I was planning on calling it quits for the day, heading off to my game night and then home to rest up for tomorrow's 24 Hour Comic Challenge when I decided to glance through my blog list one last time.
Once again, as has happened so often in the last few weeks, I was confronted with the notion that Sarah Palin is a shining example of a brave woman spitting in the face of a heartless "pro-abortion" culture and refusing to kill her child because he was imperfect. Trig isn't merely a baby with Downs Syndrome you see. He's apparently a righteous stake in the heart of an abortion industry that wants desperately to see that children like him are destroyed before they take their first breath.
Uh-hem.
I am pro-choice. (That's "pro-abortion" to use McCain/Palin speak.)
I am also the mother of a child with Classic Autism.
To hear the radical right speak, I would have immediately and without hesitation aborted my son if I had known before his birth that he was Autistic. It would have been the only logical option my sin bathed mind could have processed.
Oddly enough, nothing could be farther from the truth. I won't say there is no scenario in which I might have chosen to abort my son, or my daughter for that matter... say, a foetus presenting with it's organs on the outside of it's body, or some other gross malformation that would have made the baby's survival unlikely and it's short life filled with pain. I will say, however, that a developmental disorder diagnosed prior to birth - such as Autism or Downs Syndrome - would have sent me rushing to medical sites to learn all I could about available therapies, not an abortionists office.
As with so many other trigger topics, I suspect the Pro-Life movement is simply resorting to mental masturbation and using Sarah's "brave choice" as a stimulus. I can't help but think, however, that there are thousands of mothers like me - pro-choice and happily raising special needs children - that not only see though this pitiful display of disingenuous piety, but find themselves offended both mentally and maternally.
8 comments:
I still love the way you speak your mind. But, most people that I have met have been pro-choise abortion... Since, you are pro-choice life maybe you should join the dark side.. Bwwaaahhhaaaa...
J
*grins*
The thing is... I'm neither pro-choice abortion or pro-choice life. It's none of my business what another woman chooses to do with her body and there are dozens of very personal reasons why a woman might choose to abort. Why should I have any right to make that choice for her?
I'm with U. But, with media spin the facts always get distorted.
Fact, she simply decided to keep a Down Syndrome Baby. (Personal choice). Now, I have seen personal attack on her and who she is. Fine, still doesn't change the fact her & her husband kept the kid. (Family decision) Oh, wait she had a hidden agenda found out she could have a Down syndrome baby could use this to spit in the eye of every abortion person in the world, & run for VP. Come on do you really think she that evil or is that intelligent? (Remember far left said she “stupid”) Give me a break. If you do think she that evil check your emotions at the door... (Kind of cruel, but a reality slap) Does she repeat the fact that she kept the kid ... Yep, new crowd to talk to during a run for VP. So, once again fact is she kept a Down syndrome baby. (My opinion very tough choice provided she knew before giving birth)... J
I don't think her decision was an evil plot. *laughs*
I think she may actually believe that her god gave her a special needs baby so that she could stand as a shining beacon for the pro-life cause. Neither do I think she intends to be insulting, I think she actually believes that because I'm pro-choice I would have aborted my son if I had known he was autistic.
I didn't come to this conclusion by listening to "spin" - I came to this conclusion by listening to her own words. I've never once heard her mention her son without also mentioning that her pro-life beliefs. Never once.
She's just wrong, there's no crime in that. The issue is that she's wrong, but too blinded by her beliefs to consider that a possibility. Anyone running for an office that stands as a representative for literally millions of people needs to be able to look at all sides of every argument. I strongly believe that her religious faith, and general personality, make that impossible for her. If she gets into office, she won't represent me. She won't even try. In her world view I'm not only wrong, I'm a direct enemy to her god.
That's a problem.
Interesting interpretation of what you heard, personally I think your putting your values onto hers. She never said you wrong or you believe in her world your wrong (once again pro-choice for life because of religion). She tells a story where she learns out about her son with Down syndrome. (Here is where things differ) She decided to keep the baby and instead of looking at it as a negative she simply puts a positive spin on it. She considers it a blessing from god that she is given the chance to take care of it. English translation. I pray I'm strong enough to handle what is about to come into my life and I hope my faith will carry me through all the difficulty that is about to come.
I have an Uncle Teri, his son Eddy is well retarded. You know the type walks with limp & crocked arm along with slur speech have to feed him etc. I hear him multiple times repeat what Palin has said. I know he is Pro-choice (abortion). But, still thanks god for the blessing in his life. I have conversation with him about this and he will tell you he wouldn’t want to take that decision away from anyone else because he understands how difficult it is. He is well extreme right wing.
Question, This one very personally, I know you would have aborted your son. What is the real reason? Don’t want to see you son suffer? Not strong enough to help him through life? If I over step my boundaries just say you would rather not say. I will understand.
I have had to baby sit and deal with Eddie when he has seizures and I know how tough it can be. & Yes, I have cried for hours over it. J
Oh, no no... you've got it wrong. I absolutlely would NOT have aborted my son. That's why her remarks bother me so much - she suggests that people who are pro-choice would abort a baby with a developmental disability - which is very much not the case.
Sorry, that what happens when I read & type at 4am.. But, the norm or general impression is most would.
Confusion, so you agree with her on the not aborting but you don't want to take the rights away from others? Well, welcome to the never ending debate in the Republican party.. We like you.. ;-)
I'll let you have the final say..
*laughs* The problem is that many in the Republican party have no problem taking that right away from other women. Palin would even seek to take that right away from women that have been raped, or who are the victims of incest.
Damn.
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