Posted on 08/22/2012 3:20:19 PM PDT by shhrubbery!
First, I'm a woman. (Seems to be an important qualification if one is to be allowed to have an opinion on "womens' bodies.")
I'm used to being attacked by the harridans of the Left, who claim that if you're a pro-life, then you're NOT A WOMAN.
But I'm not used to hearing conservatives knee-jerk to the idea that something is "idiotic" just because it's politically incorrect ... according to those same rabid harridans of the Left.
I think, like Akin did, that a woman's endocrine system CAN sometimes "shut down" the process of conception, or implantation, as a result of traumatic stress suffered by the woman.
It so happens there are respected physicians who believe this is possible too: Dr. John C. WIlkie, MD, OB/GYN. And there is some research that tends to back this up (see references at bottom of this page.
We may never have a 100% dispositive study that proves that pregnancy as a result of rape is rare. Real numbers are hard to come by. And sadly, any researcher who attempts an objective study is going to be excoriated like Mark Regnerus (who studied homosexual parenting) or Jay Belsky (who studied the effects of putting children in day care).
But many women know, intuitively, that what Akin said is not "imbecilic." Many women have experience with their endocrine systems going awry, due to stress. I myself have carried four pregnancies to term, but lost one, probably due to stress that caused an endocrine malfunction.
** "Ain't I a woman" is a quote from Sojourner Truth, a strong Christian black woman. She wasn't going to stand for her opinion being shut down because she was (a) a woman and (b) voicing ideas that weren't popular in some circles. And neither am I.
That doesn't address what Willke said about a woman STAYING pregnant and how the stress of the rape can cause a miscarriage.
I don’t think anyone honestly believes that he was implying that.
No, his statement did not "imply" that.
Your own mind inferred it. There's a difference.
Ok it didn’t happen. lol
Excellent post.
This whole thing has been the result of a failure to think.
If we continue the leftist narrative we’re fools. The right thing to do when something like this happens is for the GOP leadership to:
1) Recognize it as a smear in the name of political correctness
2) Immediately start a new campaign to multiply the funding of Akin’s election by a factor of 100. This is a war of ideas, and we need to fight like it’s a war.
Lighten up. No wonder you're a liberal. You take what other people say about you too seriously. People can criticize my views all they want and it won't affect my mood any, except possibly also make me laugh at them.
So, you’re going with a)A woman’s reproductive system is not affected by stress? Not at all? Ever? That is the only way that would make Akin completely wrong isn’t it?
Thank you. Well stated.
You read the Republican platform lately? There is no exception for rape when it comes to being against abortion. So they got that right, on paper anyway. Not that they nominated a presidential candidate who is going to follow our platform.
LOL..... well, I should keep my Romney thoughts to myself. You’re not a bad influence! I think the world of sweetest you!!!
Excellent post.
This whole thing has been the result of a failure to think.
If we continue the leftist narrative we’re fools. The right thing to do when something like this happens is for the GOP leadership to:
1) Recognize it as a smear in the name of political correctness
2) Immediately start a new campaign to multiply the funding of Akin’s election by a factor of 100. This is a war of ideas, and we need to fight like it’s a war.
Interestingly, studies have shown that rape victims who actually do become pregnant are less likely to abort their babies than women who choose to become pregnant.
On another thread, I found out about this website, run by a woman who was conceived through rape--who does not feel that her life is any less valuable than anyone else's life--discussing the issue of pregnancy from rape. Often, those who choose abortion after rape feel that the abortion compounds their sense of violation and burdens them with a sense of guilt on top of everything else they have gone through. Many of those who choose not to abort see their child as a gift.
I used to be like you and think that abortion after rape is tolerable; I've changed my mind over the years.
Not at all, there’s many potential causes for pre-eclampsia, the one I was referring to was a lack of tolerance to paternal sperm, this can even happen in committed relationships but it is only one of the factors that doctors look at.
There’s also issues with mineral deficiencies and certain immune system factors. I’m certainly not saying that this is the only possible cause of it, but its something that studies have shown that the more “familiar” a woman is with the sperm of the man impregnating her, the lower the odds of pre-eclampsia become.
Oh I’m having way too much fun with this. How about the Wall Street Journal?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444358404577604992035831270.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
If that isn’t enough, I’ll link you right to video. lol
Surprised you hung onto Ann anyway after she endorsed Romney and savagely and dishonestly brutalized the other Republican candidates in her columns.
Check out Steve Deace and Mike Gallagher. These two conservative radio hosts are on the RIGHT side of this issue and are backing Akin, even though they say agree what he said was a mistake.
He implied that if a woman’s body did not “shut that down” that she wasn’t legitimately raped.
What is more, he didn’t have to say ANY of that to make the point he was supposedly trying to make.
Perfectly stated, dearest SE Mom! He talks like a dolt. The last man we need is one we have to defend for his utter stupidity!
Miscarriage rate in pregnancies deriving from rape is 15-20%, standard pregnancy miscarriage rate is 10-20%, so its not the major factor that people make it out to be, the biggest factors are still the woman’s diet and lifestyle during the pregnancy. Slightly elevated risks of pre-eclampsia are also a possibility.
Actually Sirius was spot on, and being a NUB does not preclude posting. Seems like you are shooting the messenger. Sirius, you know about the Sirius 3000 by chance?
This is reminiscent of the medieval test if someone was a witch.
Throw her in the river. If she survives, she must be a witch and must be punished.
If she drowns, she must NOT have been a witch.
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