Pro-Dignity: Defending Life with Responsibility and Compassion

Recently, someone asked me point-blank where I stood on abortion. I answered honestly: I’m pro-life. That moment sparked a period of deep reflection, as I asked myself why I held this belief and whether I was ready to stand by it with full conviction.

Over time, I realized that my stance is closely connected to the principles guiding my platform: true freedom and shared responsibility. Freedom is more than the ability to make choices; it is the right to live with protections and opportunities that allow each of us to thrive. And with freedom comes responsibility—the duty to uphold the values and institutions that sustain a free and just society. Protecting human life, supporting families, and nurturing children are not separate issues—they are central expressions of the responsibility that gives freedom its meaning.

Being pro-life, for me, has never been about fitting neatly into a political category. I do not wish to put myself in a box of slogans or party lines. What I am, wholeheartedly, is pro-dignity—committed to the worth of every person at every stage of life. Human life is the foundation of human dignity and the precondition for every moral and legal right. Across cultures, faith traditions, humanist ethics, and secular philosophies, life is recognized as inherently valuable. From conception, a distinct human organism exists—alive, developing, and fully human. History shows the danger of declaring some lives less worthy than others. Upholding human dignity requires recognizing and protecting life at every stage.

Religious and secular frameworks alike acknowledge that tragic circumstances—such as a threat to the mother’s life, rape, incest, or severe fetal abnormalities—may require agonizing decisions. Even in these heartbreaking situations, moral reasoning justifies careful exceptions grounded in the preservation of life, justice, and dignity. Compassion, deliberation, and support are essential.

Upholding human dignity also means recognizing the equal worth and rights of women. Protecting unborn life does not diminish a mother’s moral agency or her right to privacy, health, and equality before the law. Nothing in my view should ever deny a woman timely, life-saving medical care when her own health or life is at risk. Safeguarding both mother and child requires ensuring that no woman is coerced, silenced, or denied the care she needs. A just society can—and must—balance the rights of both, affirming that the dignity of one is never gained at the expense of the other.

Being pro-dignity means more than defending life; it is about creating the conditions for life to truly flourish. It means ensuring that mothers, fathers, and children have access to the care, guidance, and resources they need to thrive. It means nurturing strong families, providing opportunities for children to grow and learn, and fostering communities where every person is supported and valued. Supporting life is inseparable from empowering it, and these efforts reflect a shared commitment to human dignity, responsibility, and opportunity for all.

My stance reflects a broader commitment to seek out dignity and equality for all individuals. Protecting life from its earliest stages is the foundation for ensuring that every person can exercise their rights, pursue opportunities, and participate fully in society. This principle is rooted in the Declaration of Independence, which affirms that all people are “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” While the Declaration sets forth these moral ideals, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights provide the legal framework to protect life and liberty, including due process and equal protection under the law. While the Constitution does not explicitly address every moral question, its principles affirm the inherent value of every human being and the responsibility of society to uphold justice and dignity for all. Upholding these principles ensures that every person’s dignity is respected and protected.

I cannot betray this principle because it is what ensures the dignity of all, making sure that no one’s value is treated as subjective or selective. Protecting life from its earliest stages is the cornerstone of justice, liberty, and equality, and it anchors the moral and civic responsibility that underpins our society.

I recognize that this issue is deeply personal and complex. Many people see it differently, and I do not intend to condemn anyone or their beliefs. Just as I would never seek to dictate another’s conscience, I hope no one would try to dictate my own. What I offer here is an honest reflection of my stance, and I welcome thoughtful, respectful conversations with anyone—regardless of political affiliation—about how we can support life and families in our community.

My pro-dignity commitment is part of a broader vision of justice, human dignity, and the shared responsibility that underpins freedom. Defending life is not about ideology or politics—it is about ensuring that liberty, responsibility, and compassion are aligned. It is about creating a society where every individual can thrive, and where the most vulnerable are not left behind.

When I first said “I’m pro-life,” I thought I was merely answering a question. In truth, that moment marked the beginning of a journey that helped me more clearly understand what I truly stand for: being wholeheartedly pro-dignity. My reflection deepened my convictions and clarified that defending life is not just about opposing abortion—it is about recognizing that every human life is a gift, the starting point of every freedom we hold dear.

In short, defending life—and living pro-dignity—is not just a moral duty; it is the foundation of freedom, responsibility, and human dignity for all.

With respect for all Arkansans,

Joshua Irby

Paid for by Joshua Irby