The Roe Generation: A New Generation for Life.(Column)

For those of us born after 1973, abortion on demand has been a way of life. We have never known a day when unborn children were granted legal protection. Throughout our lives and in every venue - - be it school, television, radio, concerts or magazines - - we have been told by pro-abortion forces that abortion was a fundamental "right" and that attacks on that "right" by "anti-life" forces would weaken our individual liberties.

Our generation's support for abortion was taken for granted. It wasn't fought for - - it was expected. After all, teenagers and college students are famous for their desire for personal "freedoms."

It is a time to break out on their own and define who they are without their parents. What better constituency could pro-abortion organizations want? Fortunately, for unborn children, they are hard-pressed to find the support they expect from young people.

After 30 years and over 43 million peers missing because of abortion on demand, the members of the Roe generation have essentially said, "Enough!" We have seen first hand the effects of abortion on our generation. We are missing brothers, sisters, cousins, friends, and spouses because of abortion.

So many of us have had friends and classmates who have had an abortion. These factors - - especially the close contact experience with abortion's devastating impact - - have had a profound impact in attitudes toward abortion over the past 10 years.

Let me offer just two of many examples. Every year, UCLA conducts a survey of incoming freshmen throughout the country to gauge their interest and attitudes on a wide variety of issues.

Support for abortion among freshmen hit an all-time high of 64.9% in 1990. By 1998, that number was down dramatically to 50.9%. This decline came coupled with an increase of those freshmen who self-identified as politically liberal.