Life is worth living.

With the most vigorous economy in the world, and the greatest potential for expanding domestic consumer markets, you'd think that the party cadres in China would lighten up on their micromanaging just a little. You'd think they'd allow citizen moms and dads to jump in bed, have a little makin'-whoopee fun, and procreate that second or third child to thereby provide a sibling for their child already born.
But no, the population-control bureaucrats are still so intent on manifesting the postmodern thanatos zeitgeist that insists this world is not predictable and safe enough for children to be born into. On the other side of the Pacific Ocean...
"A woman pregnant without permission has to surrender her unborn child to government enforcers, no matter what the stage of fetal development."
These quoted words were written by Kathleen Parker last Wednesday in her
Washington Post column. They represent a statement from Reggie Littlejohn, founder and president of the Frontiers Group.
This statement from Ms. Littlejohn grabbed my attention when I read it in Kathleen's republished column today, Monday, 11/16/2009 in the Charlotte Observer.
I appreciate Kathleen's boldness in highlighting this issue, even as our President negotiates with Chinese leaders about important economic issues. In honor of her courage, and the courage of any women in the world who choose to give life to children and properly raise them, I include in this posting a pertinent passage from my novel, Glass half-Full.

From chapter 24:
"

But now the plane was landing, the time for reflection suspending. Life must go on.

The first familiar person that Lili saw on the ground was her housekeeper, Pao, who had dutifully secured a cart for their luggage. Pao was smiling broadly, glad to see them. After David had gathered their baggage and stacked it on the cart, she directed their attention to a Chinese woman who had watched their reunion activities while patiently sitting nearby. As the young lady stood up to be introduced to them, Lili could see that she was pregnant.

Wang Chuanxin had managed to do what few women have done: she had escaped the draconic bureaucracy that sought to extinguish the prenatal life of her second child. By the ministrations of a devoted husband and a few well-placed bribes, she had managed to board a plane out of China, to Honolulu, and so the child was still alive within her. Now she was in a foreign land with a foreign fear and nowhere to go. But at least her child was alive. She had been sitting in the baggage claim area for three hours, waiting for someone she didn’t know.

Pao introduced her as Wang Chuanxin, who had just arrived from Beijing that very day.

"Chuanxin is a friend of my friend Chen. She has eluded the party officials in her home province; they had conspired to abort her child."

Lili had not expected an encounter such as this in a routine airport arrival. She looked at the waifish mother with alarm and curiosity. "How did you manage to get out of there?" she wondered aloud.

"She speaks no English. I will translate," Pao said.

As Pao spoke to her in their language, Lili noticed the fearful look on Chuanxin’s delicate face as she responded to Pao’s question with rapid Mandarin.

"She says that her husband bribed some officials in order to get her on the plane that brought her to Honolulu. She still doesn’t know how the situation will be resolved, or how she will reunite with her husband."

"Ask her where she is going to stay."

Pao’s translation was followed by a quick, two-word reply.

"She doesn’t know."

Lili looked directly into her housekeeper’s eyes. "Pao, how did you know that she would be here today?"

"I received the phone call last night from my friend Chen. He asked me to help her."

"And who is Chen?"

"We are in church together."

"I see." Lili’s queenly heart was moving her toward a response of compassionate action. I was a stranger and you took me in.

"Ask her if she wants to come stay with us for awhile."

Pao spoke to their new friend energetically. Her plan was actually working out just as she had anticipated, for she knew her employer well. Chuanxin replied happily, with a large smile suddenly appearing on her formerly-strained face.

Pao did not bother to complete the verbiage. She grabbed Chuanxin's two bags and slung them on top of the loaded cart, there being just enough space for them.

Then David spoke to Pao, "We’ll wait here while you bring the car around."

"Yes, sir," she affirmed, and was off to get the car.

Lili sighed. It had been a long couple of weeks.

"