Life Links 4-18-12
by JivinJ, host of the blog, JivinJehoshaphat
- Vanessa Williams said this about her abortion in an interview with a Fox affiliate:
Who knows how life would have been different? I think the bottom line is I definitely would have been where I am now even if I’d gone down another path. It doesn’t take away from the drive or the talent. You can make your life whatever you want with or without a child. - Apparently, Politico has no understanding of what an apology is. From Sarah Silverman, this clearly isn’t one:
In her apology, Silverman tweeted:”It wasn’t funny for me to talk so casually about abortion. But when they take our right to choose away it will be HILARIOUS!” And: “The government should STAY OUT of our PRIVATE LIVES except when it comes to who we marry & what we do w our uteruses!!”
- “I had an abortion” t-shirts are sparking controversy at UNC-Wilmington:
The shirts were for sale on University of North Carolina Wilmington’s campus Monday in connection with a panel discussion about abortion and Jennifer Baumgardner’s book signing. The author and abortion rights advocate started making the shirts in 2004, to encourage people to speak about their experiences. The sales sparked other students to rally with their own shirts, saying things like “I haven’t killed a baby.” - Pro-lifers in Ohio have been working on new legislation to keep funds away from Planned Parenthood:
Under the proposal, local public health departments get the top funding priority, followed by federally qualified community health centers, private primary-care centers and, last, Planned Parenthood and other stand-alone family planning centers.“We refer to it as defunding Planned Parenthood because a lot of the money, in fact, will go to the top three (categories), but it doesn’t preclude Planned Parenthood at the end of the day from receiving money,” said Mike Gonidakis, president of Ohio Right to Life.
- Pro-choice intolerance is alive and well in Connecticut where a number of students attempted to prevent the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform from setting up a Genocide Awareness Project display at the University of Connecticut. Two students, Brenna Regan and Logan Place, who refused to stop interfering after authorities showed up were eventually arrested:
Regan described the images on display as “imposing and attacking.” The posters included bloody images of aborted fetuses, detached baby heads and dismembered limbs….“If the UConn Police would rather arrest UConn students than stop a hate speech, so be it,” Place said.
At the Hartford Courant, student Cindy Luo has a rather delusional perspective of the protest and arrest:
Protesters gathered on Tuesday to try and reason with GAP members, asking that they at least take into consideration the emotional health of students, but they refused to stop displaying these images. This showed that they don’t actually want to have an informed, civil discussion, but rather want to traumatize people who may have had abortions or might be facing such a decision.Trying to prevent a pro-life group from setting up a display using force proves the pro-life group doesn’t want to have a civil discussion?
[Photo via ThePhoenix.com]
About these t-shirts, abortion is a private matter, right?
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How would looking at a photo of a dismembered fetus traumatize someone who has had an abortion? I thought they were just clumps of cells and tissue.
How is showing human remains considered “hate speech?” It doesn’t seem to be any more “hateful” than showing images of the Nazi holocaust.
Also, how can you shame a woman with abortion photos, when supposedly, abortion is nothing to be ashamed of – and some even went there, did that, AND bought the t-shirt???
So, we can have abortions and wear the t-shirt, but don’t make us look at the end result of what we did, because then you’re “shaming” us?
Seriously – the killing of the unborn has brought a major mental disconnect upon a very large segment of this population.
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If seeing the end result of abortion brings such trauma to those that might have had abortions shouldn’t PP be out there offering post abortive help and support??!!
Mental disconnect is right Kel.
Is abortion simple, easy, quick and no big deal or isn’t it?? Is it just a bunch of cells or does that child have fingers and toes and hands, feet, arms, legs and a face?? A recognizable human being. Can’t have it both ways.
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I guess none of the UConn students realize that they do not own the university or its campus simply because they pay tuition. As a public university it is given tax-payer money, therefore is public property (and most public universities have free-speech zones for this very purpose). Since the pro-life group had their permit, were exercising free speech, and were on public property, there really isn’t anything much the students can say about it.
Just like the false adage “my body, my choice” these students believe in some false sense of “my tuition, my school.” Someone should really burst their bubble on that one.
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‘Pro-choice’ intolerance is alive and well the world over. I remember trying to get a pro-life group started at University of Auckland, New Zealand, in 2001 and having members of the student union successfully stop us. These bigots cannot handle free speech.
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“The sales sparked other students to rally with their own shirts, saying things like “I haven’t killed a baby.””
Not sure that I agree with that type of backlash, it seems a bit cruel. I have met a couple people who have worn those shirts, they all seem a bit desperate to legitimize their choice. I don’t think that these rather condescending shirts are helping these people.
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“The sales sparked other students to rally with their own shirts, saying things like “I haven’t killed a baby.””
Wait, are these shirts made by pro-choice or pro-life students? Either way, it’s inappropriate, but I feel like I’m missing some context.
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The “I had an abortion” shirts are worn by pro-choice women (I met one man who wore one because he thought he was funny). The “I never killed a baby” shirts are worn by pro-lifers.
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Better shirt: http://www.catholictothemax.com/products.php?product=Give-Peace-a-Chance-T%252dShirt
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What would I wear Jack?
A prolifer who did kill her baby via abortion but takes no pride in it whatsoever.
I guess I’ll skip the tshirt and stick with the sign.
I REGRET MY ABORTION
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I think a t-shirt that has that slogan would be an excellent thing for pro-life women who are post-abortive to wear, Carla. I just don’t like the “I have never killed a baby” shirts. I don’t think they are effective, and I think they are a bit mean.
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I think the Silent No More shirts are excellent.
The shirts those pro-lifers made, though? Tacky, and I agree with Jack, quite mean and ineffective. It actually seems like they would reinforce pro-choice stereotypes of pro-lifers, at least in my opinion.
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My I REGRET MY ABORTION sign & pin is enough for me, too, Carla. Hugs back to you!
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I have never had an abortion but as a former pill user even I can’t wear the “I didn’t kill a baby” shirt. Only God knows. Its time for women to have the whole truth so we can choose life.
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Not speaking for any other post abortive mom but
I Didn’t Kill My Baby shirts strike me as being worn out of spite. And they are hurtful to this mom.
I don’t like when we stoop to their tactics.
I have the button too, Carol!! :)
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@Jack: I agree. Those shirts may be technically accurate, but they’re sort of cold. Something more like “I choose life” or even the old “Life: what a beautiful choice” would have been a better call.
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I agree that the “I didn’t kill my baby” t-shirts are mean-spirited. However, who is the colder, meaner person – the one who boasts about not killing her or his children or the one who boasts about killing her children. We do live in a coarse, mean-spirited culture and it is becoming more so as abortion continues to sap our souls.
On a related note, I am always amazed at the people who try to shut down GAP displays. If abortion is just another medical procedure, why pay any attention to these people?
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I don’t think the women who “boast about killing their children” are mean-spirited in general. Sure, some post-abortive women are, there are bad people in every demographic. Many that I have met are simply in a lot of pain. Making assumptions about these women is part of the problem, not part of the solution. I hold pro-lifers to a higher standard. Just because the pro-choicers wear a t-shirt that we find offensive doesn’t mean we have to wear one right back. Eye for an eye makes the whole world go blind, and all that.
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Random, but…Jack, you should write an advice column or something. You seem to be full of wisdom and rationality. :)
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Aw, thanks Kate. *blushes*
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I like the “Now that I’m safe I’m pro-choice” t-shirt, myself.
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I like Vanessa Williams comment that have babies does not affect a person’s talent. Insightful. She is struggling with her abortion, but it seems she understands that abortion isn’t necessary.
With respect to the women deciding to wear “I had an abortion” T-Shirts – well, as a person who was once a single pro-life man, I am all for them. These t-shirts are great warning labels.
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When Roe v. Wade is over turned, it will be “hilarious”??
Ms. Silverman, it will be righteous.
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@Sean Reynolds: Are you aware that there is currently a ProLife Auckland group on campus at University of Auckland?
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