Gabe Meyer, a homeschooled senior, won the Grand Rapids Right to Life High School Oratory Contest and received a $150 scholarship.
This 28th annual competition was held on Tuesday, March 7, at Beverly Reformed Church in Wyoming.
Meyer impressed the judges with his energetic presentation, engaging personality, and unique perspective. His speech focused on the cultural mentality that children are at best a commodity and at worst a punishment. “Today’s society generally has a negative view toward women and children, which can be can be detrimental to getting the prolife message across,” he observed.
Meyer offered the suggestion that young people should be encouraged to marry, rather than be told to refrain from sexual activity. “As the average age for when people get married continues to go up, so will the amount of sexual encounters before marriage, conceptions before marriage,” he stated, “and as long as this idea that children are a bad thing persists … so will abortions.”
Meyer proposed that the best way to change the culture is to change the mentality about sexuality. “Only then … can we begin to have a better appreciation for marriage, a better appreciation for women, a better appreciation for children, and finally begin to really practice what we preach: children are a blessing from the Lord.”
Evan Sander won second place and a $100 scholarship, while Michaela Meyer won $50 in third place.
All contestants impressed the judges with their thoughtful speeches and interesting topics.
Gabe Meyer will compete in the State High School Oratory Contest, which will be held May 6 in Holt.