By HAROLD KELLER / L’Observateur / March 13, 1999

Every morning, I read a message from a daily calendar that sits right next to the phone. A couple of weeks ago, the message read: “As you travelthrough life, leave your mark, not a stain.”I believe that every human being was created for greatness. Greatness, tome, is leaving a mark by touching this and the next generation in a positive, godly way.

According to the Webster’s dictionary, the definition for stain is to tain or corrupt, as in stained with vice, a blemish. In the same dictionary, markis defined as an indication of character, importance, distinction. Everyhuman being will leave a mark or a stain. How great the mark or ugly thestain will depend on the notoriety of the person.

Last week, retired Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun died. He was 90years old and had served 24 years on the nation’s highest court. Manybackers called him one of the “greats” in American history. Those whoknew Blackmun said he was compassionate and unassuming. Pres. RichardNixon nominated him to the Supreme Court. At the time, he was consideredto be a very conservative individual. Things changed, however, and so didBlackmun. He moved from the “conservative right” to the “moderatemiddle” and then to the “liberal left.”He was always a strong supporter of the death sentence until two months before he retired. He said at that time that the capital punishment systemwas discriminating and made too many mistakes. “I no longer shall tinkerwith the machinery of death,” he said. This is the same man who authoredthe Roe vs. Wade decision in 1973 making abortion legal. Since then,numerous pregnancies have been terminated. I’m pro-life and firmlybelieve that abortion is murder.

What will the legacy of Harry Blackmun be? Will his travels through life be remembered for many things? No, I think not. History will rememberBlackmun for only one decision, that being the Roe vs. Wade decision thathe authored.

Did Harry Blackmun leave a mark or a stain as he traveled through life? God is the final judge.

Copyright © 1998, Wick Communications, Inc.

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