Friday, September 5, 2008
A friend of mine just sent me this quote from a message she received after joining an online group:
"Hi, I do respect the opinions of others, but i have a question. I have two daughters and if they were raped I would not expect them to carry the baby to term. There are things such as the morning after pill. Is it true that Sarah Palin said that. If they take the choices away from our children what will they have. This is what America stands for."
Not sure I fully understand this quote, since it doesn't actually specify what Sarah Palin allegedly said. However, I believe I hear the concern behind it.
American women today have the right to abort their unborn children for any reason, from conception to the day of the delivery. Roe vs. Wade and Doe vs. Bolton (the rarely spoken-of law which was a companion to the first) solidified that right. This concerned parent really has nothing at all to worry about. Abortion proponents in this country like to frighten people by insinuating that "those conservative pro-lifers will take away all your RIGHTS!" If people could look past the liberal propaganda, they might learn a few things.
A woman who is the victim of rape or incest is routinely given a "morning after pill" in many states as part of her hospital treatment unless she refuses it. If the pill is not offered, a doctor can prescribe it, and *poof* she was never pregnant and never raped (no, wait, sorry, that's not right...a pill can't undo those things, just as a surgical abortion can't make a woman "unpregnant").
The reason why many pro-lifers (such as Sarah Palin) are against "emergency contraception" such as the morning after pill (Plan B) is because it is a possible abortifacient--a pill that can cause the destruction of human life--and because abortion proponents are pushing to allow it to be dispensed without a prescription.
As defined by one prescription drug information site, "Levonorgestrel [Plan B] is a female hormone that prevents ovulation (the release of an egg from an ovary). Plan B also causes changes in your cervical mucus and uterine lining, making it harder for sperm to reach the uterus and harder for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus." The italicized text is the problem and why many pro-lifers oppose Plan B (as well as the Pill, for that matter, which offers lower dosages but claims to possibly have the same effect). The Plan B website actually states that Plan B "is not an abortion pill--it can't terminate an existing pregnancy." One problem with that: fertilized eggs, last time I checked, were newly conceived human beings. I'm pretty sure they still are. (This is just my personal opinion, but I don't like any form of hormonal birth control, because it disturbs the natural processes that were designed to work in our bodies.)
We do not typically dispense doses of hormones without regulation to individuals, including the birth control pill--they are available with a physician's prescription. However, this is what many are suggesting be done, which would make Plan B readily available to young women (who are not victims of rape or incest but rather products of their own life choices) as "emergency contraception" after nights of unprotected sex. It could very quickly become a regular "birth control" item on the lists of teenage girls, but it was never intended for that purpose. We already deal with the problem of young women thinking they don't need to use condoms to prevent disease while on the Pill--do we really want to go down this even messier road?
I am also honestly wondering about some faulty reasoning that appears to be taking place in the question posted above. Is that what America stands for? The right of children to access birth control and/or abortifacients? America stands for the great and lofty value of...abortion on demand and sex without consequence?
Here's another fact: Only 2% (yes, that's TWO percent) of all abortions that take place in this country are performed for reasons of rape or incest. It should be stated that Plan B is not the same as RU-486, the so-called "abortion pill." Plan B is more of a "megadose" of hormones which can prevent the implantation of a life within a uterus, essentially forcing a miscarriage.
One last thing: Children born of rape or incest are no less precious, intelligent, loving, or worthy of love. Two million couples wait each year to adopt a child...and we throw away their precious babies (1.5 million per year) as human refuse.
If Sarah Palin is for preserving those innocent lives, then I (and millions of other American women) stand behind her.
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3 comments:
Commenting on my own post:
"Forcing a miscarriage" can be interpreted as "causing an abortion to occur."
Just wanted to try to clarify that.
"One last thing: Children born of rape or incest are no less precious, intelligent, loving, or worthy of love. Two million couples wait each year to adopt a child...and we throw away their precious babies (1.5 million per year) as human refuse."
That is an EXCELLENT point.
In your point of view, would it be then okay for the raped young mother to put the child up for adoption? And how do I the mother of the raped girl handle my daughter's school and other rude comments regarding the assumptions of my daughter's morals?
"In your point of view, would it be then okay for the raped young mother to put the child up for adoption? And how do I the mother of the raped girl handle my daughter's school and other rude comments regarding the assumptions of my daughter's morals?"
Kate, thank you for your comment.
I believe it would be a great thing for the young mother to choose an adoptive family for her child. There are many adoption options out there and some are open so that the birth mother can see pictures of her child and know how her child is doing (which takes the "I wonder what my child looks like and what he is doing" mystery out of the equation). In an open adoption, everything is just that--open. I have relatives who have given their children homes with adoptive families and maintain contact. It can be a very healthy thing for all parties involved.
As for the cruel comments of some, well...we cannot force people to be decent, now can we? Oh, to live in a perfect world! But with YOUR support and with your family's support (and counseling!!), your daughter will know that what she is doing is being a BLESSING to herself, her child, and to the adoptive family (should she choose to place for adoption). She needs to know that she is doing the right and most compassionate, selfless thing--and doing that is never easy in this world, regardless. She will be able look back and have no regrets about the decisions which were in her hands, and that's a very empowering thing.
Teen pregnancy is nothing new...just take a look around your nearest high school (and even some junior highs). Kids are taunted if they remain pure, and/or they're taunted if they have sex. Why not just tell the truth? "I was raped, but it's not the baby's fault. We're both going to be just fine." (Again, if she is receiving good counseling, she needs to be reminded of this and continue to remind HERSELF of this fact--she is a survivor, not a victim.)
If things get too bad for her to bear, why not have a home tutor to finish out her schooling while she waits for her child to be born? Most districts offer programs like that. Homeschooling is another great option (which I obviously advocate here on this blog).
If church is a problem (yes, some "Christian" people can be judgmental at times), then explain the situation to your pastor and youth pastor. The youth of the church should be encouraged to PRAY for her and her baby. This will be a wonderful affirmation of life and a great source of support for her. One or two friends to come alongside her might be all it takes for her to say, "I can do this."
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