Posted on 03/30/2007 7:52:47 AM PDT by Sopater
A personal story about abortion
Friday, March 30, 2007
DEBORAH SCHNEIDER
GUEST COLUMNIST
The March 21 P-I editorial, "Abortion: Insulting women," insulted me.
As a local speaker for the group Silent No More Awareness, I regret my abortion in this state in 1971 when I was an 18-year-old university student. Most women ask for all relevant information before making any medical decision, with the exception of abortion and contraception.
We blindly accept taking pills, patches, emergency contraception and abortion without asking what the current or long-term affects might be to us. It is insulting to suggest that women don't need or want accurate medical information. I wish I had had some of this "insulting unnecessary information" provided by an ultrasound of my baby's beating heart at 18 days after conception.
Maybe I wouldn't have believed it was only a blob of cells at 12 weeks after conception. Maybe I would have been told about the risks and side effects of abortion, so when I suffered a miscarriage, anorexia and clinical depression and other problems, I would have recognized them as the after-effects of a past abortion and sought help. As for the pricey ultrasounds, there are crisis pregnancy centers that offer them by qualified, trained and licensed medical personnel.
Of course, I suspect the P-I's argument isn't so much about money, as it is about not wanting a woman to see the truth of a little human being in her womb and facing reality. Speaking from personal painful experience, keeping a secret of shame for a past abortion for decades is much more traumatic than being shown what your child looks like in the womb. Through speaking with SNMA, I and others tell the uncensored truth about abortion through our testimonies.
As for the lack of necessity for additional regulation, ("It's not like the state doesn't already have laws regulating abortions"), Washington state has no such restrictions because of a 1992 state law, which ensured a woman's right to abortion, regardless of Roe v. Wade. Washington has one of the most liberal laws in the country and constitutional language protecting a woman's right to end her pregnancy, throughout the entire pregnancy up to the moments before birth.
The editorial appeared to me as a veiled attempt at intimidation and deception to suggest to women that somehow what is being considered in other states would have an effect on the women of Washington. An informed woman is an empowered woman, so women should study up on what our state actually allows.
Let's give women access to necessary medically accurate information, including ultrasounds and what happens during an abortion procedure and the risks involved and then give them the time to absorb it, so that they can make an informed, unrushed decision. Most women make an abortion decision out of lack of information, lack of emotional and financial support from the man involved, parental pressure, abortion clinic prompting or lack of confidence in themselves and their ability to take care of a baby.
To limit any information and to keep women vulnerable to intimidation by others, including the P-I Editorial Board, under the guise of concern for women is well, just insulting.
Deborah Schneider lives in Shoreline.
© 1998-2007 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Adoption laws are ridiculous. It puzzles me why it should cost so much and be such a lengthy process to adopt a child in the U.S.
CindyDawg, you have made excellent points. I agree all the way! Support for the mother, church and charity, all of it.
cyborg: It is amazing how many teen girls are motivated to make sure they never have and unwanted pregancy after seeing "The Silent Scream". It really brings home to them what an abortion means, what it really is. It's wonderful to see their changed thinking about sex, too. Once the girls reject the "safety net" of abortion, sex the risk of pregnancy becomes a much more serious matter!
Link: http://www.silentscream.org/
Of course. I'm all for this.
As part of our sex education, we watched two films about personal care like wearing deodorant and all that stuff. We also had to watch Silent Scream. Made sense too. The nuns wanted us to know the consequences of promiscuity. EVERYONE not just the girls had to watch that movie. It's pretty sickening to watch the fetus try to get away from the probe.
Exactly. My neighbors, well-educated, well-off, responsible, solid marriage, etc., ere on the waiting list for five years to adopt. Finally, their turn came. They are wonderful parents! This little girl has the best start any child could hope to have.
Of course I understand emotions about this issue. You know that. But there are other, practical issues, that nobody wants to address. If we can't debate them without calling each other names, than what are we? As far as I know here, I'm the only one who is actually qualified on speaking about the ramifications (or lack thereof) personally about abortion. Is my experience the only experience. Absolutely not. But it's an experience that is out there and many women experience. So to call me a baby killer, murderer doesn't add to the debate. It just makes people on the other side seem, well, self-righteous.
It's almost akin to calling our soldiers murderers. I mean, technically, they are. Right? And I'm not even including when they kill the enemy. There's a lot of collateral killing of totally innocent people, including fellow American soldiers. There are just some things that have to happen in a world to exist. And, unfortunately, in this day and age, abortion is one of them.
That is MY OPINION and calling me a murderer is just as useful as calling a soldier a murderer. I don't see anything wrong with getting the ultrasound. I was just asking people who was going to pay for it. I think abortion should be very difficult to get. I think women should be given all the information that's out there to make the best decision. Absolute parental notification, absolutely NO late term abortions. But totally illegal? Never. I think a side benefit of abortions at least being difficult to get will curb some, just a little, of the rampant promiscuity that ruins young girl's lives.
My cousin did what so many have to do which is go outside the US to adopt. It's insane.
The woman who pays for the abortion pays for the ultrasound. I'm sure that the abortion clinics can cut them a deal--they're rich enough. They're one of the few "medical" businesses that demand and receive cash upfront.
Hildy, what is your opinion? Why don't you just state it plainly?
I did, see post #87
Of course it adds to the debate. Clarity is important in a debate.
It just makes people on the other side seem, well, self-righteous.
It makes us seem willing to speak bluntly about the monstrous notions you try to dress in earnest euphemisms (aka filthy lies).
Give it a rest...we put monetary value on human life every single day,
By that definition all the illegals should be shot as they cross the border, especially since they're coming here for the money.
Regarding your delightful private message, calling me a "fat sloppy pig" is not relevant to this discussion, except to reveal a bit more about your character.
However, baby-killing is the immutable essence of your position, as you have made it clear you believe it is better they be killed than live a life of poverty in a single-parent household.
If you're going to insult my appearance, have the courage to do it in public. Quit hiding in the dark alley of the PM.
I suspect Washinton State sends a lot of money to PP.
oh my...I think this discussion should be taken off this thread.
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