We don’t wish to take the country back in time; rather, we aspire to move it forward, beyond a time when women are treated as objects and pitted against their children and their religious institutions — and toward a time when truly emancipated women embrace their intrinsic dignity and, with it, their authentic womanhood.
~ Lila Rose, Politico, April 2
[Photo via peopleforlife.org]
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Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
Lila Rose, in this excellent op-ed, well represents the growing demographic they don’t want anyone to know about. The young pro-life woman.
Brava, Lila Rose!
Is there a good quality that this woman is lacking? Brilliant! And Gorgeous!
Count my daughter in that generation! (as well as my 2 sons who are learning from my husband that real men are pro-life.
Thanks to Lila!
Amen, Lila!
What a wonderful role model for our daughters. You go, Lila!
My teen daughter has very few ‘likes’ on FB. Lila’s one of them.
Several of her friends then followed suit.
It is about time some addressed the accusation by the Pro-Choicers that Pro-Lifers are trying to “turn the clock back” and/or bring women’s health care “back to the Dark Ages.”
The Pro-Life community’s focus on using the latest scientific technology and understanding underscores the fact the Pro-Life community is trying to advance the care for women, as well as protect the life of the unborn. Soon, due to the focus of the Pro-Life community’s focus on good science and women’s health, the Pro-Life community will be known as the preeminent Pro-Women community.
I hope some person or group runs with idea of a “No Shame in Pregnancy” campaign. The idea needs to analyzed and looked at from different perspectives.
Tyler-
Couple that with a “Self-Respect In Sexuality” campaign. Our children are being told so much, but at the same time, not enough in all the ways that are important.
Tyler,
I’m all for one of those campaigns. I fully intend to be a part of something like that someday in the future AS A PRACTICING LAWYER and a pregnant mother. I’ll show them that real womanhood and real success aren’t predicated on the ability to kill your children. And ditto on Xalisae’s idea…I wish there was more in popular culture teaching kids that sex isn’t just a recreational activity equivalent to throwing a frisbee.
This quote compliments yesterday’s quote of the day very well.
And if these “truly emancipated” women don’t voluntarily “embrace their intrinsic dignity [and] authentic womanhood” (read: stop having abortions, using contraception, and doing whatever else Lila Rose considers morally illicit), we’ll use the law to force them to.
I don’t know why an otherwise respectable outfit like Politico gives would-be tyrants like this a platform to spew this vile doublespeak.
joan – speaking of spewing, you might want to check the mirror – if, that is, you have a reflection
Joan, at what point in human development does a human being deserve to be protected by the law of the land in your opinion? In short, when does a human being “get” the right to life?
Also, when should a human being “get” the right to life?
xalisae, can you elaborate on what you mean by the “Self-Respect in Sexuality” campaign? I am trying to start a discussion on contraception, but I just want to hear your views on this topic and see how the two “campaigns” could be integrated in your opinion.
xalisae, that should’ve read “I am not trying to start a discussion on contraception, but I just want to hear you views on this topic…
hehehehe. Do you think that just because someone contracepts, or supports the use of contraception in general, they “give it away for free” or advocate doing so? Do you think we lack self-respect or the ability to say “no” to engaging in sex at any given time? Honestly, not being able to “get it on” whenever one wants is not something that is unique to NFP-practicing couples. Anyone with children-whether or not they currently contracept-can tell you that sometimes you just gotta put it away and say “Better luck next time, sweetie. :(”
Spreading self-respect is something that should be very important to Pro-Lifers as a rule, since it is itself another way to fight one of the causes of behaviors that lead to abortion. All sex is not equal. Just as rape is the result of an attacker lacking respect for their victim, there are sexual encounters that are essentially people being victimized by themselves because they lack self-respect. That doesn’t mean it should be illegal, but we should work to help give people the tools to avoid such situations on their own. If someone is making questionable judgements in their bedroom habits, engaging in behaviors that would be considered risky, and doing so because…let’s say they had a terrible home life and were constantly put down by their parents, and they’ve found that giving in to peer pressure to engage in risky sexual behaviors gives them temporary edification from their partner(s)-even if it isn’t genuine. How do we fix something like this? I suggest by giving that person the tools to be able to step back, think about themselves for a moment in a way that they can edify themselves by counting their own virtues. By letting people know that there are individuals out there in the world who will tell you ANYTHING and not mean it just to get sex, and letting a young person know this sort of danger exists so that they can protect themselves.
Just brainstorming a little here. Sorry if my thoughts are a bit disorganized.
Joan, I know you have a respect for the law of the land. If abortion is rendered illegal again, tell us, will you respect the law?
Joan, will you respect the law?
Or, would you break the law to keep killing pre-born genetically unique human beings?
xalisae, I am just on my way so i have to be brief.
Excellent start and points that you raise. I definitely think the two campaigns should and can be integrated. However, there are some expressions in your post that I was unclear about. What did you mean by “risky”, “tools”, and “questionable habits in the bedroom habits” in the following:
“That doesn’t mean it should be illegal, but we should work to help give people the tools to avoid such situations on their own. If someone is making questionable judgements in their bedroom habits, engaging in behaviors that would be considered risky, and doing so because….”
I am not trying to set up as preacher, and I know this line of thinking causes us to walk a fine line between being perceived as being prudish and having self-respect, but I just want to see where you are going and to determine what views we can/may have in common on this topic.
xalisae I liked these sentences in your post:
“Spreading self-respect is something that should be very important to Pro-Lifers as a rule, since it is itself another way to fight one of the causes of behaviors that lead to abortion. All sex is not equal. Just as rape is the result of an attacker lacking respect for their victim, there are sexual encounters that are essentially people being victimized by themselves because they lack self-respect. That doesn’t mean it [BTW can you tell me what this ‘it’ refers to – ‘risky sex?’] should be illegal, but we should work to help give people the tools to avoid such situations on their own.”
“Joan, I know you have a respect for the law of the land. If abortion is rendered illegal again, tell us, will you respect the law?”
Until transport of pregnant women across national borders is illegal, I will be happily driving pregnant women to joyous and free Canada so they can have their abortions which is what the Protestant Ivy League chaplains did in the “good old days” pre Roe. They invoked the spirit of Harriet Tubman and so will I. But here’s the thing. If Roe is overturned, the Northeast (with, perhaps, the exception of New Hampshire) will be abortion friendly. So will you and your Catholic priests for life pals be part of the armed guards, at the borders of the pro-choice states, who will physically examine every woman to determine if she is pregnant and if so deter her, with your Glock and your rosary, from crossing the line?
xalisae, were you raised Catholic?
Joan – Don’t preach to us about tyrants when you support tyrants like Seccretary Sebelius and President Obama who abuse the power of the Federal government to force Catholic institutions to commit grave sin and also hold poor women as hostage for the benefit of corrupt, bullying thug organizations like Planned Parenthood.
Lila Rose is an eloquent spokeswoman for the child in the womb and for the dignity of women . Women have far mor value than just their sex organs. You do not understand Lila Rose and you do not understand the Catholic church. And I pity you for your ignorance.
Legal abortion became widely available in Canada 15 years after Roe v. Wade. So if you’re going to invoke Harriet Tubman’s name, try not to get your history wrong. Though it’s certainly an improvement over the wire coat-hanger hype.
The enforcement of pro-life laws across borders is a difficult problem, particularly when things like territorial jurisdiction are involved. That sounds like all the more reason to ban abortion in as many places as we can in order to minimize it. I’ll do my part for “joyous and free Canada”!
Navi, as a Canadian I would appreciate any help we can get.
Tyler,
I was raised Catholic, but we left the Church permanently about a year or so before I was supposed to start my Confirmation classes.
Excellent start and points that you raise. I definitely think the two campaigns should and can be integrated. However, there are some expressions in your post that I was unclear about. What did you mean by “risky”, “tools”, and “questionable habits in the bedroom habits” in the following:
Having unprotected sex. Having sex with numerous partners. Having sex anonymously...things like that. But I’d really have to say having sex outside of a committed, long-term relationship, and becoming sexually active at too young of an age. The “tools” I mentioned would simply be things like dignity, self-worth, long-term goals and aspirations, and basically things about yourself that make you feel good about yourself without feeling the need to look to someone else to blow smoke up yer skirt to feel good about yourself.
I think Harriet Tubman just rolled over in her grave a few times…
The great irony in all this is that CC has at times accused as of misappropriating the image of various historical events. Next time she does as such I will simply reply pot, meet kettle.
CC, why do you feel that abortion is inevitable for some women? Why do you think some women will always desire an abortion?
Are some women angry that their body has the ability to get pregnant? Do these women feel betrayed by their own body?
Above I should have said us, not as.
CC: “So will you and your Catholic priests for life pals be part of the armed guards, at the borders of the pro-choice states, who will physically examine every woman to determine if she is pregnant and if so deter her, with your Glock and your rosary, from crossing the line?”.
Will you stop being stupidly, gratuitously obtuse in those days?
I asked if you would BREAK the law, not sneak around it. Outright breaking, that’s the question. If it were illegal in both Canada and the US and there was a freak blizzard so no airports in the world were open, and the dodo birds came back, and pigs flew… just answer the question: would you break the law?
I specifically would like to know from Joan. But it’s quite interesting that you 100% of the time comment in tandem. If I didn’t know better I’d think you might be the same person.
xalisae, thanks for your response. It was a very good response. I have lots to say about it but I will write about it tomorrow. I am too sleeepy.
xalisae, I went back to one of your earlier posts before responding to your latest – I hope that you don’t mind.
“Do you think that just because someone contracepts, or supports the use of contraception in general, they “give it away for free” or advocate doing so?”
Although you asked this question rhetorically I would like to answer it honestly as if it was a genuine question.
My answer to this question is “Yes, I believe that the person who uses contraception gives it away for free” because, as you know, contraceptive use has not decreased the number of unplanned pregnancies, or abortions since it has become more widely used. The number of single mothers has increased, not decreased since contraception use has become more prevalent in society. However, on the other hand, I would like to say “No, contraception use does not mean a person gives it away for free” because I want to give every person that uses the contraceptives the benefit of the doubt regarding their sexual behaviour.
On the other hand I do not think that people who use contraception necessarily advocate that others use contraception or that they advocate that people should be promiscuous. They secretly may want others to be promiscuous, but most won’t publicly advocate this.
Moreover, the argument that those who use contraception do not engage in more sexual activity (with their committed partner or with multiple partners) goes against common sense – why would a woman or man go on contraception if she/he didn’t plan on using it (save the women who use contraception for medical reasons)?
“Do you think we lack self-respect or the ability to say “no” to engaging in sex at any given time?”
Definitely no… my own personal experience makes me acknowledge that this statement is undeniably true.
“Honestly, not being able to “get it on” whenever one wants is not something that is unique to NFP-practicing couples.”
Ok. This is a good point. This idea definitely need to be talked about more in public. Men and women who use contraception need to explain why they are using contraception.
Having unprotected sex. Having sex with numerous partners. Having sex anonymously...things like that.
I would agree that two of the three listed here are examples of risky sexual activity. However, counter intuitively, the first example of having unprotected sex is not inherently “risky.” The context of the unprotected sex is crucial in determining whether it is risky or not. However, with that this clarification I think we could integrate the concept of self-respect in sexuality with the idea that there is no shame in being pregnant. However, I wouldn’t want a woman who had sex with numerous partners or anonymous sex to feel that she should be ashamed if she found out she got pregnant. I wouldn’t want these women to have an abortion.
But I’d really have to say having sex outside of a committed, long-term relationship, and becoming sexually active at too young of an age.
Both of these ideas are very important but again I wouldn’t want women who get pregnant because of this type of activity to feel ashamed of their pregnancies and therefore, have an abortion. My concept of respect in sexuality involves educating people about being open to pregnancy no matter what kind of sexual activity you engage in.
The “tools” I mentioned would simply be things like dignity, self-worth, long-term goals and aspirations, and basically things about yourself that make you feel good about yourself without feeling the need to look to someone else to blow smoke up yer skirt to feel good about yourself.
These tools are awesome. I definitely need to explore how it is that people begin to feel worthy and full of dignity. I need have at the ready the ways I can encourage women to have long-term goals and aspirations. I think religion, and specifically Christian religion, can be helpful with these kinds of issues. Christianity is very effective way to help people feel worthy and full of dignity. Christianity also helps people establish long term goals because it helps people focus on the after-life, on issues that are not so immediate such as the state of one’s soul and how that soul (life) will be viewed after a long life by their Lord. xalisae, are there are secular ways to develop self-worth that you would like to discuss or share? Do secular pro-lifers have a message about “love” that they share with young Mothers?
I hope you didn’t mind that I responded in a question/answer format. I am having difficulty synthesizing all of these differing yet related ideas. I also apologize for getting into the issue of contraception a little bit but I would like to incorporate the Respect in Sexuality without having to promote contraception. Do you think contraception is inextricably linked to having Respect in Sexuality?
“I specifically would like to know from Joan.”
It’s a dumb question. I don’t even know what kind of answer you’re fishing for here. I’m too old to get pregnant again and I have no medical training. I’m in no position to either have an abortion or perform one on another person.
“I’m too old to get pregnant again…”
Wow, joan, I was hoping you were just young an angsty. Did anyone make it out of that icebox alive? 0_0
Joan, CC will be by soon to pick you up to go to Canada. They need you gals!
Courtnay, I suspect they are the same person. If a few days go by without Joan’s comments, cc is also absent, but as soon as one appears on a thread, the other appears.
Joancc, it’s not a stupid question. If you think it is alright to butcher a Chinese woman’s baby because “it’s the law” then you should also be able type the following comment:
“If abortion is rendered illegal, I will abide by the law and I will encourage other women to abide by the law.”
Plenty of people who do not get pregnant do break the law to kill someone else’s baby, Joancc, so your chickening out of answering the question is a little weird, especially because you are not timid any other time.
No, we don’t Courtnay. We have more than enough crazy people here…
Sorry Navi. :)
I would feel better if joancc WERE the same person. It’s sometimes hard for me to stomach her/their selfish bloodlust at times.
Say, I just had an idea. Since Antarctica is officially an abortion free continent, maybe we can convince the abortionistas to go THERE! Giddyup, gals! Surely, you’re not going to stand idly by while a whole continent remains in the “dark” ages, LOL!
If joan and CC were the same person, I think the mods would have figured it out by now. Other people have have had their comments deleted and been blocked for posting under multiple names.
She could be using a proxy, but I don’t doubt there are good odds that two (probably post-abortive) bitter old women would spend their time commenting here on a Pro-Life blog. Cats can only amuse one for so long.
Li;a Rose is beautiful
I think we can conclude these points, after which the various faiths, such as the Catholics and Evangelicals, can modify these standards so that they meet the needs/standards of their faith-based communities:
1) sex should not be treated like a recreational activity;
2) Contraception shoud not be used in order to facilitate risky sexual behaviour
3) that people should be open to new life whenever they engage in any sexual activity, including the sexual activity when they use contraception.
4) Pregnancy should not be viewed as shameful no matter what the circumstances were that brought about conception.
Do any of you folks have a life? I am reading some of the anger and hate you preach. Go do some thing productive with your time like foster these children that are unwanted. Better yet adopt one!
Yes. Yes we do have lives Nikki T.
Please cut and paste the anger and hate you are reading. If it is from Joanie or CC know that they are on your “side.” :)
If I adopted all of the children in the world how does it follow that abortion does NOT kill an innocent preborn human being?
Could you comment on a more recent post? That way we don’t have to hide in the archives.
Oh, Nikki–we have a life. We want EVERYONE to have one.
I’m already raising an “unwanted child”, NikkiT.
My daughter was “unwanted” by her father. He wanted me to abort her. Is that productive enough for you? Will you help us oppose abortion now?
Trolls like old threads just as well as they do old bridges. But their talking points are really old.
NikkiT, what does it say about you that you troll old threads on a website full of people that have no life?