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missroseroseSo the Empire's printed a couple of anti-Planned-Parenthood letters lately. They've at least appeared to be thoughtfullly written on the surface, although many of the arguments they've made have been based on faulty assumptions (something that the pro-choice people aren't entirely free of, either). One of them that really made me laugh was claiming that since Planned Parenthood was a business like any other, their entire purpose in offering discounted birth control and whatnot was to line women up for the big-ticket item - an abortion. That was so fallacious on so many levels I didn't even think it was worth responding to. A more serious letter had a response printed today that I thought was very reasonable:
I'm fascinated by the letter written by the president of Alaskans for Life (Empire, Feb. 3). I sincerely hope this was a bad example of their views, because Ms. Barnack made some pretty arrogant assumptions.
She says no one needs an abortion. I'd love to hear that said to a woman who has ever had pregnancy that occurred in her fallopian tube, for one thing. Or to the woman who would be beaten to a pulp if their partner found out they were pregnant, or to the rape victim or to the victim of incest.
Abortion is not only about medical need. Pregnancy is as much as an emotional and psychological state as it is a physical one. Is the president of Alaskans for Life arguing that a woman should have to go through a pregnancy just because? No matter how traumatized and unready they may be? Can we really say that yes, definitely, absolutely that is the better choice in all situations for all women? Is it wrong to put the mother's life, including her emotional well-being, at a higher priority than her pregnancy? Why is that so distasteful for us?
For those out there who morally oppose abortion, that's fine. Really. Seriously. No asterisks. No sarcasm. If you feel that life on a spiritual and religious level starts at conception, there's not really much to argue with. I'm not going to tell you that abortion is always the moral and ethical choice, because it's not my place and I don't know. And that, my pro-choice, pro-life and in-between friends, is what we should go on: I respect your right to do things I disagree with. You don't have to support abortion. You don't have to get one. But can you say that it is your place to make one of the most serious, major life decisions there is for another person?
This is the point that so many people (pro-choice, pro-life, Democrat, Republican, gay, straight, whatever societal label you want to give them) seem unable or unwilling to understand - people should be able to make their own decisions. That's what free will is all about. If you believe homosexuality is the scourge of the earth and should not be allowed under any circumstances, fine - but let those people who consider themselves homosexual discover that for themselves. After all, if you're right, they'll find out sooner or later, right?
Or to use the issue at hand - leave well enough alone. Women are people, they have free will, and while they may make decisions they'll regret, that's their lesson to learn, and it's not your job to prevent them from learning it. Or it's possible they won't regret it at all and it would in fact be better all around. The point is - you don't know, it's not your life, so let them live it.
Ooookay, this went on a bit long. I think I'm going to step down off the soapbox for a while...
I'm fascinated by the letter written by the president of Alaskans for Life (Empire, Feb. 3). I sincerely hope this was a bad example of their views, because Ms. Barnack made some pretty arrogant assumptions.
She says no one needs an abortion. I'd love to hear that said to a woman who has ever had pregnancy that occurred in her fallopian tube, for one thing. Or to the woman who would be beaten to a pulp if their partner found out they were pregnant, or to the rape victim or to the victim of incest.
Abortion is not only about medical need. Pregnancy is as much as an emotional and psychological state as it is a physical one. Is the president of Alaskans for Life arguing that a woman should have to go through a pregnancy just because? No matter how traumatized and unready they may be? Can we really say that yes, definitely, absolutely that is the better choice in all situations for all women? Is it wrong to put the mother's life, including her emotional well-being, at a higher priority than her pregnancy? Why is that so distasteful for us?
For those out there who morally oppose abortion, that's fine. Really. Seriously. No asterisks. No sarcasm. If you feel that life on a spiritual and religious level starts at conception, there's not really much to argue with. I'm not going to tell you that abortion is always the moral and ethical choice, because it's not my place and I don't know. And that, my pro-choice, pro-life and in-between friends, is what we should go on: I respect your right to do things I disagree with. You don't have to support abortion. You don't have to get one. But can you say that it is your place to make one of the most serious, major life decisions there is for another person?
This is the point that so many people (pro-choice, pro-life, Democrat, Republican, gay, straight, whatever societal label you want to give them) seem unable or unwilling to understand - people should be able to make their own decisions. That's what free will is all about. If you believe homosexuality is the scourge of the earth and should not be allowed under any circumstances, fine - but let those people who consider themselves homosexual discover that for themselves. After all, if you're right, they'll find out sooner or later, right?
Or to use the issue at hand - leave well enough alone. Women are people, they have free will, and while they may make decisions they'll regret, that's their lesson to learn, and it's not your job to prevent them from learning it. Or it's possible they won't regret it at all and it would in fact be better all around. The point is - you don't know, it's not your life, so let them live it.
Ooookay, this went on a bit long. I think I'm going to step down off the soapbox for a while...
