no babies. so many people who want children. you know, healthy women are just killing their babies.
s: two songs about the value of life: "hey world" by Petra and "children can live without it," by dc talk.
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God tells us in the Bible how much he loves us. From Psalm 139:13, the writer says of God, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
Abortion stops a beating heart, a child made in the image of God. Life is precious. It is fragile and sacred to God. So it should be for us!